Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 867 - 486: Southward Eastern Expedition, the Flames of Water Valley City

Chapter 867: Chapter 486: Southward Eastern Expedition, the Flames of Water Valley City

The sky was bright, the earth golden. The air was filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder, mingled with the shouts of the Mexica warriors.

"Fireballs, ready!"

"Yes! Divine protection!"

"Release!"

"Buzz!... Boom!"

More than a dozen burning fireballs shot up from the small catapults with a "buzz," like shining meteors! They streaked over a hundred paces, exploding with several loud booms on the six-to-seven-meter-high wall of the South City. Soon, more blazing fires ignited along the brick wall, filling the area with thick, nauseating smoke, blackening the green stone wall!

A burning fireball landed accurately atop the wall, bringing deadly flames! Several Tlaxcala warriors let out shrill screams, turning into burning human fireballs that fell from the high walls.

"Ah!... Boom!"

"Fireballs, ready!"

A Mexica captain, unsmiling, coldly issued the order loudly.

"Yes! Divine protection!"

Dozens of Prepetcha warriors busied themselves, quickly loading the fireballs with flammable paper and carefully igniting them.

"Release!"

"Buzz!... Boom!"

More than a dozen sulfur-filled fireballs rose once more, roaring into the city. Soon, a large cloud of sulfuric smoke dispersed behind the walls, wrenching agonizing coughs from the reserve enemy warriors.

"Cough, cough... Cough, cough! Oh God of the Hunt, not these cursed demon fumes again! Cough, cough!!"

"Hurry! Quickly! Have the militia pour dirt and wet sand! Cough, cough!"

After five volleys of fireballs, the area inside and outside the South City was engulfed in flames and toxic smoke. Behind the walls, two hundred Tlaxcala warriors frantically shouting orders drove nearly a thousand militiamen to busy themselves desperately. The militiamen, bare-chested and burdened with bamboo baskets, hurriedly dumped hastily dug sand and soil onto the seemingly inextinguishable flames. Meanwhile, the toxic smoke persisted, and as people sporadically groaned, they silently collapsed to the ground, only to be trampled by numerous bare feet as the God of Death carried them away.

"Hold the line! Hold the line!! If we let the sworn-enemy Mexica into the city, everyone, regardless of rank or gender, will be sacrificed!"

On top of the South City wall, a dozen city-state nobles, eyes red and faces blackened from smoke, shouted and commanded the defenders like vengeful spirits. Their resolve was as unwavering as the stone walls themselves, beyond question. For this time, the enemy was the powerful Mexica Alliance, their deadly neighbors and adversaries for decades, notorious for their love of noble sacrifices! If Water Valley City fell, commoners might have a chance to escape, but the nobility would certainly face death!

"The Divine Mixcoatl is protecting us! We, Water Valley City, are the ancient and enduring Atlixco, a fortified stone city unsacked for two hundred years! The Tarsus Mother River flows past our city, bringing us warriors and food from the Alliance constantly!... Honorable warriors, we are the southern gateway of the Alliance, guarding the fertile heartland, and protecting the Holy City of Cholula behind us! Today, fight for the God of the Hunt, for the Four States of the Tlaxcala Alliance... for the sacred Holy City, but also for your wives and children... resist the demons, fight to the death!!"

A priest of the God of the Hunt stood atop the wall, fervently waving a ceremonial short arrow. He passionately proclaimed, using the same dialect of Nahuatl as the Mexica, to boost the warriors’ morale!

The priest wore a long feather crown and attire similar to that of Mexica priests. However, his robe bore the divine runes of the God of the Hunt, with a jade disc hanging from his neck. Naturally, the jade disc depicted an abstract engraving of Mixcoatl, the legendary father of the Feathered Serpent in Tlaxcalan myth, the holy "Serpent Among the Clouds!"

"For the God of the Hunt! Cough, cough... Resist the demons! Cough, cough... Fight to the death!!"

Seven to eight hundred Tarasco warriors, weapons in hand and cloths covering their noses and mouths, guarded the wall tightly. They coughed violently as they struggled to shout but did not dare leave the walls. Several Mexica regiments were stationed outside the South City, ready to launch an assault at any moment.

"Excellent! The enemy can barely hold the wall."

Black Wolf Torc nodded slowly, a fierce battle intent gleaming in his eyes. Holding a command flag, clad in copper armor, and carrying a longbow on his back, he stood solemnly on a hill, with the red and black legion banners rising behind him. At this moment, he lifted his gaze, with smoke swirling below the mountains, shouts echoing through the valley, and flames burning in the city!

"Relay the order to the Artillery Camp. Divine Eagle Cannon, fire!"

The Messenger Officer sprinted down the hillside to the battlefield outside Water Valley City. Six Divine Eagle Cannons, over a meter long each, were ready and aimed at the South City wall two hundred paces away. Surrounding the Divine Eagle Cannons, besides the gunners, were two hundred elite Mexica warriors, holding shields and guarding the precious cannons.

"Order: Divine Eagle Cannons, fire!"

"Yes! Divine protection!"

The gunners lit the fuses in unison, then covered their ears and crouched beside the copper cannons.

"Fire!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!..."

Six terrifying explosions echoed sequentially through the valley, like world-ending thunderbolts! Six enormous stone shells, each weighing two pounds, roared with tremendous force and blasted into the city tower.

"Whoosh... Hiss..."

"Highest God of the Hunt, Mixcoatl! Please, unleash your divine power, strike down the Western evil... Ah! Ugh!..."

Bloody mist instantly splattered across the wall. Then came inhuman shrieking screams and uncontrollable terrified cries!

Two stone shells accurately struck the defenders, grinding over bodies and trailing brutal blood mists. Other shells hit the city tower, smashing the shields; or slammed into the city wall, causing slight tremors. After this barrage, several hundred soldiers defending the South City wall were left with at least a dozen casualties and a chilled fear gripping the survivors!

"Excellent! The Sun Divine Eagle Cannon is indeed a godsend weapon!"

Black Wolf nodded in satisfaction, gripping the command flag tightly. He yearned to strike again but had to wait for the cannons to reload.

"Alas, Divine Eagle Cannons are hard to cast, and too few! The Southern Army has only six cannons, and after one volley, they need half a quarter to reload. Though there are many Rain God Tiger Squat Cannons, they aren’t suited for sieges... Haha, the cowardly Tlaxcalan curs only dare to defend their fortifications, not daring to field battle with the legion!... "

"Again! Divine Eagle Cannons, fire!"

"Yes! Divine protection!"

The so-called divine protection was a plea for divine favor, aiming the siege weapon to strike true.

"Fire!"

"Boom, boom, boom!..."

Terrifying thunderous booms echoed once more through the valley, drowning the desperate cries of the Tlaxcala people. The unstoppable bombardment spewed from the mouths of the giant golden beasts! The warriors and militia on the city walls trembled, praying and quaking on the ground, having seen many lives lost to verify this: if these divine monstrous weapons struck, nothing could stand in their way!

"Ah!! Ah! Western Mexica! They have delved into the abyss, consorting with the volcanic demons!... Ugh! Ugh!..."

An elderly corpse, wearing a feather crown, bearing a feathered arrow in his throat, suddenly fell from the city wall. Within moments, he smashed to the ground with a loud thud, and his blood spread out. Even amid thunderous echoes, an outburst of extreme fear erupted from Water Valley City wall.

"Ah! Elder Priest Xilo!!"

"Hmm?!"

Witnessing the extraordinary shot, Black Wolf tightened his grip on the longbow, his hand tingling with excitement. The thirst for battle danced in his heart, inciting a desire to shout, to roar, to cast aside his command flag, and lead a direct charge! Alas, His Highness was encamped just ten miles behind the legion. The royal banner stood on the rear hill, overseeing the entire legion and keeping him in check...

"Ah! The life of a Legion Commander..."

Black Wolf took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. He then asked with notable interest,

"Who shot that arrow?"

"Boss, it was your former trusted aide, the Artillery Camp Commander, Tupa!"

"Ah? That lad! Not bad, his archery has improved! Better than..."

Black Wolf clapped his hands sharply, then paused, a smile spreading across his face. Moments later, his expression grew stern and he bellowed loudly,

"Prepare to storm the city! Longbow Camp, Vanguard Camp, take your positions! In a quarter, one thousand Tekos defectors from the Vanguard Camp will push shield wagons to transport the scaling ladders! One thousand Longbow Warriors will advance to within sixty paces, freely aiming, and shooting at the wall! After ten volleys, mount the ladders and let the Vanguard’s Death Warriors charge!"

Pausing momentarily, Black Wolf’s face was a fearful mask of a killing intent, like that of a wolf, making one shudder with fear.

"Remember! Retreaters from the Vanguard shall die, die, die! The first warrior to mount the wall will be promoted three levels, to the rank of warrior nobility! Once the key city, Water Valley City, is breached, the entire army will sack the city for two days, and all vanguards will receive their due rewards!"