NOVPUB"The Chapala militia indeed are fierce. City-State nobility are really unreliable!... Fortunately, I have the true Thunderbolt to rely on, the truth that will soon dominate the world!"
Thinking this, the Young Commander smiled and looked ahead. The wooden frames of the two cannons were finally fixed, the muzzles aimed at the enemy’s square formation on the hill, with the artillerymen erecting ready red flags. Then he looked towards the hill, "Feathers" flag below, Chapala warriors in tight formation, taking up a solid defensive stance.
Xiulote hesitated no more, waving the command flag in high spirits, pointing towards the enemy Marshal on the hill! The piercing blast of the copper whistle followed, and the cannon team’s gunners quickly lit the match cord, then covered their ears and crouched two steps away from the wooden cannons.
"Boom!!!" A thunderous roar resonated through heaven and earth, causing all the fierce combat to fall silent in an instant. Izel had just taken the first step in his rise in life when he collapsed bowing, terrified by the terrifying roar of the God of Thunder. Lying on the ground trembling, he lifted his head to look back at the recently thundering divine weapon.
Amidst the tremendous booming, the cannon barrel leaped backward, and a wisp of smoke rose from its mouth, like a Divine Beast roaring. This was his second time witnessing the divine weapon’s display of power, and he always felt it was a living creature, like the mythical spirits with Divine Power. Izel couldn’t help but lower his head, silently praying to the mythical creature.
"Oh Divine Beast of Thunderbolt, grant me victory in battle, so I may take the position of Family Head!"
The booming wooden cannon fired off a stone shot, with immense might, crossing a distance of fifty paces to strike the Chapala center troop!
The scatter shot flew, instantly knocking down four or five warriors in front. The powerful stone shot penetrated sturdy Leather Armor, piercing soft bodies and smashing unprotected faces. The warriors had no time to moan before they fell distorted and mangled, spilling a large pool of red. Next, the spreading stone fragments, like rain in the rainy season, hit the warriors within a dozen paces, "bang bang" making noise, kicking up clouds of dust.
Faced with the weapon that spanned eras, the Chapala warriors were completely shocked. Listening to the thunderous roar, filled with an unknown fear, they stood stunned looking at the smoking Divine Beast several dozen paces away. At this moment, no one paid attention to how many were dead or injured. They were just desperately screaming in their hearts.
"What is this?!"
The "Feathers" Commander of Chapala was in chaos, pointing at the wooden cannon directly opposite him, asking frantically.
"Priest! What is this? An Evil Demon of the Mexica?!"
No one answered the Marshal’s questions, only frightened and disorderly shouts and hasty, confused prayers. Then another roar of thunder, the second wooden cannon aimed carefully, firing directly at the enemy’s Commander’s Flag on the hill!
The sprayed stone shot flew across seventy paces, violently striking the rear ranks of the warriors. The distance of this shot was slightly longer, and it didn’t cause much effective damage. Several warriors in front, holding up shields against arrows, were knocked down by the oncoming scatter shot. Then they rolled around in disarray on the ground, their Cotton Armor studded with stones that had just pierced through, crying out in fear.
In the thundering sound, the surrounding warriors knelt down in fear, loudly begging the roaring Divine Beast for mercy. The flying mud and stone splashed ten paces away, spraying Pengguari’s face and causing painful impacts where they struck. The "Feathers" Marshal was shocked, suddenly falling on the ground, still pointing forward, continuing to scream in dread.
"Evil Demon! The Mexica’s Evil Demon!"
Along with the two epoch-shaking cannon blasts, only a dozen or so Chapala warriors fell wounded or dead, yet tens of thousands were left stunned and soul-shocked!
With the wooden cannon position as the center, the Tarasco warriors and militia were thrown into disarray, engulfed in chaos. Many warriors knelt on the ground, dropping their weapons, praying in terror to the enemy’s Divine Beast! Even more warriors, with fear and confusion on their faces, bowed their heads weakly, praying for forgiveness from the three gods! The militia in the rear, just gathering together, were shocked by the thunder of the cannon fire, entering the brink of collapse once more! While in the distant outskirts, Mexica warriors and Chapala militia ceased fighting, reverently watching the army center, fearful of the unknown!
The sound of cannon fire echoed between heaven and earth. The Mexica legion at the center was prepared, bursting into a loud cheer.
"The Chief Divine descends, bestowing the highest Divine Power! Invincible Divine Might, assured victory in divine warfare!!!"
Cheers originated from the devout Divine Blessing Legion first, followed by the zealous Temple Guards, then the excited Holy City Samurai, and finally reached the sternly-arranged Spear Legion. Amidst the cheers of the Mexica people, the morale of the Chapala Legion once again plummeted, and the Samurai turned their heads in extreme unease. They looked toward the majestic Commander-in-Chief, gazed at the sacred Priesthood, waiting for a convincing explanation.
Xiulote surveyed the situation quickly. The wooden cannons were being reloaded, and it would be nearly a quarter hour before they could fire again. The morale of the Mexica legion was at its peak, the enemy’s morale at its lowest, the charge was at this moment!
The Young Commander made his decision. He raised the fluttering Spear Flag, swung it forcefully in a circle, and then resolutely pointed forward!
"All forces, charge!!!"
The deep war drums beat fiercely, accompanied by the urgent and uplifting sound of flutes. The Mexica legion erupted in a tremendous roar, like hunting Jaguars, charging toward the prey ahead!
The Holy City Legion, carrying War Clubs high, screamed and charged at the forefront. They rushed into the front of the Chapala center army with ferocity, breaking through effortlessly, and in moments had penetrated a dozen steps inward. The front row of Chapala warriors dropped their weapons, nearly resisting not at all. They merely knelt in desperation, praying as the Holy City Samurai forcefully struck them down. Afterward, sharp blades sliced across unprotected necks, cleanly cutting throats, killing them on the spot!
Facing a victory within easy reach, the Holy City Samurai showed no mercy, unleashing full-strength slashes and completely abandoning defense. In just more than a dozen breaths, half of the three thousand Chapala front-line warriors were breached, and four to five hundred armored elites lay bleeding on the ground, motionless and forever silent.
Olosh dropped his shield, wielding the War Club with both hands. He half-turned sideward, swinging the weapon like hitting a ball, and with a "thump," struck it against the head of an enemy before him. That warrior knelt on the ground, shouting incoherently, then suddenly the shouting stopped, as his neck twisted into a strange arc and he "plunked" down.
The fierce Jaguar warrior shook his head and without a second thought, slashed another enemy’s throat, muttering softly to himself.
"These warriors who have lost their souls, stand in place without moving, not even running, are easier to kill than turkeys!"
Then, Olosh fixed his gaze on the enemy’s Commander’s Flag several dozen steps away, a glint in his eye. He called to the warriors around him and together they pushed towards the higher ground of the small hill.
"The evil demon of the Mexica... again the evil demon of the Mexica..."
Feathers trembling in his hands and feet, Pengguari stared fixedly ahead, watching the two wooden cannons being reloaded. The elderly Head Warrior was the first to react. He approached the Family Head, known as Feathers, and urgently shouted.
"Family Head, the enemy is upon us! Quickly issue the command, beat the drums of battle, and have the Priests chant to inspire courage!"
Pengguari’s eyes were vacant, his mind in a fog. The warrior next to him shook his body and repeated something. Only then did he nod absentmindedly, and the Head Warrior rapidly relayed commands.
Amid the turmoil on the hillock, the Militia Archers knelt and howled, and nobody paid them much attention. Soon, the urgent beat of the drums rose again, the Priests trembling as they chanted loudly, conveying the divine will.
"The three deities protect us, vanquish the evil demon of the Mexica!"
The Feathers Head Warrior personally led hundreds of clan warriors to the beat of the "thud thud" drums, resisting the assault of the Holy City Legion. He was buying more time for the center army warriors to recover from the chaos.
The Spear Legions on both flanks chanted the name of the Chief Divine, formed into tight squares, and advanced at a slightly slower pace. They set up five rows of Long Spears in front of the formation and finally reached the front lines of the enemy warriors, stabbing out deeply in an interweaving manner! The sharp Copper Spears pierced the thick Cotton Armor, making a crisp tearing sound, followed by a dull thud as they penetrated the bodies. Left-wing warriors of "Sky" and right-wing warriors of "Silver" simultaneously cried out as they toppled over in droves, letting blood soak the earth.
From the center army to the flanks, and then to the outskirts of the formations, the two vast armies of tens of thousands of warriors were intertwined, and the boiling combat merged into one.
