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"Huh, it does follow so patterns."
Xiulote’s eyes sparkled as he scrutinized the details of the camp. His gaze swept over a small but noticeable squad of long spearn before settling on the flag of Red Dog. There, a tall, indistinct figure was clad in a Chieftain’s Wolf Robe and was also looking this way.
"...Uman, the one wearing golden armor and a face helt, is that the Great Chief, God of Death?"
Chichika narrowed his eyes, looking toward the Black Wolf banner on the opposite hill, and then turned his head to ask.
"Er... yes, Chieftain. I’ve heard... that banner holds Mana... one shouldn’t look at it too much."
Uman, holding a shield with one hand, faithfully guarded in front of Chief Red Dog and responded hesitantly. He had previously been hit in the left arm by an arrow from the Head Warrior, the arrowhead penetrating nearly an inch into the flesh, but fortunately not reaching the bone. As a trusted aide of the Great Chief, he naturally received the best treatnt. Witch Doctor Priests used the spiritual "Holy dicine" on him, which included spineless Cactus balls and dried black feather jade slices.
In the Northern wilderness tribes, black feather jade had been widely used as a dicine for over five thousand years. The earliest archeological specin was found at a prehistoric site of the indigenous people of Texas around 3700 years ago. It contains barley malt alkaloid with antibacterial properties that are effective against both bacteria and fungi, which could serve as a substitute for Penicillin to so extent. It also has strong analgesic effects and is often used for the sharp pains of childbirth in won.
Of course, among the wilderness tribes, the most important effect of black feather jade is its use in sacred religious ceremonies to communicate with the Divinity of heaven and earth and to gain enlightnt from nature and the divine spirits... in simple terms, it’s psychedelic.
Chichika frowned slightly, looking at his stuttering escort. This was the symptom after using too much black feather jade. Chief Red Dog’s face darkened as he admonished.
"Uman, Holy dicine is the dium for Priests to communicate with heaven and earth, and it erodes the souls of mortals. Even warriors can’t avoid it! The Holy dicine protected you and helped you escape from the inflammation tainted by the God of Death. Now that your wound has healed, from today onwards, you are forbidden to use Holy dicine! As a warrior, you must endure pain on your own!"
"Er... I will obey you, Chieftain!"
Uman’s eyes glazed over as he nodded vigorously.
Chichika continued to stare at the Black Wolf banner, his expression as fierce as a wild beast. With over fifteen thousand warriors under his command and a formidable camp for support, he had enough confidence to hold off the Cactus Tribe!
Across the distance of several hundred steps, in a corner of the camp clinging to the mountain side, a young girl nad Alan, carrying the Hunting Bow, also looked toward the Black Wolf banner before her. She dyed her hair red and tied a tight band across her chest. This was her first ti participating in a battle against the xica as a warrior.
Upon seeing the Wolf Banner of the Black Wolf, Alan’s heart pounded furiously and complex expressions flitted across her face. After a while, she bit her lip, gripped the bow and arrows in her hands, and turned to ask the spearn warrior beside her.
"Chipawa, is this the xica’s legion?"
"Yes. This is the xica’s legion."
Chipawa was just seventeen or eighteen years old, a thin boy. He held a long spear in his hands, his eyes red as he stared at the large army outside the camp. Three thousand xica warriors wearing White Gold Cloth Armor were arrayed under the Wolf Banner, their formation neat and orderly. Tens of thousands of Otomi Warriors surrounded the area, filling up the entire valley. mories of past battles quickly flooded his mind once more, causing him to tremble with fear.
"It was them who destroyed the Tarasco Kingdom and also killed my father!"
Hearing this, Alan empathized deeply and her eyes reddened as well. She reached out forcefully, placing her hand on Chipawa’s shoulder.
"Chipawa, don’t be afraid! The Mother of the Wilderness will guide you out of your past nightmares, to beco a fearless warrior!... just like I have experienced."
"Alan..."
Chipawa looked gratefully at the young girl before him, his heart suddenly racing. After a while, he nodded vigorously.
"I will be as brave as you!"
"Yeah!"
```
The girl gazed at the pattern on the Wolf Banner, lost in thought for a mont, and then turned her head to ask.
"Qipa, you co from the Divine Eagle Tribe in the south, and have a better understanding of the Cactus Tribe... What does this black wolf pattern represent? Is it common?"
"Ah? The black wolf pattern? Hmm... I heard Captain Zucata say that the black wolf is the God of Death for the xica people. It’s a very important deity, so it should be quite common in the xica Alliance!"
Qipa racked his brains, trying hard to recall what the captain had said.
"Among the legions, this flag represents the xica God of Death. During the xica invasion, he was the Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Route Army... I was in the Southern Army, so I never really encountered him..."
"...Legend has it that he is the incarnation of the God of Death, possessing terrifying mana, able to transform into a running black wolf, unleashing lightning that explodes like a Thunderbolt. It was him, who destroyed the sturdy Rivermouth fortress, defeated the esteed Divine Eagle King, and then conquered the magnificent Kingdom’s Capital. It was also him who burned down the holy Three Gods Temple, destroying the villages of my holand!..."
"Ah? I see... so it’s a rather common pattern..."
Alana blinked, feeling sowhat disappointed. Then, she clenched the Hunting Bow in her hands and stared fiercely at the distant King under the Wolf Banner. The King wore a face-covering Copper Helt and was dressed in gleaming Copper Armor, as majestic as a divinity.
"Hmph! This is the evil leader of the xica? If he dares co near our camp, I’ll shoot him dead with one arrow!"
Alana held her head high, confidently tugging on the Hunting Bow. Then, after thinking for a mont, she added,
"Right, my father said that to counter the thick skin of xica people, aim for the lower legs and neck!"
"Alana, that’s not thick skin, that’s Bronze Armor."
Qipa muttered quietly.
"Bronze? What’s that?"
"Uh... Bronze is... hard, sharp gold."
"Gold can be hard and sharp?"
Alana was sowhat confused. Although the Northern Land was desolate, there were quite a few scattered open-pit gold and silver mines. All tribes in the Wilderness possessed small ornants made of gold and silver.
"Ah, this..."
Qipa scratched his head. He was just an ordinary village Militia, and he didn’t really understand these things either.
"Alana, anyway, our tribes are all in the rear camp, living quite close. When night falls, I’ll have Captain Zucata co and explain it to you! He is a seasoned Kingdom’s Warrior, very formidable, and knows a lot."
"Okay! My father is also very interested in the Southern Tribes..."
Afterward, the two fell silent, just watching the opposing army with tension.
The heavy sound of war drums grew more urgent. Two thousand Ottopan Warriors completed their formation and began to initiate their attack. Under the command of an Armored Warrior, they held up huge Wooden Shields, climbing along the mountain path, slowly advancing toward the lofty encampnt.
Thousands of Temple Crossbown, praising the na of the Chief Divine, followed closely behind the warriors. Clutching their pri crossbows, they appeared fervent. Soon, the Crossbown closed in within seventy steps, suddenly pulled the Hanging Knife, and with heads thrown back, they unleashed a rain of arrows!
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