Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1424 - 979: The Temple Burns, the Priests Curse, the City-State Falls
The night rain falls sporadically, the firelight flickers intermittently, and the wails rise and vanish abruptly. The Black Wolf Torc stands solemn and upright at the highest point of the city walls. The Surrendered General Papu bows slightly, his demeanor respectful and submissive, lagging one step behind. The two of them, just like this, one in front and one behind, stand on the high city walls, watching the fierce sounds of killing spread all the way, observing the flickering firelight in the drizzle, until it spreads throughout the entire City-State!
"Bless the Chief Divine! He watches over us!... Kill! Kill these so-called Divine Descendants who worship the Fake God, annihilate all the rebellious Alliance’s Hidden Snake Tribes!..."
The night deepens, yet the slaughter reaches a boil. The Kingdom’s Warriors sweep through like a storm, surging and flooding through all the city gates. The Hidden Snake Warriors are suddenly attacked, unable to organize in time, unable even to find their tribal leaders. This night, their feeble and dying resistance is like summer flowers struck down by heavy rain, trampled under sandals, bleeding out red sap. Then, blossoming bright red flowers begin encircling from the outer city on all sides, gradually spiraling into the heart of the ancient city. Finally, the flowing blood gathers as one, seemingly flowing upward, all the way to the towering pyramid!
"Praise the Chief Divine! We fight for the Chief Divine, to conquer this last Fake God’s Holy Temple!"
The slaughter surges like a tide, engulfing everything in the city, finally converging in front of the central pyramid. The frenzied Kingdom’s Warriors, shouting the Chief Divine’s slogans, wield sharp battle axes, cutting down the last resisting Temple Guards. Then, they step over the slippery rain and blood, over the dying Hidden Snake Warriors, step by step, marching to the temple at the highest point, to the Temple of the Feathered Serpent and Sun!
"Ah! All Gods in heaven! That cold Sun, that distant Feathered Serpent!... Let us spill the last of our blood, and die for Them!..."
Soon, more and more bodies fall, fewer and fewer Temple Guards resist, even the Divine Priests of the temple join the front lines of the slaughter. They cry out in madness and despair, blocking the entrance to the temple, yet easily pierced by bronze long spears, becoming layer upon layer of sacrifices. It seems that this ancient Holy City pyramid, this last Temple of the Sun and Feathered Serpent, will not hold!
"All Gods bless us! We ignite the Sun’s firelight, we follow the Feathered Serpent’s steps, heading for the vast Eastern Sea!..."
In the majestic and profound temple, the remaining Totonac Elders cry out in despair and lamentation, at the same time raising the torches in their hands high. Amongst the surrounding elders, a stooped old Totonac finally appears at the pinnacle of the Pyramid Temple. He wears an ancient Divine Crown made of golden Long Feathers, a ritual robe of extended tricolored Feathers, holds a torch burning fiercely, and slowly walks out of the temple, appearing before the rain curtain and numerous warriors. And the torch in his hand, drenched with rain, does not extinguish in the least, even shining with an awe-inspiring red light!
"Chief Divine! He is ’Lord of the Sea and Earth,’ the Coastal Chief Priest of Hidden Snake City, Atcokoyotelzin!"
The Surrendered General Papu murmurs softly, unable to resist looking up, staring at that extraordinarily magnificent, yet extraordinarily dim figure, as if witnessing the end of the twilight. From so far away, he cannot actually see the figure clearly, yet can recall vividly the Long Feathered Golden Crown symbolizing the Sun, and the tricolored Feathered robe symbolizing the Feathered Serpent.
And that old man beneath the Golden Crown and Feathered robe is the inheritor of ancient divinity, the once spiritual leader of millions of Totonac Tribes, and the most revered Coastal Chief Priest!
"Hmm? So, he is the head of Hidden Snake City, that Coastal Chief Priest?"
Black Wolf Torc squints, gazing for a while at the old man on the pyramid, yet his face lacks any awe or respect for divinity. He observes for a while before asking, somewhat puzzled.
"Papu, why does that old man’s torch not extinguish in the rain?"
"Uh..."
Hearing such a question, the Surrendered Army Papu stands dazed, his melancholic thoughts interrupted. He pauses for a few moments, then responds honestly, lowering his head.
"Black Wolf Leader, that is ’Divine Fire’ ... Actually, it’s a torch soaked for a long time in very light black oil... This black oil is a gift from the Sea God, imbued with the divinity of the Mother of the Sea, thus able to burn in rain..."
"Oh! So, it’s black oil!..."
Hearing this, Black Wolf forcefully pats his head, suddenly realizing.
"Right! I remember! When attacking the Feathered Serpent Ancient City, those Feathered Serpent Priests also burned lots of black oil that wasn’t afraid of water. That great fire, it burned down the whole Holy Temple!..."
"..."
The Surrendered Army Papu lowers his eyes silently. He recalls once more the destruction of the Feathered Serpent Ancient City, the despair when belief crumbled... Yet for some reason, this time, he feels little sadness, only a speechless and indescribable lamentation.
"The All Gods of the Seaside Lands are dying... And the new Chief Divine will devour their bodies, devour their temples, and devour their followers... The most radiant Sun rises slowly from the West, replacing all that was!"
"Haha! All Gods watch us! This is the final moment, the coming of doomsday, and the End of the Fourth Epoch!..."
At the top of the several-meter-high Pyramid Temple, the Coastal Chief Priest Atcokoyotelzin raises the unextinguished torch high. He screams hoarsely and bleakly, his voice, in the rainy night, permeates the hearts of people, like a dying yet unwilling night owl.
"The Temple of the All Gods has remained immortal for millennia... They will perish in the apocalypse, yet return in a new Era!..."
"The All Gods are immortal, the Divine will return!..."
Before the Temple, the Elder Priests shouted in unison. Those expressions of despair and madness, the twisted and stubborn stances, were like sea grasses, entangling to sink into the boundless deep sea.
"The Priests of All Gods inherit the undying divinity... We will die tonight, yet resurrect in a new Era!..."
"Divinity is undying, resurrect after death!..."
"Come! The All Gods lead us! Let us ignite the Sea God’s gift, transform into burning smoke, and drift into the realm of All Gods! Ha ha ha!..."
"Ignite the gift, drift into the Divine Kingdom! Ha ha ha!..." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
The sky became ever deeper, the raindrops seemingly stagnant. Before the besieging Kingdom’s Warriors, the red fire suddenly rose, like the giant mouth of volcanic demons, devouring the dying bodies and the living priests. Soon, the cries within the flames morphed into mad screams, twisted into dying curses, drifting far and wide.
"Ha ha ha! I curse you, evil Mexica!... Eternal descent into the abyss and sea depths!... Souls... eternally doomed..."
Upon hearing the aged, shrill yet vanishing voice of curses, the Surrendered General Papu trembled all over, slowly bowing his head. In front of him, Black Wolf Torc furrowed his brows, carefully listening for a moment, then suddenly turned to ask.
"Papu, is this the voice of the so-called Chief Priest?"
"...Hmm... Black Wolf Leader, it should be..."
"So, he fought me for three years, and now he dies just like that? Uttering a few words and just dies?!"
"...Hmm... it should be..."
"Ah! No way!! His Highness said we must confirm his life and death!..."
Upon hearing this, Black Wolf felt an unnamed fury rising within, and couldn’t help but shout aloud. Then, his eyes sharpened, as he instructed the red-haired trusted aide Chabo beside him.
"Chabo, this rain has been pouring, the wood is all wet, the Temple won’t burn in a short while! Go! Take two teams of trusted aides over there, assist Tupa, put out that black oil fire! Then, find that old man’s body, alive or dead, bring him over!"
"Got it! Leader!"
The red-haired trusted aide Chabo nodded respectfully. He took a deep breath and was set to dash off.
"By the way! Chabo, you know how to extinguish this fire, right?"
"I do, Leader! The black oil fire, it’s not afraid of water. When the brothers first saw it, they were startled, thinking it was some eerie thing. After seeing it often, they became familiar... It’s just digging earth, using grass sacks and baskets to cover it, extinguish the fire by burying it!..."
"Alright! Go quickly!..."
"Got it!"
The red-haired trusted aide Chabo skillfully moved forward, rolled his hands, and sprung lightly like a grass mouse in the wilderness, swiftly running into the distance. Ahead of him, the final Hidden Serpent Holy Temple was set ablaze, and the revered Coastal Priesthood transformed into smoke, like ash-feathers, like the feathered serpent that had completely perished. Behind him, the columns of Totonac Vanguard lined up in the formation of long snakes, finally beginning to enter the city, to thoroughly cleanse the Hidden Serpent City!
The old coastal Divine Serpent perished completely this night. And the new Mexica Serpent Divine finally extended across a thousand miles of coastlines, entrenched in every coastal city-state, opening the way east~
