[{"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-399":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},428174,689,"Chapter 397","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-399",399,"\u003Cp>Enkrid adjusted his grip on Silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he reflected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The charging horse, the flying spearhead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Beast’s Heart granted him composure, and One-Point Focus allowed him to perceive the enemy’s movements as if they were disconnected, piece by piece.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heightened senses naturally calculated the moment the spearhead would reach him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, he cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet something nagged at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something felt lacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The review lasted only a moment, and he quickly identified what needed adjustment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if he had stepped forward just a little more?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a step more—just that much. Then, the force transfer would have been smoother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference in stride affected the transfer of power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid swung his sword, adjusted his grip, and pulled back, moving exactly as he had envisioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He widened his stance. Corrected his posture. Then, he swung toward empty air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need for speed. He only needed to feel the transfer of force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade carved through the air, stopping precisely where he had aimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conclusion—this was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The adjustment in stride made the force transfer significantly more efficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid understood it in his mind and engraved it into his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not coming?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lifted his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thousands of men were gathered here. The army was watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Enkrid wasn’t looking at them—he had only raised his head to see if the next opponent was coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why weren’t they?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply stared, questioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been the first engagement, a duel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers standing further back couldn’t see clearly, but those at the front had witnessed everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, so had the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only natural that no one stepped forward so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single strike?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jalban’s brow furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had two aides. The one who had stepped out was the weaker of the two, but still a talented warrior—not someone who would be easily overwhelmed, even against a knight order’s squire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did he let his guard down? Fool.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other aide spoke as he stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jalban raised his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his command, the aide stopped, gripping his reins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jalban had judged that his opponent’s skill was not ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, it was also true that his aide had been careless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man should not have fallen in a single strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief moment of consideration, Jalban made his decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll go myself. Binyu, follow behind me and support.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jalban did not go alone—he brought an aide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key was making it seem as if the aide was merely following from a few steps behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Binyu’s specialty was throwing spears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single well-timed strike would be enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if someone from the enemy ranks came forward to help, it wouldn’t change the outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Few warriors had the skill to throw a spear with such deadly precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiiiiing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jalban urged his horse forward, his aide trailing behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guild master accompanying Enkrid’s group had frozen, mouth agape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when two figures emerged from the enemy ranks did he finally find his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“S-shouldn’t someone from our side go out as well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke toward Rem or Ragna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah, that level isn’t even close to being enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem answered with a yawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A month of watching Enkrid had made one thing clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need to worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna, meanwhile, had produced an apple from somewhere and was methodically chewing through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was eating so thoroughly that even the seeds might not be spared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaxon remained silent, arms crossed, eyes closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one could tell what he was thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the guild master, that was how it appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is with these people?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would no one from the main force step in either?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned toward the main army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—there was a murmur of voices, but no signs of a charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were merely watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Ingis gone, Marcus had taken command of the kingdom’s forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His palms were sweating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they lost this duel—this fight—they would lose in an all-out battle as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If their morale crumbled now, there would be no recovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy had an overwhelming numerical advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is a nightmare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That had been his first thought when he learned the enemy’s numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After assessing their training, even Marcus had nearly lost his will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, at the most unexpected moment, in the most unexpected way—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid had stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This fight had begun because of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus hadn’t seen Enkrid fight in a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, he was utterly shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was this strong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their opponent was one of the five monstrous warriors raised by the count.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even an aide of such a warrior was no ordinary fighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, in a single strike, the man had been cut in half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t about exploiting an opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid had stood face-to-face with his opponent and crushed him with superior strength and speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That much, Marcus could recognize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of hesitation, he considered his options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, their army was hanging by a thread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like standing in a swamp, desperately searching for solid ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both situations were the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One wrong move and they were doomed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a moment for caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should we send reinforcements?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than making the decision alone, he turned to the knight standing beside him—Aisia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aisia responded bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I should be the one out there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No signals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid had simply walked forward and cut down the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can’t just step in and tell everyone to reset and fight again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, Aisia imagined herself marching forward, calling off the duel, and demanding they start over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that was ridiculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than that, if Enkrid hadn’t stepped up, they might have lost before the battle had even begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had scouted the enemy’s forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they had miscalculated their level of training and equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The count’s army was solid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a stone wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference in power was staggering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only natural to freeze for a moment upon seeing that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more experienced a soldier was, the more likely they were to hesitate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So had Enkrid simply charged in recklessly, unaware?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had known everything—yet he hadn’t hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had thrown himself forward and seized control of the battle’s momentum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aisia admitted her defeat, cleanly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just in strength—but in spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A damn impressive bastard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She thought to herself as she watched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man standing out there in the distance, prepared to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man who had once boldly declared his dream was to be a knight, even as his own face had been half-smashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man who had saved her life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, just go and kill them all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aisia muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t even realized she had spoken aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the heart of the battlefield, with both armies watching, a battle cry rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kyahhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the five monstrous warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jalban, the dual-spear wielder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even from a distance, Aisia saw him charging forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid saw the dust drifting in the air. He also noticed the scattered droplets of blood beading in perfect circles on the grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About ten paces ahead. The one on horseback leaped down in a single motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment his feet hit the ground with a thud, the dust at his feet billowed up in distinct granules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grass blades swayed in the wind. A faint, rustling sound echoed—the sound of leaves greeting one another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weight of the sword in his hand was palpable. So was the sensation of fabric and armor pressing against his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A good weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had named the sword he held Silver. And today, the weight of Silver felt particularly right in his grasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking down at the blade, he noticed a few minor nicks along the edge. It could use a sharpening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You must be confident in your skills to have come all this way. What’s your name?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The approaching man asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid didn’t answer. He simply absorbed everything through his senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind grazed his cheek. The sunlight pressed down on his helmet. A shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He removed the helmet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warmth of the sun and the cool wind felt closer than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vast plains offered no mounds or cover—nothing to hide behind. This was a place where the wind could run free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Naurill Plains were once called the Land of the Wind in ancient times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind raced across the open land with nothing to halt its course. A ceaseless sprint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoooosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strong gust came from somewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jalban instinctively braced his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid, however, relaxed his body. The wind coursed through him, wrapping around before dissipating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jalban furrowed his brow. Did he just… float for a moment? No… Was that a trick of the eyes?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to rub them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at the same time, he couldn’t afford to look away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the slightest lapse in focus, and his opponent’s blade would find its way to his gut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first one to charge in hadn’t been careless, yet he hadn’t lasted long. Seeing it up close only confirmed his suspicions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man before him was stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jalban clenched the spear in his grip, veins bulging across his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He steeled himself, mapping out the course of battle in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Block with the left hand…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he thought, his gaze shifted to Enkrid’s waist. Two more swords. A belt for throwing daggers strapped to his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three swords. He hadn’t brought them for no reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant he’d use them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A closer look revealed a knife strapped to his ankle as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His opponent stood still, arms hanging loosely at his sides, carried lightly by the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jalban rewrote his plan from the beginning. Block with the left hand, thrust forward with the spear in his right. If he struck first—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No. Again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat began to bead on Jalban’s forehead. The effort was draining him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once more, he reconstructed the fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thrust with the left. Force him to defend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then twist the spear’s grip with his right. Yes. Use every trick in his arsenal. That was the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes burned. It felt like he was locked in a prison where even blinking wasn’t allowed. And yet, he endured the pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He, too, was a warrior who had crossed the river of death countless times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was nothing new.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kill him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he moved, his subordinate would throw a javelin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even I wouldn’t be able to stop that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A javelin thrown mid-fight, from outside his line of sight. And his second-in-command was skilled—better than most squires.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a javelin thrower, he could be considered nearly a knight in his own right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A drop of sweat hit the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid blinked. Jalban flinched, his shoulders tensing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This bastard? At a time like this, when he should be laser-focused, he had the nerve to blink?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, he almost lunged out of sheer reflex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Illusionary swordplay?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A feint? No, it was a feint. The moment he confirmed that, he pushed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slowly closed the ten-step distance with careful strides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid saw his opponent approach. And he saw beyond him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything remained as clear as before—every little detail vivid in his vision. He felt everything around him just the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But suddenly, his view widened, as if everything had shifted into focus at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That one over there, sneaking sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If things turned ugly, he’d interfere. That spear slung across his back was irritating to look at.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one approaching cautiously—so slow it was almost frustrating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thought crossed his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I lose here, the damage will be severe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He already knew the outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their forces were superior. More in number. Better trained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The count had prepared well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he didn’t feel concerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this continent, war was decided by elite warriors, not sheer numbers. The power of a knight determined the tide of battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first knight had changed the very meaning of knighthood, shifting it from a title to a force that shaped battlefields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knights altered the course of wars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Enkrid was here because he wanted to change something, too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had he wanted to be a knight?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To protect. To save.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To fight for what he believed in. To shield those behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he held a sword, that had been his wish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bard’s song had lodged itself in his heart and become his guiding star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had walked and walked, and now he stood here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His faded, tattered dream bore traces of dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring his opponent’s slow approach, Enkrid strode forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His steps were light, almost like skipping, yet not hurried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sword swung slightly with each step, its rhythm natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the gap shrank to five paces, Jalban kicked off the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kkiyot!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lunged with his left-hand spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid twisted his wrist, blocking diagonally with Silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blade didn’t turn to cotton just because it moved smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment steel met steel, he let the force flow past. His sword redirected the spear’s energy, letting it slide along its length.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw his opponent’s eyes—brown, bloodshot. Was the air dry today? Why do his eyes look like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stray thought intruded. The man thrust forward with his right hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he made the motion anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an explosive sound, the spear’s tip shot forward—a weapon with a special mechanism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid didn’t strike it away but pulled back instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The explanation was long, but it happened in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jalban thrust with his left, fired with his right. Two metallic rings, followed by a single, wet sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid blocked twice, then swung once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All with the single sword in his right hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His third strike carved into his opponent’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jalban wore layered leather, thick inner garments meant to double as armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Enkrid’s blade cut through them all, tearing flesh and muscle in a precise stroke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Directly over the heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bloodshot in his opponent’s eyes deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Guh—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jalban coughed blood, staggering back a few steps before collapsing. His knees hit the ground first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp inhale sounded from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The javelin flew straight at Enkrid’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind pressure hit him first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He brought his sword down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The javelin deflected sideways, tumbling to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subordinate hesitated, his hand tightening around the next javelin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he didn’t throw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because nothing would change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid swung his sword a fourth time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And ended the fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jalban watched as the ground rushed toward him. The world turned red. And as he fell, he thought:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference in skill was clear ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His opponent was on another level. He had attacked twice—one of those times, firing a hidden spearhead at an unexpected angle—and yet, his opponent had blocked both with ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did it come to this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His opponent had struck faster, more precisely. He had built something far beyond what Jalban had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was his conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid flicked his sword in the air, shaking off the blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The javelin thrower had yet to attack or flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only darted his eyes around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not going to fight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid asked him, his voice calm and steady. It wasn’t a taunt or a challenge—just a simple question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange tension filled the air. The javelin thrower tightened his grip around his weapon, steeling himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You lunatic!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the enemy soldiers, unable to bear the pressure any longer, suddenly charged. Yanking on the reins, he dashed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dududududu!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instead of closing in, he stopped twenty paces away and let go of the reins. From atop his horse, he raised a shortbow, drawing back the string.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That, too, was an impressive display.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mounted archery was no common skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shot fired while closing the distance would be as fast as a streak of light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid watched his opponent gallop forward and draw his bow. Then, he flicked his left hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he imbued the motion with Will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he unsheathed his gladius, he accelerated the motion and threw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—shing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword and the arrow crossed paths in midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crisp sound rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The archer loosed his arrow the moment the bowstring twanged—but before he could lower his weapon, a blade struck his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body lifted slightly off the saddle before tumbling backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Enkrid’s gladius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had flown in a straight line and lodged itself deep into the archer’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Enkrid, the incoming arrow had appeared as nothing more than a dot within his perceptual range. There was no need to hesitate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, the moment he threw the gladius, he rolled to the side to dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrow embedded itself in the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond it, the horse, now without a rider, galloped wildly in one direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clatter, clatter, clatter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiiiiiiing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horse let out a long, pained cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it understood that its rider was dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The archer, with a sword buried in his chest, tumbled to the ground. His blood seeped into the grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid walked over, step by step, and retrieved his gladius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dull, cracking noise rang out as ribs broke and shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If, by some chance, he had been given three separate ‘todays’ to deal with these enemies, what would have happened?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here and now, he felt he could prove the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of three todays, he had condensed it all into one month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, Enkrid felt lighter than ever.\u003C\u002Fp>",2923,"2026-05-30T08:27:55.567Z","2026-06-01T04:30:45.896Z",1,"novelbin.me","448e755550410e91d63880ebce8b052b5c8bfafd204cfefb0b3d338513c79183","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-400","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-398",882,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-knight-who-eternally-regresses-cover.jpg"]