SSS-Rank Awakening: My Talent Multiplies Everything novel Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Silen The Executioner [2.]

Kael clicked his tongue.

"How annoying."

Boss fights truly were in a league of their own.

Still, he didn’t have time to dwell on it. The threat of the detection beam remained ever present, and he knew better than to stay in one place for too long. The executioner was adapting as well. It moved strategically, using its knowledge of the arena and the lock-on effect of the lantern to capitalize on every movement Kael made.

Its attacks changed as well.

It was no longer swinging wildly in an attempt to overwhelm him.

Every strike now carried purpose.

Every swing was intended to seal his fate.

Silen swung again.

Kael narrowly avoided it, feeling the rush of displaced air tangle through his hair as the axe passed by. He immediately kicked off the ground and leapt onto a raised section of the central platform, gaining a better vantage point over the battlefield.

From above, he could see the entire arena unfold beneath him.

Calculations flashed through his mind.

Distances.

Attack angles.

Possible escape routes.

Meanwhile, Silen adjusted its stance below. The executioner slowly brought the lantern around, its pale glow flickering ominously as it prepared another attack.

"Here we go!"

Kael launched himself from the platform.

His body became a blur as he descended.

At almost the exact same moment, Silen’s axe crashed downward.

Boom!

The stone floor exploded apart.

Chunks of rock erupted into the air.

Kael landed behind the executioner just as the strike connected with the ground.

Without hesitation, he attacked.

His sword flashed.

Echo Strike activated.

Boom!

A violent burst of force detonated against Silen’s back, sending a shockwave racing across the arena.

The executioner stumbled forward.

Only a few step.

Then it resumed attacking as if nothing had happened.

Kael almost choked.

"What the hell is this thing made of?"

The boss was absurdly tanky.

He already understood this wasn’t a challenge designed around killing the enemy, but even then his attacks should have been accomplishing more than this.

The second Echo Strike felt weaker somehow.

Not because the skill itself had weakened.

Rather, Silen simply seemed less affected by it.

Kael didn’t waste time dwelling on the issue.

He rushed forward once more.

Sword raised high.

The next few moments became a whirlwind of steel.

Strike after strike descended upon the executioner.

Cuts, slashes and stabs.

Every attack was delivered with precision.

Every movement carried the full weight of his strength and agility.

His heart thundered inside his chest.

Battle intent surged through his veins.

Then he felt it.

The familiar buildup.

Another charge of Echo Strike had been accumulated.

A grin spread across his face as he moved to attack. But this time his target wasn’t the executioner’s body.

It was the lantern floating above it.

The reasoning behind his choice was simple.

If Silen’s body was built like an indestructible fortress, then perhaps he simply needed another angle of attack.

The lantern appeared detached from the body, yet Kael could tell there was some kind of connection between them.

Maybe damaging it would affect the executioner.

Maybe it wouldn’t.

There was only one way to find out.

Besides, years of gaming had taught him one universal lesson.

The weird glowing object attached to a boss was usually important.

Of course, real life wasn’t a video game.

And tower trials certainly weren’t video games either.

But there was no harm in testing the theory.

As for why he was so obsessed with killing the boss instead of simply surviving?

The answer was obvious.

Rewards. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The tower rewarded achievement.

And Kael had a feeling that accomplishing something beyond the trial’s requirements would dramatically improve his evaluation.

Whether that was true or not remained to be seen.

But he intended to find out.

His blade struck the lantern.

Boom!

The accumulated force of Echo Strike detonated instantly.

A powerful shockwave erupted outward.

The air itself trembled.

The floor beneath them exploded apart as debris flew in every direction.

Yet when the dust settled, Kael’s expression stiffened.

The lantern remained intact.

Not even a crack.

Not even a dent.

The thing had tanked the attack as if it were nothing.

Worse.

Now he could see them clearly.

The faces inside the lantern.

Dozens.

Maybe hundreds.

Twisted faces pressed against the glass-like surface, their mouths open in silent screams.

Then they all turned toward him.

Every single one.

And began howling.

A chill ran down Kael’s spine.

"Okay... that’s creepy."

He immediately dashed forward again.

Unfortunately, Silen wasn’t about to give him another free opportunity.

The executioner moved.

Fast.

Far faster than before.

Its headless body twisted to the side, avoiding Kael’s attack before launching a counteroffensive.

A barrage of strikes descended upon him.

Axe swings, stomps and shoulder charges.

Everything came together into a relentless assault.

Kael found himself forced backward.

Then further backward.

Until his back nearly collided with one of the chamber walls.

"Damn."

That escalated quickly.

Still, he wasn’t finished yet.

Not even close.

Drawing upon every ounce of skill he possessed, Kael dodged and parried with incredible precision. His sword flashed repeatedly as he deflected incoming attacks while searching desperately for breathing room.

His heart pounded.

His blood boiled.

And strangely enough— He loved it.

This was the first time since awakening that he had been pushed this far in combat.

The pressure.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify