[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternally-regressing-knight":3,"chapter-eternally-regressing-knight-eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-43":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},963714,1263,"Chapter 43 - Mitch Hurrier","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-43",43,"\u003Cp>Chapter 43 - Mitch Hurrier\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Duchy of Aspen was governed by three prominent families, with the Hurrier family representing martial strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every child born into the Hurrier family, regardless of gender, was taught martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After assessing their talents, only the most promising children were selected for advanced training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talent, by its nature, is capricious, a game of chance dictated by the whims of fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To gather such talent, the Hurrier family sought individuals from both direct and collateral branches without discrimination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitch Hurrier was one such individual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Born into a collateral branch, he had a different family name initially, but now, he was one of the Hurrier family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitch Hurrier had shown extraordinary talent from a young age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At fifteen, he could take on multiple adult soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The following year, he surpassed the standard of a regular soldier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By eighteen, he proved his skill by defeating a swordsman at the village-level in a one-on-one duel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By twenty-two, he could spar with individuals renowned across a city and hold his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who could rival him in swordsmanship were few, even rarer among his peers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such an environment nurtured arrogance in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why bother with relentless training when I can achieve it after a few tries?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why should he train until his thighs ached and swelled?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why should he swing his sword until his palms bled?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't want to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was content with the present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the early days of wielding a sword, he no longer put in much effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, his innate talent alone placed him among the top three fighters in the Grey Hounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Mitch, this situation was unprecedented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The downward strike of his sword was deflected from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Distracted for a moment, he felt the opponent's blade graze his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitch retaliated by thrusting his sword and kicking at his opponent's shin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a tactic he often used against weaker opponents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't easy to block a kick aimed at the legs while preoccupied with the sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the kick was intercepted, it would create an opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, his opponent dodged the thrust by twisting their shoulder and blocked the kick by lifting one leg, maintaining perfect balance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This opponent had solid fundamentals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This wasn't his level a few days ago,\"Mitch thought, recalling their earlier encounter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opponent had approached without hesitation, casually saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, nice to meet you. Shall we risk our lives on a duel?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recognized the face—it was that soldier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one from the enemy unit that had launched a surprise attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the obscuring mist spreading across the battlefield, how had they made it here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no time to ponder further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opponent lunged with their sword, extending it in a straight line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blocking the strike, Mitch thought it might be another feint operation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, he instructed his men to protect the rear while he handled this foe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the flag fell, the operation would face significant setbacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Protecting it was his duty here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy soldier countered with a strike aimed at Mitch's head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitch intercepted the sword, deflecting it diagonally in a cross-pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tiiing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blades screeched as they slid past one another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both fighters pushed with force, creating a gap of over five paces between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before either could strike again, Mitch spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Were you hiding your skill?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It just turned out that way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's your name?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enkrid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the person Mitch had been dying to face—a foe he needed to kill to feel satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, they had come to him of their own accord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitch licked his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, Enkrid. I'll remember your name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No need to. I can always remind you later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Crazy bastard. You're going to die here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitch raised his sword above his left shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having clashed several times, he had gauged Enkrid's skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was now time to showcase his full strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He believed he could sever Enkrid's neck within five exchanges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, five exchanges passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitch furrowed his brows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frustration crept into his expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a first for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opponent wasn't overwhelmingly superior, yet they managed to keep up, just barely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it felt as though they knew all his habits—blocking, enduring, and countering his attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitch increased his speed and threw in feints, but the battle still didn't end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the clash dragged on, his focus narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world faded, leaving only the sword and his opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitch Hurrier felt as if he were holding a sword for the first time again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That sensation when only he and his blade existed under the vast sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When every strike felt as if it would cleave the opponent, and every thrust felt as if it would pierce them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitch fought with that same clarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He struck downward, curved his attacks, extended his reach, thrust, and spun his strikes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his opponent did the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid entered a state of heightened focus, exchanging blows with Mitch in that state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The countless repetitions of that day had made Mitch's habits glaringly obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blocking the kicks and parrying the sword strikes became second nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, the opponent's swordplay changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strikes grew fiercer, sharper—thrusting, twisting, slashing, with the blade spinning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang! Bang! Thud-thud-thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the blades clashed with full force, sparks flew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several strikes grazed Enkrid's shoulder and side, drawing blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the wounds weren't deep, droplets of blood splattered into the air, and at least three moments passed where his life hung by a thread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In those moments, Enkrid's focus deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deeper still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He intentionally drove himself further into the state, discarding awareness of his surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and his sword became the entire world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every fiber of his being was fully attuned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Mitch Hurrier's sword filled his vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Likewise, Mitch Hurrier saw only Enkrid's blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two fought like madmen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every strike was a gamble for their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the spectators were breathless as deadly blows were exchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having failed to decapitate each other, both bore fresh cuts on their necks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his concentrated state, Mitch deployed his ultimate technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shifted his stance, stepping back with his left foot and forward with his right, creating an unfamiliar distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let his sword hang behind his hip, obscuring its tip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hup.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a short breath, he tensed his muscles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This technique combined defensive and offensive elements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a devastating reverse swing calledWheel Slash,drawing a wide arc from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By altering his stance to conceal the sword's starting point, Mitch created an unblockable strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid, now in an even deeper state of immersion, had gained more than just swordsmanship from this duel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't visually perceive it, but every movement Mitch made played out vividly in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sharpened hearing caught every detail—the sound of shifting feet, the controlled breaths as Mitch adjusted his stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The countless times he had facedWheel Slashin the past imprinted an unmistakable image in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt as though he could see the hidden blade and even hear Mitch's breaths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All this information came together to predict the timing of theWheel Slash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade carved through the air, rising from below with a deadly arc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his hyper-focused state, Enkrid instinctively brought his sword down to meet the strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid's sword collided with the incoming blade of his opponent, Mitch, with a sharp clang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer force of their clash caused a crack to form in Enkrid's weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitch's momentary surprise at his countered strike disrupted his focus, but Enkrid remained unwavering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking advantage of the opening, Enkrid allowed his blade to slide along Mitch's, producing an eerie, screeching sound as the metal surfaces scraped against each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitch instinctively tried to lift his sword, but Enkrid pressed down with superior strength, leveraging his training and physical power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The downward force overpowered Mitch's upward resistance, sending Mitch's weapon off balance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a swift follow-up, Enkrid lunged forward, his sword tip piercing Mitch's chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Mitch wore armor, the impact drove deep, leaving a bleeding wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Retrieving his sword quickly, Enkrid stepped back to catch his breath, his body trembling from the exertion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitch staggered, blood pooling from his chest wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He managed to stay on his feet, glaring defiantly at Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I should've countered... If I'd deflected and created an opening, I'd have had the upper hand. You agree, don't you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Victory is determined by results,\" Enkrid replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fair enough,\" Mitch admitted with a bitter laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still, it stings. I should never have neglected my training.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His vision blurred as blood loss took its toll, but before Enkrid could deliver the finishing blow, reinforcements arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A burly man with a thick mustache blocked Enkrid's path, slamming a weapon onto Enkrid's sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact forced Enkrid back a few steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Protect Mitch!\" the mustached man shouted, as soldiers moved to shield the wounded Mitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of them applied a powder to his chest, quickly staunching the bleeding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid analyzed the mustached man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breathing was labored, but his stance revealed no openings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear this man had experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, Enkrid wasn't here for duels; he had an objective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You think bigger conduits for sorcery are more flawed, don't you?\" Enkrid asked, watching as Mitch was carried away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His question caught the mustached man off guard, his eyes narrowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid seized the distraction, kicking up dirt and grass into the man's face before bolting toward the enemy banner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crossbow bolts whizzed through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One grazed Enkrid's shoulder, but he pressed on, weaving through the enemy lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he neared the banner, he grabbed a discarded throwing knife and launched it at the flag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavy fabric resisted the blades, leaving only minor damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undeterred, Enkrid reached for a fallen spear, hurling it with all his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear pierced the banner, tearing a hole in it. The magical conduit was compromised, disrupting the enemy's sorcery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A veil of mist began lifting from the battlefield as Enkrid took a deep breath of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mustached man, enraged by the sight, roared, \"You think you'll escape alive after this, you madman?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid raised his sword, aligning it with his body for defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was still work to be done.\u003C\u002Fp>",1699,"2026-06-03T07:42:59.504Z","2026-06-03T07:42:55.457Z",1,"novelbin.me","517ef0d69e2a2fe74667c97d37ad197b6ec3fdd139e5f4b1ffe466bca50d7323","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-44","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-42",782,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternally-regressing-knight-cover.jpg"]