[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternally-regressing-knight":3,"chapter-eternally-regressing-knight-eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-87":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},964008,1263,"Chapter 87 - The Law of Killing the Ones Who Must Die","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-87",87,"\u003Cp>Chapter 87 - The Law of Killing the Ones Who Must Die\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's about reading your opponent and responding accordingly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While taking hits from Rem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While learning about instincts from Jaxen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While straining his body through Audin's isolation technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even while earnestly learning swordsmanship from Ragna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though progress was another matter entirely, his diligence remained unwavering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't you feel frustrated?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna often asked Enkrid that question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frustrated?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no reason to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna's teachings were not just about mastering the basics but also about showing the way forward—a guidepost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How long had he wandered, clueless and lost?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, with every step he took, new paths became visible, and it brought him nothing but joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How should one respond to a descending sword?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should one do if the opponent is a beast?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What about an ambush from behind with a spear?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How should one extend their sword in different situations?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the basics are mastered, the next step is learning how to apply them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one can prepare for every situation. It's all about grasping the essence, the technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it was far from easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought this would be over quickly,\" Ragna had said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was no chance of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid knew his talent was subpar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his abilities had been average, would he have struggled so much?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he bore no resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of wasting time complaining, he would swing his sword one more time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The application of swordsmanship only holds meaning when you can read your opponent's moves and respond.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether the opponent was a beast, a monster, or an enemy soldier, one simply had to observe their movements, discern truth from deception, and then slash or stab them with the sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna never tired of teaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And though Enkrid was equally tireless, his progress was excruciatingly slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew he was slow and lacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also knew he had to work several times harder than others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, he turned everything around him—every situation, every environment, and even fleeting moments—into tools for growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, Enkrid pressed on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Digging deeper into the cave, they pressed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four wolf-like beasts leapt out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Growl!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They barked like dogs and charged without giving a moment's respite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dynamic movement of the wolves, kicking up dirt as they dashed forward, would send shivers down anyone's spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their savage eyes radiated ferocity, and their tongues hung out between jaws dripping with saliva.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their yellow teeth glinted red in the torchlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Heart of the Beast.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This bravery, born from his training, allowed him to face down even imminent danger without flinching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, Enkrid remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the span of a few breaths, the wolves had already closed the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He combined the instinct of his swordsmanship with his innate reflexes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His reactions, derived from his courage, were almost reflexive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He believed even this would serve as a foundation for growth, using it as part of his training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'There's no better practice than real combat.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only downside was that it always came at the risk of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But wasting today was unacceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had desired a mundane life of tilling fields and praying for blessings, he would never have dared to dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cherished each day, even as he risked his life to move forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the only path Enkrid had to sing his dreams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't throwing himself into death but rather staking his life to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trusting his instincts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following his reflexes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of the wolf's jaws snapping shut echoed inches away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid dodged the beast's bite by stepping back with his left foot, then swung his elbow to bring his sword crashing down from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack! Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of the blade, the flat of the sword struck the wolf's skull, sending it sprawling to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking a step to the left, Enkrid positioned himself so the torchlight illuminated the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the wolves lunged with its forelegs, narrowly missing his abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The force of the blow would have shredded his gambeson into tatters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beasts resembled monstrous predators with animalistic traits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two of the wolves cunningly circled around to attack his rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking they had found an opening, they bared their knife-like teeth, sharper and denser than ordinary wolves, aiming for Enkrid's thighs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp whistle filled the dimly lit cave as Enkrid spun and threw his hand forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A throwing dagger pierced the forehead of one of the wolves with a dull thud, its speed blindingly fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other lunged simultaneously, but Enkrid avoided its teeth by pulling back his thigh and struck its head with a rising knee, combining evasion with attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wolf, though stunned, didn't retreat. Instead, it pressed its muscular forelegs toward Enkrid's foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid stepped back, avoiding the claws aimed at his foot, and positioned himself between the two remaining wolves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was surrounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the dire situation, Enkrid's gaze wasn't fixed solely on the wolves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And more focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He no longer experienced the slowed perception of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nor did the surroundings dissolve into lines and points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the wolves' movements were vividly clear to his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid could predict their next actions as if they were already drawn in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With their movements visible, his response became straightforward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need for feints or elaborate strategies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let his sword hang loosely and swung it in a wide arc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cave was too narrow for horizontal strikes but tall enough for a vertical sweep in a semicircular motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The longsword, designed to crush in a single strike, did its job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slash! Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wolf on the receiving end of the blade was cleaved from chest to jaw, while the second one had its head shattered by the descending blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his timing had been off, he would've been mauled by at least one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This strike was sheer force turned into a spectacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Phew.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid exhaled the breath he had been holding, calming his pounding heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'One.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One wolf remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lone survivor hesitated, giving Enkrid the chance to dart forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curiously, he ran not straight at the wolf but to its left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wolf, seemingly oblivious, turned toward the same direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Pivot on the left foot.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a state of heightened focus, guided by instinct and accumulated experience, he followed through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pivoting on his left foot, Enkrid thrust his sword forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade plunged into the wolf's gaping maw, piercing through its head and emerging from the back of its skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wolf's weight bore down on his arms as he withdrew the blade, letting the lifeless body drop to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped on the wolf's head to free his sword, blood dripping onto the cave floor as the beast's corpse quivered in its final moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last wolf's life ebbed away with a whimper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lowering his arms, Enkrid reflected on what he had just done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I can see.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wolf beast's movements were simple—instinctual, driven by primal urges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This simplicity resonated with Enkrid's sixth sense, combining pinpoint focus with an innate intuition. It resulted in a series of strikes that leaned entirely on these instincts and sensations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can do this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, he felt he could demonstrate the adaptive swordsmanship Ragna had spoken of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reading the opponent's intent and movements was the key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What remained was merely to bring down his sword, trained through countless fundamentals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deception followed a similar principle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's something you already know. You're just in the process of formalizing it and ingraining it into your body,\" Ragna's words echoed in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, he had done this before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was a stark difference between doing something unknowingly and doing it with conscious understanding—like the difference between a housecat and a tiger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clenching and unclenching his fist, Enkrid revisited those words repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as he held the torch and moved forward, his mind was constantly painting an image of his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mastering it in one attempt was a privilege of the gifted. For him, contemplation and repetition were the paths forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Enkrid, every moment became an opportunity for training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No more monsters or beasts appeared in his path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he found a passage connected to the sewers at the corridor's end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was here that something beyond swordsmanship came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever did this... they're insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Digging such a tunnel—it was incomprehensible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spell traps were expensive, far from being mere cheap rodent snares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet someone had set them across all six branching paths, blocking every route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the wealthiest merchants in Krona wouldn't engage in such extravagance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with ghouls, beasts, and man-eating monstrosities stationed here, the question loomed—what were they guarding so desperately?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer began to surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're out of your mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid muttered as he reached a sewage pathway reeking of foul odors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the torchlight, he saw what looked like laundry strung across the space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn't clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were body parts—human entrails, flesh, and bones, arranged in grotesque displays.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Enkrid, who had seen his share of horrors, felt bile rise in his throat at this abomination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This bastard... he must die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn't just an act of madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something no knight could overlook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dreams didn't make someone a knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But neither could a knight ignore such atrocities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the carnage, there were intact human bodies, though lifeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of them seemed alive, blinking and attempting to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Krrrk...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It couldn't form words—unsurprising since it was nothing but a head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight of it blinking and moving its lips was grotesque in itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Krrrk... Krrrk...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was it trying to say?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid couldn't even guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were him in such a state, he'd likely beg for death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't fathom how it was functioning, nor did he want to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The threads piercing through the skull weren't something he wanted to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with all he had endured, this horror was revolting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice interrupted his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid turned toward its source—a man at the end of the passage, amidst the morbid decorations of human corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a pale young man with long hair, draped in a dull green robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This place—it's your handiwork, isn't it?\" Enkrid asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking, his words mingling with muttered musings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did you get here? Is it divine providence? A god must love me, delivering a test subject straight to my door. Let's see... You're from the standing army, aren't you? A well-trained body. Excellent. Oh, yes. Perfect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man's voice was light and cheerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sounded like a blacksmith admiring fine steel or a merchant celebrating a lucrative deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he resembled a pure-hearted youth confessing his feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The juxtaposition was unsettling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What should I turn you into?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raising his torch high, Enkrid glimpsed a shadow behind the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A grotesque figure stitched together from various body parts leaned against the wall, motionless with its eyes closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Beautiful, isn't it? That's my masterpiece in progress. Its name is Vamillo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid reached a conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No more words were necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This lunatic...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hurled the torch at the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The torch spun through the air, its fiery trail arcing toward the madman's head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a simple gesture, the man deflected the torch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He's a mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that didn't change anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man who deserved to die must die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after seeing the torch flung away with a wave of the hand, Enkrid didn't stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He charged forward, lowering his body to the grimy sewer floor and propelling himself closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splashing through filth, he reached the mage in a flash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using his momentum, he swung his sword upward in a diagonal slash, cutting through the darkness left by the extinguished torch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Esther usually stayed close at night, but on days when Enkrid was in the city, she often lingered nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there were days she didn't.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's enough to stick close at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn't need to be with him all the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On what would've been an uneventful day in the barracks, something changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay safe,\" she said, watching Enkrid leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, in a moment of carelessness, he flicked her nose with his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This bastard...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See you later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that, he was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curious about what he was up to, Esther decided to follow him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her silent pursuit was born of simple curiosity, sparked by Enkrid's unpredictable nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blending into the shadows of the alleys, the black panther moved nimbly, unseen by others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She followed him underground, drawn by the strange magical scent emanating from his destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deeper she went, the more she realized something was amiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she didn't intervene, the man she had chosen might die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would be troublesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, she decided to observe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she saw Enkrid fighting ghouls, she thought to herself,Has he improved?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she wasn't versed in swordsmanship, she had watched him every day and could tell—He has grown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he fought the wolf beast, something unusual caught her attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What's this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid's movements were almost otherworldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in the heat of battle, he emerged unscathed, his armor bearing only superficial scratches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is the beast just incompetent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, that didn't seem to be the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, Enkrid pressed on, eventually reaching the site of the grotesque carnage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Esther wasn't shocked—she'd seen her share of insane mages before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, the sight of Enkrid confronting a mage made her pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I help?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expending even the meager power she had regained would delay her return to her true form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, she chose to wait and watch as Enkrid engaged the madman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as the fight unfolded, she found herself captivated by him, her sharp eyes hidden in the shadows of the darkened sewers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid, the man who never ceased to surprise her.\u003C\u002Fp>",2313,"2026-06-03T07:42:55.179Z","2026-06-03T07:42:59.781Z",1,"novelbin.me","c5e587a69c1c126ed5f675ecef2a5453a382be255e76a27abe81425e6ae506c1","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-88","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-86",782,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternally-regressing-knight-cover.jpg"]