[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternally-regressing-knight":3,"chapter-eternally-regressing-knight-eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-92":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},964013,1263,"Chapter 92 - The Fine Line Between Greatness and Madness","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-92",92,"\u003Cp>Chapter 92 - The Fine Line Between Greatness and Madness\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid carefully polished his boots and gloves before wiping down his sword with an oiled cloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The recent task of clearing out a horde of beasts had drawn merchants to the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This, in turn, meant a new sword for Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The broken blade, once forged with Valerian steel, had been reforged with the addition of Noir mountain iron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mixing two high-quality metals recognized across the continent was no small feat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is something only I can do,\" boasted the blacksmith.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't mere arrogance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he couldn't forge magical swords, his skill in working with metal rivaled that of a mage's finesse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a renowned artisan within the Border Guard—though his fame might not extend beyond the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, that was something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the artisan finished crafting Enkrid's sword, even the notoriously picky Ragna offered a begrudging nod of approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's decent enough. Though it's still far from ideal for my use,\" Ragna added with characteristic bluntness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid inspected the blade, carefully running the oiled cloth over it before flicking a finger against its edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The resonant tone indicated the sword's exceptional quality—this was the first time Enkrid wielded a blade worthy of being called a masterpiece.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't help but feel satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna, on the other hand, wasn't so particular about his weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He used whatever was at hand, even if it was a battered piece of metal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, Enkrid had sharpened Ragna's notched arming sword himself because Ragna couldn't be bothered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Enkrid's help, he might have kept carrying a chipped sword into battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Esther, that's not a toy,\" Enkrid said gently, addressing the lake panther.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had several items recovered after taking down the sewer necrophile mage, but one stood out—a grimoire bound in human skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Enkrid handed over the items to Krais for sale, the man had remarked with suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was really a mage in the sewer?\" Krais asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you doubt me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I believed you, but now I believe you a bit more,\" Krais replied, though it sounded as though he hadn't entirely trusted the story before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, most of the items sold easily, except for the grimoire, which was tricky to handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The staff and other materials, such as alchemical stones, fetched a decent price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The proceeds, along with funds from guild contributions and the mage's bounty, were all poured into the creation of Enkrid's new sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with the expense, Enkrid had no regrets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This will do just fine,\" he thought, knowing that in battles where lives hung in the balance, a superior weapon could make all the difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the grimoire, still wrapped in its unsettling cover, was rewrapped in thin cloth for storage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Esther had claimed it as her new resting spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Should I just leave it there?\" Enkrid wondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least Esther wouldn't urinate on it; she was fastidious about her habits, always finding a secluded spot for her needs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Enkrid reached out toward the grimoire, Esther hissed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leave it be. She seems comfortable,\" Rem commented, prompting Enkrid to let the matter rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his new sword in hand and the mage's legacy dealt with, Enkrid turned his focus back to training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rising earlier than the dawn, he added hours to his routine, thanks to the flexibility of his new role as platoon leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold predawn air was biting, but Enkrid began his day by practicing theIsolation Technique, a method of warming his body through controlled movements and lifting weights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Audin joined him, beginning his own training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good morning, platoon leader,\" Audin greeted, adding a formal tone to his usual address.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid recalled the company commander's promise to assign more members to his platoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Audin's voice pulled him back to focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Concentrate,\" Audin said sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, yes,\" Enkrid replied, shifting his attention back to his breathing and movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His training was not limited to physical exercise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He honed his skills in swordsmanship, refining techniques likeHeart of the Beast,Sense of Evasion, andIsolation Technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also practiced observing opponents' physical conditions and predicting attacks through instinct and intuition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the various styles he had learned was the Valen mercenary swordsmanship, which he considered keeping in his arsenal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Should I abandon it, or can it still be useful?\" he pondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ultimately, Enkrid decided to retain the style.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I lack the skill to use it effectively, I'll simply work to improve,\" he concluded, dedicating himself to continuous growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Courage is always essential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It proves its worth simply by keeping one's eyes open at critical moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Enkrid, theHeart of the Beastwas the foundation of everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Calmly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day, he trained his intuition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On another, he combined his senses with focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's blend it into my body.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every swing of a sword carries the weight of countless experiences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is a process of internalizing through instinct, recognizing with the mind, and embedding it into the body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it was far from easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through this process, Enkrid gradually honed a pattern and method unique to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Training alone isn't enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was necessary was real combat—training intertwined with actual battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Preferably...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Combat where you risk your life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's what I told you before,\" Rem had joked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fighting for your life earns you a lot if you survive. But since you only have one life, building skills like that doesn't make much sense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a jest, but it held a kernel of truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Enkrid understood the importance of life-or-death combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because dying was significant, but because overcoming death repeatedly mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aware of the necessity of real battles, Enkrid began accepting missions—ranging from trivial to extreme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned none away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are we supposed to find this time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My cat,\" requested a noblewoman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such was the nature of some tasks his unit undertook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Enkrid did not discriminate between assignments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any situation, any moment—all were opportunities to train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this mindset, Enkrid found the cat, perched atop a tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's settle this calmly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cat appeared ready to bolt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its instincts, visible even through the realm of intuition, were vivid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oddly enough, even this became a learning experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By channeling his intent and aura, Enkrid drove the cat to leap down, catching it mid-air and subduing it with his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This, too, was now within his grasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've opened the door to intuition,\" Jaxen remarked, observing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaxen no longer tormented Enkrid with constant pressure, recognizing it as futile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From finding cats to pursuing thieves, the missions varied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone committed a robbery and is hiding in the city?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such was another task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A drifter had caused trouble, entering the city only to botch their crime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Find him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when the Gilpin Guild was overtaken, Enkrid hadn't anticipated its value in moments like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps Krais had foreseen it, as he executed tasks skillfully and without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, it was in a back-alley gambling den.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The target was a retired soldier with a scarred forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You want to fight me? Damn, coming to the outskirts brings all sorts of nonsense. They say Border Guard reserves are tough. Let's see what you've got!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confident words—but did he have the skills to match?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid assessed him carefully, feigning struggle to gauge the man's capabilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At best, mid to upper level,\" he concluded, using Naurilia's soldier ranking system as a reference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing unexpected in his skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huff... who are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Border Guard reserves,\" Enkrid replied, swiftly breaking the man's leg to subdue him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captive would now rot in the unit's prison unless someone paid his fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just you wait,\" the man threatened, though Enkrid doubted they would cross paths again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On other occasions, Enkrid was dispatched to inns to break up disputes among caravan escorts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them was a particularly skilled fighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sparring with him, Enkrid trained by merging his heightened focus with blade intuition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maintaining a state of intuitive awareness while concentrating revealed new insights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference in focus altered everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It slows down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though not as stark as before, his opponent's blade appeared slower, moving predictably as if his mind and perception outpaced reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything was a continuation of training—a cycle of endless refinement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the missions piled up...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you insane with these requests?\" murmured fellow soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their words weren't criticism but astonishment and admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does he have ten bodies? Why doesn't he rest?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's not human. He's a monster.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Guess there's a reason he's the platoon leader of those madmen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it, maybe I should wake up earlier and stab a few spears for practice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to Enkrid, an unexpected wave of training enthusiasm spread through the unit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His results spoke for themselves, inspiring soldiers and elevating his reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some soldiers owed their lives to Enkrid, further fueling the fervor for self-improvement within the unit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid paid no attention to the ripple effect he caused, focusing solely on his path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During training, he felt a faint, steady flame burning in his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How had he felt on the battlefield before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While not afraid, he couldn't say he enjoyed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battlefield never brought joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This doesn't seem normal,\" he mused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, he eagerly anticipated the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to fight, prove himself, and showcase his skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He yearned to risk his life and cross the line of death once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps he was mad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't you know greatness and madness are only a hair's breadth apart?\" Rem's words resurfaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the path to greatness was reserved for the mad, then madness was the only way forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day, immersed in training and missions...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This might be fun,\" the company commander said, summoning Enkrid to his private training grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A duel?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, Enkrid did not refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation mirrored their last encounter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would the result be the same?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That remained uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid couldn't yet gauge the full extent of the commander's skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was confident he wouldn't suffer the same defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ultimately, only by clashing fists or blades could he discover the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commander raised her hand, forming a knife-like edge with his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We'll use this today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like a test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their previous duel had exposed Enkrid's deficiencies, particularly in close-quarters combat—what some called wrestling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, their hands struck, the crisp sound marking the start of their spar.\u003C\u002Fp>",1722,"2026-06-03T07:42:55.179Z","2026-06-03T07:42:59.781Z",1,"novelbin.me","deb5e5327750c59d97849488f341e27ed3a71e5799b7c7f46273f8657193b216","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-93","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-91",782,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternally-regressing-knight-cover.jpg"]