Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

The summer was scorching, with moist vapor in the wind. Clouds gathered on the eastern horizon, a sign of impending rain. On both banks of the Adobe River, lush green grass and shrubs flourished. A tribal army of thousands was marching rapidly along the western bank of the great river, heading upstream to the south.

Although referred to as a single army, it was evidently divided into two groups in the march. Among the two thousand at the front were chieftains wearing pointed hats, the main force of the Conical House City from the east. The two thousand at the back wore hats adorned with bird feathers, indicating nobility, originating from the Feather Bird City in the southwest.

These two tribal armies moved south simultaneously to support the Riverbend Fort, although their motives differed. The Coyote City tribe stationed at Riverbend Fort was geographically close to the Conical House City tribe, belonging to the eastern Totonac allied forces, forming a close alliance. Thus, when an envoy from the Coyote City tribe reached Golden Bay City seeking assistance, the leaders of the Conical House City were the first to respond. Meanwhile, the Feather Bird City tribe followed suit to protect Riverbend Fort, maintaining the connection with their city upstream of the great river and preventing their army from being entirely cut off from the city.

The envoy arrived merely a day ago. As for the other Totonac chieftains in Golden Bay City, they were still engaged in endless debate, yet to reach any conclusion.

"These red-haired barbarians harass us with archery and run so fast! Just like biting rabbits!"

Mazatec, the chieftain of the Feather Bird City tribe, puffed his chest, glaring angrily toward the jungle to the west of the formation.

A group of dozens of red-haired hunters, wearing leather armor and holding greatbows, was shooting arrows from a distance of some one or two hundred paces away. From time to time, the marching tribal warriors were injured by these distant, cold arrows. Well-equipped and highly skilled, these hunters were swift. Previously, Mazatec had sent dozens of tribal warriors to chase them into the jungle, only for them to be beaten back in defeat.

"Damn Mexica! They've equipped those swift barbarians with sturdy leather armor, distant-shooting greatbows, and sharp bronze axes! Damn, just damn it!"

Mazatec, the chieftain, cursed repeatedly, filled with resentment. Surveying his tribal forces of over two thousand, more than a thousand were tribal militia, bare-chested carrying stone spears. Seven or eight hundred wore war clothes and carried stone axe javelins. Only the remaining one or two hundred wore leather armor, wielding obsidian clubs. There was a clear disparity in equipment and bravery. Sending small groups of warriors to chase would merely offer prey to those "rabbits" on the other side.

"Damn, all tribal warriors, follow me! Pursue, chase them down!"

After being harassed several more times, Mazatec could no longer contain his fury. He estimated that the barbarians' stamina was greatly depleted, and that if the main force pursued with encirclement, they would surely catch them! Once the enemy was caught, fighting with superior numbers would yield plenty of leather armor and weapons...

"Feathered Serpent Divine bless us! Follow me, kill them all!"

Mazatec raised his javelin high, leading hundreds of warriors, chasing the red-haired barbarians into the jungle. Their footsteps preceded, trampling shrubs and grass underfoot. Gradually, the footsteps drew closer. A quarter of an hour later, they almost converged.

"Haha! Caught you!"

Mazatec shouted, hurling his javelin with force, which flew over ten paces, piercing right into a red-haired hunter's chest. The javelin penetrated the leather armor, blood spraying forth. The red-haired hunter's face displayed surprise and disbelief. He turned his head with effort, looking into the depths of the jungle, then gave a peculiar smile before collapsing softly.

"Haha! Caught you!"

Deep in the jungle, Black Wolf Torc squinted, silently drawing his greatbow. His gaze lingered momentarily on the fallen red-haired hunter before shifting to Mazatec's feather crown. Judging from the outfit and ornamentation, this was evidently a noble tribal leader, possibly even the chieftain leading the group.

"Chief Divine bless! Hit!"

"Swish!"

The bronze feathered arrow shot forth, like a lightning bolt during the rainy season or a hummingbird in the jungle. The sound of it tearing through the air approached rapidly. Chieftain Mazatec turned at the sound, face also filled with surprise and disbelief. Then, with a "pfft," the arrow struck precisely at his neck, taking away his mighty vitality.

"Feathered Serpent Divine... bless... this is... despicable..."

Chieftain Mazatec didn't finish before falling into the grass. He heard the tribal warriors exclaiming beside him, and the whistling of more arrows approaching. Then the warriors' screams erupted, more footsteps quickly closing in. In the final moments of his life, he only saw a leather war boot stepping through the bloodstains, a blood-dripping bronze axe impatiently aiming for his neck.

"Crack!"

"Chief Divine bless! Kill the enemy!"

Black Wolf stood up, holding Mazatec's head, shouting loudly. Seeing the chieftain's head, the remaining warriors of the Feather Bird City tribe, who were still resisting stubbornly, instantly lost their fighting spirit, joining the fleeing crowd. Thousands of red-haired warriors poured from the jungle's depths, thrusting spears and swinging axes, ruthlessly slaughtering the fleeing enemy.

The Feather Bird City warriors scrambled in desperation, dozens upon hundreds being struck down by the pursuers. Swiftly, they broke apart, like a dispersing flock of birds, fleeing individually. A few warriors fled towards the riverside, seeking the protection of the Conical House City forces. More warriors hurriedly retreated to the southwest jungle. They would have to traverse one hundred and fifty miles of jungle, lacking food, to return to their homeland in the southwest Feather Bird City.

"Praise Chief Divine! Main force, chase the fleeing eastern enemy! First crush the remaining thousand militia, then drive the fleeing soldiers towards the frontline enemy, disrupting their formation!"

Black Wolf shouted harshly, as his trusted aides quickly passed the orders. Soon, the two thousand elite pursuers split into two groups. Seizing the victory, the main force burst from the jungle, swiftly defeating the remaining militia of the Feather Bird City. Then, the chaotic fleeing soldiers, like a surging tide, with hundreds despairingly leaping into the great river, while many more desperately fled forwards, crashing into the two-thousand-strong formation of the Conical House City.

"Damn! Damn that Mazatec, for the God of Thunder to strike him dead! This foolish bird, what kind of battle was that? In just two or three quarters of an hour, the whole army has routed?!"

Within the formation, Yoltzin, the chieftain of the Conical House City, watched in shock as hundreds of fleeing soldiers rushed forward like a herd of deer. The two hundred warriors in front attempting to stop them were dispersed within moments. Over a thousand red-haired barbarians, wielding bronze axes, chased the fleeing soldiers, charging from the northwest!

"Feathered Serpent Divine bless! Sun God bless! Don't panic, don't be afraid! Form ranks by the riverbank, let the fleeing troops escape from the side... quick! Prepare for battle, their numbers aren't many; we still have a chance!..."

Yoltzin's voice was hoarse from shouting. Over a thousand tribal warriors followed his direction, moving with difficulty. However, as they finally approached the riverbank and barely formed ranks, a desperate cry erupted from the frontline scouts.

"Ah! All Gods! Enemies to the south... enemies to the south as well!"

Chieftain Yoltzin turned to look, his complexion turning ghastly pale, filled with despair.

"It's over! This is really the end!..."

On the southern riverbank, thousands of Mexica warriors gradually emerged. Led by Camp Commander Tupa, they charged like a pack of hunting wolves, attacking swiftly.