NOVPUBThe tense standoff and shifting movements continued for a good dozen breaths. Xitlalama kept catching glimpses of Toltec with his peripheral vision, and then his expression tensed as he realized the opponent’s agility surpassed his own. He halted his hesitation, let out a ferocious yell, and suddenly lunged forward. His left arm swung the massive shield outward, disrupting his adversary’s line of sight, while his right arm drew slightly back, his gaze locked onto the side of the opponent’s waist—it was a swift, chopping strike!
In this life-and-death moment, Toltec’s eyes lit up. He sidestepped, darting diagonally forward two steps, pressing against the opponent’s left shield arm and avoiding the right hand’s chop. Following that, Black Wolf’s left shield pushed forward, disrupting the turn attempt of his opponent, as his right hand swung upward from a lower angle.
"A hit to the head!!"
"Bang, crack," a crisp collision followed by the sound of breaking bones. The Obsidian Club traced a cruel arc, slamming viciously into the back of the Tarasco warrior’s head.
"Uh! Hmph…" The broken neck constrained the throat, cutting Xitlalama’s scream short, turning it into a deep nasal groan. He whimpered twice like a dying wild rabbit, blood flowing from his nostrils, his head shook and then tilted to the side, falling.
"Bang!" Toltec, without any restraint, struck the Tarasco warrior’s head again. The foe "thudded" heavily to the ground, letting go of the Battle Axe in his hands, his limbs twitched violently twice, and then he fell silent.
Swift speed, immense strength, precise timing! A true warrior’s duel—never a missed attack, victory or defeat manifested with a single motion, life and death but a moment’s transition!
Toltec looked at his fallen opponent, then cracked a smile once again, showing pure joy. He took deep breaths to steady his rapid breathing from the exertion. Next, Black Wolf raised his arms high, shouting loudly toward the forward lines.
"Blessed by War God Huitzilopochtli! I, Black Wolf Toltec, have defeated my opponent!! I am his Highness’s Black Wolf, the hunter of Tarasco’s white deer!!!"
The bold shouting spread far and wide. Seeing the warrior who boasted victory, Su’angua’s face darkened. He turned his head to look at his trusted aide, the Great General Yuku.
"Yuku, my loyal hound. If it were you in the arena, what would be the probability of victory?"
Yuku, as if carved from stone, watched Toltec’s flushed face and spoke in a deep voice.
"Skilled in battle technique, quick in movement. His breathing is a bit erratic, but his strength remains. Your Majesty, I am sixty percent confident."
Su’angua shook his head slightly and waved the Divine Staff again. Another fierce-looking Copper Axe Warrior saluted the King, silently stepping out from among the Imperial Guards. He carried an exceptionally large shield and, looking at Toltec standing in the field, shouted loudly.
"Blessed by the Sun God! I, the warrior from Saka, ’Graceful Deer’ Aesli, challenge ’Black Wolf’ Toltec to a duel!"
Toltec nodded solemnly, sinking into a combat-ready stance. Shortly, the resounding drums of decisive battle struck up again!
Amidst the thunderous battle drums, Toltec advanced a few steps and once again began the standoff with his adversary. Aesli lived up to the name ’Graceful Deer.’ He moved rapidly and with great speed. For a dozen breaths, neither could gain the upper hand in positioning. The confident Black Wolf didn’t wait longer. He pressed forward with swift steps, closing within two paces of his foe, then delivered a powerful and abrupt overhead club swing for a short, blasting strike.
"Bang!" Aesli took a step back, raising his shield with stability to receive the attack. He shifted again, his right-hand wielding the Copper Axe subtly, maintaining a strong deterrent stance. The fierce exchange was touch-and-go, and the adversary kept a steady defense without revealing any openings. Toltec was forced to widen the gap, re-engaging with Aesli.
Such exchanges continued to unfold. The duel lasted an astonishing three to four minutes before Toltec finally seized an opportunity, slicing Aesli’s left leg and then cutting the right arm. Finally, he advanced a step, swung down fiercely, knocking away the shield, and for the first time broke through his opponent’s defense from the front, then counterattacked to slay Aesli!
The Copper Axe in Aesli’s hand slipped away powerlessly. Even in his dying moments, the stout Tarasco warrior had not really taken a swing.
"Damn it! What ’Graceful Deer’ from Saka? More like a turtle from Lerma River!"
Toltec’s face flushed red, panting heavily. The intense movement and engagement had drained a great deal of his strength. After a while, he once again raised both arms, shouting in front of the two armies.
"Under the protection of the War God! I, Black Wolf Toltec, have defeated my adversary!! No one from Tarasco can stand against me!!!"
Upon hearing this, Su’angua remained calm. He looked at his trusted aide, the Great General, once again.
"How about now?"
"His breathing is ragged, he’s out of strength. Losing caution, succumbing to arrogance. Your Majesty, I shall kill this man!"
Yuku’s affirmation was certain and final. Su’angua smiled and nodded. The statue-like warrior held a sleek Copper Spear in hand, with a sharp Copper Axe at his waist, and with remarkably accurate steps, he marched out of the ranks.
"The brave warrior Qinchongcan, ’Hound’ Yuku, challenges ’Black Wolf’ Toltec to a duel!"
Yuku, stony-faced, called out the challenge briefly and calmly, his eyes alone blazing with fiery combativeness.
Toltec paused, slightly taken aback. This was the middle-aged warrior from the King’s side; he had just been watching him carefully. Then, a similarly intense will to fight flared in his eyes. Once more, their gaze locked, and even the air began to heat up between them. Black Wolf took a deep breath and once again assumed a fighting stance.
