[{"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-311":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},427836,689,"Chapter 309","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-311",311,"\u003Cp>A night passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid did not return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At some point, the enemy had begun retreating, like the tide receding from shore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ragna hadn’t come back either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaxon was missing as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss realized the gravity of the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, it wasn’t just realization—it was foreboding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A relentless, gnawing dread that dug into his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where is the highest vantage point nearby?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A place with a clear view.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite it all, he remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the disaster had already struck, then there was no room for panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid was missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If the commander dies, I’m probably dead too, huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would happen if Enkrid returned as a corpse?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem would probably hurl a battle-axe without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dark thought—half a joke, but only half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Enkrid hadn’t died, things were bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the commander disappeared, the consequences would be endless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss couldn’t name them all, but he could feel it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One thing was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mad Platoon would be finished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could control Rem, Ragna, Jaxon, or Audin?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once upon a time, they might have tolerated a scarecrow leader, but not anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, only their commander could keep them together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if they fell apart—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could the Border Guard hold off Azpen’s invasion next spring?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If Enkrid dies, I’m out of here. No looking back.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was he, a patriot?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he going to die for this place?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss stood beneath the shade of a tree, deep in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Nurat, having studied the maps and the terrain, spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss stood cloaked in shadow, exuding an eerie presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nurat noticed—but said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something felt off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because Enkrid was gone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fleeting thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman’s intuition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss with Enkrid and Kraiss without Enkrid felt like entirely different people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Move faster.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss urged her on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nurat brought two horses, and they rode swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They passed several hills before the terrain turned harsh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The climb required half-clinging to the rocks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strong body and well-trained muscles—what lady wouldn’t appreciate them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss took care of his physique for that very reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scaling a steep mountain path was nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nurat, a seasoned warrior, made the climb even easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the summit, Kraiss cast his gaze far ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crazy bastards.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The morning sun illuminated the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy’s formations became clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were lurking between the ridges, hidden away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should they pursue?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should they hunt them down?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bad move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if they chased too deep and were ambushed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This terrain was perfect for an ambush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if morale was high and they had won the last battle,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘We don’t have overwhelming numbers.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they got caught, the tide could turn instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—driving them out had always been the goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the beginning, that had been the plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Winter was on their side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How do they plan to survive in this cold?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where’s their supply line?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did Azpen covet Greenpelt so much?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because beyond Naurellia’s fertile plains, it was a land of hardship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hills, valleys, treacherous mountains, and monster-infested lands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surviving winter here was no easy feat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four to five days—that was all the enemy could last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was already a victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, they just had to sit tight and fire arrows until the enemy starved or froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was only one problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid was missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Did they seriously sacrifice this entire battlefield just to kill one man?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did they abandon the war just to take out a few people?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reckless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tactical suicide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small elite force was supposed to win battles—not throw away the war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This battlefield was about securing the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would they really go that far?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grim suspicion slithered into his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss had found an answer, but he couldn’t be sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was too extreme a move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One more day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss decided to wait for Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nurat felt uneasy at those words, but she didn’t argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man with lost eyes had a presence too fierce to question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abnaier let time simmer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need to rush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed time to prepare as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place where Enkrid had been cornered—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A valley, flanked by three ridges and a cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deliberate death trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meticulously prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stage set to kill a handful of men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No unexpected variables?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had planted the seeds and nurtured them to fruition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, it was time to harvest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harvesting required blood, but Abnaier was certain it was worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could not afford failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abnaier sipped his tea, sugar dissolving into the warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweetness fueled the mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What variables remained?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No mistakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how skilled the target, Enkrid was not a knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t escape the trap set for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abnaier had studied the Border Guard after his last defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he lost because of the knights?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already lost before they arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had analyzed the battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Torn apart the war piece by piece.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the answer was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid and the Mad Platoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their raids on the outskirts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their sabotage of supply lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those pieces led to his downfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing of their exploits only solidified his resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in the city, they never stayed quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wherever Hurrier appeared, assassins were cut down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the name Enkrid, all schemes crumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were untouchable ghosts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I will catch him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abnaier had prepared for this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had set his trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It started with bandits and zealots—mere pawns in the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he had a good hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He played it well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Black Blades and cultists aren’t weak either.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their presence fractured the Border Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waited for the right moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let them drift apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would have been ideal if the Black Blades or cultists had killed a few for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No such luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they had split up nonetheless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid had left Rem, Audin, and Teresa behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Catching a group is amateur work.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, Abnaier’s true art was embedded in the land itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Enkrid, he had sealed off the terrain with the Triangle Seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the rest of Mad Platoon, he had sent tailored assassins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for the final blow—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would kill them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mouth felt dry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drank another sip of tea, swallowing his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cost was steep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what he would gain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a few severed heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, that’s what it would seem like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to Abnaier, those heads were the greatest threat to Azpen’s future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His plans were set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sunlight and cold wind entered his tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t too cold today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A good day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a soft clink, he set down his teacup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time to claim Enkrid’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid didn’t consider this a crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t even something he would call dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t as if a blade was pressing against his throat right this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiding himself within the underbrush, Enkrid focused entirely on resting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His stamina was already at a level that could be called superhuman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single night was enough to replenish whatever energy he had lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wouldn’t restore him to a perfect state, but it would be enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body had adapted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Isolation Technique—Audin’s gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I thank him for it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought came to him unexpectedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe when he returned, he could at least acknowledge that he owed Audin one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stamina aside…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if his endurance was monstrous, his body had taken a toll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had spent the entire day swinging his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would have been strange if his body weren’t feeling the strain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both his forearms were bruised, the fine blood vessels bursting beneath the skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just the sword. He had used his fists, his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t been able to focus entirely on attacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he had been fighting alone in the middle of enemy lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way to block every attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he relied on his sense of evasion to deflect only the most threatening blows, dodging when he could, and taking the rest with his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More precisely, his pauldrons, gauntlets, and shin guards absorbed the impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To most, it would have been madness, but Enkrid didn’t consider it reckless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not when he had learned the technique from Audin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A true knight wouldn’t even find this difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reviewing the battle in his mind, Enkrid chewed on a strip of jerky and walked over to a stream to quench his thirst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The water was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drank it without boiling it first. If he got sick from something like this, it would have to be poisoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of water flowing nearby suggested that a valley wasn’t far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One night of rest. I’ll leave tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without a clear sense of direction, there were ways to find an exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pick a direction. Walk straight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he chose wrong, once his sense of orientation returned, getting out wouldn’t be difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was how he saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wonder how the battlefield turned out?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There had been no way to look back, no time to assess the field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid had done his part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had focused entirely on fighting and achieved this outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know it yet, but a single battle had tilted the scales.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle’s end would be marked by Naurillia’s victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dead, however, would remain as they were—unchanging, unavenged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid didn’t know the exact state of the battlefield, but he could tell there was no need for him to continue fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azpen had become a wounded deer, bleeding out under the fangs of a predator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t coordinated the battle, hadn’t even seen all of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he could feel the flow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finding a suitable tree, he spread some leaves beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blocking the wind, he closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rest wasn’t complete without it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he opened his eyes again, dawn was breaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body, honed through countless cycles of battle, shifted instantly into combat readiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of footsteps over grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was good he hadn’t lit a fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, he would have given away his position for free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, this might work out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could use them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he caught one, he could force them to tell him where he was—and how to get out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid held his breath and listened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sharpened his hearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he slowly stretched, starting from his fingers, loosening his stiff muscles, warming his body against the cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His ears picked up their position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shuffle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noise was close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid, his head still lowered, shifted his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t a small scouting party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was an entire unit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were combing through the underbrush with their spears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thunk, thunk of blades stabbing into bushes filled the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too many eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even at a glance, the numbers were overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Counting them was pointless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant getting spotted was inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There he is!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes met the enemy’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sharp eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rising to his full height, Enkrid exhaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Catch him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers surged toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fighting wasn’t always the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid dodged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t an idiot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss often said his commander had a good head on his shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid thought fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than engage, running would be—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk-thunk-thunk-thunk!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hail of arrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’ve lost their minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were firing without any concern for their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid raised his sword, deflecting the arrows he couldn’t dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spotting a massive tree, he darted behind it for cover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several arrows embedded themselves into the trunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Urk!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, some arrows had hit their own men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the barrage didn’t stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep firing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“More! Keep him pinned!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arrows rained down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid glanced at his blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he swung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A full-force rotation slash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact exploded through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his sword struck the tree, half of its trunk was severed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, a deep crack ran down the length of his blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had already been damaged from the previous battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Switching to his gladius, he activated Heart of Might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His muscles swelled with power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, his weapon smashed through the remaining half of the tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tree tilted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier directly beneath it hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, the tree crashed down, splintering branches as it fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Move!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy scrambled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid took the opening and ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>South—probably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His damaged sword was discarded, replaced with Ember at his right hip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wall of heavy infantry blocked his path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tower shields lined up, sealing the way forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were over fifty of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And more enemy soldiers were closing in from the sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had someone else been trapped here too?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid stepped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could cut through most of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t reckless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why he was still alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and sprinted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kicking a stone into the air, he smacked it with the flat of his gladius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ping!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pebble shot forward, faster than an arrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It struck the forehead of a soldier reloading a crossbow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dashing forward, Enkrid plunged into the ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a beast leaping into a herd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His right hand cut and bashed with the gladius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His left hand thrust with Ember.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword wasn’t meant for slashing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stabbed instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After cutting down six, a path opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An artificial trail, made by human hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This works.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he thought he was in the clear—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fire.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bolts shot from both sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had used their crossbowmen as bait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And ruthless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid rolled forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One bolt struck his armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t pierce his flesh, but he had no time to pull it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cutting down enemies as he moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left, right, back again—cut, thrust, dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle had started at dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By dusk, it was still going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like a labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At some point, he even saw a wall of stones, deliberately stacked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the hell did they set that up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No brute force would break through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not with an army at his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You people…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t wounded, but his arms trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From constant running, constant swinging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even knights had limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A knight could kill a thousand alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A squire could not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he was not a knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panting, Enkrid ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abnaier, watching from afar, muttered to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill a thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he could survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, he would die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azpen’s strategist was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwip-thwip-thwip-thwip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final volley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid had killed and killed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, he was surrounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blades in front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arrows behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One bolt struck his abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain barely registered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His armor had stopped one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his left arm wouldn’t move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gauntlet was gone. His boots torn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breath misted through the gaps in his ruined armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was at his limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And still, he killed two more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One lost an arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man, eyes red with rage, glared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So this is why we overprepared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid had no time to answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hundred and fifty longbowmen loosed their arrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid ran forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His swords raised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Desperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Die!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man he had maimed threw himself at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid split his skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, dozens of arrows pierced his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud-thud-thud-thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One scraped his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His knee hit the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crazy bastards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Enkrid realize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had been for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, irritation flickered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never died like this before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His vision darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body shivered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had lost too much blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A boat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ferryman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A violet lantern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you have fun?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ferryman asked.\u003C\u002Fp>",2631,"2026-05-30T08:27:55.568Z","2026-06-01T04:30:45.896Z",1,"novelbin.me","e277378a75c657f8e60b2f1cef9615fa7d67d16a96b3b3a9bb1bace612fcab15","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-312","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-310",882,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-knight-who-eternally-regresses-cover.jpg"]