Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

The axe rises and falls, warmth sprayed, the pungent smell of blood dispersing in the temple, with each tribe's chieftain prostrate throughout, as if a sacred sacrifice. The statue casts a shadow, the bonfire flickers with orange, the stone hall flows with blood red. Black, yellow, and red together contrast the center, where the fair-skinned Serpent Priestess's smile on her face shines even more beautifully.

"Miyava... Chieftain... for the Family Head, I have avenged!"

Head Warrior Qiyan, covered in blood, holds the head of Chieftain Ozli from the Sacrificial Lake Tribe, approaching the Serpent Priestess. Then, he kneels on one knee, raising the head high, presenting it to the sole victor.

"Very good! Ancestors witness! The new Chief Divine will forgive all of your deeds!"

Serpent Priestess Miyava nods satisfactorily, extending her white hands to receive Ozli's head. She caresses Ozli's youthful cheek, slightly pondering, then gently closes the terrifyingly wide-open eyes.

"Ah! Such a handsome head!… Let's borrow it for now!..."

The Serpent Priestess murmurs softly and then becomes solemn. She looks at Head Warrior Qiyan, for the first time ordering with a chieftain's tone.

"Qiyan, pledge allegiance to me!"

"Ancestors and Divine witness! Chieftain Miyava, I will guard by your side, fight for you, and die for you!"

"Very good! I accept your pledge and will grant you the power and rewards you deserve!"

The Serpent Priestess shows a stern countenance, extending a blood-red hand, grasping the opponent's hair. She does not believe in oaths but needs the allegiance ceremony to strengthen habitual obedience.

"Go! Invite all the trusted aides prepared by my elder brother!"

"Yes! As you command!"

Head Warrior Qiyan purses his lips and strides away.

Within the temple, only the Serpent Priestess holding the head remains. She does not look at the dead Qiqini or the fainted chieftains from each tribe. She merely holds the head solemnly, step by step, walks to the tall statue of Feathered Serpent Divine, bows, and offers the head on the Divine Platform.

"Esteemed Feathered Serpent Divine! This is your Priestess, offering you the final sacrifice and the last tribute!... After the Mexica people enter the city, I will personally topple your idol and completely convert faith to the Chief Divine!... Please forgive me! No forgiveness is no matter.... After all, I never thought, I could reach the beautiful Divine Kingdom after death..."

After speaking, the Serpent Priestess smiles charmingly, looking up, directly facing the eyes of the Feathered Serpent Divine. The Divine remains silent, only those turquoise eyes continue to shine with wisdom. The Priestess and the Divine thus silently gaze at each other, until a commotion outside the hall quickly arises with dozens of Golden Bay Warriors pouring in, exclaiming incredulously from the mouths of these trusted aides.

"What! The Family Head... is dead?!"

"Chieftain! How did the chieftain die?"

"Feathered Serpent Divine! What exactly happened?"

"We were guarding outside the hall, why weren't we called in time?"

Facing the trusted aides' interrogation, Head Warrior Qiyan gritted his teeth, his face filled with solemn sorrow. He spoke with difficulty, softly saying a sentence.

"It was Chieftain of the Sacrificial Lake, who assassinated the Family Head... I have avenged the Family Head..."

"Damn it! As the Family Head's trusted aide, how could you let such a thing happen!"

"Wasn't the drug administered? How could he still move?!..."

"You should commit suicide, follow the chieftain in departure!..."

"Silence! The Divine is watching you! All shut up!!"

Amidst the commotion, a loud, authoritative command suddenly erupts within the temple! Though the voice is female, the majestic tone and style closely resemble the deceased Great Sun Chief. Upon hearing it, everyone pauses with astonishment.

Miyava, the Serpent Priestess, stands solemnly before the statue of Feathered Serpent Divine, atop the high Divine Platform. In one hand, she holds Ozli's head high; in the other, she raises the sacrificial dagger, as in a sacred offering ceremony. In this moment, her face bears unseen coldness, causing the crowd to tremble in awe.

"Holy Feathered Serpent Divine, witness my words! Chieftain Ozli from the Sacrificial Lake was very cautious and drank little blood wine! He pretended to be drugged, then suddenly ambushed, assassinating my elder brother! Subsequently, I killed the Chieftain of the Sacrificial Lake Tribe, avenging my elder brother, offering him as a sacrifice to the Divine!"

"Exalted Ancestors, grant me the honor of inheritance! I am the revered Serpent Priestess, inheriting the Divinity of the Great Mother Serpent, also possessing the Ancestor Divine Descendant's bloodline! My elder brother had a major task related to the survival of the Golden Bay Tribes! As he is unfortunately deceased, now it falls upon me to temporarily assume the chieftain position of the tribe!"

"Ah! What? You are taking over the chieftain position?..."

"I personally embarked on a mission, met with the Mexica prince, pledged allegiance to him, and gained his promise to protect our tribes! You must follow me to save the Golden Bay tribes! A great event is imminent and action is at hand. Who among you defies me?!"

Upon hearing this, the trusted aides looked at each other, momentarily speechless. They were trusted aides of the Great Sun Chief and controlled the samurai of the Golden Bay tribes, holding the core military power under the chieftain. Now the chieftain is dead, and the succession of the new chieftain cannot proceed without their endorsement. Indeed, the status of the Serpent Priestess is esteemed, and Miyawa, possessing Divine Bloodline, does have the qualification to inherit the tribe. Yet...

"According to tribal tradition, the position of chieftain should be elected by the Council of Elders, selecting a valiant Divine Warrior!"

The elder Guard Commander Qiyu stood out, voicing his opposition.

"Miyawa, although Chieftain Qiqini has passed, the tribe still has several of Divine Bloodline remaining! Like the chieftain's battle-skilled nephew, Yilwei!"

"Oh? Yilwei? He is indeed valiant in battle. But, is his valor enough to lead you in resisting the Mexica military, resisting the divine punishment of thunder?"

The Serpent Priestess Miyawa descended with a cold demeanor from the Divine Platform. Approaching Guard Commander Qiyu, she stared directly into his eyes and asked sharply.

"Or has he met with the Mexica prince, received promises of surrender, and can protect the tribes?"

"Uh... this...."

Faced with the Serpent Priestess's pressing question, Guard Commander Qiyu furrowed his brows, struggling to answer. The Serpent Priestess had always been known for her allure; he had never seen such authoritative posture akin to a chieftain from her before. After several breaths, he slightly avoided her piercing gaze, opting not to respond.

"Miyawa! Regardless, the tribe has not seen a female chieftain for hundreds of years! Moreover, Chieftain Qiqini's death remains unsolved. At this time, Yilwei is more suitable than you!"

"Oh? Is it because Yilwei has always been close to you, making him more suitable?"

"Ah? Witness by the Divine! My heart is pure red, without darkness!"

"Hmm... is that so!..."

Hearing this, the Serpent Priestess nodded slightly, letting her hands fall as if signaling a willingness to compromise. However, in the next moment, her expression hardened, and her right hand wielded the obsidian dagger swiftly and precisely, cutting across Guard Commander Qiyu's neck.

"Slit!..."

"Eh?! Oh! Oh!..."

A look of disbelief and astonishment instantly crossed Guard Commander Qiyu's face. His mouth gaped open, as pressure released, scarlet spurted from the neck's opening with a "slit," splattering all over Miyawa's body and face. In the end, he could say nothing, just keeping his eyes wide open, spurting warm vitality, and fell down with a "thud."

"Witness by the Divine! I will personally perform a sacrifice, cutting open your heart to see if it's red or dark!"

Serpent Priestess Miyawa extended her pure hand, calmly wiping the blood off her face, as if she had killed a noisy crow. Then, she gazed coldly upon the crowd, solemnly declaring.

"Mother of the great serpent Miyawakotel, together with the Sun's warrior, gave birth to the ancestor of the Totonac people! I carry the name of the great serpent mother, as well as inherit His Divinity! The Golden Bay tribes have been passed down among males, with the Sun Warriors ruling the tribes, yet through hundreds of years of slaying, bringing the entire tribe to the brink of the Black Abyss!"

"Now, the Mexica have unified the Highlands; like a charging wolf pack, they are sweeping across the world! It is an unprecedented new era, a time when seaside hurricanes strike! If we stubbornly resist with tribal force, survival in the hurricane is utterly impossible!"

"Thus, only with the wisdom, planning, and flexibility of the serpent mother, only through me! Can you survive, preserve the tribes, even allow the tribes to thrive!... Now, are there any among you who still defy?!"

Within the ancient temple, a silence and dead calm prevailed. Many trusted aides remained mute, watching Miyawa with blood-stained ritual robes and a head in hand. Their gazes gradually shifted. Moments later, Head Warrior Qiyan was the first to kneel before Miyawa, respectfully paying homage.

"Witness by the Ancestors! Honored Serpent Mother Chieftain! I pledge allegiance to you, to fight for you, to die for you!"

"Witness by the Feathered Serpent Divine! Serpent Mother Chieftain, allegiance to you!"

"You are the new chieftain! We follow you!..."

As the tide turned, dozens of trusted aides gradually knelt, saluting the standing Miyawa. The newly appointed Serpent Mother Chieftain then stepped through the hall filled with blood, returning to the Divine Platform. She gazed upon the crouching aides and chieftains, standing alongside the Feathered Serpent Divine statue, with a slight upward curve to her lips. Her gaze, through the blowing wind, turned towards the dark West. A few dozen miles westward lay the camp of the Mexica's Commander-in-Chief.

In a never-before-seen change within the tribes, leveraging the intimidation of the Mexica forces, she had finally transformed from the Serpent Priestess coveted by many, into the Serpent Mother Chieftain with tribal control, embarking on the long-coveted path of power!

"Oh Feathered Serpent Divine, you witness everything! From today, I am the Serpent Mother Chieftain wielding tribe control, Miyawakotel! I will follow the path of the serpent mother, master the hearts of the tribes, obey those who challenge me, and give birth to the kings of the Totonac tribes!..."

"O mighty Death God above! As long as He can grant me power, I will loyally follow Him... Hee hee! This thousand miles of coastline, five hundred miles deep jungle, ruling millions within the Totonac tribes can't be achieved by mere force alone!..."