[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-a-knight-who-eternally-regresses":3,"chapter-a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-289":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","A Knight Who Eternally Regresses",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},428082,689,"Chapter 287","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-289",289,"\u003Cp>As Enkrid moved to the forefront of the unit, a sharp-eyed scout spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone’s coming.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he said, a lone figure trudged forward from the viscount’s forces. The sun, obscured by clouds, cast a faint light upon the figure’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A big one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were large—about the same size as Audin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid watched intently from a distance, his gaze fixed on the figure whose presence seemed to distort perspective in an uncanny way. The man wasn’t riding a horse; he was walking forward on his own two feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither fast nor slow, but exuding confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, stepping into the heart of the battlefield alone was nothing if not an act of sheer confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Should we shoot?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the archers asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with his command, some of the archers hesitated, hands briefly gripping their bowstrings before letting go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A battle always began with a volley of arrows—that was the fundamental rule of war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grr! Woof! Grrr!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wolves barked behind the approaching man. They were loud—annoyingly so—but the man simply dug a finger into his ear and shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My name is Lykanos! Send out your best fighter!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his declaration, he stomped his foot. A heavy boom followed, sending tremors through the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How is he that strong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers’ morale plummeted into an icy silence. If Rem had taken a hit, and this new opponent was even fiercer, then things were getting serious. Even compared to the legendary Enkrid, he didn’t seem lacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaking the enemy’s spirit before a battle even began—this was one of the most effective strategies of all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A duel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you had a winning hand, you played it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black Blade thieves had undoubtedly prepared their own cards for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna stepped forward. Audin reacted as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before either could move, Enkrid drew his sword and swung it downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not fast, not heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade, glowing faintly blue, traced a sharp arc through the air, stopping both of them in their tracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This one's mine. You two handle something else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze remained locked onto Lykanos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as he focused on the fight, Enkrid was already thinking about the broader battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many battles would follow? What could be gained from this encounter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss had set the stage. Now it was up to Enkrid to take the winnings and move forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When did I start getting this confident?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A confidence was rising in his chest, urging him toward the battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Enkrid didn’t hate it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was where he belonged—the place he had always sought, the battlefield that awaited him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jaxon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When the chance comes, take the pig’s head.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today would be fine. The next battle would work too. It didn’t matter when—what needed to be cleaned up had to be cleaned up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Got it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaxon gave a curt nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was reassuring. He wouldn’t fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Audin, Teresa. There’s something big among those wolves, isn’t there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they had infiltrated enemy territory before, there had been three massive beasts. Now, only one seemed to remain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or… was this one even bigger?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t matter. Just another oversized beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But regular soldiers couldn’t be allowed to face it. His instincts told him that much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As the brother desires, so shall it be. Let us pray.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Audin clasped his hands together and quietly stepped back. Beside him, Teresa knelt on one knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As you command.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Dunbakel tugged at his collar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna stood nearby as well, his cold eyes speaking clearly. He was ready. He wanted to fight. Right now, with his own blade, he could cut that thing down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Ragna fired up was unexpectedly satisfying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid had never been frustrated by Ragna’s laziness before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But watching someone waste their talent was never enjoyable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that it really mattered—Enkrid’s heart was strong enough not to dwell on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A genius with drive, huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Ragna’s enthusiasm was enjoyable. Even if he had never been frustrated by Ragna’s past indifference, this moment was undeniably satisfying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And seeing himself standing beside Ragna, just as ready, was just as exhilarating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go wild. Cut down everything in sight. But only after the wolves are dealt with.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the enemy had a massive wolf, then they had something far worse—a beastkin warrior and a sword that could cut through anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they sent them charging into the enemy ranks, the battle’s tide would shift in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need for elaborate speeches to boost morale. Just having those two step forward would change the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A battlefield ruled by an elite few—that was the reality they would prove today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was enough. Dunbakel exhaled sharply and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was enough. Dunbakel exhaled sharply and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll make it a spectacle worthy of Kreimhart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kreimhart—the god the beastkin revered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The god of war and fertility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To fight in a way worthy of his gaze was to fight without shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was thanks to Rem. The torment of the savages had turned one beastkin into a berserker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll stand down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna’s voice was calm as he stepped back, and Enkrid moved forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Took you long enough. I was starting to think you lot didn’t have any real men over there. What, are you gonna keep me waiting all night?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lykanos smirked, tapping at his groin as he shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a provocation—a way to rouse his own men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t actually looking for a response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ha! No balls!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A spineless bastard!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A eunuch!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy hurled insults.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The allies threw them right back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What a joke!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ve got ‘em, and they’re bigger than yours!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Filthy bandit scum!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As curses and cheers filled the air, Enkrid strode forward, and from behind, Graham spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you win this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. Even if I die, I’ll win.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he truly ready to die? Graham folded his arms, masking his unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Enkrid was simply being honest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was exactly as he said. If the thing standing before him was a wall, if it was death itself—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would surpass it. And win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, oddly enough, Enkrid felt no excitement. No thrill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body was neither sluggish nor at its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve got them. And they’re bigger than yours.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he said it, Lykanos’ lips twisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nerve on this bastard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bigger than mine?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve never seen anyone bigger than me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Arrogant little shit. Alright then, let’s crack you open. You’re that Enkrid guy, aren’t you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His opponent already knew his name. Of course, Enkrid knew him too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the power players in the Black Blade thieves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beast of a man, built like Audin, with a heavy weapon strapped to his back—his style of combat was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Lykanos subtly shifted his left foot forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Into Enkrid’s striking range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid reacted instantly, drawing and slashing his sword from his left hip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his size, Lykanos moved with startling agility, retreating two extra steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade cut through the empty air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lykanos, following the motion of Enkrid’s sword, swung his own weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shadow arced through the air from behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heavy, downward swing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid stepped aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His footwork glided across the dirt, shifting him to Lykanos’ flank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he moved, the massive iron mace crashed into the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dirt and stones exploded in all directions, some pelting Enkrid’s body and head. Ignoring the debris, he immediately drew his dwarven gladius and thrust forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rapid strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stab shot straight into the gap between Lykanos’ ribs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A precise, lightning-fast thrust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lykanos twisted, catching the blade between his arm and his ribs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His reflexes were astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried to twist and snap the sword in two, but it didn’t go as planned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Goddamn, you’re tough!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snarling, Lykanos swung his mace again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air pressure alone slammed against Enkrid’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He judged the trajectory by sound alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ducked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavy iron barely missed his skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid activated Heart of Might, gripping his gladius tighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inhale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His left arm swelled with explosive power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade twisted, tearing into Lykanos' side and forearm as if to grind the flesh away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lykanos couldn’t hold out and was forced to release the blade clamped against his ribs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You bastard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood streamed from the inside of his forearm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His armor left only a scar on his ribs, but his forearm had definitely been torn open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does it hurt?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid asked as he steadied his breath, raising his right-hand sword and bringing it down in a vertical strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he retrieved the gladius and sheathed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lykanos retreated just in time to avoid the descending strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t just a brute who swung a mace mindlessly. His movements were sharp and efficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, he had trained for years and gained extensive real battle experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade cut through the air with a sharp whoosh. Through that fleeting arc of steel, Lykanos locked eyes with Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His dull, dark-brown eyes reminded Enkrid of Jaxon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning—they looked sinister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lykanos kicked off the ground again. The frozen, solid earth cracked beneath his feet, sending hardened dirt fragments flying like scattered stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid placed his left hand on the gladius' hilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feigning a draw, he moved his feet again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he pushed off with his toes, stepping back—a perfect backstep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dodged all the stone shrapnel bouncing up between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he dodge?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lykanos hesitated for a fraction of a second but continued his movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his mace and swung it diagonally downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he crossed his feet and lunged forward like a coiled spring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before Lykanos completed his strike, Enkrid released his right-hand sword mid-air and slashed downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To an outsider, it might have looked like he had simply dropped his sword and flailed his hand uselessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was something else in that hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Whistle Dagger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whistle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dagger whizzed through the air, burying itself into Lykanos' face at close range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the very start, Enkrid had anticipated that Lykanos would dodge or block his sword, so he had already been holding the dagger in his right hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, it paid off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had even learned how to hide daggers in his sleeves from Torres of the Border Defense Force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All those techniques came together at this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lykanos’ head snapped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, it returned forward almost immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the result Enkrid had wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You son of a—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dagger had been caught between Lykanos’ front teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His upper incisors had cracked, but he had blocked the attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eve, spit it out! That’s not food.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid taunted. His provocations were always perfectly timed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lykanos spat out the dagger, his eyes blazing with fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will kill you. Before I do, I’ll grind you into dust. Big? I’ll flatten you so much you won’t even be visible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice seethed with resentment, but Enkrid didn’t even smirk—securing a psychological victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mace came again. This time, Enkrid held his sword with both hands and deflected it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A snake blade technique. He tried to guide the blow aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brute force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with Heart of Might activated, Lykanos' strength was overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Will?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought crossed his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was a Will that rejected force, then there had to be one that granted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to fully deflect the mace, their weapons remained locked together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lykanos pressed down, shifting his grip and inhaling sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was trying to crush Enkrid through sheer strength. Enkrid stepped back with his left foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch. His knee bent slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was losing ground in raw power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pushed down, Lykanos sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? Thought you wouldn’t lose in strength? Hey, you little shit, you thought you were the only strong one?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, there are plenty stronger than me. Always.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was Audin, of course. Rem, Ragna, Teresa—he wasn’t sure he could overpower any of them yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your front tooth is cracked.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Lykanos was exerting all his strength, the tooth that had blocked the dagger earlier had finally snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Women won’t like that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The perfectly timed remark was enough to push Lykanos into a blind rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"RAAAAAAH!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast roared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid gathered his own strength and let out a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An easy-to-provoke opponent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought flickered through his mind but was immediately discarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no time for distractions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lykanos was strong. Very strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was nothing like the half-baked mercenaries who barely reached the level of a junior knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still locked in a weapon clash, Lykanos suddenly released his left hand, clenched his fist, and swung it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid flexed his trapezius and twisted his head to absorb the impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Balraf-style maneuver—redirecting the force with his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t just take the hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he absorbed the blow, he twisted his stance and kicked Lykanos' shin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heavy impact echoed over the shin guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That hurt, bastard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lykanos growled and let go of his weapon entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he reached for Enkrid’s collar with his right hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid used his left hand—pulling out his second sword, the gladius, aiming to sever every one of Lykanos’ fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as if expecting it, Lykanos pulled his hand back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their hands and feet clashed repeatedly. Enkrid mixed in his sword strikes, keeping up the close-quarters combat, but none of his attacks were decisive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brutal and relentless, their attacks exchanged without a single fatal strike landing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid's head was bleeding from a wound, while Lykanos, having lost his helmet during the fight, had a split lip and a bleeding cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid had also taken a solid hit to the stomach, disrupting his breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the same moment, he kicked Lykanos' chin, sending him spinning through the air before landing on his feet in an acrobatic display.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time they separated, neither was in normal condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's been a while since I met someone like you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I run into guys like you all the time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Never fought someone who never shuts up, though.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, I’m used to that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Used to winning, too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lykanos clenched his teeth. His shattered front tooth left his face looking a bit ridiculous, but the murderous intent remained unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You annoying little shit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, he swung his mace again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But something was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was different this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid couldn’t quite put it into words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he couldn’t afford to step back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to block.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his sword, guiding the mace’s trajectory away. Instead of resisting, he let it slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the heavy mace slid past his blade—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the moment that time seemed to slow—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lykanos moved twice as fast as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid’s focus ignited like never before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mace?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a decoy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the suspended moment, Lykanos pulled out a hidden weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thin, needle-like rapier that had been concealed inside the mace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thrust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the fastest blade Enkrid had ever seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Enkrid blocked, it was as if a beam of light had been fired at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It struck before his eyes could register it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword was about to skewer him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that split-second, his instincts kicked in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He twisted his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of that, the blade only grazed his side before piercing into his upper right arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything blurred—like a scene flashing through a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clang of the drawn blade. The sound of flesh being pierced. The sensation of pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of it fully registered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All that mattered was not dying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his body reacted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He twisted, pulling his right arm free, and slashed upward with his left-hand sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gladius cut through—fast and vicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It carved from Lykanos’ jaw, slashing up past his left eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack! Rip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pair of different, visceral sounds echoed between them as they were both knocked backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, they were blown away from each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shoot!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of whether the duel was over, arrows rained down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The duel had ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The full-scale battle had begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid staggered, dropping to one knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone caught his body from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're pulling back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Jaxon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>",2674,"2026-05-30T08:27:55.568Z","2026-06-01T04:30:45.896Z",1,"novelbin.me","658ec20428c37c836ae3068a4344d7e0b3f5b5b604ef035530ca854d9201485c","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-479","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-478",882,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-knight-who-eternally-regresses-cover.jpg"]