Aztec Eternals

"Damn it! Put me down! I am the chief of the Duo'er tribe! Put me down now!…"

"Ah, I didn't lose! You bastard, you just relied on your horse's speed and borrowed its strength to hit me… You're not a warrior at all! If you're a warrior, fight me one-on-one again!…"

The bear-like roar drifted far, far away, from the depths of the dense forest to the ambush battlefield by the river. The woods by the river were always sparse. At first, red pines and larches grew in a mixed pattern, but when they reached the riverbank, they turned into sparse Manchurian ash and Northeast poplar. As the trees thinned and sunlight filtered through, the flooded land became exceptionally fertile, and the grass grew abundantly. The tall reeds, the sweet-smelling cattails, and the spiky sedge were all excellent fodder for horses.

When Maha Agudai rode back with the captured chief, Wu Duwen, he saw a busy scene. Many Jurchen warriors from the kingdom and the Maha tribe had removed their armor and helmets and were busy cutting grass with axes. After this short battle, the men weren't too tired, but the horses were sweating, so they had to quickly check their condition and feed them. If a horse lost weight or an injury went unnoticed, it would be more distressing than being injured oneself.

"Great spirit! What did this tribe do? These horses are all terribly thin and need to be taken care of. They can't carry things or people on the road anymore!…"

Several experienced Jurchen cavalrymen muttered to themselves, taking out precious barnyard grass to soothe the newly captured warhorses. Calling them warhorses was a bit of a stretch, because these mountain forest Jurchen horses clearly included both mares and stallions, and they hadn't undergone any training. Usually, they were probably used for carrying things. Judging by the horses' skinny appearance, the ambushed "Duo'er tribe" must have been very poor, with no extra food to feed the horses, just like the Maha tribe a few years ago.

At this moment, the ambush and fighting by the river had already come to an end. More than thirty captured Duo'er tribe hunters were tied hand and foot with hemp ropes, strung together in a long line, like chum salmon being strung together. Judging by the skillfulness of the work, it must have been done by a veteran warrior of the kingdom, making it almost impossible for the prisoners to break free themselves.

"Zu! I've captured this bear chief! Not a single one escaped!"

"Good! May the chief god protect us! Ali and I are interrogating them about the location of their camp. I'll talk to you later!"

"Okay! May the great spirit protect us!…"

Maha Agudai looked around from horseback and greeted Zu Wuluo, who was interrogating the prisoners. Wu Duwen, tied to the horse's back, was still shouting vigorously and even had the strength to struggle. Agudai raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised by the guy's physique. He jumped off his horse, threw the heavy "bear" off his back, and scolded.

"You're so stupid and heavy. If you break my horse, I'll cut off your bear head!…"

"Roar! I want to fight you one-on-one!"

"Ha! You're my prisoner. If I fight you one-on-one, how do we determine the winner?"

"I… You… You're afraid! You don't dare!"

"Haha! Isn't it just a one-on-one fight? I agree! But there are conditions… If you win, I'll let you go. If you lose, you have to follow me, join my tribe, and lead my horse into battle for me!…"

"Follow you and lead your horse into battle? I'm the chief of the Duo'er tribe!…"

"What? Are you scared? Don't dare to fight?"

"Roar! I'm scared?! Come on, let's fight now! No one is allowed to wear armor. We'll fight bare-handed!"

"Hahaha! Come on, then!…"

Maha Agudai got excited, threw down his helmet, tore off the thick leather armor on his body, and, bare-chested, threw away the axe at his waist. Yes, in order to pursue and capture the prisoners and reduce the horse's burden, he didn't even wear iron armor, only a leather one. Then, he grabbed the ropes on Wu Duwen's body, dragged the "bear" to the beach by the river, and loudly announced to all the tribesmen watching the excitement, as well as the captured Duo'er tribe hunters.

"Ancestors witness! I want to fight this bear chief one-on-one!"

"You've all seen it, you've all heard it! If your chief wins, I'll let him go and give him a horse! If he loses, he'll follow me from now on and lead my horse into battle for me!…"

"This is a duel witnessed by the great spirit of the forest! The person who breaks the oath will turn into a rat and be rejected by the gods and ancestors!…"

After this fierce curse, Maha Agudai turned his head, grinned, and looked at Wu Duwen, asking.

"I've already sworn! It's your turn!…"

"."

"Are you scared now that it's come to this?"

"Damn it! I'm scared? I swear, I want to bet even bigger! If I win, you must not only let me go, but also let my tribe go! And if I lose… not only will I lead your horse into battle, but my captured tribesmen will all lead your horses into battle!"

"Oh?!"

Hearing this, Maha Agudai was stunned, then laughed loudly.

"Good! I agree! It's settled then!…"

"Roar!!"

"Bang!!"

Maha Agudai stared with his eyes wide open, exerting all his strength, and collided with Wu Duwen with a "bang", the sound of which made people's teeth hurt. The two burly Jurchen strongmen, bare-chested and muscular, tightened their muscles, and punched each other hard. No one retreated at all. As the two fought closer and closer, they directly entered the close-quarters grappling stage.

Wu Duwen's hands were like a black bear pouncing on its prey, tightly gripping Agudai's shoulders, wanting to directly overturn Agudai. But the amazing bear strength that he was so proud of encountered an opponent for the first time!

Aguda's body sank, his feet like nails, only his body swaying slightly. Then, he took a deep breath, suddenly grabbed his waist, stomped his legs heavily, and pushed with all his might like a pouncing tiger, pushing Wuduwen back two steps before suddenly throwing him to the ground!

“Aargh!”

“Roar!…”

“…”

Zu Waro's eyes twitched as he watched the two strong, bare-chested men wrestling in the mud, howling like wild tigers and bears, kicking up clouds of dirt.

This kind of savage struggle of strength and physique was simply too unfriendly for a "wise and handsome" priest like him. The brute force method of winning over his clansmen, like "Big Brother-in-law,” was something he simply couldn't learn, much less master.

“Aow! Roar!… Do… do you submit?!”

After a burst of violent close-quarters wrestling, the two chieftains finally ended up one on top of the other, a clear victor emerging. Maha Aguda was covered in sweat, straddling Wuduwen's waist, his right hand gripping Wuduwen's neck, his right elbow pressing down on the other's left arm, and his left hand firmly controlling the inner elbow of the other's right arm, completely locking down his upper body.

Wuduwen was covered in mud, panting like a bull, still struggling in the mud. However, Aguda's thick knees, strong enough to pin down a wolf, were pressing down on his waist. He was completely unable to break free, only able to kick his legs and grunt unwillingly.

“Roar… I… I don't submit….”

“Do you submit?!”

“I… don't… submit…”

“You don't submit? Then die!…”

Maha Aguda's eyes were fierce, and his right hand exerted force like iron tongs, squeezing Wuduwen's face until it turned red, and his head became pointed. Seeing that this "bear" was about to be strangled to death, but still refused to admit defeat, Aguda suddenly loosened his hand, climbed off the other's body, and then opened his arms and roared.

“Since you don't submit, then let's go again!”

“Huff… Huff… Huff!”

Wuduwen gasped for breath, wiping away sweat and mud, as he struggled to his feet. Then, he shook his dizzy head, his eyes red with ferocity, and roared like a bear again, charging towards Aguda.

“Roar! Die!!…”

“Bang!”

This time, Wuduwen lasted even less time in the entanglement before Aguda grabbed his shoulder, hooked his thick leg, and with a hugging side throw, flipped him to the ground! Then, without stopping, he immediately controlled Wuduwen's arms and pressed down on him again!

“Ha! Do you submit?!…”

“I… don't submit…”

Wuduwen was like a beached fish, his chest muscles bulging as he struggled and thrashed under Maha Aguda. However, this kind of struggle only accelerated the consumption of his strength, making him pant like bellows. Maha Aguda grinned, revealing a fierce smile like a tiger. Only when this "bear" was completely exhausted and could no longer struggle did he release his hands again, get up, and roar.

“Bear! Again!…”

“Huff! Huff!… I'm not a bear, I'm Wuduwen, a bear!…”

Wuduwen struggled to his feet, his face bruised, and the muscles all over his body were trembling. The physical exertion of this kind of wrestling was like running sprints all the time. He gasped for breath for a long time before finally gathering the last of his courage, summoning the last of his unwillingness, and charging towards the calm and tiger-like Aguda like a galloping horse!

“Roar! I can't lose! I'll ram you to death!… Ugh!! Heh!…”

Faced with Wuduwen's mad rush, Maha Aguda dodged for the first time, then suddenly reached out and quickly grabbed the other's neck. Then, his shoulders and arms pressed down together, pulling Wuduwen to the side like leading a horse, while pressing down hard.

“Aow roar!…”

Wuduwen's eyes were red, and the view in front of him swayed violently, and his bear-like body also swayed involuntarily. And at this moment, a thick leg like an iron whip swept fiercely from below. This kick staggered him, and combined with a pair of tiger arms, directly knocked him to the ground with a "bang", sending him spinning! This was a neck-clamping throw; as long as the strength and skill were sufficient, it could not only subdue a brave strong man, but even subdue a frightened galloping horse!

“Roar! Do you submit?!”

“I… I… don't… submit…”

“Do you submit?!…”

“I… I… don't…”

A surge of energy, then a decline, and finally exhaustion. Wuduwen had been thrown down three times in a row, and the strength in the muscles all over his body was exhausted. He struggled for a moment, then Aguda grabbed his neck again, and he couldn't catch his breath. Then, a pair of fierce, round, staring tiger eyes stared at his bear eyes, and asked fiercely.

“Do you submit?!”

“Do you submit?!”

“I I…”

Wuduwen's bear face turned red, his brain was momentarily deprived of oxygen, and the other party's roar shook his head painfully, as if it was swelling up. He tried to shake his head, opening his mouth like a fish, and Aguda let go, waiting for his reply. Then, everyone heard a rambling, dazed, and excited reply.

“I can't lose!… I don't submit… I… I submit! I lost!…”

“A ha ha ha!”

Maha Aguda laughed loudly, like a triumphant "giant tiger,” suddenly jumping up from the "bear." Then, he grabbed Wuduwen's thick braid with one hand, pulling that flushed, ashamed, dazed head, and roared to all the onlookers, warriors and captives, laughing wildly.

“Hahahaha! Everyone heard it, I won! Your chieftain has admitted defeat!…”

“From today on! You are all my war slaves and will pull my horses and fight for me!!”

“A ha ha ha!!”