Chapter 822: The Executioner's Wolf
Flames soared like invisible giants in the ancient city-state. They danced wildly, never willing to be bound, constantly seeking new fuel, expanding the realm of fire. The hot thick smoke twirled in mid-air, shrouding most of Coyote City. As the sun slanted westward, the Kingdom Legion, which had entered the city, was forced to retreat like a tidal wave, along with the twenty thousand Coyote Tribe captives. The armored, stern samurai and the kneeling, empty-handed captives gathered around, almost filling the wilderness outside the city.
"The rainy season has yet to come, and there are many thatched huts in the city. Once such a massive fire ignites, most of Coyote City will turn into ashes. The army will not only have no food but also no houses to stay in. This fire..."
Black Wolf's eyes were icy cold, saying not a word, as he watched the great fire in the city for a long time, until the red-haired hunters hurriedly rushed from the city gates, carrying a chieftain prisoner wearing a feather crown. Then, without hesitation, the hunters heavily threw the chieftain prisoner onto the ground, grabbing his scorched hair, forcing him to lift his head, revealing a face full of dust, ash-black.
On that gray-black face, many scars symbolizing bravery and tattoos symbolizing piety were carved. Looking closely, the person seemed not to be thirty yet. The expression on that face was full of rebellious arrogance and deliberate disdain.
"Chief Divine witness! Are you Fire Rat? Was it you who set this fire?"
"Pah! Aztec demon fallen into the Abyss! I, Fire Rat Masal, will never beg for mercy from you!"
Hearing this, Black Wolf squinted, staring at the defiant Fire Rat in front of him, as if looking at a dead man. He solemnly turned his head and asked the Forest Wolf Chieftain beside him.
"Forest Wolf Mayakun, is this your nephew, the one who took your chieftain position, Fire Rat Masal?"
"...Yes. Honorable Black Wolf Commander-in-Chief, it is him."
Forest Wolf's expression was complex, watching his brave and pious nephew whom he had carefully nurtured. He pursed his lips, eyes filled with desolation and anger, and asked in a deep voice.
"Masal! Why did you launch a rebellion, leading the city-state's samurai to resist the Mexica Royal Army? After the city-state fell, why did you set this fire and burn the precious food? Do you know how many of your tribe will die because of your actions?!"
"Pah! Forest Wolf, you coward who surrendered to the Aztec demons, coward! You betrayed the Divine, wagging your tail, becoming the Highland people's dog! Ha! You will sooner or later be eaten by them, your bones boiled into glue, your head boiled into oil, your soul tormented in the Black Abyss!..."
Upon seeing his uncle Forest Wolf, Fire Rat Masal's expression abruptly became agitated. He cursed loudly, shouting the vilest curses and declaring with a hint of pride.
"The Aztecs have come, and the tribe is doomed! But even at death's door, I will not bow to them! The Hidden Snake Priests told me, the Sun God sees my piety, and my soul will ascend to the Divine Kingdom, forever enjoying light and beauty! All the sacrificing tribespeople will also be led by All Gods to ascend into the sky together!…"
"You...fool brainwashed by the priests!... causing the tribe's forces to perish here for nothing..."
Upon hearing these words, Forest Wolf Mayakun lowered his eyes, a sorrow beyond words in his heart. He knew that encountering such resistance without food, the Mexica would inevitably massacre the tribe. The trusted samurai he hoped to command, the resistance force he hoped to gather, who knew how many would parish.
"Masal, you burned the food! You personally killed your tribe!"
Black Wolf Torc gazed with wolf-like eyes at the defiant Fire Rat Masal, coldly speaking.
"Are there priests from Hidden Serpent City here? Where?"
"Ha! The Divine Descendants have perished, divine blood will also flow dry. What use is there in keeping these lowly tribespeople? It's better to perish with them, disappearing entirely! The Sun God sees, and will also nod!"
Fire Rat Masal raised his head, laughing dismissively.
"The priests of the Divine are everywhere! They did not lie to me! Indeed, burn the food, and you all are jumping in anxiety! Ha ha!"
"You will die. Your family will also perish."
Black Wolf's expression was cold, stating the inevitable facts.
"I ask you again, where are Hidden Serpent City's priests hiding? Among the tribespeople?"
"Ha! You cruel sacrificers! Under your hands, the noble Divine Descendants would perish anyway!"
Saying this, Fire Rat Masal gritted his teeth, hatred filling his face. He glanced at Forest Wolf, viciously shouting.
"Commander of Evil God! You say perish, then go ahead! Execute my uncle who betrayed the Divine with me!"
Hearing this, Black Wolf Torc raised his eyebrows. He finally lost his patience and coldly pronounced the judgment.
"Masal, after you die, I will erect your head for the birds to peck. Then conduct a ceremony to immerse your body in Black Oil, sinking into the bottomless Abyss! The power of the Chief Divine is far stronger than you can imagine! Your soul will never ascend to the Divine Kingdom but will fall into the depths of the earth, eternally sinking!"
Hearing such a conclusion, fear was shown on Fire Rat Masal's face for the first time. His gaze was vicious, gritting his teeth, shouting harshly.
"Evil Aztec Chieftain! I challenge you to a sacred duel! Come on! If you have the skill, kill me with your own hands!... The priests said I would fall in the Divine War, and my soul would be led by the Sun God directly into the Divine Kingdom!"
"A duel? You are unworthy to die by my hand."
Black Wolf shook his head and no longer looked at Masal. He drew his bronze battle axe, with a "clang," throwing it at Forest Wolf's feet.
"Forest Wolf, go! Kill him with your own hands, cut off his head!"
"Ah?!"
Hearing such an order, Forest Wolf Mayakun was stunned. He reached out, trembling as he picked up the copper axe, looked at Black Wolf's gaze upon him, then at the nearby Dog Descendant Warriors holding axes. He slowly stood up, walked to his nephew, silent and speechless.
"Forest Wolf, you traitor of the Divine! Come on, kill me! I have fallen in battle, I am a samurai of the Divine! The priests did not lie to me! No matter where my body falls, my soul will ascend to the Sun's Divine Kingdom!"
Death looming, Fire Rat Masal shouted fiercely and frantically. He seemed to make an effort to believe, believing in everything promised by the priests after death. And to him, all this was far more important than the lives and deaths of tens of thousands of tribespeople!
"Fire Rat, you fool!... I should have taught you long ago not to believe the words of the priests..."
At this point, a trace of desolation and some regret appeared in Forest Wolf Mayakun's eyes. Feeling the cold, scrutinizing gaze from behind, he pursed his lips and raised the copper axe in his hand. Then, in the Highland's Navajo, he roared from the depths of his heart.
"Chief Divine witness! Slay the followers of the Fake God, slay the rebellious chieftain!"
With a great roar, both hands swung, the copper axe fell! An open-eyed head flew high, warm blood splattering from the full neck, staining the executioner. Such brilliant red, reflecting in a pair of narrow eyes, but for some reason, gradually tinted with black, like stepping into the woods, a wolf on its first hunt.