Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 742 - 402: The Jungle of the Tribes

Chapter 742: Chapter 402: The Jungle of the Tribes

Day gave way to night, and the passage of several days was marked by the relentless cycle of the rising sun and setting moon. The beasts of the jungle, driven to madness by hunger, were then hunted and captured by the hunters, even more starved than the prey, turning into nourishment within their bellies, quelling their desperate cravings.

Under the deep cover of the night, bonfires lit up throughout Hand Snake City, yet tranquility filled the air. The tribal warriors, bellies rumbling, had to retire early to sleep, hoping to satiate their hunger in dreams. In the heart of the small city stood the large tent of Chieftain Kimari, and beside it, a flag bearing the shield insignia of tribal heritage quietly billowed in the night wind.

Tonight, no guards stood watch outside the chieftain’s tent. From a distance, the bright glow of a bonfire could be seen. The fire, casting upon the tent’s canvas, revealed the silhouettes of two people sitting opposite each other in silence, engulfed in a stillness as profound as death. If one listened closely, only the rustling of the night breeze from the sky above, the crackling of the burning fire, and the barely perceptible sound of running water could be heard.

After a long while, one of the figures slowly knelt to the ground. Elder Malina’s eyes brimmed with tears, unable to form a sound.

"Brother, our tribe has fallen into dire straits and we are forced to make a choice!... The Northern Kingdom is exceptionally powerful, with tens of thousands of elite warriors, and they come bearing the resolve to conquer—a force that the Tekos people cannot withstand. Before such a mighty kingdom, the tribes of Colima to the west can only fend for themselves. But they too are greedy and seek to devour our beasts!..."

At this point, Elder Malina’s emotions grew agitated. Suddenly, he stood up and roared in a low voice.

"Brother, the tribe lacks food, the warriors feed on our own people, and the morale is utterly shattered. The red-haired barbarians lurk mere tens of miles away, waiting for the day our tribe falls. For the tribe’s survival, for the continuation of our heritage’s flag, we must choose to surrender to the Northern Kingdom!... No matter how harsh their terms or how greedy their tribute... as long as they allow us to dwell in the fertile basin and permit the tribe’s self-governance, these conditions are acceptable, and all sacrifices will be worthwhile!..."

With emotions running high, Elder Malina spoke at length. Chieftain Kimari remained seated quietly, not uttering a word. He simply stared with wide-open eyes, unwavering, at his younger brother before him.

It was a good while later before Elder Malina finished venting. He sighed, took two steps forward, and tightly embraced Chieftain Kimari, then gently reached out to close the wide-open eyes of his brother.

"Brother, please don’t look at me like that! I have no choice but to do this! I am only trying to free you from this hopeless situation for the sake of our tribe. From the day Hand Snake City was destined to burn, your fate was sealed... Our ancestors will forgive me, our father will forgive me, and you will forgive me too, right?..."

Elder Malina’s voice gradually grew softer until it was barely audible. Then, he released his embrace, took a step back, and quietly watched his brother with closed eyes. Abruptly, he thrust his hand forward, forcefully pulling out the dagger from the heart of the other.

The once faint sound of flowing water suddenly grew louder, like a bubbling stream. Chieftain Kimari’s body, having lost its balance, slumped to the ground. Beneath him, a small pool of blood had formed. All his life force had long since drained into the deep earth.

"Brother, I will take over as Chieftain of the Shield Tribe and submit to the Northern Kingdom. Just as a wolf pack in the jungle cannot be without a leader, with the old Wolf King dead, a new one must rise!"

Elder Malina, tears streaming down his face, wore a smile tinged with sorrow and unrestrained joy.

"Brother, rest in peace. Your head will go north to see the sights of the Northern Kingdom for me, to see the King of the North for me. I will carry on your will, bide my time, and wait for the tribe to rise again, waiting for a new opportunity..."

Elder Malina murmured to himself, patiently waiting in the tent, no longer looking at his deceased brother.

By now, on the canopy of the tent, only one shadow remained. And unbeknownst to when, several dozen tribal warriors had appeared outside the tent, restoring silence once more, even the sound of blood flowing eventually ceased. After a quarter of an hour, a few trusted aides hurriedly arrived at the entrance of the chieftain’s tent, their short spears stained with blood.

"Elder, we have returned."

"How did it go?"

"Everything went smoothly."

"Good! Come in and tell me."

The leader of the trusted aides, carrying a short spear, lifted the tent flap and entered. He glanced at the dead body of the chieftain, bowed slightly, but his face showed no hint of sadness.

The tribe is the jungle. A Wolf King who fails to hunt or even loses his den forfeits all dignity. And a Wolf King without dignity is fated to be devoured by the wolves of the jungle!

"Elder, as per your orders, the War Elder is dead, and those present have been silenced. The hundreds of war guards are still unaware of the changes, still standing watch to the west of the city."

"Hmm, good."

Elder Malina nodded subtly, the sorrow returning to his face. The War Elder was his younger brother, fiercely loyal to his elder brother and in control of several hundred of the tribe’s elite guards. After the death of the chieftain, the War Elder became his greatest threat—in every possible way.

"From now on, call me Chieftain."

After a moment of silence, Elder Malina sighed. Then, the expressions of mixed grief and joy faded from his face, leaving only the depths of cold indifference.

"Where is the Hunting Elder Topupan?"

"Chieftain, Elder Topupan is also making his move in the city. Before I came here, I saw fires and heard the cries of battle from the encampments of the southern chieftains."