Arrows shot fiercely, long spears pierced, and war clubs clashed. Four thousand Imperial Guard Warriors encircled them, and more than five hundred Tribal Warriors imdiately switched allegiance. Most of the Totonac Naval Forces, overwheld by shock and despair, crumbled and surrendered! Those small bands of warriors that resisted stubbornly and fought to the death were like drops of blood in the sea, creating only a trace of bloodstain before vanishing without a trace.
"Papu! You betrayed All Gods and the Ancestors! Ah! You are destined to fall into the deep sea, your soul drawn into the Abyss!... Urgh! Huh!..."
The frenzied curses were abruptly cut off. The last resisting Hidden Snake Warrior, Nyuka, was simultaneously pierced by five long spears and then lifted high. The bleeding body, like a ragged red cloth, swayed weakly. Soon, after struggling for a few monts, the "red cloth" suddenly dropped its head, completely motionless. At this mont, the nearly two thousand Naval Forces captives kneeling on the battlefield, the more than two hundred fallen warrior corpses, and the remnants of Nyuka hoisted high seed like a real on, predicting the end of the Hidden Snake Tribes.
"Hmm... Just about done. The Tiger Fish have arrived and are taking over the ships along the shore... As for this guy..."
Xiulote’s expression remained unchanged, looking at the Papu Priest kneeling barehanded several steps away. After pondering for a mont, he suddenly patted Black Wolf’s shoulder and instructed.
"Black Wolf, go lift the Papu Priest, accept his surrender! In the presence of the Chief Divine! From today onward, your past grievances are wiped clean!..."
"Ah? Your Highness! You want to accept his surrender?..."
"Yes! Go on! Accept his surrender before the legion... Black Wolf, if you have any grievances, now is the ti to settle them! But after he surrenders, he will be one of ours, under your command..."
"Ah! This... Alright! I’ll listen to you, Your Highness!..."
Hearing this, Black Wolf pursed his lips, gritted his teeth fiercely, then nodded in agreent. He strode over to the kneeling Papu Priest, eyeing him intensely, like a wolf ready to devour its prey.
"Uh!... Respected... Respected Black Wolf Leader..."
The Papu Priest raised his head, seeing Black Wolf approaching, and couldn’t help but tremble all over. By now, he had surrendered all his chips, like a fish on the chopping block, left at the rcy of the other. And if the xica prince ignored reputation and let Black Wolf sacrifice him, there would be no escape...
"Chief Divine’s blessing! That Black Wolf... Leader... Chief..."
"You! Stand up!"
Black Wolf Torc, with a cold expression, yanked the Papu Priest off the muddy ground. First, he slapped him fiercely several tis, causing Papu’s head to spin, blood to drip from the corner of his mouth, and even knocking out two teeth! Then, he grabbed Papu by the hair, pointed coldly toward the dead Hidden Snake Warrior Nyuka.
"Ha! You cunning creature! I gave you a few slaps to vent the anger for the Kingdom’s Warriors who fell by your hand!... Now! Tell ! That guy with the Feather Crown and Armor, was he the most formidable Hidden Snake Warrior in your Naval Forces? Was it him who killed the exploration fleet’s Tawalu?"
Upon hearing this question, the Papu Priest’s heart tightened. He had led the naval forces to raid the exploration fleet, which was one of the biggest past grievances. And wasn’t the xica armored Warrior Captain who died back then at Nyuka’s hands?... Thinking of this, he endured the pain in the corner of his mouth, coughing up blood while sobbing and answering.
"Uh... Respected Black Wolf Leader... The Chief Divine can bear witness! It was indeed Nyuka who killed the Kingdom exploration fleet’s Warrior Captain, and at the ti, I tried to stop him... But as a warrior of Hidden Serpent City, he paid no heed to at all!..."
"Bah! You cowardly fox! You did it, and killing was done, don’t make so many excuses!... Back then, since we were enemies, we should have fought with all our might, dying in battle is worthy of the War God!..."
Black Wolf Torc squinted his eyes, fixedly staring at the Papu Priest for a while, then raised his hand and delivered several more slaps, making a whooshing sound. After this round of slaps, the Papu Priest saw stars, blood continuously seeped from the corner of his mouth, and his face swelled up like a monkey’s red behind, leaving his speech incoherent.
"Chief... Divine... ah... plea...se... forgive..."
"Haha! Forgiveness? Papu, you cowardly fox, though clever and cunning, you can’t fight at all!... Enough! If I slap you any more, you might die here... But His Highness has already instructed to spare your foxy life..."
Black Wolf Torc lifted the Papu Priest with one hand, coldly watched for a mont, then tossed him into the mud. He then unfastened an Obsidian Dagger used for sacrifices from his waist, throwing it to the trembling Papu Priest, and pointed once more toward the corpse of Hidden Snake Warrior Nyuka, giving heartless orders.
"Chief Divine witness! Papu, according to xica’s sacrificial tradition, in front of the entire legion, go cut off that guy’s head, and throw the fresh heart into the fire! Then, drink a mouthful of blood wine, cut your hair and burn it, swear allegiance to the Chief Divine!..."
"Sacrifice the Sacrifices, Blood Oath Allegiance!... Papu, once you pledge allegiance to the Chief Divine, all grudges between us, your blood feud with the Kingdom’s Warriors, will be written off!... From now on, you live as the Chief Divine’s Warrior, and die as the Chief Divine’s Undead!..."
"Sacrifice the Sacrifices, Blood Oath Allegiance?... Chief Divine witness! Blood feud written off? Henceforth, allegiance to the Chief Divine..."
Hearing these words, the Papu Priest was greatly shaken. He turned his head towards the Death God Prince not far away. Xiulote, wearing a golden King’s Helt, gazed at the blood-streaked mouth of the Papu Priest, slowly nodding.
"Ah! Praise the Chief Divine! Praise Your Highness! And praise you, rciful Black Wolf General!..."
Seeing this scene, the Papu Priest was overtaken with joy. Although he had endured this round of slaps and humiliation, as long as he received such a promise in the presence of the Chief Divine and His Highness, to erase past grievances... the pervasive fear and anxiety ingrained in his heart instantly dissipated! From now on, no one could publicly exploit his past experiences to trouble him...
"Chief Divine’s protection! Your loyal servant presents the divine Sacrifices for you!..."
The Sacred Fire blazed fiercely, priests began to chant songs, while warriors solemnly observed. The Papu Priest skillfully picked up the dagger, approached the deceased Hidden Snake Warrior Nyuka. Muttering softly as if consoling the departed spirit, he then, without hesitation, swung down the gleaming blade!...
"Sizzle!..."
The Sacred Fire roared, the fresh heart seared in the flas, hair consud by the fierce fire. The bloody wine poured down his throat, making tears and snot gush from Papu. Yet he drank it in big gulps, wearing a peculiar smile, as if savoring so sweet, clear spring water.
"Praise the Chief Divine! He is supre and great, governing all the world, omnipotent!..."
The conversion ceremony was completed quickly, and under the gaze of all, the Papu Priest earnestly called out, tears even falling from his eyes. The Chief God Priest overseeing the ceremony was about to carve the Chief Divine’s Emblem on his forehead, when Xiulote’s authoritative voice rang out from afar.
"Not yet!... Let him co pay homage!..."
"Have the accompanying priesthood conduct the conversion ceremony! Convert all captured prisoners, surrendering warriors and sailors, here!"
"Hmm, and those few hundred Tribal Warriors who surrendered with him... don’t carve them yet!"
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