Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1423 - 978: Storm and Thunder, the Fall of Hidden Serpent City
The morning sun rose, the dazzling Royal Banner returned to the water fortress, while the gray and black fox wolves quietly departed. The surrendered General Papu put on a tattered Feathered Serpent ritual robe, wore a disheveled Feather Crown, transforming back into a Priest of the Sun and Feathered Serpent, and also into a recently defeated Naval Commander. Subsequently, he led hundreds of trusted Tribal Warriors, boarding over a hundred small boats, disappearing into the horizon at the Seaside in the East.
Days passed quickly from sunrise to sunset, until the beginning of July. July marks the peak of the rainy season, where even the wind and rain carry the dull sound of thunder. Dark clouds gathered in the Hidden Serpent City, spreading the news of the Naval Forces’ defeat, disturbing the chaotic hearts of the nobility.
In this time, close to danger and death, a strong desire for life overwhelms all former rationality, ultimately revealing fatal flaws. And these flaws appeared silently until the patter of summer rain, accompanied by the thunder of the rainy season, exploded with a roar at the East Gate of the Hidden Serpent City...
"Ah?! Papu! How dare you deceive me!... Oh gods! You! You want to... ugh! Hoh...!"
The drizzle fell, the night was dark and indistinct. Outside the Hidden Serpent City, the firelight flickered, encircling from afar, always remaining indistinct. From the city wall at the East Gate, observing closely, the distant siege camps looked like a pack of wolves lying in wait, silently watching for their prey.
At this moment, several hundred "retreating" Naval Tribal Warriors, with the help of "insiders," had already seized control of the river-facing East Gate of the Hidden Serpent City. As for that esteemed "insider"...
"Pssht!..."
The drizzle on the face was not cold, but rather somewhat warm. Surrendered General Papu, with an icy gaze, forcefully pulled out the blood-stained dagger. In an instant, a torrent of even warmer blood gushed violently from the heart of the Divine Bloodline Tapatl in the Hidden Serpent City, splattering over Papu’s head and face.
"Ah! Tapatl, I pierced your heart, not out of hatred for you, but to let you depart more swiftly! You must know, you were not only a former acquaintance of mine but also one of the most revered Divine Bloodline in the Hidden Serpent City!... What a pity! Such a sacred bloodline is about to end before my eyes... May the All Gods guide your spirit, and lead your wife and children to the distant Divine Island and sky!..."
The surrendered General Papu sighed, his gaze remaining icy cold. He gently closed the eyes of his Divine acquaintance, who died with eyes open. Then, in the tone of a Feathered Serpent Priest, he prayed a couple of sentences for his former acquaintance, following the traditions of the Hidden Serpent Tribes. After finishing everything, he stood silently on the East City’s wall, looking at the fallen noble warriors and the families of Divine Bloodline, as well as the large baskets of treasures plundered by his men, and shook his head calmly.
"Chief Divine bless! Chuchute, move quickly! Send the signal to let the Kingdom Legion enter the city!"
"Yes, Leader!"
Soon, under the curtain of drizzle, several cloaks were set up on the East Wall of the Hidden Serpent City, flickering signals of firelight. In just a quarter, the awaiting Kingdom’s Warriors swiftly ran forward. And when this batch of Kingdom’s Warriors arrived closer, seeing the densely packed, elite and fierce Red Hair Hunters, Papu’s calm expression suddenly paused, even his waist bowing down instantly.
"Ah! Chief Divine bless!... Honorable Black Wolf General! Why have you personally come..."
"What? Papu, must my participation in battles be at your discretion?"
"Uh... Black Wolf General, you are the head of the Legion, naturally, I follow your orders... It’s just... it’s just your status is so noble and illustrious, why take such risks at the front line..."
"Ha! I’ve fought so many battles, charged through so many formations, it’s the first time I’m being told how ’noble and illustrious’ I am... Besides, according to our Mexica tradition, the nobler and more illustrious you are, the more you must go to the frontline battle formations and fight!..."
Black Wolf Torc sneered, striding onto the tower. He always held his head high, not even glancing at Papu once. Subsequently, he surveyed the surroundings, his expression turning stern, and then he commanded loudly.
"Wuta, go! Take two hundred Red Hair Hunters and secure the crucial positions of the city gates tightly for me!"
"Yes! Black Wolf Leader!"
"Olin, take your thousand Serpent Camp and block the South Gate for me!"
"Yes! Leader!"
"Red Deer, take a battalion and block the North Gate for me!"
"Yes! Great Chief!"
"Tupa!"
"Here, Legion Commander!"
Hearing this change of address, Black Wolf touched his chin and glanced at his former trusted aide Tupa. After a moment, he extended his hand, affectionately patting Tupa on the shoulder, and Tupa knowingly smiled.
"You brat... after this battle, you’re going to be promoted to Vice Legion Commander!..."
"Hehe! Praise the Chief Divine, praise His Highness, and also praise the Black Wolf Leader!..."
"Haha, alright! I’ve already had the Forest Wolf take men to surround the farthest West Gate. The Divine Descendants, nobility, and priests in the City-State won’t have any chance to escape!..."
The Black Wolf put away his smile, pointed to the Pyramid Temple at the center of the City-State, and sternly instructed.
"Tupa, the most important task is assigned to you! Take two cohorts and charge directly into the Temple District at the center of the city! Remember to bring spare Bronze Axes, show no mercy, you must shatter the hardest bones in the Temple District! May the Chief Divine protect you! Tupa, you must bring me the Chief Priest from the Seaside, dead or alive!"
"Yes! Leader!..."
Tupa bowed in agreement, then excitedly left with the Samurai. The hardest bones were, of course, also the greatest achievement in this battle! In fact, if it weren’t for His Highness’s intention to groom him to take over the future Coastal Legion... the Black Wolf Leader might not have given this task and honor to him!
The wind whistled, and the killing intent flowed. In the rainy night at the seaside, the Kingdom’s army surged into the city in waves, rushing everywhere. Soon, the intense sounds of battle cries and the dying screams echoed throughout the city, flowing everywhere with the wind and rain!
"Praise the Chief Divine! Fight for the Divine! Kill! Kill! Kill!..."
Listening to the boiling battle cries, the surrendered general Papu bowed his head, with a smile of fear and respect on his face. His eyes flickered, and with a slight contemplation, his heart shuddered.
"May the Chief Divine protect us! Those entering the city to fight tonight are the Kingdom Legion unrelated to the Totonac tribes, and the most ferocious Black Wolf General was made in charge... Ah! It seems the Mexica are preparing to uproot the roots of the Divine Vine! For this last Hidden Serpent Holy City, and the Divine Descendants and priests in the Holy City, they intend to make the blood flow like a river, leaving no hidden dangers!"
"Papu, you sly fellow, what are you pondering with your eyes wandering around?!"
The Black Wolf Torc widened his eyes, stretched out his large hand, and heavily patted Papu’s shoulder, causing him to tremble all over. However, the Black Wolf did not intend to let him go, gripping his shoulder forcefully and coldly gazing at him for a while. It wasn’t until Papu started sweating on his back that the Black Wolf revealed a wolfish grin, relying on his beast-like sharp instinct, he spoke in a deep voice.
"Ha! Papu, I see, you are pondering His Highness’s intentions? Am I right?... Ha! Are His Highness’s intentions something you ought to ponder?!"
"Ah, by the Chief Divine! Black Wolf Leader, I... I didn’t! I wouldn’t dare..."
"Enough! Shut up!"
"..."
With a cold expression, the Black Wolf stopped Papu’s words. After a moment, he furrowed his brows, squeezed Papu’s not-so-sturdy arm, and hammered his less-than-thick chest before coldly speaking as Papu coughed in pain.
"By the Chief Divine! Papu, with your skinny arms and legs, I reckon you can’t even beat a Third Level elite warrior of the Kingdom! With your martial arts, you still want to lead an army and expand territory for the Kingdom? Train well, at least you need to have the look of a War Priest!..."
"Uh, yes! Yes!... I will listen to you, Black Wolf Leader..."
Facing the Black Wolf’s reprimand, Papu bowed his head and dared not rebut. But the Black Wolf’s next words were beyond his expectations.
"Ah, Chief Divine! I don’t even know what exactly His Highness sees in you..."
The Black Wolf shook his head, looked at the temple pyramid under the rain in the distance, listened to the familiar sounds of combat and wails, and his eyes gradually reddened. But he still obeyed the king’s command, suppressing the killing intent in his heart, merely staying on the city wall with Papu.
"May the Chief Divine protect us! His Highness sent me here with two instructions. One is to oversee the cleanup in Hidden Serpent City and not to kill too many commoners. The other is to keep an eye on you, don’t let some tribal warrior in the city attack and kill you out of nowhere!"
"Ah? Black Wolf Leader... this, His Highness’s decree, is not to slaughter the city? ... Uh, he wants you to protect my safety?..."
Hearing this, the surrendered general Papu stammered, his voice trembling slightly, but a strange feeling arose in his heart. The Black Wolf glanced at him with disdain, saying nothing. But this demeanor and action already said it all.
