NOVPUB"Silver" Great Nobility clenched "Feathers" Prince’s arm tightly. He knelt on one knee, his gaze earnest, and he called out loudly.
"Your Highness, the ’Sky’ Samurai are about to die in battle! Please dispatch your Reserve Warriors to the wing that hangs by a thread! The ’Sky’ family will forever remember your assistance with gratitude!"
Pengguari’s eyes drooped, avoiding the looking gaze. Then, he saw the Head Warrior, torn and bloodied from battle, hurry back from the front.
"The front is critical, let me go and inquire!"
"Feathers" Prince broke free from Tekata’s grip and strode forward to meet the coming figure. "Silver" Family Head, unwilling to give in, hastily followed behind.
Pengguari stepped out briskly, creating distance from Tekata. Then, he suddenly turned around and pointed a finger at him.
"Guards on my left and right, seize him!"
The Marshal’s trusted aides looked at each other bewildered, but then they heard the command shouted fiercely once again.
"Seize him!"
A few loyal aides, no longer hesitating, stepped forward together and pinned down the incredulous Tekata on the spot.
"Pengguari! You, you?!"
"Bind his arms, gag him, and cover him with shields!"
Continuous commands were issued, and in just a few breaths, the unprepared "Sky" Family Head was securely restrained.
"Ah! Your Highness, this, this...!"
The Head Warrior stood frozen beside the Marshal. The blood on his war clothes continued to drip, indistinguishable between his own and the enemy’s.
"This battle is unwinnable! I must preserve the ’Feathers’ family’s strength and retreat with the elite main force! I must retain the last bit of vitality for the Lake Region!"
Pengguari exuded an authoritative air, openly sharing his intentions with his most loyal, lifelong guards.
"My most loyal Head Warrior! I entrust you with the ’Feathers’ battle flag and the more than a thousand warriors engaged in battle! Four thousand Archers are also in your charge, as are the several thousand Militia, everything here I leave to you!"
The Head Warrior stood speechless. He gazed at the forthright Family Head and slowly knelt on one knee.
"Do not fail my trust! Do not betray the family’s honor!"
As he spoke, "Feathers" Family Head held the Head Warrior’s shoulders and earnestly said.
"Your beloved eldest son will succeed your position! I will not forget your sacrifice!"
Upon hearing this, the Head Warrior bowed his head deeply, tears gleaming in his eyes, and said in a heavy voice.
"Your Highness, I will die for the family! Please take care of my family."
Pengguari revealed a perfect smile and nodded emphatically.
"Your wife, she is my family member too!"
With that, he turned to leave.
The surrounding guards watched in silent reverence at this breach of honor yet in keeping with family tradition. An attendant cautiously approached, asking softly.
"Your Highness, shall we notify ’Sky’ Nobility Ahonda on the flank? What should be done with ’Silver’ Nobility Tekata?"
Pengguari considered quickly, contemplating the post-retreat situation, before speaking swiftly.
"There’s no need to inform Ahonda! Take Tekata away with you. Once we’re back in the Lake Region, he’ll still be of great use!"
As he spoke, the "Feathers" Prince’s eyes gave a chilly glint. He gazed deeply at the "Sky" Family Head at the frontline, watching the sky-blue Samurai fighting, while a dense shadow spread in his heart.
"After this battle, Tarasco will be beyond salvation, on the brink of collapse. Forget the throne! All three Great Families are here, as long as we preserve the main strength of our families and retreat to the Lake Region in time, no one will be able to contend with us. Even Chapala’s land will be enough to proclaim oneself king!"
His thoughts flashing, Pengguari sorted everything out in his mind and hesitated no longer. He swiftly dispatched the Militia to the front to replace the main Warrior force in the center. Then, he abandoned the Marshal’s flag and led three thousand "Feathers" family Warriors, decisively forsaking everything of the vast Chapala army, and made a hasty retreat toward the river in the west, a dozen or so li away.
"As long as we reach the riverbank and board the grain transport fleet, we can escape to a new life!"
Escorted by his trusted aides, the "Feathers" Prince ran down the hill, leaving layers of shadows behind and heading towards the splendid sunlight. In the moment before departure, he took one last glance at the newly erected Prince’s flag on the small hill. The Guachal bird feathers fluttered gallantly – a symbol of past hope and glory. Below the flag, the troops fought on, the sounds of combat ringing through the earth, followed by successive rumbles of Thunderbolt!
Pengguari looked back deeply, etching the scene into his memory. Silent, his feet did not pause. Beside him, the army bowed their heads and hurried along. The "Feathers" Warriors left behind all their luggage and wealth, only keeping the weapons in their hands, silently following their Commander. They retreated swiftly, maintaining basic order, obeying the marching commands. Behind them, the enemy had not yet appeared in pursuit. When the Thunderbolt sounded again, the "Feathers" Legion had disappeared over the crest of the hill.
Under the Black Wolf flag, Xiulote stood, dumbfounded, as he watched the enemy’s central force turn tail and flee. The "Feathers" Legion was so quick in their movements! Without any unnecessary fuss or noise, the Legion gathered briefly and then quickly entered marching formation, soon accelerating to their maximum speed.
The Young Commander urgently waved the command flag and blew the horn, ordering the surrounding City-State Warriors to pursue. However, these Nobility militia, red-eyed, dispersed in disorder. They chased and slaughtered the fleeing Militia, looting the riches scattered on the ground, even attacking the flanks of the enemy’s formation. Only a very few Warriors remained lucid enough to accept new commands.
Amidst the urgent horn sounds, Izel turned his head to look at the Marshal’s flag. Moments later, his face lit up with joy as he led hundreds of his family Warriors in pursuit of the enemy’s retreating central force.
The elderly Head Warrior approached, grasping the younger Warrior’s arm.
"Izel, the enemy’s main force numbers in the thousands! A fleeing Jaguar is no prey for a Coyote!"
Izel’s eyes shone brightly, his face breaking into a smile.
"Respected Head Warrior, I understand this! Rest assured, I won’t get too close, just capture some scattered soldiers and pick up the enemy’s flag! Every army is in chaos—only we are pursuing, and the Supreme Highness will surely take note of this in his heart!"
As he spoke, Izel’s eyes filled with reverence as he looked toward the sacred Black Wolf Commander’s Flag. Then, he turned, his face showing longing, gazing at the magnificent "Feathers" Commander’s Flag on the nearby hill.
"It’s a pity! The Commander’s Flag is so close, yet I cannot go and seize it!"
"Izel, don’t dwell on it, each family Warrior is precious, we cannot afford any losses. More importantly, this Commander’s Flag already has an owner! It must belong to the Marshal’s direct line, to the Holy City Legion who will have the primary credit!"
Upon hearing this, Izel nodded in understanding. He said no more, but pursued the fleeing enemy, like a wild dog chasing a cheetah, letting out a brave and loud howl!
The breeze dispelled the dust of the battlefield, and sunlight cast oblique shadows on the hills. A large-scale maneuver couldn’t be hidden for long; soon, the Warriors on both wings noticed the central force’s retreat.
Pengguari had taken away all the supervisory troops. The thousands of Militia who came up to support had only fought briefly before, under the assault of the Temple Guards, breaking out into chaotic shouts, completely disintegrating. After that, the battle situation changed swiftly. Chapala’s dialect floated in the wind, carrying shocking news!
"The Marshal has been defeated!"
Under the "Feathers" flag, the Warriors fighting fiercely gradually fell to the ground, and the magnificent and dignified Prince was nowhere to be seen. The Mexica Warriors roared mightily, boldly advancing.
"The Marshal’s trusted aides are retreating!"
Following the direction of the setting sun, a legion bearing the "Feathers" family emblem hastened away, leaving only their diminishing figures and lengthening silhouettes.
"The Silver Legion has collapsed!"
The Temple Guards blew the terrifying Death Whistle, scattering fleeing Militia, then fiercely rushed toward the rear of the silver-clad Warriors. Etalik’s eyes were sharp as he spotted the position, broke through the enemy’s blockade, and charged toward the center where the enemy thronged. Then, ferociously wielding his War Club, he knocked down the commanding Warrior with a blow, then raised his weapon high and decisively decapitated the enemy!
The "Silver" Legion paused only briefly before disintegrating in uproar—the phalanx of spears and shields dissolved. Under the triple attack, nearly two thousand Chapala Warriors fell apart like moonlight melting into Water, shattering into scattered white silhouettes on the ground. However, unlike moonlight, they could not return to normal but fell scattering, bleeding red, like falling cherry blossoms.
Then, thousands of voices—some in surprise, some in excitement, some in despair, some in mourning—cried out in different languages, but with the same shout!
"The Commander’s Flag has fallen!!"
