Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Hearing this, Amoxtli did not speak. He turned, like a crow in the wilderness, and gazed at the distant mountains. In his eyes, the world was filled with traces of death. The ash-blue and ink-green legions, like the tides in the sky, were coming in an unstoppable deluge.

Arantza stopped crying and silently looked towards the south, like a grown red hawk.

The three stood in silence for a long while until a red-haired Scout hurried over.

"Chieftain, the Great Chief summons you."

"Good."

Amoxtli turned to Arantza, smiled, and then ruffled the girl's hair. Then, he looked at Moqi and gave a stern order.

"Don't delay, leave now!"

"...Yes, Chieftain."

Moqi bowed deeply, clenching a fist in salute.

Amoxtli nodded slightly and then, without looking back, left with several dozen trusted aides. Along the way, many red-haired elites were shouting loudly, reorganizing the scattered warriors from various Tribes. The Canine Descendants camps along the way were chaotic but gradually restoring order.

Soon, the banner of the Red Dog Tribe appeared before him. Amoxtli took a moment to observe, and his Scout's instincts allowed him to make quick calculations in his mind. The Red Dog Tribe was on high alert, with more than six hundred red-haired Hunters and nearly three thousand tribal warriors ready to fight at any moment.

"Great Chief!"

Amoxtli approached the banner, knelt on one knee, and respectfully saluted the Great Chief.

"Amoxtli, my loyal warrior."

Chichika nodded in satisfaction. He personally lifted Amoxtli and patted the warrior's shoulder.

"You've come at the right time; I was just discussing military affairs with Ozoma."

Amoxtli bowed again, saluting Ozoma. The Red Monkey Chieftain smiled back in response, his eyes containing a scrutinizing look.

After the Tribes retreated, the military power of the Alliance became even more centralized. The Red Dog Tribe had gathered the most warriors, had grown significantly, and now had the foundation to establish a powerful City-State. The Red Crow Tribe had also gained a place within the Alliance.

"The Great Chief is indeed far-sighted... He has always supported these smaller Tribes, which I had not taken seriously. Now it seems, he might have been prepared for a long time, to counterbalance or even replace the other Great Tribes."

Ozoma pondered in silence. The Great Chief had stopped the retreat, defeating the pursuing enemy. The balance in his heart thus slightly tilted again towards the Great Chief.

"My warriors! The Tribe's warriors are reorganizing; the Envoy to the old camp has just rushed back, and the situation of each division is now clear."

Chichika watched the two, his voice steady.

"Red Deer has fled back to the Valley with a few hundred remnants and has been ordered to return with troops. Red Salamander disappeared during a night raid and may have been captured by the Cactus Tribe. His Tribe in the old camp will be temporarily managed by me... As for the other scattered forces, you are free to gather them!"

Chichika looked towards both men. Amoxtli bowed his head in salute, the first to respond.

"As you command, Great Chief."

"I will follow your arrangements, respected Great Chief."

Ozoma also bowed his head in respect.

Chichika nodded gravely. Then, his speech carried a hint of sorrow.

"The Scout has confirmed clear news: Uman has fallen in the rearguard..."

On hearing this, a shadow crossed Amoxtli's eyes. Uman was an acquaintance of no more than two months, but a comrade who had experienced life and death with him.

The Great Chief paused for a moment. Then, he reached out both hands, firmly placing them on the shoulders of Ozoma and Amoxtli.

"Ozoma, Amoxtli, now, my left and right arms are you two!"

"As you command, Great Chief."

Amoxtli's expression remained unchanged.

"Willing to die in your service!"

Excitement appeared on Ozoma's face.

"Good, very good!"

Chichika looked at them for a moment, then nodded slowly. After a while, he spoke again, his words leaving no room for debate.

"The army of fifteen thousand from before the night raid has already regathered over eight thousand. Today the army will move northward twenty miles, and establish a camp at the mouth of the Valley to defend to the death!"

Hearing this command, Ozoma and Amoxtli exchanged glances for a few moments, then bowed their heads in unison.

"By your command, Great Chief!"

Chichika smiled in satisfaction. He glanced towards the north, with words of encouragement.

"The gathered remnant forces need to be reorganized, and the old camp in the Valley is mobilizing. I have given orders to conscript men from all Tribes. Within three days, we will call upon another five thousand able-bodied men to be incorporated into the divisions."

"Another five thousand able-bodied men?"

Ozoma was somewhat shocked. Over 60,000 Canine Descendants Tribes had already conscripted nearly 20,000 warriors. To draft another 5,000 now, they might have to conscript even the healthy women and the youths. How could the Tribes accept such a call to arms?...

"Hmm."

Chichika grinned, revealing his teeth.

"There are still over a thousand Red Dog warriors in the old camp. I will also send another thousand warriors to the north to oversee the conscription of the Tribes. Additionally, Priest Zuma will hold a great sacrifice in the Valley. The Wilderness priests of all the Tribes will blood sacrifice all the Otomi Agricultural Slaves and kill all the captives from the south to pray for victory in war to the Divinity of the earth and sky, and to the ancestors in the winds!"

"Blood sacrifice all the slaves and captives?!"

Ozoma exclaimed in shock. There were at least three thousand Otomi Agricultural Slaves working in the Valley, and with the men and women captives privately kept by the Tribes, the number could even reach six thousand. Amoxtli also appeared deeply moved.

"That's right!"

"This, Great Chief... such a large-scale blood sacrifice has never been held on the Wilderness before..."

Ozoma looked towards the Great Chief, only to see a cold, smiling face.

"Ha ha, no matter. Everything has a first time."

Chichika laughed softly, suppressing the murderous intent within his heart, and gently licked his teeth.

"Holding the great sacrifice, on one hand, is to memorialize the warriors who died in battle. The Earth Mother needs the nourishment of flesh and blood to allow the souls of the warriors to rest. On the other hand, it is to cut off the retreat for the Tribes."

The Great Chief's expression was calm, but it hinted at madness.

"The priests will tell all the Tribes: we have killed all the Otomi, and if the Valley falls, the Otomi will kill all of us. Whether we surrender or not, it's the same fate. The only way to live is to hold the Valley!"

"Ah, the way to live..."

Upon hearing this, Ozoma felt the scales in his heart tip rapidly towards a vague boundary. In this fleeting moment, his body trembled slightly, countless thoughts flashing in his mind. Then, he bowed his head deeply, like a monkey hiding in the forest, and said softly.

"We could continue to retreat to the Wilderness..."

Cold eyes swept over, staring at the bowed head. The Red Monkey Chieftain instantly contained his expression. He then raised his head again, swallowing his saliva, and fearfully knelt on the ground.

"Great Chief! The Cactus Tribe can summon Fire from the heavens, and no matter how treacherous the terrain, it is hard to defend against!"

"Fire from the heavens?... It's just the wooden beast created by the Evil God! The warriors just need to overcome fear, then there is nothing to be afraid of."

Chichika squinted his eyes, staring at Ozoma for a while, before speaking indifferently.

"We defend for a few days, the old camp needs time to regroup. If it really becomes untenable, I will give the order to retreat. Since the Alliance has been established, it should be like a wolf pack, with order and rank! It cannot be a headless flight, scattering in all directions..."

Saying this, the Great Chief paused slightly, his gaze flickering.

"Of course, the elderly and weak in the Valley can indeed be evacuated in part... hmm, after the great sacrifice, there will be warriors controlling every valley entrance. The tribes that yield enough people can retreat first."

Upon hearing this, Amoxtli's heart grew cold. He kept his composure, bowing respectfully.

"The Chieftain is wise."

Chichika watched the two men, his gaze as heavy as falling mountains, and issued a sharp command.

"Ozoma!"

"Yes, Great Chief!"

"Your Red Monkey Tribe has high morale, so encamp in the forward camp at the mouth of the Valley. I will lead the main force and support you from behind. When the first batch of reinforcements arrives, they will be supplied to you first!"

"I will follow your command!"

Ozoma fell to the ground to accept the order.

"Amoxtli!"

"Great Chief."

"Your Tribe has just gathered the fugitives, station them to rest in the rear of the Valley entrance. But the Red Crow Scouts are quite elite, they must scout for enemy intelligence, and constantly strike and harass. You personally lead the team, head south along the mountain forests! There are still many scattered Tribes trapped in the south, as long as you can bring them out, they all belong to your Tribe!"

"As you command, Great Chief."

Amoxtli also knelt on the ground, bowing respectfully.

"Very well!"

Seeing the two men's obedience, Chichika nodded in satisfaction. He cracked a smile, and instructed.

"You may go. Return to your Tribes and act swiftly! The ancestors in the wind will protect us!"

"Ancestors protect us!"

The two responded in unison, turning to leave immediately. On the hilltop, only Chichika remained. He stood for a long time, looking towards the mountains in the south, and suddenly grinned,

"Come then, Mexica! The Wolf King of the Wilderness, destined to die covered in scars, will never surrender!"