The setting sun shines on the vast forest sea, and the clouds are dyed with red clouds and rise like waves. The sky is as clean as a flat lake, with only a few wisps of smoke rising.
Under the smoke is a simple settlement, scattered with huts made of branches and long grass. Dozens of tribal people wearing only leather skirts gathered in the middle of the fire pit. They made a fire to cook, laughed and played. The aroma of corn, wild vegetables and unknown animal meat wafted into the air.
The twelve-year-old Shulot stood in the depths of the woods. The young man looked at the settlement in the distance in confusion.
He has a delicate face, black hair, black eyes, yellow skin, and a clean little face. He wore a conical pointed hat on his head and a dark green waistcoat that covered his whole body. There is a piece of brown crotch cloth tied on the lower belly, the cloth head hangs down just to cover the vital parts, and on the feet are small moccasin shoes.
He held a foot-long obsidian dagger in his right hand and a small shield tied to his left hand. It's a small shield, but it's enough to cover his small body. The most eye-catching thing is a string of specially made obsidian necklaces that hang from his neck to his chest. This is an important status symbol.
Shulot looked in front of him. A group of fierce and strong warriors were vaguely visible in the shadow of the trees.
The warriors wore green leather armor, outlining strong lines. The cuffs and trouser cuffs are dyed red, and they wear the same crotch cloth and pointed leather hat. Most of them were barefoot, with a rope tied around their waists, and a half-meter-long leather wooden shield on their left hand with horrific patterns carved on it. The right hand holds an obsidian stick over one meter long, with the sharp blades already removed.
At this moment, the warriors hunched over and remained silent, like wild beasts in the jungle, with dangerous and excited lights flashing in their eyes.
Perhaps feeling Shulot's gaze, the two warriors stood up and walked over silently. The leading warrior was in his thirties or forties and was extremely strong. His face was painted with red and green stripes, and he wore a fierce tiger helmet. Bright feathers hung from the back of the helmet, resting on a striped yellow leather armor, like a beast walking upright.
This is the elite of the empire, the leader of a 20-man team, a Jaguar noble warrior.
The Jaguar warrior walked up to Xiulote: "Xulot, we are going to attack soon. This is your first time participating in a battle, so there is no need to follow us in the charge. You stand on the outside and if you see anyone escaping If you see a suitable opponent, you can also go up and use your shield and knife."
"Remember you don't need to take prisoners, don't hold back!"
After saying that, he turned to the young warrior next to him and ordered: "Tels, follow Shulot well and don't let him face the wrong opponent. If he can handle it, don't interfere. For the first time, let him He's got blood on him. I'll bring you two prisoners."
Finally, the jaguar warrior nodded to Shulot. He grinned, showing his cold teeth, and left quietly again.
The young samurai was about twenty years old. He squatted down next to Shulott in frustration: "Xurot, I will always be with you. Later you can find a lonely little savage or an old savage... "
"Tels, why do we attack these tribesmen? They didn't hurt us." Shulott's eyes were filled with confusion, and the memory of the "past" always lingered in his mind. Even if it started to blur, hundreds of years later The values still survive stubbornly in his heart, in this cruel jungle era.
"Why?" Ters scratched his head, "Because the new Tratoani has just ascended the throne, and we need more sacrifices in the coronation ceremony."
"Then why are so many lives wasted in the sacrificial ceremony?"
"Because this is the preference of the gods..."
At this moment, a loud eagle cry was heard, followed by dozens of figures rushing out of the dense forest.
The warriors let out terrifying howls and surrounded the settlement from all sides. A "jaguar" rushed at the front, the stripes on the tiger's skin were colorful and jumping, and the heavy obsidian long stick was like dancing lightning.
With a single tap, he knocked a young savage unconscious to the ground. Then with a backhand, he hit the other person's waist and abdomen. The other person immediately fell to the ground and rolled in pain. Other warriors also continued to achieve results. Even though the number of tribesmen was four or five times that of the warriors, the battle was one-sided.
The short spears raised hastily by the tribal warriors were dexterously avoided by the warriors, leaving shallow marks on the warriors' leather armor. However, the counterattacks from the sticks were so powerful that they felled with one blow.
Several tribal hunters also began to resist, using simple hunting bows to shoot homemade short arrows and inserting them into the leather armor of several warriors. This was the last effective resistance, and the hunters were quickly defeated by the attracted samurai.
The ensuing battle turned into a one-sided chase and capture. The tribesmen fled in all directions. The warriors either pursued them or took out ropes and tied up the satisfied prisoners. A warrior began to carry the fire from the fire pit towards the hut, and soon the firelight and cries filled the sunset.
"Let's go too." Tels urged from behind. Shulot stared blankly at the firelight of the tribe, figures flickering in front of his eyes, and the cries and laughter seemed far away. At this time, a thin figure suddenly rushed from the front, running with violent breathing, rushing towards Shulot.
"Be careful!" An urgent cry came from behind. The figure in front had obviously noticed Shulot, and the sharp wooden spear in his hand was thrust straight into the small enemy.
Shulot's eyes were dazzled, and he subconsciously raised the shield with his left hand, and the wooden spear slid to the side while grazing the thick skin. The movements of two years of compulsory training have been engraved in his muscles, like clouds and flowing water. Shulot then took a step forward, and then moved his right hand forward. The dagger pierced deeply into a soft object, and the moist liquid quickly warmed his small palm.
The figure in front immediately paused, and the wooden spear hit the shield again feebly, and then again, and the force quickly became smaller.
Only then did Shulot see the person in front of him clearly, an unkempt young man. He was extremely thin and apparently chronically malnourished. However, at the age of fifteen or sixteen, a pair of hateful eyes stared at him closely.
Soon, the young man's pupils gradually dilated, his body slipped from the dagger, and he fell weakly in front of Shulot. His eyes that had lost their vitality were still looking at Shulot.
Shulot seemed to have been hit by something. He staggered back a step, the dagger slipped from his right hand to the ground, and his knees suddenly weakened. At this time, a pair of big hands stretched out from behind and firmly held the young man's shoulders.
"Well done." Tels said with a smile, "I'm very skilled in thrusting with my shield. It seems that the captain and the captain have trained well."
"I killed an innocent person..." Shulot trembled slightly, his eyes lost focus, and he murmured. Reality tore apart the peaceful past, as if awakening him from an intoxicated dream. This was the first time in his life that he had killed someone.
"What?"
"Why?..."
"Why? Fighting is the greatest honor and the greatest joy. Of course, sacrifice is too. Once we catch some more sacrifices, we can wait for this year's coronation ceremony. We are really looking forward to it." Tels said with a pure smile. He looked up, his eyes shining with joy.
"Blood...death...is it destined to be this way?..."
"Xulot, what are you talking about? Louder, I can't hear you clearly." Ters scratched his head.
"Forget it, it's normal to be a little dizzy the first time. I was like this the first time before, of course, you are a little younger. Oh, it seems to be over with the captain, let's go there quickly." Tels picked up the dagger. , stuffed into Shulot's waist. Then he half-pulled the boy towards the "Jaguar".
Behind him, the body of a young man lay leaning on the grass, staring blankly at the sky. The sunset gradually faded away, and darkness immediately swallowed him up in this wild and wild American mountain forest.
