The best explanation for the role of human sacrifice in the Aztec Empire is:
It was a highly structured ritual practice where individuals chosen as sacrifices were honored.
This response accurately captures the significance of human sacrifice in Aztec society, which involved religious and cultural rituals and was seen as a way to appease their gods and maintain cosmic order. The individuals chosen for sacrifice were often regarded with reverence and honored in certain ways, reflecting the complex nature of this practice within their belief system.