Eternally Regressing Knight - Chapter 128: Watch closely. This is what you’ll be learning next.

The soldiers at the forefront of Naurilia’s army were all salaried professionals.

They were paid in Krona to focus entirely on training.

They acted precisely as they had been trained and conditioned.

The vanguard, armed with short bows, doubled as reconnaissance units in emergencies and served as swift, light-armored archers in battle. All of them released their arrows.

‘Tudududung!’

‘Shhhhhh!’

Arrows whistled through the air, embedding themselves in a massive shadowy figure that seemed far from human.

‘Tadadadak!’

Some soldiers rejoiced at landing their shots.

Some tilted their heads in confusion at the persistent ‘tadadak’ noise.

And others…

“Why isn’t it stopping?”

They grew alarmed at the shadow’s unrelenting charge.

‘Hoo!’

The mist parted. Beyond the haze forced aside by the colossal figure, its form became visible. If it had been a bear, they might have found it easier to accept.

As the mist dispersed, even those stationed further back could see the creature.

Of course, Encrid saw it too.

Though he was positioned near the middle of the formation, its figure was unmistakably clear. How could it not be?

The gargantuan body, far removed from anything human, warped the very sense of perspective.

The initial impression: a giant hedgehog.

Its massive size meant it was an equally massive target.

The skill of their allied archers was remarkable.

Dozens of arrows were embedded in its body—at least twenty that Encrid could count at a glance.

Thus, the creature resembled a giant hedgehog bristling with arrows.

That was his first impression.

‘Hoong!’

Next, the figure swung something massive in its hand in a full arc from back to front.

‘Huaaaaang!’

A burst of wind roared as the mist was scattered even further.

Then, the object it held in its hand fell to the ground, dragged from behind as its arms completed the swing.

‘Kwa-ang!’

The resulting explosion echoed like the detonation of a magician’s spell.

It felt like a boulder had been launched from a catapult, so the aftermath was inevitable.

“Gaaaah!”

“Aaaah!”

A symphony of screams erupted.

The soldiers within the hammer’s range were smashed like tomatoes.

One soldier on the right managed to evade, but his leg was crushed.

He’d dodged as quickly as he could, yet it hadn’t been enough.

Another soldier on the left instinctively raised his shield against the hammer’s pressure.

‘Ujik. Kwajik.’

The soldier heard the sound of his body being torn apart. His oiled wooden buckler barely resisted the overwhelming force.

The shield shattered like a rotten branch, and the soldier’s right side was ripped apart, killing him instantly.

No, it wasn’t just ripped—it was obliterated.

The hammer’s catastrophic power flung his body sideways, scattering pink entrails into the air.

Blood, flesh, bones, and limbs once part of a soldier’s torso flew through the sky.

No one needed to wonder whose body parts they were. Those hit by such an attack from the front would already be dead.

All they could hope was that Benzense wasn’t stationed at the forefront today.

‘Puh-hoo.’

The creature stood still after its strike, exhaling deeply. Even the sound of its breath echoed loudly in their ears.

Its overwhelming presence was palpable.

The weapon it wielded was a giant hammer.

It was a being far larger than any human, with hardened skin and thick muscles.

A member of the Giant race, as dangerous as Frok.

Three to four times stronger than a human, with skin resistant to most blades.

They were often referred to as the “Red-Blooded Beasts.”

The giant hummed a tune, almost like a whistle, as it surveyed the carnage caused by its hammer.

“Krhhung!”

Its voice resonated like a shout from deep within a cavern—low, rough, and wide-reaching.

As the cavernous humming spread, the soldiers’ morale plummeted.

A giant.

Where had something like that been hiding all this time?

“Sh’t, fall back!”

A soldier standing a step behind shouted.

“Hum-a-a-anssss.”

The giant muttered, almost gleefully.

A curse, as if whispered from deep inside a cave, echoed out.

“Aaaah!”

Even for salaried soldiers specialized in warfare, fear was not an emotion they could avoid.

Panic began to ripple through the ranks.

The frontline started to fracture.

Sensing the retreat, their commander shouted:

“Hold your ground!”

‘Chaejaejaeng!’

Several officers at the vanguard unsheathed their swords, signaling that retreat would mean death.

“Damn it.”

What were they supposed to do?

The soldiers at the front wanted to cry.

It was miserable.

To face something like that.

The giant’s full body came into view, clad in wooden armor. Thin planks covered its massive frame, with arrows embedded in the wood.

There were gaps at its joints, but arrows seemed unable to even graze those spots.

‘Krrhrhr.’

The giant, resembling a grinning hedgehog, chuckled.

The soldiers, caught between screams and paralysis, could neither retreat nor advance.

The giant exuded confidence.

To it, these humans were nothing but bugs.

Unless they were knights, humanity’s pride and warriors, they were all just bugs to crush, squash, and kill.

The giant found this situation entertaining.

—

A giant?

Encrid was equally stunned.

Where had something like that come from?

He recalled everything he knew about giants. Memories of the traits of various races came to mind.

Frok lived ruled by dreams and desires.

Elves revered nature.

Dwarves were obsessed with metal.

Beastkin prioritized reproduction.

Dragonkin walked solitary paths.

And giants?

“They revel in slaughter.”

Addicted to death and violence, they found joy and fulfillment through carnage.

And yet, they had never been able to dominate the continent.

Why not?

Because their intelligence fell short of humans, and their instincts made them too dangerous to function as an army.

They were slaves to the blood and slaughter they craved.

It was no wonder they were called the “Red-Blooded Beasts.”

Mad with a lust for death and destruction, they could never wield power over the continent. Politics demanded intelligence, and the giants could never reach such heights.

And amidst those races, there were humans.

“Because humans can become anything.”

Humans had risen above Frok, Elves, Dwarves, Beastkin, Dragonkin, and Giants to become the center of the world.

While the Giant quietly surveyed its surroundings, and the soldiers at the forefront stood frozen—thankfully managing not to soil themselves—

‘Seogeok.’

Encrid heard a strange sound.

It was the distinct noise of flesh being sliced by a well-sharpened blade.

Whether it was intuition, a sixth sense, or mere instinct, he immediately turned his head.

Jaxson, who was standing next to him, was already staring in the same direction.

“Ghk.”

“Enemy!”

Though the number wasn’t large, Encrid narrowed his eyes.

It was the right flank.

Through the mist that obscured visibility, they had closed the distance.

A unit of about ten, each appearing highly skilled.

Attacking with such a small number? It meant they were confident in their abilities.

“If they’re using the giant as a distraction to strike the right, then there’s bound to be something coming from the left as well. Damn, it looks like we’re completely caught in their trap,” Krys muttered, glancing left and right. He might have been hoping to see something.

If even Encrid couldn’t spot anything, then Krys, too, would only see the mist.

Surprisingly, he wasn’t shaken by the sight of the giant.

Instead, his eyes darted wildly as if calculating something before he spoke.

“We have to hold them here.”

Inside Krys’s mind, several scenarios and assumptions were taking shape.

He had a sense of the enemy’s intent.

He knew the battlefield’s conditions favored the opposition.

He even guessed the broad outline of what their commander was aiming for.

After all, the mist wasn’t an advantage exclusive to the enemy.

If the enemy sought to use the river to strike their rear, why couldn’t their side do the same?

That might explain why the border guards were absent from this battlefield.

The enemy had hidden their forces, and their side was playing for time.

This gave their army the advantage of choice.

And so their commander had likely made the call.

“The main force will endure with sheer numbers.”

They’d gained a numerical advantage after victories in earlier battles.

If their soldiers were equally trained and morale was higher, the advantage should be theirs.

Even the infamous Gray Dogs, also known as the Relentless Lovers, who operated as an independent company, had their limits.

At best, the Gray Dogs numbered two to three hundred.

And there was more information available.

For instance, a certain lieutenant had fought a portion of the Gray Dogs in a clash at the Cross Guards and killed some of their numbers.

How many soldiers could they have left now?

Even if they’d originally been 400 strong, they’d likely be down to 200 by now.

The battalion commander would be aware of that.

So, what had the enemy chosen to do?

“A full-on frontal assault.”

They’d thrown everything they had into one desperate charge.

Their options were to win outright or suffer near-total annihilation.

And the giant wasn’t their only preparation.

Krys processed all this instantly and reached a conclusion.

But he didn’t explain it all. Survival was the priority now, and the best choice was the one that let them keep breathing in the platoon leader’s tent.

“The giant isn’t all they have. If we fail to hold the line here, it’s over.”

He stated the cold facts. Solving the situation wasn’t his job—it was up to someone else.

The border guards weren’t present, and their main force was holding firm by design.

But if they failed, their side could be wiped out instead.

So, what options did they have?

They weren’t entirely out of moves.

Krys glanced at his platoon leader, who had once fought Frok, and then at the comrades who followed that leader.

“Captain.”

Krys called Encrid and explained.

Encrid nodded in response, though he couldn’t grasp the full picture.

Yesterday, he’d been busy sparring and had wanted to sleep deeply, but even his dreams had been awful.

Still, there was something about the way Krys’s eyes gleamed.

It was like Ragna yesterday.

Like Rem in one of his rare excited moods.

Like Jaxson when he was unusually kind.

Like Audin when his heart felt at ease.

“Understood.”

So he answered and turned his gaze left and right.

The right flank seemed to have a squad-level force.

Not just a couple of individuals—at least five or more.

What about the left?

“The left seems to be kin.”

When had they come so close? It was the Elf Commander.

Shouldn’t the commander be holding back further in the rear?

“I’ll take care of the left.”

Why announce it and then leave?

The Elf Commander glanced at Encrid. Their eyes met.

“What? Need a kiss of blessing?”

“No, I don’t.”

Why did this moment remind him of Esther?

That young panther was surely hiding well in the rear.

Encrid shook his head.

The Elf Commander, having made the jest, didn’t smile. She simply stared quietly before heading to the left flank.

Some troops followed her.

Even if they weren’t part of the independent company Encrid had formed, the Elf Commander had selected a handful of nimble and skilled individuals from her company.

Essentially, they served as her escort unit—a sort of elite force of the 4th Company.

And so, the commander moved.

“Good, good.”

Rem nodded approvingly.

Rem was in a great mood. Really, an exceptionally good mood.

The reason? It was probably yesterday’s sparring.

Before that, everything had been irritating.

No real fights to speak of.

Pointless, idiotic duels.

Not wanting to step in, and Encrid was nowhere to be seen.

Then Encrid returned with an injured wrist?

The pent-up frustration had nearly driven him mad.

But just before it boiled over, the platoon leader returned.

And quickly recovered.

Then they exchanged blows—sword and axe.

What should he call that moment?

It was simply…

“A damn good time.”

In an instant, all his frustration vanished.

Every little thing that had been gnawing at him was gone.

He felt lighter, unburdened.

When had he last felt this way?

Not since arriving on this continent.

Though it reminded him of a similar moment elsewhere.

Rem’s thoughts drifted to those times that felt like this one.

It was during his first battle.

Back then, it had been genuinely fun. Truly exhilarating. So thrilling, in fact, that he had fought with his tongue out, brimming with excitement.

Shaking off those thoughts, Rem smiled. Then he spoke with a grin.

“Watch closely. This is what you’ll be learning next.”

With that, he began walking forward.

He strode toward the giant, who stood splitting his face with a gleeful grin as he gazed at the soldiers, their eyes filled with tension and fear peeking through their helmets.

Walking in a straight line, Rem shoved aside allied soldiers.

Those pushed aside gave way without resistance, opening a path.

“Move, you bastards.”

Rem seemed his usual self, but it was evident that he was in an exceptionally good mood—a rare moment of exhilaration.

Encrid simply observed.

He’d been told to watch closely, so that’s what he did.

“I’ll handle the right,” said Ragna, sounding unusually motivated as he headed toward the commotion on the right flank.

It was a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.

He was much like Rem.

The sparring session with Encrid had eased his pent-up frustrations. His heart felt lighter, and instead of idling, he now wanted to wield his sword.

“You can’t go alone.”

When Encrid expressed his concern, Ragna paused to think before replying.

“Then I’ll go after this. It doesn’t look like it’ll take long.”

He didn’t seem to care whether the soldiers on the right flank were being cut down or not.

Encrid, however, thought it necessary to deal with the attacking force on the right.

It was clearly a fast-moving independent squad.

He considered whether it might be better to lure them in and engage them further inside.

As he pondered, the allied commander acted first.

“Fall back! Don’t fight like idiots in the front and get yourselves killed—stick together, back to back!”

It was a familiar voice—Benzense.

Doing well.

If the enemies on the right could be drawn inward and dealt with there, it would buy them more time.

They would also need time to pull the enemies deep enough to prevent them from escaping.

“Well, I’ll be on my way now,” Audin said, striding purposefully toward one side.

Jaxson had already disappeared at some point.

The platoon members, relieved of their lingering frustrations after sparring with Encrid, all felt lighter on their feet.

The session with Encrid had left a clear impact on them.

For a brief moment, while waiting for the enemies on the right to come closer, Encrid focused on observing Rem.

Regardless of Rem’s approach, the giant began lifting his massive hammer again, preparing another swing.

An overwhelming display of violence.

The power behind the giant’s swing was palpable, inducing a dizzying sense of awe.

Encrid found himself wondering how he would handle such an attack.

But Rem exceeded all of Encrid’s expectations with ease.

After all, Rem was Rem.