Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

The Temple was deep and dark, with the flickering of the leaping bonfire. On the heavy stone walls, ancient Feathered Serpent reliefs slithered like serpents. High upon the Divine Platform, the solemn statues of the Divine flashed with turquoise eyes. And under the calm gaze of the statues, laid scattered about the grand hall were dozens of Eastern tribes' chieftains and their trusted aides. At this moment, within the entire Temple, only six were standing, with two sitting together leaning on each other.

"Hehe! My dear brother..."

The Serpent Priestess Miyava knelt in the Stone Hall, embracing the Great Sun Chief Qiqini from behind. Her actions were gentle, caressing Qiqini's cheek, her face adorned with a soft smile, like that of a close lover.

Qiqini's eyes were wide with anger, filled with shock and rage, and an unmistakable fear. He gritted his teeth, glaring at Qiyan, the Head Warrior who had served faithfully for years, his voice trembling.

"You? You all?!..."

"Family Head... I..."

Head Warrior Qiyan hung his head low, tears streaming down his face, not daring to meet Qiqini's furious eyes.

"Yes! Qiyan is a strong warrior too! He feared your wrath, knowing you wouldn't spare him. So he seized this chance, struck first, and offered you to the Divine!..."

"Let the Ancestors bear witness! Let the Divine bear witness!... Qiyan! I... I forgive all your wrongs! As long as you save my life!..."

At the brink of life and death, after a brief moment of shock and disorientation, Qiqini displayed the character of a formidable leader. He raised his palm, glancing towards Miyava, swearing to the Divine and Ancestors.

"Miyava, I swear to the Ancestors and the Divine! I am willing to relinquish all the powers of the tribe, to surrender all the warriors and wealth! ... As long as you grant me a path to survival, exiling me from the myriad tribes of the Golden Bay... For our father's sake! I have cared for you since you were young!..."

"...Miyava... Chieftain?..."

Hearing this, Head Warrior Qiyan abruptly raised his head. He dared not look at the former Family Head, but instead looked towards the Serpent Priestess whose expression slightly shifted, his eyes carrying inquiry and faint hope.

"Tribal power? Father?..."

Upon hearing this, the corner of the Serpent Priestess's mouth curled up, her smile growing ever more radiant. She looked at her half-brother with interest, observing his forcibly calm demeanor, just like admiring a self-carved mythological mural.

"Hehe! Qiqini, why not mention mother? ... My mother died at your mother's hands!..."

"...Miyava... At that time, it was I who protected you!..."

"Yes! My strong brother, I have admired you since childhood, and I have repaid you too..."

The Serpent Priestess nodded, her face displaying a maiden-like admiration. She gently pressed her cheek to her brother's, then suddenly sighed amidst Qiqini's hopeful eyes.

"What a pity! I am not a man... Otherwise, how could the position of Chieftain fall to you?..."

"Miyava... the position of Chieftain, I will give it to you! ... As long as you banish me, I will leave the land of the Golden Bay forever, and never return! I swear by the honor of the Ancestors!..."

"What a pity! I'm not a man! ... It's never as convincing to rule the tribes as a powerful Divine Descendant Warrior, making everyone submit..."

The Serpent Priestess's expression was somber, as if not hearing Qiqini's words, but murmuring to herself instead. She pressed close to her brother's cheek, stroking his chest, tracing a ceremonial heart shape.

"Brother, do you understand? You are a man, so long as you are brave enough, even if exiling father or killing brothers, you can still control the tribe... But I cannot, I am a woman! To securely sit as Chieftain, I not only need the support of the Mexica, to clear away the stubborn Elders of the clan... I also need a perfect reason to open the city gates and take over your power!..."

"...A perfect reason?..."

Hearing this, the Great Sun Chief Qiqini shivered all over, sniffing slightly as if catching the scent of death. He lowered his head, staring at the Sacrificial Dagger of Olmec heritage in the Serpent Priestess's hand, then glanced at the Sacrificial Lake Tribe's Chieftain Ozli who was standing in the corner, fully alert. He uttered with difficulty.

"Miyava... Your reason is... to avenge me?"

"Yes! As expected, my dear brother! You thought of the same thing as me..."

The Serpent Priestess Miyava's smile was brilliant, even kissing Qiqini on the cheek, as a final farewell.

"Brother, go in peace! After you leave, I will avenge you, hold a grand funeral for you... Bury you alongside father..."

As she spoke, Miyava maintained the gentle embrace from behind, raising the sharp Obsidian Dagger, its tip aimed at the heart she had just traced. Feeling the blade close to his chest, Great Chief Qiqini trembled again, shouting sternly.

"Wait, wait a moment! Miyava, I haven't told you the location of the family wealth! I also know many clan secrets, enough to hold control over various noble members of the tribe! That's right! And the secrets of the Eastern tribes, the secrets of the Hidden Serpent City's Holy Land, the Divine Artifact Ritual Plate of the Olmec heritage!..."

Hearing Qiqini's cries, the approaching Obsidian Dagger paused slightly, stopping at his chest. The Great Sun Chief's expression was tense, sweat pouring from his forehead, his entire body soaked. But amidst this profuse sweating, he was pleasantly surprised to feel the numbness in his body seem to ease a bit, if only he could delay further...

"The family's wealth, an entire secret chamber filled with jade, gemstones, and gold and silver! And the location of the secret chamber, it's right in... ah!! ugh!..."

An indescribable pain shot through his heart in an instant. The Great Sun Chief Qiqini trembled violently, struggling to lower his head, seeing only an Olmec dagger buried to the hilt, and the bright red blood gushing from his chest.

"Brother, go in peace! I haven't truly seized power yet, I can't let my guard down to listen to those lengthy secrets you have... Feathered Serpent Divine! I have presided over many sacrifices, and this is the last one, offering the most revered divine descent to you, the exalted one!..."

Miyava pressed against Qiqini's cheek, a look of sacred sorrow on her stunning face. She released the dagger from her hand, lovingly embracing her brother, letting the blood saturate their robes. She murmured gentle reassurances, but her gaze was fixed on the Feathered Serpent Divine's statue, staring into those turquoise eyes.

"Pierce the heart, sacrifice to the divine... it will be quick, very quick! Everything will pass, you will go to the divine kingdom of the sky, to enjoy peace and beauty forever! Many divine descendents from the tribes will also be buried with you... the old belief should be buried in the most sacred sacrifice. And the new belief will begin in my hands... may the divine protect us!..."

"Miyava! You betrayed me, and you want to betray the entire tribe? ...You... beautiful venomous snake! ... ugh! ugh! ... you... so... ruthless..."

At this moment, the mighty and powerful Great Sun Chief struggled like a dying fish in Miyava's arms. The intense pain quickly left him speechless, only his limbs convulsing in futile resistance. Yet, the woman's gentle arms were unprecedentedly strong, making his last struggles futile. In just a moment, the severe lack of oxygen and blood left his mind blank, his entire body weak, a relaxed smile on his face. Then, just like a snake, he softly died in the arms of the Serpent Priestess.

"...Really dead... Ah! So sad..."

The Serpent Priestess reached out her hand, feeling no breath from the man, she sighed and released her embrace. She stood slowly, gazing at the Great Sun Chief laying dead, his eyes unclosed, showing neither joy nor sorrow on her face. After a while, she shook her head and looked toward the corner of the temple at Ozli, the Chieftain of the Sacrificial Lake tribe, who wore a face of horror.

"Miyava! You... you killed Qiqini?! You? What is this?..."

At this moment, Chieftain Ozli's eyes widened, watching the graceful and enchanting Serpent Priestess, no longer holding any desire. His tall and strong body trembled slightly, like a porcupine being stared down by a venomous snake, his heart was filled with fear.

"I... I agree to you becoming the chieftain of the Golden Bay tribes!..."

"Ozli, it wasn't me who acted just now!"

The Serpent Priestess Miyava flashed a charming smile, licking her tempting red lips, shaking her head lightly with a smile.

"It was your dagger, it was you! ... It was you who wanted to abandon the tribal warriors and flee with the fleet. And the Great Sun Chief, unwilling to leave the Golden Bay tribes, was cruelly killed by you at the chieftains' meeting... And I, to save the tribes, to avenge my brother... that's why I killed you, imprisoned the chieftains, and was forced to surrender to the Mexica..."

"Avenge Qiqini? Forced to surrender to the Mexica?"

Upon hearing this, Chieftain Ozli's mind went blank, utterly bewildered, even his fingers began to tremble. He couldn't disentangle his thoughts, only hearing a phrase echoing in his ears.

"Kill me?..."

"Kill him!"

The Serpent Priestess Miyava cast a sharp glance at Head Warrior Qiyan, who was clutching Qiqini's body, crying mournfully, and gave a stern order.

"Qiyan! He killed Chief Qiqini. Go kill him, avenge the chief!"

The Serpent Priestess eyed Head Warrior Qiyan, her eyes glinting with dangerous light. Qiyan's earlier hesitation and guilt sparked a new killing intent within her. The current command was a submission training, a sort of mental indoctrination. Only Head Warrior Qiyan, by accepting the 'truth' she uttered, could survive this conspiracy!

Upon hearing the order, Qiyan raised his head, his eyes red, staring blankly at the Serpent Priestess.

"Did... Chief Ozli kill the Family Head?"

"Yes! He killed my brother, using his inherited dagger."

Miyava gently coaxed, her demeanor soft. Her voice carried a peculiar tone, akin to the teachings of a priest.

"Remember! It was Ozli, not us..."

"I remember. It was Ozli, not us..."

Head Warrior Qiyan muttered, lowering his head, once again looking at the dagger in Qiqini's chest. His expression slowly twisted into ferocity, like a hunting dog ready to devour its prey.

"Go, kill him!"

"Roar!... Kill you!"

Head Warrior Qiyan let out a roar, drew the red copper battle axe from his waist, and strode towards Chieftain Ozli of the Sacrificial Lake tribe. He paid no heed to the other's feeble resistance, kicking him to the ground with a single blow. Then, the valiant Head Warrior of the Golden Bay, with a high swing of the red copper axe, aimed at Chieftain Ozli's neck, brought it down forcefully!

"Swoosh!"