[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternally-regressing-knight":3,"chapter-eternally-regressing-knight-eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-5":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},963676,1263,"Chapter 5 - Valen-Style Swordsmanship","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-5",5,"\u003Cp>Chapter 5 - Valen-Style Swordsmanship\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh? Huh? How did you know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not a prophet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Enkrid's response, Rem shook out the bug from his boot onto the ground and spoke confidently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you put it in there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn't.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem kept his suspicious gaze fixed on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid didn't care about Rem's accusatory look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn't the issue at hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stomped on the bug that Rem had dropped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squelch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A distinctly unpleasant sensation spread from the sole of his boot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spitting onto the ground, Enkrid rubbed the remains of the bug into the dirt and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you teach me the Heart of the Beast?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh? You remembered that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem straightened his boots and stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's not something easy to forget.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn't stop you from drowning your guts in booze, wanting to forget.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, he'd kept seeing the scene of his head being cut off by an axe in his dreams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life felt unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you teach me, or not?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're fired up today, huh? Alright, let's do it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jaxen, can you handle morning duty? I'll take over tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since they needed strength to train, wasting time on chores like cleaning dishes was unnecessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure, no problem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaxen, a squad member who was always cheerful and got along well with others, replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had such a mild personality that it was hard to understand why he was part of this unit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Enkrid first met him, he assumed Jaxen was some sort of mediator within the squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaxen casually dusted off his reddish-brown hair and stepped out of the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching him leave, Rem snorted and blew his nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That guy always gives me a bad vibe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was true that if Jaxen had been an effective mediator, Enkrid might never have ended up in this squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaxen got along well with other units but didn't get along with the Fourth Squad members—except for Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, Enkrid had a knack for earning his squadmates' trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was because he silently took on all sorts of tasks or because of his mediocre skills that seemed destined to keep him as a low-ranking squad leader, even Enkrid didn't know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just figured it had to be one of the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem headed out of the tent, and Enkrid followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That guy feels off. Something about him doesn't sit right with me. You should keep your distance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what about you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid only asked the question in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this the same guy who broke his superior officer's jaw in his last unit, giving advice about keeping distance?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem might have been his benefactor, but to others—especially those from his former unit—he was a walking disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first squad members glared daggers at him whenever they crossed paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one would warm up to someone who'd done that to their squad leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid didn't argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wouldn't change anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time wasted arguing would be better spent practicing the Heart of the Beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was much to learn from Rem beyond that technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Especially since he's close with the First Squad members. That makes it even worse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alright, if you say so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Enkrid didn't respond, Rem stopped in his tracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Squad leader, you're acting weird today. Normally, you'd have something to say by now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, he'd have remarked on how ridiculous it was for someone who broke his superior's jaw to give advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe he would have suggested ignoring Jaxen entirely if friendliness wasn't possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of encouraging them to get along, Enkrid preferred to keep people apart to avoid conflicts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was his secret to leading the chaotic, death-laden Fourth Squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing to say.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid cut the conversation short.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem scratched the back of his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Strange day, huh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They ate breakfast and made their way to a clearing outside the barracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Training on the battlefield might seem odd to others, but for Enkrid, it was routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who knew him wouldn't see it as anything unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even passersby didn't spare them a second glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, the Heart of the Beast training resumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have you been secretly learning from someone else? Not that you'd have had the chance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I just practiced what I've been taught.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Practice alone got you this far?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each near-death experience brought a new layer of understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid found it easier to focus than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem eyed him suspiciously but eventually shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine. If you say so. Squad leader, you've got talent, I'll give you that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem echoed a sentiment he'd expressed the day before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talent, huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would have been nice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments ago, Enkrid failed to evade Rem's axe again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade had stopped just shy of his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mere flick of the wrist would have left a deep scar on his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That was close,\" Rem chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed pleased with Enkrid's progress, his laughter tinged with satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid noticed it, too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of trick lets you swing an axe like that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That axe strike just now—it was faster than the thrust that had killed him before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The axe blade had approached so quickly, it felt like it would graze his skin any second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Enkrid didn't blink, he couldn't track its movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Talent?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid was reminded once again what an irritating bastard Rem could be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd always been like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If training were enough, everyone would be a master swordsman, wouldn't they?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem laughed heartily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Enkrid had picked up on his satisfaction earlier, he now realized Rem took delight in teasing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was an odd one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again, was anyone in this squad not odd?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What if I train more? Work harder? Practice endlessly, even without sleep?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid's question came out instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a dilemma he'd grappled with for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he lacked talent, should he give up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid chose not to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of giving up, he pressed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If geniuses could take ten steps at a time, he'd take a quarter-step at a time, but he'd keep going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Man, you really are strange today. Did you drink some potion of seriousness or something?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem chuckled, hanging his axe on the strap at his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Squad leader.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem's tone grew serious as he called out to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief silence, Rem spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you don't sleep, you'll die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem's words were followed by his cheeks trembling as he struggled to hold back laughter before bursting out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was his answer to Enkrid's earlier question about practicing without rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Screw you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid responded with the universal gesture of disdain—raising his middle finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rhem chuckled and suggested they head for lunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid didn't plead to learn more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can't fill your belly in one bite, and he understood that truth better than anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After lunch, he reviewed his swordsmanship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thrusting, slashing, and swinging—basic techniques of swordsmanship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After mastering these fundamentals, he learned the Valen mercenary swordsmanship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't subpar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had invested significant time and money into learning it—far beyond what a handful of silver coins could buy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valen mercenary swordsmanship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it didn't reach knightly levels, it was renowned among mercenaries, and Valen's swordsmanship stood out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If categorized, it would fall under the \"Illusion Sword\" style.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The original manner in which Valen used it was unknown, but Enkrid had incorporated several techniques into his repertoire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He poured his effort into mastering them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After death, each day repeated itself, but the lessons etched into the body remained.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heart of the Beast was not learned with the mind but ingrained into the body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant that what his body retained stayed intact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pushed himself to exhaustion, wielding his sword until the calloused skin of his palms, already thickened, split open anew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary soldiers didn't use swords; spears were their primary weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His role as a squad leader granted him the privilege of wielding a sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Enkrid had no intention of letting it go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He trained relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the pain in his grip, he endured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as his stomach churned from undigested food, he persisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He focused all his senses on the tips of his toes and fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Illusion Sword techniques revolved around deception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They encouraged the use of any means to mislead an opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some of Valen's swordsmanship techniques had already spread throughout the mercenary world—for instance, feigning a fall to deliver a surprise thrust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Call it dishonorable if you like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why would survival tactics be considered disgraceful?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone claimed knights wouldn't stoop to such tactics, Enkrid wouldn't argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had their values, and he had his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The half-day allocated for training passed swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His legs didn't tremble; if they had, the daily physical conditioning he had undergone would have been meaningless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid's legs were sturdy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A strong body is quite the asset.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem commented as Enkrid returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A messenger had just arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the sixth repeat of the day, and by glancing at the sky, Enkrid could estimate the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A body trained for over 20 years,\"Enkrid replied casually, moving back to his squad's position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Make sure that sturdy body doesn't end up as just another training dummy,\"Rem quipped before battle, his laughter ringing again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're on duty tomorrow,\"Jaxen added nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One seemed to mock him, while the other appeared resolute not to take cooking duty two days in a row.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter the tone, both seemed to want him to return alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See you later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sixth day began anew, and Enkrid killed enemies more efficiently than the previous one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first enemy lunged, but Enkrid tripped him and smashed his head with a shield edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second fell to a feint before being stabbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valen mercenary swordsmanship wasn't common knowledge; he had sought it out and paid to learn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wavering tip of his sword became a mirage, obscuring his enemy's focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His efforts bore fruit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt the satisfaction of growth, a fulfillment filling his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even amidst the repetitions, his progress wasn't negligible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his death and resurrection, Enkrid didn't squander a single day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quite the opposite—he fought more fiercely, immersed himself further, and honed his focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lived with yearning and fervent hope, never letting opportunities slip away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, Enkrid fought, cutting down enemies, striking, and toppling them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The repetition of battles granted him new experiences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Heart of the Beast.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He began to perceive what had previously been invisible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, he reached the moment where Bell fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fighting daily at the same location, he always saw Bell fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't retreat or relocate at will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recklessly crossing the frontlines was tantamount to suicide; it was no easy feat to alter one's position on the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not at that level.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid knew himself well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had grown confident, he wasn't capable of weaving through enemy ranks or attempting reckless gambits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't yet foresee the flight of a seasoned archer's arrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bell's head exploded once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had resolved to save him this time but failed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, Enkrid ducked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An arrow whistled through the air as if preordained, its piercing sound lingering in his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His movements were almost instinctual, as though he had anticipated it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're sharp today, aren't you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem commented as he approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go slit the throat of that archer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Was planning on it anyway. Stay sharp.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem departed, leaving Enkrid to face another enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, a soldier thrust a spear at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid failed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He evaded a club swung from behind but was struck by a throwing axe from another direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was infuriating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morning broke for the seventh time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I put a bug in your boot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid told Rem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you insane?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I'm not. Staying calm in such situations—that's the Heart of the Beast, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Teach me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the day restarted, Rem blinked, then agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid trained, practiced, and wielded his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he didn't try to save Bell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To save him, he needed to predict the flight of arrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he couldn't, he'd have to rely on luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did Rem dodge those arrows?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that question in mind, Enkrid moved his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another thrust led to his death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll show mercy,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he muttered bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That cursed mercy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so he died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over a hundred deaths later, Enkrid continued to repeat the day, always beginning with his death.\u003C\u002Fp>",2070,"2026-06-03T07:42:59.504Z","2026-06-03T07:42:55.457Z",1,"novelbin.me","87781a1b0a8d4bde68aecb87454502c2f98a97086c897a8cd10c6f3e8b6f41f4","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-6","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-4",782,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternally-regressing-knight-cover.jpg"]