[{"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-50":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},427775,689,"Chapter 50","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-50",50,"\u003Cp>After the battle ended, Encrid fulfilled his duties as a member of the Border Guard’s standing army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood guard at the borders and patrolled within the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During his remaining time, he immersed himself in his sword training every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To someone observing Encrid for the first time, his repetitive routine might seem tedious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, it was a peaceful routine that everyone around him considered normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, even if someone had paid close attention, it wouldn’t have bothered him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was deeply introspective, constantly pondering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How can I win?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or, how can I wield the sword better?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the junior knight’s skills, a fierce desire to surpass him boiled within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he wasn’t impatient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, one step at a time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it’s slow, he always moves forward. That was Encrid’s specialty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Heart of the Beast, the Sense of the Blade, Focus Point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To move forward, he utilized everything he learned from Rem, Jaxon, and Ragna in his sparring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, he mainly sparred with Rem, and later Ragna joined in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Jaxon occasionally joined as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before your brain turns into muscle, let me refresh it for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Are you saying that for me to hear?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stray comment sparked tension between Rem and Jaxon, but to Encrid, it was just a part of his peaceful routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sparring with Rem was rough. It required quick thinking and instant judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to focus on boldness. It was a time when his body had to move before his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna was a bit different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fight with Ragna focused on swordsmanship itself. Even if it started offensively, letting your guard down could quickly put you on the defensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout the sparring, he had to be mindful of the overall flow of the fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaxon was different from the other two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaxon often used tricks. He deceived with sounds, footwork, hand gestures, and slight movements of his shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every action required attention. It was a fight that made him think reflexively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clear your mind. Focus on the present.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were Jaxon’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight was soon erased from Encrid’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He repeated what he could do every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon, two weeks after returning to the Border Guard, there was a reward ceremony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These are those who contributed to the victory against the treacherous Aspen!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The company commander distributed the rewards. Among them, Encrid received the most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For revealing and breaking the spell, we bestow this reward!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lieutenant loudly proclaimed Encrid’s achievement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re actually mentioning all this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encrid was surprised, thinking the command might have claimed his achievement for themselves, but they acknowledged it openly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the several company commanders lined up next to the battalion commander, a fairy with green eyes stood out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did the company commander do? He couldn’t tell. It didn’t seem like they would answer if asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s our victory!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battalion commander shouted victory once more. However, unlike the last night on the battlefield, no one was overwhelmed by madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers at the front, led by the platoon leader, clapped their hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Encrid returned to his place, a few soldiers at the back glanced and muttered among themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorcery? Did he break that banner by himself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably one of his squad members did it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No way he did it alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The fog was a spell, and they say he dispelled it? I can’t believe it. That squad leader?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was something someone who knew the usual Encrid would say, he thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not Rem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do these youngsters miss the taste of my axe or something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke expressionlessly, but the meaning behind his words was terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the kind who usually enjoyed hitting the heads of the surrounding soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do we even do this? We could just get some more sleep instead.” Ragna grumbled as he glanced behind. The battalion commander’s speech seemed extremely tedious to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encrid, as the squad leader, calmed him down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battalion commander was in the middle of his long-winded speech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was bragging about his role on the battlefield, claiming it was his idea to send the scouts, and that he knew it was a spell as soon as he saw the banner—a parade of nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the boredom grew, the murmuring behind Encrid increased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That troublemaking squad leader, he’s probably sneaking into the battalion commander’s quarters too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, he’s not some male whore, what kind of nonsense is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier who mentioned the term ‘male whore’ laughed louder at his own words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the usual kind of talk. A squad leader surviving by pandering to his squad members’ whims.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even back when his skills were terrible, he didn’t let it bother him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he had reached a level where he didn’t even hear such comments. Encrid ignored it again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his squad members did not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Having fun, are we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Jaxon. The red-haired squad member had silently moved and now had his arms around the shoulders of the two soldiers who had been talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encrid hadn’t even noticed Jaxon move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw the two soldiers flinch in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaxon lowered his head between them and whispered something. With his head lowered, Encrid couldn’t read his lips, but whatever he said made the two soldiers immediately shut their mouths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their faces turned pale as a bonus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaxon leisurely returned to his original spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem, curious, asked. Ragna also perked up, and even Big Eyes and the faithful squad members subtly leaned towards Jaxon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Encrid didn’t care what the others were talking about, he was curious about what Jaxon had said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just advice, essential advice for living life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem scoffed at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encrid didn’t see it, and neither did Big Eyes, but the rest did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Jaxon’s hands, draped over the shoulders of the two soldiers, were short knives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tips were precisely pressing against their necks, sending a chill down their spines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you need some advice too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaxon asked Rem. His tone was casual. Rem heard it and laughed, veins bulging on his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quiet. The battalion commander is giving a speech.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encrid intervened just in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite Jaxon’s show of force, the discontent towards Encrid persisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The criticisms were tinged with jealousy and envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, he was a nobody.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, he was struggling at the bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, he was a squad leader barely surviving thanks to his squad members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was Encrid’s position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being a low-ranking soldier also played a part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this soldier had broken the spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battalion commander personally commended him, and the kingdom even sent a reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were more people with the hearts of snakes, filled with envy, than there were those genuinely happy for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Naurillia, snakes were traditionally depicted as treacherous, jealous creatures who couldn’t stand to see others succeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hence, this kind of behavior was often described as having a ‘snake’s heart’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers’ current behavior was exactly that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn’t stand that someone who was supposed to be beneath them had achieved something significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Encrid saved them by breaking the spell, many soldiers couldn’t easily acknowledge it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be, that squad leader?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a casual remark like this one reflected the entire situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disbelief that a mere squad leader could have accomplished something significant was filled with contempt, envy, and jealousy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, everyone sure has a lot to say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Big Eyes, who usually let things slide, made a comment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battalion commander’s speech finally ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leather pouch Encrid received was heavy. If it wasn’t just copper coins, it was a substantial amount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encrid decided to buy a new sword with his hefty reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disperse! It’s time for the shift change.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battalion lieutenant announced the end of the tedious time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Want to have a match right away? Do you have a duty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As everyone started to disperse, Encrid asked Rem, “Want to have a match right away? Do you have a duty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem found this man endlessly fascinating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you ever thought about playing with those loudmouths instead of me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those guys? Why? Would it help?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The squad leader just stared at his sword again. Seeing this made Rem feel a warm affection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could someone be so consistent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dealing with the arrogant loudmouths could wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s do it. Let’s spar.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem suddenly recalled the first time he saw Encrid at the Border Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, he was beyond terrible, relying solely on tricks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He vividly remembered the time they sparred again after the battle in the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Where did he get such solid fundamentals?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His swordsmanship, based on solid basics, seemed like it had been taught by a prestigious family. It was hard to believe it was the same person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve improved a lot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Rem quickly raised his game. He had to. The sparring couldn’t be the playful match it used to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Rem took it in stride, Ragna was quite surprised after sparring with Encrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I had taught him, he couldn’t have done better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The squad leader’s skills had improved significantly. His fundamentals were solid, and the Focus Point technique, which Ragna had briefly taught him, was executed well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t surprising, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Focus Point technique was about pushing oneself into a trance-like state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With talent, it could be mastered in a day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna had done it himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although it was surprising that the squad leader had achieved it,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s not impossible.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking that someone else can do something just because you can is the mindset of a genius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was how Ragna understood Encrid’s current state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaxon found joy in facing a squad leader whose skills had suddenly improved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is this enjoyable?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is a sword, what is a spear, what are weapons including daggers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They are tools meant to kill someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until now, he had always regarded weapons as mere tools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But strangely, after sparring with the squad leader, he felt a sense of satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the point where he momentarily forgot the goal he had set for himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a truly curious thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, he wanted to look out for the squad leader even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, the faithful squad member, Audin Plumray, was staring intently at the squad leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His insight was quite remarkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘His skills improved significantly in just one day.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did the squad leader have this much talent for physical combat?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that were the case, his skills should continue to improve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, he seemed to be stagnating again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything you learn and master can hit a plateau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Audin knew this, but he always felt a sense of awkwardness when looking at the squad leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Something feels strangely off.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn’t something to worry about too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or, if he thought of it as a blessing from the gods, it eased his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encrid was someone who trained so hard that a day felt too short.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone like him didn’t receive a blessing, then who deserved to be blessed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Audin embraced the questions that started with the squad leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>God and man, blessings and curses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took everything that came to mind as a topic of contemplation and fell into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seems pretty decent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encrid had bought a sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Decent? It’s not just decent. That one has Valyrian steel mixed in!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blacksmith spoke with a vein bulging on his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encrid asked as he examined the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no traces of the distinctive bluish hue of pure Valyrian steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Encrid inspect the blade like an expert, the blacksmith continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said it’s mixed with Valyrian steel, not that it’s pure Valyrian steel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valyrian steel is renowned across the continent as high-quality metal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steel from the Valyrian region is highly elastic and resistant to breaking. When a sword is made with Valyrian steel, it doesn’t chip easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once sharpened, it becomes an exceptionally durable weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What better ally on the battlefield than a sturdy sword?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why everyone coveted weapons made of Valyrian steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not Valyrian steel, the next best option was Imperial steel, but Imperial steel was never exported outside the empire, making Valyrian steel the best available option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll take it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spending half of his reward money on a single sword made Big Eyes shake his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why spend so much on a sword? You could just use something lying around the battlefield, or even apply for standard issue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wouldn’t it be a shame to die from using a shabby weapon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…When you put it that way, I can’t argue. So, are you going to apply for promotion right away?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had recently refined the skills he had honed through countless sparring sessions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he wanted to test his abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How far can I go?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was currently at the lowest rank. He judged that he could at least reach the intermediate rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what about the advanced rank? The highest rank? The elite rank?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naurillia had introduced a soldier ranking system to boost morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To advance in rank, one simply had to defeat a soldier of a higher rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Challenges were always accepted. There were even people in the unit who arranged these sparring matches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a simple but effective system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Big Eyes was one of those who arranged these matches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krais, or Big Eyes, would do anything that made money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Promotion matches involved betting, which meant there was money to be made. The higher-ups knew about the betting but turned a blind eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some commanders even placed bets on the matches themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I bet on the Squad Leader’s victory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Big Eyes said. It wasn’t because he trusted his own judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before starting, he had squeezed some information out of Rem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If possible, bet on the Squad Leader.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was all, but since Rem wasn’t one to speak lightly, Big Eyes believed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I lose…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wouldn’t just let it slide. Of course, he wouldn’t confront Rem directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krais knew well that challenging Rem would mean being left in pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You want to have a promotion match?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Encrid requested it from the platoon leader, he nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, there’s no need to stay at the lowest rank.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After getting the platoon leader’s permission and with Big Eyes’ arrangement, preparations for the sparring match were made in the central training ground, attracting a few idle soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t really an event that should gather spectators, but this was the infamous Troublemaking Squad Leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who supposedly broke the Spell of the Fog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The squad leader is rumored to have survived by licking his squad members’ anuses!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, naturally, the spectators increased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More and more eyes gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With over twenty spectators present, Encrid faced his opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier was a mercenary with curly hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m an intermediate rank. You applied directly for the intermediate soldier rank?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re arrogant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this brief exchange, they crossed swords. Encrid received his opponent’s downward strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of metal clashing echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encrid waited for his opponent to attack again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s how it had always been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem, Ragna, and Jaxon all did the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In every sparring match, they exploited Encrid’s gaps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in real battles?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the pervert who loved to thrust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Mitch Hurrier of Aspen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all formidable opponents who did not tolerate any gaps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his current opponent was not like them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang! Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few more strikes were exchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encrid furrowed his brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is he playing around?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His opponent’s skill was far below his expectations. It was hard to tell if he was serious or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier who claimed to be of intermediate rank swung his sword down. There were so many openings that it was almost concerning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encrid pretended to block, then dodged and tripped his opponent with his foot on the shin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud, whoosh, bam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier’s right foot lifted to the side, causing him to fall flat on his back. He landed with a crash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aagh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he fell, he must have placed his hand wrong, because he screamed and clutched his wrist, rolling on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encrid’s mind was flooded with questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why is he so weak?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was Encrid’s main concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[T\u002FL: Please support me here: \u002Frevengerscans ]\u003C\u002Fp>",2724,"2026-05-30T08:27:55.567Z","2026-06-01T04:30:45.896Z",1,"novelbin.me","83390c3aedd47d89d2fcb880700fa69f8703081bed060bb0c11e95e6b828fc29","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-151","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-49",882,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-knight-who-eternally-regresses-cover.jpg"]