NOVPUB"Your Highness!"
Separated by tens of paces, Bertade suddenly turned around. For the first time, deep fear showed on his usually calm face.
"Ancestors protect us, the Three Divinities bless us!"
Su’angua forcefully swung his axe, his face filled with uncontrollable ecstasy. He watched as the Mexica commander suddenly arched backward, his figure disappearing behind the shield wall, and the towering Black Wolf Banner also started to topple backward. He couldn’t help but cry out loud.
"The Mexica commander is dead! Victory to the Royal Army!!"
Accompanied by the loud shout, the hands of the battling elite warriors slackened. Thousands of focused gazes all turned toward the nearby Wolf Banner. Intense emotions were evident in their eyes as complicated feelings intermingled in the air! The Tarasco warriors were filled with excitement and joy, while the Mexica warriors were in shock and apprehension.
As the morale of the entire army and the focus of all eyes, where the Commander’s Flag stood, there lay the army’s heart! The Black Wolf’s Commander’s Flag, having suddenly toppled halfway, stopped abruptly and then slowly righted itself. With the help of his trusted aide Ters, Xiulote finally steadied himself, struggling to stand upright!
The young King touched his damaged and fallen Feathered Helmet, then the Commander’s Flag strapped securely behind him. Then, he tilted his head back, looking at the copper arrow less than a foot from his forehead, a strong palpitation surged in his chest. Moments later, the palpitations turned into burgeoning rage, and he reached out to pull the copper arrow from the flagpole. The arrow was deeply embedded in the wood, and he couldn’t pull it out at once. The young King gritted his teeth and swore aloud.
"Damn those Tarasco people, always using such sneaky and despicable tactics!!... For the commander of the Alliance to carry such a banner, it’s simply a living target for arrows!"
In the decisive moment that determined life and death, a sharp copper arrow became a streak of lightning, precisely penetrating the gap in the shield, fiercely snapping off the long feather of his feather crown, then "thud" embedded itself into the flagpole behind him! The young King instinctively ducked low at the first sign of danger, as the swift whoosh of the arrow swept over his forehead, the massive force still causing him to fall backward.
"The traditions of the Alliance indeed need to change! The era of long-range combat has arrived, and our war strategies must be improved accordingly!"
Xiulote shook his head vigorously. The Mexica Alliance had always valued bravery, with the army’s commander always donning a conspicuous flag and standing on an elevated front position, personally encouraging the warriors to fight valiantly. But as a new era dawned, these old rules became fraught with great risks. In the "once" history, the Mexica had fought against the Spaniards in the field and had repeatedly lost after initial victories because the commanders carrying the flags were suddenly felled by the enemy’s muskets and crossbows.
The young King’s heart was tumultuous, but he maintained a solemn face. He straightened his feather crown, stood up straight, and with a decisive wave of his hand, the trusted aides’ shield wall opened slightly. The lofty and majestic figure of the commander finally came back into the sight of everyone. Then, the young King clenched his fist and raised his right hand high!
"Chief Divine protects, His Highness is unharmed!"
Instantly, fervent cheers erupted. The Jaguar Warriors roared with all their might, frenziedly attacking the enemy in front of them. Their charges were more powerful, their cuts more vicious, intent on tearing the despicable Tarasco attackers who targeted their prince to shreds!
"Thud!" Ters stepped half a pace forward, raising the huge Tower Shield with anticipation, blocking the swiftly shot copper arrows. Once the closely positioned trusted aides were on guard, such sneak attacks stood no chance of success.
"The moment has passed, the Three Divinities have forsaken us!"
Yuku, the hound, lowered his Greatbow, sighing in pain and regret. Around him, Jaguar Warriors were charging like wild beasts. They wielded their War Clubs wide, swept across with their shields, no longer defending, solely focused on pouncing on the despicable enemy generals who had attacked their prince. In just over a dozen breaths, several of the Death Warriors defending the front fell one after another.
"Swoosh!" A sharp whistling sound arrived suddenly. Yuku swiftly ducked, an arrow like lightning grazing over his head. The sharp copper arrow scraped across his Copper Helmet and "hissed" as it shot into the distance! Taking a fearful glance, Yuku saw the Mexica commander on the platform glaring furiously, drawing his Longbow, aiming once more in this direction! The perceptive Yuku didn’t hesitate, immediately bending at the waist and moving like a hunting dog.
One arrow missed, another nocked. Xiulote personally drew the Longbow, taking aim for a moment, then frowned grimly. The enemy Great General was moving like an elusive hare, difficult to lock on accurately. He instantly shifted the aim of his bow, looking toward the center of the Tarasco army lines, where an ordinary Copper-axe Guard was also staring intently at him.
Their gazes met, and the Copper-axe Guard’s eyes conveyed an intense sense of regret and deep-seated hatred. Xiulote furrowed his brows again, recognizing the very enemy who had just shouted out loud! Then, the young warrior took aim briefly and decisively released his right hand, sending a stern arrow on its way!
"Swoosh!" The sound of death arrived in an instant. Fear flashed across Su’angua’s face. He quickly moved to the side, and his right arm suddenly felt pain. "Thud!" A fierce feathered arrow pierced through the Leather Armor, embedding deeply into his arm, blood flowing from the wound. Faced with the threat of arrows, the guards on either side quickly lifted their shields while some Archers returned fire, and a trusted aide approached discreetly to inspect.
Su’angua crouched down quickly, removing his Leather Armor. With no time for thorough treatment on the intense battlefield, the trusted aide whispered an apology and broke off the arrow shaft with care. The King clenched his teeth, emitting a muted groan. The trusted aide hesitated, not receiving the expected reprimand, and continued to carefully wrap the wound with the embedded Arrowhead and gauze.
