NOVPUBThe hound Yuku then took a step back, wiping the blood from his face. Narrowing his eyes, he stared like a serpent at the Mexica Marshal fifty paces away. Several trusted aides were holding up Great Shields, clustering in front of the Marshal. The hound reached out with his left hand to touch the Longbow at his back, shook his head, and once more, wielding his Spear, charged into the enemy ranks!
Atop the command platform, Xiulote had already put away the command flag, taken down his Longbow, and was closely watching the battle unfolding before him. He was in the midst of imminent danger, the intense sounds of combat echoing in his ears, the rich scent of blood enveloping his nostrils. This was the familiar deadly melee that, after a long time, had once again come so close to him!
The young King’s expression was placid, his heart calm as still water. He watched as one elite Warrior after another fought on the King’s battlefield, falling one after another like ears of grain. The Warriors were either tall, strong, valiant, or fearless, but they were all just the King’s pawns! 𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙥𝒖𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝒎
At this thought, the young King slightly lowered his gaze, with a face as calm as a placid lake; his heart thundered like Thunderbolt, and flames ignited within his chest! The King’s gaze continuously surveyed, constantly moved, etching everything into his heart.
Dozens of paces away, five hundred Jaguar Warrior Brigade and seven hundred Copper-axe Guards fought fiercely, neither side backing down, evenly matched. Although the Copper-axe Guards temporarily held a numerical advantage, they could not break through in a short time. A decisive blow would halt here! A hundred paces away, five hundred Stirrup Crossbowmen had already thrown down their large crossbows. Wielding War Clubs, they transformed into mighty Temple Guards, and battled fiercely against the Kingdom’s Imperial Guards, who were only half their numbers, gaining a clear upper hand. And two to three hundred paces away, over a thousand Longbow Warriors continually gathered, launching assaults against the desperately defending two hundred Imperial Guards. Their numbers dwindling, the Imperial Guards could at most hold for a mere quarter.
Xiulote slowly nodded. He turned to his side and ordered in a deep voice.
"Sound the battle drums for a general attack, wave the banner for advance! Strictly command the Vanguard Warriors not to turn back to support, to quickly break the enemy line, and cut down the Tarasco Royal Banner!"
Next, the young King looked towards Bertade, who was beside him, and before the Head Warrior could speak, he commanded.
"Bertade, you are my bravest Holy Eagle! Take a dozen Warriors and repel the enemy’s Great General!"
Xiulote stretched out his finger, pointing to Yuku, fifty steps away, who was continuously advancing through the ranks.
"He is the arrowhead of the Tarasco Imperial Guards! Defeat him, regardless of life or death!"
Looking at the majestic King, Bertade was silent, bowed his head solemnly in salute. Then, the Head Warrior took down his Longbow, aimed at the serpentine-dancing Yuku with his Spear, paused for a moment, then shot a fierce arrow!
"Whoosh!" A precise arrow whistled through the air! Hearing the wind of the arrow shooting towards him, Yuku abruptly turned his head, feeling a pain in his left ear. He swiftly bent over, reaching out his hand to touch, and found his fingers covered in warm blood; only half of his left ear remained. The hound was suddenly startled and cautiously stopped in his tracks. Looking up, he saw an aged-faced Warrior putting away a Greatbow, grasping a club and shield, and striding meteorically towards him.
Seeing the opponent’s stride, Yuku’s expression turned stern. Ignoring the pain in his left ear, he quickly turned his head, casting a covert glance at the supreme King. The King stood unobtrusively at the center of the Imperial Guards, receiving the quiet yet tight protection of the samurai. Yuku pressed his lips together, nodded affirmatively to the King, and then turned back around. Taking a deep breath, he angled his spear upward and stared at the rapidly approaching Mexica Head Warrior, advancing quickly to meet him.
Bertade’s expression was resolute. His steps were light as he ran like a tiger, with a clear sense of rhythm, leaping forward like a fierce beast. The Head Warrior kept his eyes on his opponent, imprinting the adversary’s form in his vision but not allowing himself to be fooled by any minor movements. Once Martial Arts reached a certain level, the enemies in front of you would transform from complex, detailed human shapes into simple, abstract silhouettes. Attack, defense, evasion, and block—all movements had a strong tendency and were traceable, without a chance to deceive his eyes! At this level, the determination of the battle’s outcome lay only in the strength and speed of movement, the precision and control of the body!
Bertade allowed himself a faint smile; with a swift lift of his shield in his left hand, he blocked Yuku’s rapid thrust with a "bang." The Head Warrior then moved diagonally forward, closing in within two steps of his opponent. His right arm swung out, and the war club struck precisely at Yuku’s side.
Yuku immediately dodged with an agile sidestep, again widening the gap between them. His spear made a light jab, aiming for Bertade’s throat. Bertade also sidestepped with a nimble dodge, barely avoiding the spear. Then, the Head Warrior swung his club diagonally, knocking the spear aside while stepping forward with his left foot, closing in on his adversary once again. Yuku had no choice but to retreat step by step, maintaining the optimal distance for his spear.
On the intense battlefield, the two men advanced and retreated with shifting footwork, avoiding the weapons around them while launching fierce attacks at each other. Within a minute or two of engagement, Yuku felt a heavy sinking in his heart and a coldness rising. He had been fighting all the way and had already expended much of his strength; facing such a formidable opponent, he truly had no chance at all!
The situation was urgent, and he had to act fast! With that thought, Yuku’s eyes turned fierce. He suddenly stepped forward, thrusting his spear out long, revealing a clear opening. Then, his right hand slightly loosened its grip, ready to draw the bronze axe for a strike at any moment!
Bertade’s eyes narrowed slightly, sensing the surging intent to kill in his opponent. He swung his shield, feeling the slightly weaker strength of the spear and then revealed a knowing smile. Faced with the enemy’s opening, the Head Warrior did not rush in; instead, he sliced toward his opponent’s hands along the spear, forcing Yuku to immediately drop the spear and draw the axe.
The Head Warrior’s smile was like a piercing arrow, striking deep into Yuku’s heart. The agile hunter stepped back again, distancing himself from his adversary. He sighed softly, abandoning all chance of luck, and then made a decisive call, shouting loudly.
"Block him! Buy me a moment!"
Hearing the order of the Great General, the Chief of the Personal Guards clenched his teeth. Raising the Great Shield and half-hiding the bronze axe, he threw himself into the fray, and dozens of Imperial Guards rushed forward with him.
Bertade’s brow furrowed as he led the several dozen brave warriors beside him, dodging the pursuing Chief of the Personal Guards and continuing his pursuit of the Great General, Yuku. However, the Chief of the Personal Guards raised his shield without regard for his own life, catching up and entangling with the enemy. Meanwhile, Yuku left the large group of Imperial Guards to block the path, taking only a few Death Warriors with him as he turned and ran!
Having just escaped from the formidable Head Warrior, the swift hunter bent down and launched a fierce attack on another side of the enemy formation. Wielding his spear rapidly, he endured the increasing wounds and desperately pushed forward ten steps! Then, under the self-sacrificing protection of the Death Warriors, the exceptional warrior plunged the spear into the ground with a "bang" and, without pause, took up the longbow. Aiming at the Mexica Marshal thirty paces away, he fired an arrow as swift as a Thunderbolt!
