Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Zucata stood to the side, his expression fraught with anxiety. He harbored some preposterous thoughts. With such urgent military situation in the south, whether to fight or flee, a decisive choice had to be made. Yet at this time, the people of Guajili in the camp were actually holding a divination?

Thinking this, Zucata shook his head repeatedly. Unfortunately, in such a sacred occasion, being a foreigner, he had no right to speak and could only watch in silence.

"Divine Earth and Heavens, exalted ancestors! Please listen to the call of the Earth's children... At this critical juncture, bestow upon me the holy enlightenment... I ask, is the warrior Amoxtli the chosen leader of Guajili by the revered Earth Mother Goddess?"

The Priest Zuma chanted loudly and began to dance a strange and mysterious dance. The wooden bells on his body jingled with the movement, producing a special sound that made everyone present somewhat dizzy. After a while, Zuma stepped forward and threw a piece of wild buffalo skull into the fire. The intense flames cracked the skull, and the old priest then took out a handful of powder from his bosom and suddenly threw it into the fire bowl.

"Whoosh!"

The flames in the fire bowl suddenly surged, startling everyone into stepping back in unison. Priest Zuma remained unflinching. He took out a piece of rough white "cloth" from his bosom, wrapped it around his hand, then abruptly reached into the blazing flame and grabbed the cracked skull out.

The old priest examined the piece of skull for a moment, his expression shifting for a long time. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he suddenly knelt down and respectfully bowed to Amoxtli.

"Ah! The skull has cracked with a heavenly pattern, it is the most sacred omen! Chieftain Amoxtli, the Earth Mother Goddess recognizes you, you are indeed the leader chosen by Heaven and Earth!"

Then, Priest Zuma turned and solemnly called out to the people.

"Why do you not kneel quickly, pray to the Earth Mother Goddess! Pay homage to the Heaven-chosen Chieftain Amoxtli!"

Zucata watched with a cold eye, finally discerning some flavor to the situation. He thought for a moment and a smile emerged on his face as he knelt down in homage. However, there were many warriors whose reaction was even quicker. Without hesitation, these men fell to their knees, uniformly shouting out loud.

"We greet you, Chieftain Amoxtli! Leader chosen by the Earth Mother Goddess!"

Seeing the miraculous scene and hearing the high calls of the people, thousands of tribal warriors knelt down in homage to Chieftain Amoxtli. Hundreds of saved warriors shouted fervently, the atmosphere infecting the hearts of those present. The dozens of tribal chieftains looked at each other, their expressions flickering, but they too slowly knelt down, following the trend.

Seeing the people kneeling before him, Amoxtli laughed heartily. His expression was determined, eyes bright, and his passion burned like fire.

"My warriors, my brave men, stand up! The Earth Mother Goddess has chosen me, and I shall live and die with you all! Now, the noble Chichika Chieftain is resisting the cruel Mexica in the south! The children of the wilderness will never submit. Let me lead you to support Chichika Chieftain and fight to the death with the God of Death Great Chief!"

"We obey you, Chieftain Amoxtli! We'll fight to the death with you!"

Hearing this, the tribal warriors showed admiration and shouted frantically as they lay prostrate. They were already won over by Amoxtli, and at this moment, all of them were invigorated, awakening the valiant blood of the Canine Descendants. At this moment, the stature of Amoxtli loomed large like a Great Chief. The boiling cheers echoed throughout the encampment, as if victory was already theirs.

Upon hearing they were to march south, Zucata frowned. He looked at the senior chieftains, who were also visibly disturbed, their faces showing concern.

At the crucial moment, it was Priest Zuma who stood out. He walked forward two steps, raised his staff, first bowed his head in respect to Amoxtli, and then looked towards the excited warriors.

"The southern campaign is critical to the survival of the Guajili. Before this battle, let me inquire of the Earth Mother Goddess of our fortunes."

Amoxtli pondered for a moment, nodding his head with extraordinary solemnity.

"Very well! I entrust this to you, respected Priest Zuma!"

Seeing Amoxtli's respectful attitude, Priest Zuma nodded in satisfaction. He lit incense again, sang, and danced, then once more threw the buffalo skull into the fire.

A solemn silence fell upon the vast encampment. Thousands of tribal warriors waited uneasily for the divination result. Priest Zuma chanted for a while, then once more scattered the powder, and suddenly retrieved the cracked skull from the burning flames.

The old priest held the skull, his face serious, looking at it for a long time without a word.

"Respected Priest Zuma, what is the result of the divination? The noble Chichika Chieftain is waiting for my reinforcements!"

Amoxtli's expression was eager as he asked. Everyone also held their breath in anticipation.

"Respected Chieftain Amoxtli."

Priest Zuma pondered for a while, speaking calmly.

"The Divine Revelation of the Earth Mother Goddess has been bestowed. But before announcing it, there is one last step to take!"

"Please instruct me, Priest!"

Amoxtli responded solemnly.

"The Earth Mother Goddess says, please, Chieftain Amoxtli, drink the burned divination powder to receive the enlightenment of the Heavenly Divine!"

Priest Zuma surveyed the crowd with a grave expression.

Upon hearing this, Zucata pinched his fingers in confusion, wondering what would unfold next.

"Very well!"

Amoxtli readily agreed. He accepted a handful of divination powder, swallowed it, then took the water bottle passed to him by Zuma the Priest and drained it in one gulp.

"Ah? This is... I see!..."

Amoxtli stood frozen for a moment, his gaze becoming vacant and confused. A profound shock surfaced on his face, pulling at the hearts of all the warriors. Suddenly, Amoxtli threw back his head and let out a painful scream.

"Ah!..."

The terrible cry roared like a wild beast, shaking the whole camp. Everyone was jolted, looking up, the respected leader Amoxtli had fainted amidst the Divine Revelation.

"What... What happened?"

"What exactly did the leader see?"

"What is the prophecy?"

The warriors' cries of panic rose. Yet Zuma the High Priest was calm, unhurried. He raised the Divine Staff in one hand, and the divination bone of a bull's head in the other, and bellowed in his aged voice.

"The Earth Mother Goddess has bestowed a Divine Revelation!"

At these words, the camp once again fell silent, save for the old priest's heart-stirring chant.

"The south is profound darkness, an irresistible rest. The shadow of the God of Death comes from the south, soon to devour everything in the valley!... The Earth Mother Goddess says, our home is not here, but in the fertile land beyond the mountains, where the great river flows! The vigour of the Guajili people lies in the East!"

"Ah! This! Respected Zuma the Priest, what exactly does the Mother Goddess's Divine Revelation mean?"

"The meaning of the Divine Revelation is..."

Zuma the Priest raised the wooden staff, his gaze once again to the south. In his whitening old eyes, a flash of vengeful satisfaction came and went.

"Fate is already decided! The Chichika leader will return to the Earth, the Cactus Tribe will conquer the valley. And those of us in the camp must immediately migrate to the East, escorting the tribes that have gone ahead, to re-establish ourselves in the mountains of the East!"

"Ah? Migrate to the East!..."

The silence of the people didn't last long, the Red Crow's camp quickly stirred to life. The citizens of the wilderness had long grown accustomed to migration, and once a direction was chosen, they didn't hesitate for long. Soon, three thousand Tribal Warriors packed up their food and weapons, abandoning their baggage and camp, swiftly marching towards the East. And a dozen envoys set out simultaneously, to notify all parts of the valley of the Mother Goddess's Divine Revelation.

Zucata watched all this, silently contemplating in his heart. He, along with a few old brothers from Tarasco, carried their spears, following the rapidly migrating crowd.

"Qipa."

"Chieftain Zucata."

"Good, very good."

A smile touched Zucata's stolid face.

"Ah, what's very good?"

Qipa scratched his head, somewhat puzzled.

"The Red Crow Chieftain, very good... and our choice, also very good!"

Zucata smiled faintly, looking up to the sky. The sun was already sloping westward, the red twilight saturating the sky, covering the earth, and enveloping the mountains to the south.

"Such a brilliant dusk. The battle in the south must have ended by now! The old Wolf King sinks into the Abyss of death, and a new Wolf King is born in the mountains. A long day is finally coming to an end!"

Qipa nodded, not fully understanding, as he looked toward the front where the unconscious leader Amoxtli lay on a wooden frame two men high, motionless, carried by the loyal Red Crow warriors.

"It is like carrying a sacrifice..."

The young Militia murmured to himself. But Zucata just laughed and shook his head.

"No, from today on, that is a hero with divinity!"

Their conversation dissipated in the wind, trailing off quietly.

On the wooden frame, the divine Amoxtli remained still, noiselessly opening his eyes. His eyes were clear and bright, reflecting the red dusk, and mirroring the vast world.

"May you rest in peace! Great Chief of Chichika... I am back! Ahlan..."