Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Chapter 2070 - 1512: Red and White, Judgment of Fate! (Part 2)

Izel was dragged to the foot of the Divine Platform, watching the ongoing death divination by the "Prophet," his body trembling like a sieve. He wanted to loudly plead to the Prophet, but the divine figure before him seemed so distant, even more distant than the Divine King, removed from human emotion.In this final moment facing death, he finally cast aside all the dignity and face of the Honorable Nobility, completely kneeling on the ground to the indifferent Divine King at the highest point of the platform, shouting for mercy!

"...Please, Divine King, spare my life!... Izel is willing to be your hunting dog, your bearer! Just spare me, spare this insignificant person!!..."

At this moment, Izel’s voice of pleading was so loud, his posture so low, that it not only startled the nobility of the Alliance but also drew ridicule from the warriors who valued martial prowess. Facing the death divination of the Divine Spirit, this disgraceful display truly brought shame to the ancestors of the Mountain Family!

"..."

Upon hearing such pleas, Xiulote slowed his hand, glancing at Divine King Avit imperceptibly. The Divine King raised the corner of his mouth, smiling coldly as if he hadn’t heard. At this moment, he looked down at Izel, the Honorably Nnoble crawling on the ground, all reputation lost, like a truly elevated divine spirit, without any expression.

Xiulote understood in his heart, the divination in hand was finally reaching its conclusion. However, just before his final verdict, Izel’s next desperate plea stunned the noble spectators, and made the Divine King’s eyes flash.

"Supreme Chief Divine bears witness! Supreme Chief Divine bears witness! I, Izel, am willing to offer half of the Mountain Family’s fief!... I swear! Even the remaining half of the fief, I am willing to accept officials sent by the central Alliance to govern!..."

"Hmm?!..."

The Divine King Avit remained expressionless. Before the gaze of many Great Nobility, he merely shook his head coldly and responded thus.

"This is the judgment of the Supreme Chief Divine, everything is decided by the will of the Supreme Chief Divine! It has nothing to do with me..."

"No! No..."

Upon hearing this cold response, Izel finally lost all strength, collapsing completely like mud. Yet, in front of the altar, Xiulote’s eyes flashed, quietly altering the kui grass in hand. After a while, he finally obtained the divination result, impassively pronouncing judgment.

"The divination yields a two, the hexagram representing marsh, imposing a blood penalty! Sacrifice a limb, decided by the Divine King!..."

"Oh?!..."

The Divine King Avit showed surprise, glancing at Xiulote, then at Izel’s position. This middle-aged Mountain Clan Chief suddenly sprang up like a trout, then "plopped" back to the ground, bowing to the Divine King. His tears and mucus blended into one, bowing as if pounding scallions, even breaking his forehead!

"Ah! Supreme Chief Divine is merciful! Supreme Chief Divine is merciful! ... Divine King is supreme! Divine King is supreme! ... I am willing to offer half the fief, let Alliance officials take over administration!..."

The Divine King Avit contemplated silently, glancing at the bowing Izel, then at the silent Great Nobility. After a full quarter hour, the corner of his mouth lifted, smiling faintly.

"The Supreme Chief Divine has a thunderous side, and also a merciful side! Since after multiple judgments, He only revealed this one blood penalty, providing this one possible path to survival... that means the Supreme Chief Divine wishes for Izel to live! Thus, sacrifice one of Izel’s fingers!..."

"Ah! Thanks to the Divine King! Thank the Divine King! Izel will definitely give his life for you... uh! uh!!..."

The Obsidian dagger swung down, and amidst the burning Sacred Fire, a scorched smell emerged. Izel once again collapsed on the ground, his tears of pain mingling with the flowing blood. Meanwhile, the Divine King above smiled, announcing seemingly mercifully.

"Izel, this time you lost the battle leading the charge, letting over a thousand elite Zapotecs escape, the gravity of your crime necessitates severe punishment! Though the Supreme Chief Divine spared you from the death penalty, I must justly punish your crime..."

"As the Divine King, I uphold justice! The central Alliance does not need you to offer any fief. The fief of the previously executed Great Nobility will be equally divided among their offspring, rather than handed to the Alliance Royal Family... Reward military merit, punish desertion, everything must be judged according to divine fairness!..."

Pausing here, Avit thought for a moment before focusing on the effort-made-to-appear grateful Izel, continuing his declaration.

"From the Mountain Family’s samurai, select five hundred elite and integrate them into the Tonsured Guard! Yes, hand them over to the new Turquoise regiment to replenish losses!..."

"The Mountain Family’s fief shall be reduced by thirty percent! Have the central Alliance’s officials first meticulously inspect all Telokan State acres, then choose where to reduce the fief! As for the reduced acres, it shall be distributed in the name of the central Alliance to these five hundred Mountain Warriors joining the Tonsured Guard!"

"Finally, Izel, you are permitted to redeem yourself through meritorious service! The remaining forces of the Mountain Range Legion, three thousand five hundred warriors as the vanguard, advance west until below the Mixteco Mountain River City!"

Upon hearing this seemingly generous royal decree, Izel’s expression instantaneously froze, even the physical pain of losing a finger paled compared to the pain in his heart.

Depriving five hundred elite troops equates to taking away the strongest force of the Mountain Family. And having the central Alliance inspect the land before reducing the fief is actually no different from deploying officials for governance! Moreover, three thousand five hundred as vanguard to below the Mountain River City, is entirely using them as cannon fodder!...

"Hmm? Izel?"

"Yes! Yes!"

With pain suppressed, Izel showed deep bitterness. Then, like fading ink, this bitterness quickly disappeared, transformed into forcibly squeezed gratitude with tears. He bowed his head three more times, clutching his left chest with a fist, like an oath, hoarsely shouting.

"Follow you, Supreme... Divine King! Izel... is willing to die for you!..."

"Hmm!..."

The Divine King Avit nodded, the corner of his mouth was a faint smile. He surveyed the multitude of nobles as silent as a cicada in winter, once more savoring the decision-making delight atop the Divine Mountain! Then, he stood, pointing west toward the mountains, issuing the final royal decree.

"The Supreme Chief Divine protects! Leave five thousand Royal Legion to guard Cloud Mountain City and Snake Waist Camp, vigilant against Zapotecs tribes of Oaxaca!..."

"The remaining army, set forth in five days! Advance two hundred miles west, until below the Mountain River City!..."

"Before the rainy season of May arrives, I want to completely conquer Mountain River City, using the head of Great Chief Yun Chen of the mountains, and the fresh lives of the Cloud Divine Race, as sacrifices to the Supreme Chief Divine!..."

"Yes! Supreme Divine King!..."

The end-of-year ominous day thus concluded, the new year unveils a Chapter in the name of the divine, amidst cruel warfare. Five days later, the Southern Expedition Eastern Route Army breaks camp westward, departing the Cloud Mountain City it had stationed for over two years. Once the three Southern Expedition armies besiege and capture the final Mountain River City, the Mixteco Alliance spanning hundreds, thousands of years will declare its complete demise!~~