Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

"The god has arrived! He incarnates as the hummingbird of the South, riding the howling hurricane, descending upon the distant seas! He takes the form of the divine being, casting the divine spear from His hand, shooting out a bolt of lightning! He nails the divine body of the Feathered Serpent Divine above the Eastern Sea, transforming it into the long Snake Island... and the lightning brings light that will illuminate you!"

Divine smoke billows, sacred fire burns intensely. Blood fills the air, and the sacrificial altar stands flowing. Before the emblem of the Chief Divine, Priest Tomate raises his head, embracing the sun with both hands. He fervently chants aloud, his face flushed, his entire body stained with fresh blood, so exhilarated he is nearly delirious!

What he is chanting are scriptures from the "Book of Ama Colley," derived from ancient alliance myths, recounting the death of the Feathered Serpent. This scripture, first written only five or six years ago, has, with the extensive printing of the "Book of Ama Colley," along with the newly formed characters, already deeply penetrated the hearts of the young priests! Priest Tomate, having graduated from Divine Might University, recites the entire scripture backwards fluently, viewing it as heavenly reason.

"Now, I have finally reached the Eastern Sea, the site of miracles, and the Snake Island, the place of prophecy! I will establish the first temple of the Chief Divine at the head of the serpent where the Feathered Serpent died, before the iron ore formed by His fangs! I will also touch the light of the lightning, and bring this divine light to the people on the island!..."

Priest Tomate chants devoutly, a radiant smile on his face. He extends his hand, as if truly touching the divine light. Then, he lowers his head, gazing at the two kneeling chieftains in front of him, gently touching their hair with the hand that conveys the brilliance.

"Come! Bow your heads, you two chieftains! I will cut your hair and toss it into the fire. Raise your hands, I will cut your palms and let the blood drip into the fire. Then raise your foreheads, I will carve the emblem of the Chief Divine, leaving the mark of His gaze..."

"From this day forth, your souls and blood will go to the Divine Kingdom, under the Chief Divine's control! Your bodies will remain in the mortal world, to spread the glory of the Chief Divine among the tribes!..."

"Ah! Ah, this? Ancestors! My hair, my palms, and my forehead... my soul and blood... all must be offered to the Chief Divine?..."

In the ensuing ritual, Water Chief is shocked and confused, his mind a blank. Dazed and muddleheaded, like a puppet coming to life, he allows the longship priests to manipulate him, together with the silent and tight-lipped Red Stone Chief. They have their hair cut off, thrown into the fire, their palms pricked, dripping blood into the fire. Even in the eyes of the simple Taino People, this is a ritual concerning the soul, determining one's fate after death, not to be performed lightly!

However, on this kingdom's longship, surrounded by dozens of samurai, they have no room to resist, and are intimidated by the brutal sacrifices. Both are almost half-coerced, step by step, completing the conversion ceremony.

"Praise Chief Divine Vizilopochtli! He occupies the highest, governing all, omnipotent! He takes away the hair and blood of the converts, also controlling the souls of believers..."

Priest Tomate's chanting continues, the voice lofty and resonant, like the proclamation of a divine. Wisps of blue smoke rise from the sacred fire, wafting forth, bringing a different kind of protein-scorched smell. At this moment, Water Chief's heart seems to be taken away by this smoke, flying to the ethereal sky, becoming empty.

"Come! Drink this cup of blood wine!"

The two Taino Chiefs are still bewildered, but the surrounding priests have already handed them two cups of blood-hued tequila. Red Stone Chief silently extends his hand, drains it in one gulp, a faint taste of blood permeates his mouth, it is the heart's blood of the Si Gua Yu sacrifices. Then, in just a few breaths, his eyes start to blur, his senses grow distant, his figure begins to sway.

"This! Priest Tomate! You all..."

"Water Chief, don't worry, drink up, I won't harm you! This cup of wine has some harmless herbs, will let you sleep a while, making the upcoming divine inscription less painful... Alright! Support them properly!..."

Priest Tomate softly orders, and four samurai approach, each supporting the two drowsy chieftains. Then, Priest Tomate's mouth curls, pulling out the obsidian dagger from his waist, placing it on the forehead of Red Stone Chief.

Red Stone Chief's eyes seem to be covered with a layer of mist. However, after a few breaths, the mist suddenly disperses, and the pain cry follows.

"Ah!..."

Priest Tomate's expression does not change, his arm remains steady, and his wrist is flexible up and down. In a matter of moments, he has engraved a complete emblem of the Chief Divine on Red Stone Chief's forehead. Crimson droplets seep from the engraving, dyeing the flying Sun Hummingbird red.

"Very good! Red Stone Chief, in the days to come, the Chief Divine will always watch over you, granting you the power to be invincible in battle..."

Priest Tomate murmurs softly, his eyes bright, piercing the heart. Then, his bright gaze turns towards Water Chief beside him, a brilliant smile blooms.

"Water Chief, it's your turn!..."

"Ah!..."

Moments later, accompanied by a mark engraved into his bones, another suppressible cry of pain. Priest Tomate smiles, watching the two red Sun Hummingbirds fly side by side before him. At this moment, in the intoxicating divine smoke, he seems to see countless hummingbirds rising before him, flying toward wide coasts and various parts of Cuba!

"Good! Very good! There will be more, more... very good!"

Blood drips, divine smoke wafts, prayers echo, praises drone. The chanting of the priests gradually deepens, drifting towards the blue sea and sky, also flying to the green coast. And when the final prayer arrives, all the kingdom people on the ship bow down on the deck, offering fervent praise.

"Praise the Chief Divine!... The god has departed!"

Priest Tomate raises his head to the sky once more, embracing the sun with both hands. He chants lowly for a while, then reveals an extraordinarily passionate smile, looking at the two dully waking chieftains. The surrounding kingdom priests and samurai also cast the same eager gaze, as if looking at two brothers returning home after a long absence.

"Ah!... Me?... My forehead?..."

Water Chief groans in pain, opening his eyes. His forehead burns with a fiery pain. And when he glances at the Red Stone Chief beside him, he instantly understands everything.

"This is? This is!"

"This is the Chief Divine's emblem, also the Chief Divine's blessing! You swore a blood oath, carved a mark of flesh, and completed the holy conversion ceremony... Welcome, into the embrace of the Chief Divine!"

Priest Tomate smiles gracefully, his demeanor turning again to familiar warmth. The two Taino Chiefs remain dazed in place, as if congealed. For the tribespeople of this era, such a conversion ceremony is tantamount to giving up everything of the soul. Their faith, too, will henceforth, transform completely!

"Praise the Chief Divine! He who is generous and merciful, bestowing us with blessings!"

Looking at the speechless and numb two chieftains, Priest Tomate's smile remains. He has them fully in hand now, since they didn't resist before the ceremony, nor struggled during it, even if they regret afterward, they can only accept reality. After all, at this moment, the divine still lives vividly in people's hearts.

"Come, cheer! Welcome our newly joined brothers!"

Boarding the longship, the scheme is completed! Amidst the cheers of the samurai, Priest Tomate's eyes are radiant, glancing at the slightly bowing old militia Chiwaco, nodding in greeting with a smile. The old militia inclines slightly, returning a modest salute.

In the end, Priest Tomate extends both hands, lifting the non-resisting arms of the two chieftains, declaring generously to the jubilant samurai aboard the ship.

"Praise the Chief Divine! To celebrate the victory in battle, to celebrate the conversion of the Mayali Region and Red Soil Clan, the chieftain brothers... let us head to the village on the shore, to hold a grand feast of celebration! The generous Red Stone Chief has already promised us plenty to eat and drink!"

"Hooray! Praise the Chief Divine! Praise the chieftain brothers!..."

"The Chief Divine protects us! The glory of the divine shall be immortal, overshadowing Cuba's fertile land!"

"Hooray! The Chief Divine protects! Glory immortal!..."

Amid the deafening cheers, Priest Tomate smiles again, casting his gaze once more at the two wooden chieftains, his words deeply meaningful.

"Praise the Chief Divine! Water Chief, Red Stone Chief, the fleet is landing, do you... agree?"

They remain silent for a long time, until the burning sacred fire finally goes out, revealing burnt remnants. Only then does Red Soil Chief lower his head, pulling Water Chief along, both responding softly in unison.

"Priest Tomate, the feast in the village has been in preparation for a long time!... Praise... the Chief Divine..."

Hearing this, Priest Tomate's bright eyes smile, radiant as the stars.