Chapter 9: Killing Jaden Winston

Smack! Carlos's big hand slapped down, knocking Jaden hard to the floor. Jaden's sword clattered to the ground, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. "You..." he stammered, his head spinning from Carlos's slap, his eyes dazed and confused.  "How did you get so strong? Are you Carlos Carroll?" Jaden was utterly shocked. Three years ago, Carlos was weak.  Now, with a single slap, he had rendered Jaden, a two-star Grand Martial Master, powerless.  It was beyond comprehension. With a single wave of his hand, Carlos blew apart the cage holding Mavis Carroll, then rushed forward to pick her up.  Her entire body was covered in wounds. Scars crisscrossed her body like ravines, knife wounds, burns, and whip marks everywhere.  Mavis kept staring at Carlos, saying nothing. Carlos trembled all over, feeling as if knives were cutting his heart.  "Jaden Winston! Fuck you!" he roared.  With a wave of his hand, he dragged Jaden over, then started slashing him over and over with his dagger. The knife made a sickening scraping sound as it cut through flesh and bone, making everyone's skin crawl.  Jaden writhed in agony, but Carlos's overwhelming aura pinned him down.  He was completely at Carlos's mercy. Carlos slashed hundreds of times, slicing all the flesh off Jaden's thighs, leaving only two bare thighbones, covered in blood.  It was a terrifying sight. Thud! Jaden collapsed, gazing in horror at his mangled legs.  The pain wracked his body, sending him into spasms. Suddenly, the thunderous sound of marching echoed as eight hundred soldiers in battle armor, carrying long swords, charged toward the military department building.  Leading them was a tall man in white battle attire, wielding a massive longsword.  He charged into Jaden's office. This man was Morgan Bale, deputy commander of the military department.  "Holy shit!" he exclaimed, eyes wide at the massacre within.  Carlos stood with one foot on Jaden's chest, Jaden's legs stripped of flesh. "You're Carlos Carroll?" Morgan gasped, recognizing him.  "You're still alive?" "Morgan!" Carlos recognized him, too.  After the Carroll family fell, Morgan had taken advantage of the chaos, captured his two cousin sisters, humiliated them, and then brutally killed them. "If I'm not mistaken, you weren't even a martial artist before. How did you manage to kill so many in the military department today?" "What opportunity did you seize? I'll give you a chance. Release our leader now, or when I capture you, I'll make you wish you were dead!" Morgan held his sword in front of his chest, suddenly unleashing a powerful aura.  He was a three-star Grand Martial Master, stronger than Jaden. Suddenly, Carlos appeared right in front of him, but then Morgan realized it was Carlos's power dragging him forward. "Morgan! Stop pretending! Kneel and apologize to my cousins!" Carlos shouted, then with a quick swing of his hand, he slapped Morgan's head into a mist of blood. The eight hundred soldiers felt their scalps go numb.  Morgan, a three-star Grand Martial Master, had been killed with a single slap by Carlos. "What are you waiting for? Attack together and kill him!" Jaden urged desperately.  If Carlos didn't die today, he would. The eight hundred soldiers snapped out of it and charged forward.  No matter how strong Carlos was, he couldn't take on all eight hundred of them by himself. Bang, bang, bang! The first hundred soldiers were smashed to pieces.  More kept rushing in, only to be slapped into a mist of blood.  He was like a human meat grinder, killing like crazy. The luxurious office, spanning nearly a hundred square meters, was splattered with blood and littered with bones. The remaining soldiers hesitated, too terrified to advance.  The thought of being reduced to blood mist was too horrifying. Someone finally plucked up the courage to shout, "Carlos Carroll, we're the Jaunce military!" "We're supposed to protect the people of Jaunce! What you're doing is way too brutal! Can't we talk this out?" Thud! All of them dropped to their knees in front of Carlos, sweat pouring down their foreheads.  Even the military had chickened out.  In the face of overwhelming violence, they abandoned all pride, begging for their lives. Carlos sneered, "You shamelessly claim to protect the people. Tell me, is there anyone among you who hasn't hurt someone from the Carroll family?"  Silence met his words. The Carroll family had a huge business empire, and after it fell, everyone wanted a piece of the pie.  These guys were all Jaden's men. "So, you all had it coming! Go apologize to my family in the next life!"  Carlos unleashed a terrifying force, instantly slapping them all into a cloud of blood. Jaden was terrified.  He couldn't fathom how Carlos had transformed in three years.  This was something only a Martial General could pull off.  In just three years, Carlos went from a total rookie to a Martial General. Smack! Carlos stomped on Jaden's chest.  "Three years ago, who was it that wanted to wipe out the Carroll family?" Jaden was taken aback.  Three years ago, he had entertained a significant figure, one backed by someone of even higher status, someone he couldn't possibly offend. Jaden trembled and stammered, "If... if I tell you, will you let me live?" Carlos nodded. "Sure." Jaden licked his dry lips and said, "I only met that significant figure once, but he was masked." "It was Archer Bale who introduced him. Archer must know who he is! If I'm lying, may lightning strike me!" Boom! Just then, thunder crashed outside. "It's a coincidence! I swear it's just a fucking coincidence! You said you wouldn't kill me if I told you!" Jaden's face turned pale with fear. "Archer Bale..." Carlos's gaze turned menacing.  He looked down at the terrified Jaden and chuckled coldly.  "I said I wouldn't kill you, but I never said she wouldn't." Carlos gestured toward Mavis Carroll.  Her eyes were burning with hatred. Carlos handed her a dagger and pulled Harley forward, saying, "Their lives are yours." Mavis nodded, taking the dagger.  Despite one leg being crippled, she limped toward Harley.  She gritted her teeth, and her hand holding the dagger was shaking.