Someone's coming?
By the looks of it… all humans.
The one leading them looked vaguely familiar… Shima Jiro?
Carl raised an eyebrow in surprise.
So Shima Jiro is here too?
He wasn't very familiar with the storyline of the King's Glory world.
After all, he'd spent most of his time fighting.
Who had time to follow the plot?
At this moment,
Shima Jiro was charging toward Guan City with a squad of Wall Guard soldiers.
Earlier, they had run into Deputy Commander Su Lie on the road.
That encounter had cleared any doubts the soldiers had about Shima Jiro's intentions.
Originally, Shima Jiro had claimed he was concerned about the Yucheng army.
But regardless of the excuse, he had proven himself useful.
The men began to see him in a new light.
They spurred their horses onward, racing straight toward Guan City.
They were all elite Wall Guards.
They knew full well that Guan City currently had no defensive force.
General Su Lie and many civilians were inside.
If they were under siege by a horde of demonic creatures, things could quickly turn tragic.
Seeing the city looming closer, Shima Jiro felt a ripple of excitement rise in his chest.
If he succeeded this time,
His position within the Wall Guard would surely be elevated.
And soon enough…
He would gain control of the entire Wall.
Then, as the Peony Mystic had promised, he would be granted Chang'an City.
After all… it should have been his to begin with.
The thought made even someone as composed as Shima Jiro feel a rush of emotion.
Before long, the party arrived at the outskirts of Guan City.
But the sight that greeted them left everyone stunned.
There was no trace of demonic beasts.
No injuries. No destruction.
Instead, a crowd was gathered happily around Su Lie… and a stranger.
Especially shocking to both Deputy Commander and Shima Jiro,
Su Lie had personally witnessed the demonic assault.
And Shima Jiro had received advance warning from the Peony Mystic,
He had been preparing for this battle for weeks.
And now?
They arrived at Guan City, only to find it completely untouched.
Not a single beast in sight.
What was going on?
Su Lie noticed Shima Jiro and the other Wall Guards approaching the city gates.
He raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised.
The reinforcements had come this quickly?
His deputy had only just left!
The riders dismounted and approached Su Lie.
The deputy clasped his fist in greeting and couldn't help but ask:
"General Su… where are the demonic beasts?"
He had seen them with his own eyes
Had only escaped thanks to Su Lie's distraction and a long detour.
So where had they gone?
Su Lie let out a hearty laugh. "No need to worry. The beasts have all been dealt with."
"What?!"
The deputy's eyes went wide.
He had seen the size of that horde, hundreds of them.
As Su Lie's second-in-command, he knew the general was a seasoned warrior, unmatched in battle.
But to say Su Lie had taken down hundreds of demonic beasts?
Unthinkable.
These monsters had the bodies of beasts, muscular, durable, incredibly tough.
Even one was a challenge to handle.
No matter how strong Su Lie was, it was impossible for him to handle that many.
But now… he said they were all wiped out?
Nearby, Shima Jiro and the Wall Guards were equally stunned.
Su Lie saw the looks on their faces and couldn't help but laugh again.
"Hahaha, I can guess what you're all thinking."
"But I wasn't the one who took down the beasts, it was him."
He gestured toward Carl. "An old friend of mine. He recently arrived at the Wall… and happened to get caught up in all this."
"I held off three of them myself. But Carl here, he defeated the entire swarm."
"Oh, and his name is Carl. But you can also call him… the God Among Men."
"What?!"
Gasps erupted from the group as they stared at Carl in disbelief.
One man had taken down hundreds of demonic beasts?
The Wall Guard clashed with these creatures regularly.
They knew exactly how terrifying they were.
Sure, the beasts varied in strength…
But in a swarm that size, there would definitely be elite leaders.
And just by sheer numbers alone, they could crush anyone.
Who was this so-called "God Among Men"?
In that instant
The Wall Guards all looked at Carl with reverence.
All except one.
Shima Jiro.
His face darkened as he stared at Carl.
Because this man's sudden appearance… had thrown his entire plan into chaos.
With all the demonic beasts eliminated, and no damage to Guan City…
Even if Su Lie had made any mistakes, they were irrelevant now.
And as for Shima Jiro
He hadn't saved anything.
There was no great merit to claim.
No reason for promotion.
The hatred burning in Shima Jiro's chest surged like a tide.
Why?!
Why did it turn out like this?!
According to the Peony Mystic, everything had been perfectly arranged.
Su Lie was supposed to lose his title over this.
Be demoted to a mere foot soldier of the Wall Guard.
And Shima Jiro…
Was supposed to earn great merit, gain rank, and rise through the Wall's command.
Step by step.
Until he controlled the Wall, and exchanged that power for Chang'an.
Why?!
Shima Jiro clenched his fists, trembling with rage.
But he forced himself to stay composed, to show nothing on his face.
"You're trying so hard to hold it in, aren't you?"
A voice full of amusement drifted over.
"What the, "
Before Shima Jiro could react
His neck was suddenly gripped by something that felt like steel.
His feet left the ground, his airways sealed tight.
Standing before him
Was a black-haired, black-eyed young man.
He wore a sleek battle suit, draped with a wide cloak.
Carl.
He lifted Shima Jiro effortlessly with one hand.
Shima Jiro flailed, pounding against Carl's wrist with both fists, trying to break free.
But it was useless.
His blows landed like punches on steel.
He was the one in pain.
The onlookers were stunned by the sight.
The Wall Guards immediately drew their weapons, forming a defensive stance around Carl.
"Let go of Shima Jiro!"
They might have admired Carl's power earlier
But Shima Jiro was still their comrade.
A fellow soldier of the Wall Guard.
In a moment like this
Of course they would defend him.
Su Lie quickly stepped between them.
He whispered to the Wall Guards, "What are you doing? Lower your weapons!"
"But…"
"I said lower them!"
Reluctantly, they obeyed.
Su Lie exhaled in relief.
He knew just how powerful Carl was.
On the surface, it looked like he was protecting Carl.
But in truth, he was protecting them.
The image of hundreds of demonic beasts being torn apart was still fresh in his mind.
If they angered Carl…
Their fate wouldn't be any better.
Su Lie didn't believe for a second that Carl wouldn't kill.
Seeing the Wall Guards back down, he managed a small smile.
"Carl, my friend, surely this is all a misunderstanding?"
"Why not let Shima Jiro down first?"
Carl glanced at Shima Jiro, then back at Su Lie.
Without a word, he flung Shima Jiro to the ground.
Shima Jiro hit his knees, gasping for air.
Before he could recover, that calm, amused voice rang out again.
"No misunderstanding."
"This man… is a traitor to the Wall Guard."