Su’angua turned his head and watched the sun ascend to mid-sky, with not a cloud in the boundless expanse. Then, his gaze followed the sunlight downward to the pyramid below, illuminating a multitude of tiny figures. Tens of thousands of faces looked up in excitement and anticipation, their eyes also on him. Within the heart of Tarasco’s king, a sense of fate dawned. He suddenly recalled a fleeting thought from long ago, while watching the "House of Wind" sacrificial rite.
"So this is the famous Mexica sacrifice ceremony known throughout the world! And I am witnessing the grand spectacle of the New Year’s great ceremony in this manner..."
Suppressing the sorrow in his heart, Su’angua surveyed the queue of sacrifices for a long time. He saw several of his sons, a few brothers of the royal family, but not the small figure of Shatini. The Tarasco king nodded silently, finally climbed the last step, and for the first time, truly faced the Mexica king.
"King of Tarasco, blood of the Divine Eagle, Su’angua, greets you! King of Mexica."
Su’angua bowed his head, clenched his fist at his chest, and performed the protocol of kings meeting.
"The ruler of the world, blood of the Chief Divine, Ahuizotl, accepts your greeting! Former king of Tarasco."
Ahuizotl stood erect, his arm motionless, simply nodding lightly. The joy of revenge formed a smile on his lips, filling his chest!
"Remember your promise, Su’angua Cazonci!"
"Hmm... King of Mexica, please also remember the promise."
Ahuizotl nodded slightly. Then, unable to hold back any longer, he finally raised the Divine Staff high and burst into laughter, his laughter brimming with unchecked exhilaration!
In front of Ahuizotl, Su’angua slowly knelt down without any coercion from the samurais, nor had he taken any potion!
"King of Tarasco, Su’angua, offers his submission! The king of Mexica is the ruler of the world! This is the promise of the Chief Divine!"
The High Priest watched all this intently, then called out loudly. Soon, hundreds of priests repeated it, followed by five thousand samurais, and tens of thousands of citizens. Waves of sound rolled out in succession, accompanied by the shouts of the masses, from the temple at the heart of the capital to the edge of the floating islands in the lake.
"The king of Mexica is the ruler of the world!"
Hundreds of thousands of capital citizens were in complete frenzy. Deafening cheers rose from below the pyramid, making Ahuizotl’s smile even more radiant. He laughed while grabbing Su’angua’s hair. Then, his expression became solemn, watching the humiliated and angered eyes of the other, and quietly began to speak.
"The Sun God is austere, but also merciful. Su’angua, before you journey to the Divine Kingdom, do you have any last words?"
Upon hearing this, Su’angua closed his eyes, thought silently for a while, before sighing and tearfully reciting.
"I’ve always compared myself to the Divine Eagle, far from a mediocre fish or mouse, yet my kingdom perished in my hands!...
Alas, I pilot the great boat swiftly through the water! It breaches and breaks against the rocks, and the storm raises waves. The crocodile opens its mouth to bite back, red sparrows flee in panic. Only the loyal Hummingbird falls before me, its withering wings a pitiful sight...
Alas, I then knew: it was the intent of the three gods to lead me to ruin, not due to a failure in battle but a destiny that concludes my chapter!"
Listening to the king’s final poem, Ahuizotl was slightly moved. He waved his hand, and a priest brought paper and pen to quickly jot down the poem.
"Su’angua, rest assured! Your poem will be immortalized within the epics, along with the Mexica’s feats of war. Now, my old acquaintance, please let me personally send you to the Divine Kingdom!"
Su’angua nodded. He stripped off his regal garments, removed his traditional Feather Crown, with a calm expression, walked over to the Sacrificial Stone and laid down. Five Elder Priests adeptly held down his limbs, pinning his body. Then Ahuizotl personally lifted the Obsidian Stone Dagger, tracing a dazzling arc!
In that instant, bright sunlight swiftly dimmed, as the cloudless sky offered no glimpse of its profound depths. Su’angua trembled violently for a moment, then his eyes completely lost focus. His spirit turned into a wisp of smoke, drifting along the profound sky, flying towards the distant Divine Kingdom, toward the departed ancestors...
"Descendant of the rubber people, the revered and glorious King Su’angua, Divine Descendant of the Tarasco Cazonci lineage Qinchongcan, has gone to the Sun God’s domain!"
The High Priest’s passionate proclamation echoed through the temple.
"He left his final verses: ’I will follow the will of the Sun God, bravely face the defeat in godly war. The people of Prepetcha are destined to join the Alliance; this is destiny’s final chapter!... Praise him, the brave king! He converted to the Chief Divine in his last moments and will forever enjoy peace in the Divine Kingdom!’"
The High Priest’s chant spread far and wide, again triggering a tidal wave of cheers and almost mad praise!
Ahuizotl watched Su’angua’s rolling corpse, smelled the blood at his nose, and let out a deep, quiet sigh. At that moment, as he looked at his left hand stained with the blood of an old friend, he felt an inexplicable sense of loss, his sentimental moment fleeting.
"Your Majesty, this poem?..."
The priest who penned the writing had swiftly documented the High Priest’s version of Su’angua’s final verses. Afterward, he looked at the two different versions, seeking the king’s decision.
Hearing this, Ahuizotl’s expression became solemn, immediately regaining composure. He pulled the original draft of the poem from the priest’s hand, read it one last time, then gently shook his head, casting it into the roaring Sacred Fire.
"Record the epics as the High Priest has said, and let it be sung throughout the land!"