Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 589 - 287: The Might of the War God

As the Saka Priest incited the crowd with his continuous chanting and agitation, the thousands of Otapan Defending Army soldiers near the city walls became increasingly rowdy. The clamorous noise spread, startling a flock of birds into flight in the mountains.

The agile finches sensed danger, chirping as they flew high into the sky to watch. Below, in the mountain city, the two-legged creatures divided into two distinct groups: one group shouting in disarray, like a converging pack of wolves; the other standing ready for battle, like bears on their hind legs,

Battle seemed imminent. Over a thousand impulsive Otomi Warriors gripped their bows and war clubs, gradually moving their feet, surrounding the Royal Banner at the city gates. Some brandished their weapons, eyes red, loudly taunting the Mexica people.

Under the Royal Banner, five hundred Copper Armored Imperial Guards occupied the entrance of the mountain city, forming a tight defensive circle. Encircling them were two hundred Heavy Armored Jaguars. These elite veteran warriors, accustomed to combat and skilled in battle techniques, could easily break through enemy ranks several times their own. Clad in heavy armor and holding shields, they remained composed even when surrounded, their eyes filled with the intent to kill. Within the inner circle of the formation stood three hundred Medium Armored trusted aides, also chosen from among thousands. Skilled in archery and martial arts, they were formidable at any range. The trusted aides now took out their longbows, nocked their copper arrows, and aimed at the Cotton Armored Otomi Archers opposite them.

The priests of the Otomi within the city were also divided into two groups. Those under Olte outnumbered the others, loudly admonishing the surrounding Otomi Warriors to keep most of the defending army in place. Though fewer in number, the priests accompanying Saka were younger and more spirited. They shouted throughout the crowd, continuously stirring up hatred, urging the warriors to advance. The two groups of priests glared at each other, shouting invectives and even coming to blows when they got close.

"Saka, have you lost your mind? To attack the Alliance at this time? Do you want to destroy the Otomi people?!"

Olte steadied himself and, from nearly ten paces away, bellowed in anger. A dozen priests and guards hurried forward, shielding the elder Priest behind them.

"Olte, you’re old! The Otomi people need a strong leader, someone who will face everything with stoic bravery, to be reborn in this cruel world!"

Saka stood among the Temple Warriors, protected by their shields. As he looked at the increasingly out-of-control situation, a smile crept onto his face, and he muttered under his breath.

"When two cheetahs vie for the same forest, he who yields has only death ahead! I cannot be the one who fails!"

The Tribal Assembly of Otapan had just begun, with tribal leaders from various lands gathered in one place, in the process of electing the military leader of the mountain city’s ancestral ground. The two Head Warriors of Otapan City, Nelpa and Jiowar, were locked in fierce competition for the leadership of the mountain city.

At this critical moment, the elder Priest Olte unexpectedly, without the Priesthood’s permission, allowed the distinguished Mexica Prince into the city. The Mexica Prince had always been close to Jiowar, and his presence would undoubtedly have a decisive impact on the election of the military leader.

With the situation urgent and arising suddenly, Saka made a snap decision, stirring the Otomi Warriors stationed at the city gates to clash with the Mexica people. The tribal leaders were all gathered at the city center, and no one was there to control the rank-and-file city defenders. Once the Otomi Warriors began fighting and both sides saw blood, there would be no turning back for the warriors’ tribes! Whether the Mexica Prince was expelled or captured, the situation in the mountain city would shift in favor of the side that would benefit!

The Wolf Banner fluttered, armor clinked, and an eerie silence fell over the Samurai. Xiulote, lips pursed, remained calm and collected, observing the unfolding situation.

Under the instigation of the opposing priests, the situation was gradually descending into chaos. The King’s gaze swept over the defending army on the city walls. Most were shouting aimlessly; the Militia stood confused in their ranks, while the Warriors hesitated, watching the divided Priesthood. The closest thousand Otomi Warriors, influenced by the hostile atmosphere of the field, were shouting as they pressed closer.

The King furrowed his brow. He had five hundred of the finest Armored Warriors at his command, and even faced with the charge of thousands of Otomi Warriors, they could fully protect themselves. The Mexica Warriors also held the position at the city gates and could retreat the same way they came at any moment.

"But once blood is shed, the situation will be hard to calm! This is not what I desire!"

Xiulote looked around. The Otomi had no tribal leaders to organize them, just chaos under the Priests’ provocation. Although they seemed as boiling as soup, they could be intimidated with the right approach.

""Bertade, withdraw the trusted aide’s shield and reveal my form!"

"Your Highness?"

The Head Warrior was somewhat worried.

"Withdraw the shield! I am clad in copper armor; the arrows of the Otomi pose little threat to me."

Quickly, the trusted aides lowered their shields and dispersed to the sides, revealing the shining armor at the center. Xiulote stood upright, towering beneath the Royal Banner, and bellowed loudly.

"Black Wolf!"

"Present, Your Highness!"

"Advance the plan, blow the Bone Whistle!"

"By your command!"

Toltec, clad in heavy armor, stood at the very front of the military formation. He raised the pale Bone Whistle, as long as two hands, to his lips, then puffed up his cheeks and blew with all his might.

"Whew! Whew! Dee!... Whew! Whew! Dee!"

The piercing notes burst forth suddenly, resonating with a particular melody at the city gates. Black Wolf exerted his full strength, the shrill sound of the whistle cutting through the heavens, traveling far and wide until it reached beneath the Mountain City! The sound had such penetrating power that it made onlookers dizzy and brought a hushed stillness to the surroundings.

"Praise be to You! The Chief Divine, Sun God, War God Huitzilopochtli!..."

In the brief respite that followed, Xiulote raised the Divine Staff in his hand and chanted loudly, capturing the Otomi’s attention. His body shone with golden light, his arms wide open, looking up at the sun. This was the gesture of a Priest praying to the gods!

"...The War God brandishes thunder and roars, revealing His power!..."

The King chanted loudly, his voice soaring and pure, infused with a certain mystical cadence. Then, he slowly lowered his head to level his gaze and suddenly pointed forward with the Divine Staff.

"...The War God descends, the deity has arrived!"

Witnessing the Mexica prince’s solemn prayer, the approaching Otomi Warriors abruptly halted. In that era, the majesty of the gods was deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people, and the power of the gods seemed omnipresent. Considering the reputation of the "God of Death," the warriors waited in trepidation for a moment, but nothing happened."

Xiulote pointed the Divine Staff, motionless, his expression divine. The Otomi warriors stopped in their tracks, looking at each other in confusion, momentarily silent. After a brief pause, the lead Saka priest was the first to snap out of it. He roared angrily.

"The Primordial God protects the mountain city! This is the Divine Realm of Ometeotl! Warriors blessed by the deity, charge for me..."

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!..."

Earth-shattering thunder suddenly exploded, like apocalyptic waves rising from the ends of the sky, roaring up and engulfing the entire mountain city. Thousands of Otomi defending soldiers had terror written on their faces. They looked up, but instead of clouds, they saw only the blazing sun!

Hearing the familiar sound of cannons, Xiulote’s expression remained unchanged, and he let out a sigh of relief. After counting four consecutive cannon blasts and estimating the time, he swung the Divine Staff again and bellowed.

"War, God, descends!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!..."

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Another four thunderous bellows pierced everyone’s heart! Seeing the prince’s praying movements and hearing the angry roars of the deity, the present Otomi could no longer contain their fear and cried out in panic.

"Ah! War God Huitzilopochtli!..."

"The Grand Deity of the Mexica people protects them!..."

"The incarnation of the deity, the God of Death Xiulotel!..."

Voices of terror created a chaos. The Otomi warriors in the front ranks dropped their weapons and dispersed the encirclement. They backed away with heads bowed, their shouts were meaningless, and they dared not look directly at the radiant king. Soon, Ottopan warriors who had participated in the western expedition cried out.

"I’ve been to the southern battlefield; this is the Mexica legion’s ritual to summon the God of Thunder! The Divine Arts that defeated the Tarasco people!..."

Memories of the western expedition flooded back, the thunderous sounds at Rivermouth fortress were unforgettable. Seeing the black Wolf Banner, hundreds of Ottopan warriors who had joined the western expedition knelt down, prostrating themselves before the former marshal.

"Divine Blessings, Your Highness!"

Hundreds of warriors kept shouting, over a thousand Otomi defending soldiers dropped their weapons, bowing their heads in fear. Many Otomi militia even knelt to the ground, saluting the king as if participating in a sacred prayer.

"Warriors, do not fear... this is the howling of an Evil God, harmless to the children of the Primordial God..."

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!..."

After a short silence, the earth-shaking thunder resumed, interrupting the Saka priest’s shouting and causing him to lose his balance. Amidst the divine roar, more and more Otomi knelt down, their faces filled with awe, and the present priesthood also showed fear.

Watching this scene, the old priest had a complex expression, staying silent. He kept a close eye on the changes of the Mexica, knowing that the thunder wasn’t a divine power but a new type of weapon. Although he had sent many scouts, he had never been able to learn the way to produce this weapon.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!..."

The thunder had a certain pattern, two rounds, four blasts each time, with a quarter interval in between. In fact, the Imperial Guard Legion brought a total of eight Eight-Gate Wooden Cannons, with a dedicated cannon team. Early that day, all eight cannons had been loaded and stood ready, waiting for the king’s signal.

Xiulote looked around again, nodded slightly, and maintained the posture of a deity. All the Otomi had laid down their weapons, and the city walls were filled with prostrate figures. Tribal leaders from the city center were startled by the cannon fire and were hurrying over from not far away; leading them was Jiowar, whose narrow eyes and coyote-like appearance.

"Black Wolf, blow the whistle!"

"Whistle! Whistle! Whoosh!... Whistle! Whistle! Whoosh!" The piercing sound of the whistle cut through the sky, traveling far down the mountain, conveying new orders.

The Otomi fell into utter silence, looking towards the king, radiant with light. Xiulote waved the Divine Staff solemnly, his voice high and resonant, chanting the final verses of the prayer.

"Praise the Chief Deity! The light of the god envelops the earth, its great power is everywhere! The god watches over us!..."

Jiowar approached briskly, arriving in haste, followed by a large group of tribal leaders. He glanced at the situation around him then looked towards the old priest Olte.

The old priest gave a slight nod. He gestured a salute and then raised the Divine Staff, calling out loudly to the Otomi.

"Praise the War God! He is the Sun God, also the deity of the Otomi!"

"Praise the War God! Praise the Sun God!"

Jiowar was the first to shout, kneeling to the ground, saluting in front of Xiulote’s Royal Banner. Behind him, the tribal leaders hesitated momentarily before they too knelt down to salute.

"Praise the War God! Praise the Sun God!"

Devout prayers rose and fell, echoing over the majestic mountain city. With the arrival of the tribal leaders, the Otomi warriors each bowed their heads, and the situation within the city was finally under control again while the roar of the deity was no longer heard.

Witnessing the changing situation, Saka’s complexion turned pale. He stared fixedly at the king beneath the Wolf Banner, unable to see the young face beneath the Bronze Helmet, only hearing a concluding chant.

"...The god has departed!"