[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternally-regressing-knight":3,"chapter-eternally-regressing-knight-eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-309":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Eternally Regressing Knight",{"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},964041,1263,"Chapter 309 - Cutting Through Alone","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-309",309,"\u003Cp>A day passed without Enkrid returning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy, at some point, began retreating like the ebb of a tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna had not returned, and neither had Jaxen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krais realized that the situation was serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, a sense of foreboding kept piercing his thoughts at every turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where is the highest point around here? A vantage point where we can observe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his anxiety, he remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If something had already happened, there was no time to panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially with Enkrid missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the commander dies, what happens to me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if Enkrid died?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would likely provoke Rem to throw an axe immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it was a jesting thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This isn't good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he didn't die, things wouldn't be ideal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the commander disappeared, countless problems would arise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If asked what exactly those problems were, Krais would have to think hard to pinpoint them, but one thing was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Madmen unit would be over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would control Rem, Ragna, Jaxen, and Audin?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, they might have placed a puppet in charge, but over time, those men had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, they could only be controlled by the commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without him, could the Border Guard hold off Aspen's attack in the spring?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, I'll just leave without looking back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did he think he was, a patriot to stay here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Krais stood under a tree, lost in thought, Nurat, recalling the terrain from maps and memory, spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Follow me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krais, in the shadow, gave off an eerie vibe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nurat thought as much but didn't voice it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because Enkrid wasn't with him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An instinctive thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krais with Enkrid and Krais without him felt like two different people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's move faster.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krais urged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nurat brought two horses, and they rode off, passing several mounds until they came upon a rough trail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a path they had to climb, half hanging to ascend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No lady would dislike a strong physique and well-trained muscles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was natural for an attractive lady to be interested in physical beauty, and Krais never neglected his training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to that, he easily climbed the steep mountain path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nurat, a seasoned warrior, ascended even more swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon reaching the top, Krais scanned the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Madmen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The morning sun illuminated the area, revealing the enemy's formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had hidden between the mounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should they pursue?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should they counterattack?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bad move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they followed and were ambushed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The terrain was ideal for an ambush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how high their morale was, and despite their victory in the previous battle...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overall force still isn't overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were caught, the situation could change in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, they had initially decided that driving them out would be a win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was their goal from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Winter was on their side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How will they hold out in the cold? What about supplies?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why would Aspen covet Green Pearl?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the plains occupied by Naurilia lay rough terrain—mounds, valleys, steep mountains, and land infested with monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enduring the winter and maintaining supplies was no easy task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They can last four or five days at best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was how long the enemy could hold out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, they were already winning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, all they had to do was remain hidden and shoot arrows to buy time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only problem was one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid's absence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did they really abandon the battlefield just to capture the commander?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed too bold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using elite forces was to win the battle, but abandoning the battlefield altogether—what would be left?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their future, their future gains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had they truly gone that far?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unsettling thought lingered, but Krais couldn't be sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was too bold a move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One more day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krais waited for the commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nurat found those words ominous, but she couldn't say anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krais, the man with the big eyes, exuded a strange intensity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abnaier waited a day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need to strike immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He too needed time to prepare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place where he had trapped Enkrid was nestled between three mounds, with a ravine and cliffs creating a perfect trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a deliberate setup to kill a few men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are there any variables?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had planted the seeds and was now waiting for the harvest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would require much blood to reap the benefits, but Abnaier considered it worthwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, things mustn't go wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abnaier pondered deeply, sipping tea sweetened with sugar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sugar was meant to keep his mind sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What variables might arise here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't afford to make a mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how skilled the enemy was, as long as they weren't knights, they wouldn't escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had prepared enough tricks for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After losing the previous battle, Abnaier had thoroughly investigated the Border Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did the card of a knight brought by the enemy signify a lost battle?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had reconstructed the battle and found the real answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had lost before the pseudo-knight even appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He found the reason for their defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He revisited the battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He combed through the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And thus, he had the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the Madmen unit, Enkrid and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battles they fought on the outskirts, the attacks on their supplies—those were the factors that painted the picture of their defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time he heard about their exploits, it thrilled him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soft hairs stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even within the city, there were those who didn't stay quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assassins would be wiped out, and nothing would remain but failure in the face of the name Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was like a ghost—one that couldn't be caught, couldn't be grasped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's why...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I'll catch him.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abnaier was a strategist who prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he did just that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He preserved his strengths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He prepared, repeatedly thinking, and cornered the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It all began with thieves and fanatics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By chance, he had drawn a good card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, he used it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The Black Blade and the Cultists aren't weak either.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They would certainly affect the strength of the Border Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abnaier intentionally refrained from fighting and waited for them to split.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would have been even better if the Black Knife or the Cultists had killed a few, but such luck wasn't granted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in any case, they split.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid had left behind Rem, Audin, and Theresa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Catching a group together is amateurish.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above all, Abnaier's 'craft' was something he had buried deep in this land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Enkrid, he had created the Triangle Seal to bind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the rest of the Madmen, he sent the appropriate blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also brought out the card of the assassin clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'With this.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would kill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mouth was dry, so he took another sip of tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swallowing, he organized his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cost would be enormous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If things went as planned, the only thing he would gain would be a few heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the outside, it would appear as though he had taken the heads of a few elite soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to Abnaier, they were heads of those who would one day become the greatest threats to Aspen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once his plan was set, it was time to proceed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had opened the tent flap wide, letting both sunlight and the winter breeze in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind wasn't too cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a pleasant day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's begin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a click, Abnaier set down his teacup, and his lips parted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, it would be the head of Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid didn't think this was a crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This much couldn't even be called danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, there was no knife at his throat just yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hid his body in the thickets and focused on resting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No matter what, it starts with the body.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His physical strength was already at a level that could be called superhuman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single night's rest would be enough to replenish the lost stamina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he wouldn't reach perfect condition, at least some recovery was possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body had become like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was thanks to the Isolation Technique and Audin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Should I thank him?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a thought that came to him unexpectedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he returned, he'd at least say something like \"I owe you one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Strength is strength.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from his stamina, his body was still under strain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had swung his sword all day long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he was fine, that would have been strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His forearms were bruised from broken capillaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn't just swung his sword but also punched and kicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't focus entirely on just attacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had jumped into the enemy's ranks alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't block every attack either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using his sense of evasion, he blocked or avoided only the most dangerous strikes, taking the rest on his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More precisely, he deflected them with his shoulder pads, gauntlets, and shin guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was reckless, but with the techniques he had learned from Audin, it wasn't as crazy as it might seem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'A true knight wouldn't find this difficult.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He briefly reflected on the battle and then chewed some jerky, heading toward a stream to drink and wet his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The water was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drank it without boiling it, but if he developed a stomach ache, it would be a sign that it had been poisoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the sound of the flowing water in the distance, he could tell he was near a valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Rest today, and leave tomorrow.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when the direction was unclear, there was always a way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just had to choose a direction and go straight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it turned out to be the wrong way, as long as his sense of direction returned, getting out wouldn't be difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid thought this through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'How did the battle go?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't the time to look back or survey the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid had done his best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was through his effort that the battle had taken this shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he didn't know was that, with just one battle, the tide had turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outcome of this battlefield would soon be sealed with a victory for Naurlilia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though those who died in between were unavoidable, Enkrid was unaware of the full situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he knew that there was no need for him to fight further here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aspen had become a deer, torn apart by a beast's fangs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn't controlled or observed the entire battlefield, but he could feel the flow of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid found a tree with a large trunk, laid some leaves underneath, and settled down, seeking shelter from the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't long before he woke up, with dawn breaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body, trained over time, immediately shifted into a combat stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of stepping on grass reached his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was fortunate he hadn't lit a fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he done so, his position would have been revealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It worked out well.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was able to find the enemy's position and ask them for directions to an escape route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid held his breath and focused his hearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He relaxed his muscles, starting from his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He warmed up his cold body to prepare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His ears pinpointed the enemy's position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, it was from the left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, from the right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The presence was closing in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid, focusing on hearing, peered out from his crouch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What's this?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't a small reconnaissance unit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a large force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were cutting through the thickets with their blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sounds of the brush being pierced echoed one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were more than one set of eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy was everywhere around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Counting their numbers was pointless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no surprise that he was spotted like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy locked eyes with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their vision was sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid thought as he stood up completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Capture him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy rushed at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fighting wasn't always the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid pulled back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't a fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krais always praised his leader's intellect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid was thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than face them, it was better to move and escape...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud, thud, thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While still thinking, arrows rained down from one direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Madmen.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they fired like that, they'd end up hitting their own side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid raised his sword and deflected the unavoidable arrows, spotting a large tree nearby. He quickly moved to take cover behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several arrows hit the tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, a few arrows struck their own side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, the arrows did not stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire more!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arrows kept flying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid briefly checked the blade of his sword, then swung it wildly toward the tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a full-powered spinning strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A loud explosion echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the sword strike, half of the tree was shattered, as if it had been cleaved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with that, the blade itself developed a crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wear from battle had taken its toll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the tree half cut, Enkrid then drew his Gladius across it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heart of the beast's strength surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The muscles used for swinging the sword reacted and swelled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the blunt yet solid blade cracked through the remaining part of the tree, splitting it apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tree tilted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy soldier underneath, who was directly beneath the tilting tree, panicked and stumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tree fell, breaking branches as it went down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Move!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Crazy!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy troops panicked and scattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid seized the opportunity and dashed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ran toward what he assumed was the south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He discarded his cracked sword and switched the Gladius from his left side to his right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where are you going?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, a line of heavily armored infantry appeared ahead, blocking his path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were holding thick shields, forming a blockade with more than fifty soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Enkrid tried to move past them, more enemies began to swarm from the sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are there so many?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were far too many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had others been caught up in this, too?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid quickly reevaluated. Charging in would definitely kill half of them, but what would happen afterward?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had learned to avoid paths that led to certain death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled back and kept running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While running, he kicked a stone from the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sharp sound, the stone flew into the air and was struck with the edge of his Gladius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a bright clang, the stone flew faster than any arrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stone hit the head of a soldier who was aiming a crossbow ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'This is the way.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spotted a gap where the crossbowmen had clustered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid dashed through the gap between the enemy soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like a predator among herbivores.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Gladius in his right hand, he slashed, stabbed, and fought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gladius, however, wasn't designed for slashing—it was meant for thrusting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After killing half a dozen soldiers, he broke through and saw a path ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It appeared to be a deliberately created trail through the bushes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Got it.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he thought he had escaped, he heard the command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crossbow bolts flew from both sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a trap, using a crossbow unit as bait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Who set this up?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A nasty trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid dove forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One bolt hit his armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn't pierce through to his flesh, but there was no time to remove it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid kept running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dodged to the side, slashing and killing about six or seven enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he jumped backward, cutting down another fifteen or so soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fought, stabbed, ran, and repeated this cycle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle that started with the sunrise continued until dusk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like being trapped in a maze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, he saw a wall made of stacked stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When did they prepare that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was ridiculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way to break through with sheer force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with the enemy forces closing in from behind, it was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you guys?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid wasn't injured, but his limbs were trembling from nonstop running and swinging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the strongest have limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They say a knight can cut down a thousand men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, what about a sub-knight?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sub-knight can't take down a thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's why they're called sub-knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Enkrid struggled, Abnaier muttered to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Try cutting down a thousand by yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then maybe you'll survive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, you'll die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strategist of Aspen was certain of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwup!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of arrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After fighting fiercely to the very end, with arrows flying, and battling back until the very last, the battle was nearly over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him were three swordsmen from the Hurrier family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ahead, dozens of heavily armored shield soldiers blocked the path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And dozens of arrows flew toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no time to dodge—one hit his stomach, another struck his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bandages under his armor protected his stomach, but the arrow to his shoulder was poorly blocked, leaving his left arm unable to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His shoulder guard had long been lost, and only one gauntlet remained on his right hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His boots were also torn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind biting through the torn armor and flesh was unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body was in tatters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid killed the two Hurrier family swordsmen with his Gladius, and took the last one' arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man whose arm was severed glared at Enkrid with bloodshot eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seems like you under-prepared.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid had no time to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final act was concluded with dozens of arrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, in truth, one hundred and fifty arrows were shot by a hundred and fifty archers aiming at a single target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid held two swords and ran forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Desperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where do you think you're going?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Huryer family soldier who had lost his arm threw himself at Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Enkrid split the man's skull with his Gladius, dozens of arrows embedded themselves in his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrows hit his thighs, shoulders, and, most dangerously, grazed his neck, ripping away a chunk of flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thunk, his knee hit the ground, and his body collapsed, headfirst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Crazy bastard.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid finally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had mobilized all this force and preparation just to capture him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small part of him was, surprisingly, a little irritated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of death was something new for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed his eyes, his body shaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had lost so much blood that he couldn't regulate his body temperature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Death was close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The darkness clouded his vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The coldness brought on by his falling body temperature made it feel like a chilling death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He died, and when he opened his eyes again...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He heard the sound of flowing water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A boatman appeared with a purple lantern on a swaying boat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you enjoying yourself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boatman asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>----------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you for reading!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some extra Chapters or if you want to show your support head here:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.gg\u002FeXsm6WsQE6\u003C\u002Fp>",3131,"2026-06-03T07:42:59.781Z","2026-06-03T07:42:55.458Z",1,"novelbin.me","41429bee23b75f28f18e01c2c1a14ed5d0ff51d9c39633c6a7495edb52446568","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-310","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-308",782,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternally-regressing-knight-cover.jpg"]