NOVPUBXiulote gazed toward the front line; the situation had completely tilted in favor of the Alliance. With the failure of the Copper-axe Guards’ charge, the morale of the Royal Army had once again faltered. Warriors on both flanks of the Royal Army drew into a fully defensive circle formation, while the center’s Tarasco Militia was on the verge of collapse, leaving only a few thin lines of defense. Behind the enemy’s center, the inherited Eagle Banner limply fluttered. The resolute Tarasco "King," along with a sparse group of trusted aides, stood bravely under the Royal Banner.
"Caught in a deadly trap, he holds his ground till the end. Truly a glorious King," worthy of the most exalted sacrifice!
The young King stared at the Eagle Banner for a moment, then turned his gaze to the King in golden armor, genuinely whispering in admiration. Soon after, his expression turned solemn, and he swung the command flag vigorously.
"Thud, thud, thud!" The war drums beat to their utmost urgency, like a continuous line of torrential rain in the rainy season. Thousands of Longbow Warriors raised the war clubs at their waists, issuing a soul-stirring roar. Simultaneously, from both sides of the center, they launched a deadly charge against Tarasco’s spearmen!
"Thud, thud, thud!" Before the sound of the first war drums had faded, the warriors had already cut through the enemy lines, encircling to the rear of the center. Kuluka urgently blew the Bone Whistle, and Ezpan vigorously waved the battle flag. Over six thousand Spear Militia shouted in unison, like a floodwater that had been accumulating for a long time, finally breaking through the defensive levee!
"Thud, thud, thud!" The second round of war drums rang out again. The sharp cold light flashed, and the flood of spears submerged everything. Royal Army Militia struggled, trembling, faltering, and eventually dropped their weapons and turned to flee, exposing their vulnerable backs. The Militia howled, trying to escape the battlefield, but were mercilessly stabbed to the ground. The Mexica warriors on both sides of the center closed in, causing swathes of Tarasco Militia to kneel down and surrender to the unstoppable enemy.
The surging Spear Formation paused not, warriors and Militia fervently moving forward. In mere moments, thousands of Mexica legion had tightly encircled the insignificant Tarasco King and the solitary Royal Eagle Banner!
"Thud, thud, thud!" The third set of war drums soared to the heavens. The Militia thrust out swaths of spears, effortlessly stabbing all the King’s trusted aides to death! The dense spear forest, carrying a chill, firmly shackled the King. Then, with the tacit consent of the High Envoy, Ezpan ferociously charged forward, his mouth emitting excited, unintelligible shrieks. The former Kingdom miners, wielding blunt war clubs, fiercely struck down the supreme King and then tightly bound his hands with hemp rope, like a bound deer ready for slaughter!
A few steps away, Kuluka’s eyes were lively. He held the towering inherited Royal Banner in one hand and took out a small, blunt Copper Axe with the other, then chopped down with force! "Crack," the sound echoed as the two-century-old Royal Banner slowly tilted and then accelerated in its fall, until a "thump" echoed as the banner fell to the ground, buried in the mud.
In that moment, the entire battlefield seemed to quiet down. The next moment, tens of thousands of Mexica warriors cheered in unison, their high-pitched shouts shaking heaven and earth, accompanied by two Thunderbolts fired into the sky!
"Boom! Boom! The Tarasco King has been captured! The Tarasco King has been captured!!"
The exuberant cheers echoed across the battlefield. Warriors on both flanks of the Royal Army paused for a moment, witnessing the fall of the Royal Banner, and finally lost all their morale. As if their spines were broken by the last straw, they knelt directly in front of their positions, dropping Copper Spears and shields in swathes, allowing the enemies’ weapons to fall on their necks, no longer able to resist. The resolute Royal Army warriors lost hope and turned into limp turkeys, hundreds of which were captured by the Alliance!
Xiulote stood on high ground. He watched the Tarasco Royal Banner crash down, watched as the enemy in front of him completely disintegrated. He listened to the thunderous cheers of the warriors, heard his name within those cheers. The young King was full of ambtition and pride. He looked toward the setting red sun, laughed out loud, and raised his right hand, seizing the sun in his grasp, then joyfully let out a long, exultant howl.
"... Passion like overwhelming waves, the red sunlight of hot blood. I, a fine young man, shall rule all directions!!"
