"To think such a powerful longbow exists! In its presence, the life of a samurai is like a cave-dwelling blind fish, dead from the swish of the tail before even seeing the target. Terrifying, truly terrifying!"
The legion commander, enduring the pain, muttered to himself. He hid behind the samurai’s shield, allowing the speed of his boat to slow down as it gradually pulled away from the smaller boat in front. Then, he suddenly came to his senses, raised the Spear Flag with his good right arm, swiped half-circles to each side, and then pointed forcefully towards the small boat in the front.
Behind the magnificent large boat, dozens of boats received the command. They accelerated, abandoning their entangled opponents, and rushed towards the foremost Mexica small boat. The remaining two or three Mexica small boats could not attend to their opponents either and quickly went to aid their lord.
A red falcon, attracted by the shouts, soared through the wind and rain. It scanned with its sharp eagle eyes, seeing a small boat floating in the front, dozens of boats in hot pursuit, and two large boats, at a distance, following behind. It lowered its altitude, carefully watching the oars moving on the boats, staring at the shining spear tips, and the occasional falling figures.
A sharp arrow "whooshed" under the falcon, startling it. Its dynamic vision traced the arrow back to the bow of a small boat, where a bipedal beast covered its throat, swaying as it fell into the river. The falcon smelled the blood in the air, sensed the deep danger, and flapped its wings, soaring into the high clouds.
On the river surface, the foremost Tarasco small boat immediately slowed down, its samurai onboard scrambling to check their fallen captain. When they confirmed the location of the arrow, a deep chill arose in their hearts. The messenger of the Moon Goddess on the boat ahead could easily take the samurai to the Netherworld! Soon, the sailors and samurai slowed down, quietly retreating behind the other small boats.
Observing the enemy struck by the arrow in the neck, watching the enemy ships being repulsed again, Xiulote set down his longbow, nodding in satisfaction. In the instants of life and death combat, he gradually calmed his mind, and his archery unexpectedly made a breakthrough. The young samurai’s left arm had been bandaged. It was merely a superficial flesh wound and, despite being painful, did not affect the fighting. He looked ahead and behind, his trusted aides’ faces flushed, having rowed vigorously for over a half hour, estimating that they had covered about ten miles. The rendezvous fleet should be just ahead.
Soon after, another small boat approached rapidly, coming within twenty meters in an instant. Xiulote spat, ready to notch an arrow again. "Whoosh, whoosh", two successive arrows flew past him, each striking a samurai in the cheek, making them flip over and instantly die. Bertade turned around, nodded with a smile at the young samurai, his lips curving into a serene confidence.
Xiulote paused for a moment, then continued to notch an arrow. This time, he aimed at an enemy boat thirty meters away, waited a moment, and in the brief steadiness of the small boat, he released the arrow, hitting the enemy’s chest. The samurai incredulously looked down, watched as blood seeped from the pierced Leather Armor, then uttered a few words before collapsing backward.
The young samurai looked toward the Head Warrior, and both burst out laughing. At the edge of life and death, they displayed immense fighting spirit, their pride burning in their chests! True samurai never fear death but blossom fearlessly!
Sixty meters away on the large boat, the round-faced noble burst out in admiration as he watched the two Longbow Warriors on the small boat, who were laughing loudly.
"Excellent, very excellent! To think you killed dozens of my men, truly extraordinary samurai! Indeed fitting for my Crocodile family crest!"
The round-faced noble’s wound had been dressed, and although his left arm was in extreme pain, his heart was filled with exhilaration from witnessing the splendid battle, filled with a longing for outstanding warriors. While he was still marveling, another large boat had already drawn near.
A blood-covered Tarasco captain bent close, kneeling on one knee, and presented a longbow with both hands.
"Respected commander, this is a longbow taken from another small boat. These Mexica samurai are incredibly tenacious! Most fought to the death, a few jumped into the water to escape, and two captives even killed themselves. We did not capture any alive."
The commander nodded, continuing his praises.
"Excellent, indeed only brave samurai can lead troops that fear not death!"
Then, the legion commander took the longbow, placing it across his lap. He then carefully stroked it with his right hand, lost in thought.
Shortly after, a scouting small boat hurriedly returned, bringing new information.
"Commander, the Mexica reinforcements have appeared on the Lerma River to the northeast, far in the distance, about a hundred boats."
He looked toward the northeast river. Amid the rocking wind and rain, many black dots flowed down, rushing towards them, estimated to engage in quarter an hour. He then looked at the front sixty meters away, where the Mexica small boat’s samurai were still notching and shooting arrows, rowing desperately, even faster than fishermen from Michoacán!
Regretfully sighing amidst the surroundings, he noted the few boats docked in the fortress, with only about a hundred boats at his disposal and many warriors lost. The "Crocodile" commander pressed on his wounded left arm, feeling the stabbing pain to the bone, and finally declared loudly.
"Sound the conch, all forces retreat!"
The magnificent large boat slowly turned around. The round-faced noble leaned against the Crocodile’s ornament, his eyes widened, taking one last look ahead. The two Mexica samurai, one big and one small, still fiercely engaged in battle, their arrows shooting like meteors. He watched with admiration for a long time, leaving a remark in the wind.
"To have such fierce warriors among Mexica commoners! Someday, I shall have you all under my command!"