Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Xiu Maoying, with a solemn expression, issued the command to land. Then, he looked at the somewhat nervous Priest Adin, wrapped in a black robe, and reassured him.

"Adin, you’ve been exposed to plagues since childhood and have some experience in treating this ’pox.’ When the samurai fall ill, you will be responsible for their quarantine and healing! And when you connect with those Shenluo mercenaries, the golden treasures are of little consequence; capturing the enemy’s fleet and taking care of the diseased warriors are far more important!"

"Go! This is your first time serving as a combat priest with the troops; as long as you can eradicate the evil demon this time and capture the large sailboat... I guarantee you will advance to Second Level Priest, or even become a High Priest like me!"

"May the Chief Divine protect you all!"

"Yes! May the divine spirits protect us!"

Priest Adin agreed heavily, bowed his head in salute, with the hummingbird on his forehead lifelike. Soon, he joined mercenary Fritz, hopped onto a small boat, landed on the shore, and joined the Kingdom’s army.

The sea breeze billowed, bringing the fresh scent of long grass, along with a faint, distant smell of blood. The Kingdom’s army aboard the fleet stepped onto the seaside with ten days’ worth of food, disembarking batch by batch. Among them, a hundred Kingdom’s Warriors donned cloth iron armor, wielding heavy bronze axes and blunt iron hammers, many carrying bows and spears on their backs. After learning that the evil demon had plate armor knights, they specially prepared blunt weapons, but they weren’t much better than the bronze axe.

Meanwhile, a hundred and fifty grassland barbarians wore leather armor, wielded iron hammers and copper spears, and carried short throwing spears commonly used on the grasslands, with heads swapped from flint to iron spear. As for the last thirty Taino musketeers, they were carefully selected and trained for nearly two years as elite militia. These militia carried European-style matchlock guns, wore the lightest cloth armor, and had lead bullets captured from the evil demon, as well as iron bullets crafted at Iron Bay Town. These matchlock gunners had only one target: the plate armor of Castilian knights!

It’s worth mentioning that Cuba Island hasn’t yet produced lead for now, while lead mines are abundant on the Mexican Plateau. Once stable maritime routes are established later, the transport and supply of various metals, including westward shipments of iron materials, will be crucial.

"Clang clang..."

The samurai’s movements were solemn, with only the crash of cloth iron armor heard. The alliance sent weavers along with a large group of women apprentices to spin the cotton yarn on Cuba Island into cloth. Meanwhile, the production of iron materials from Iron Bay Town quickly increased, and Taino apprentices learned to hammer iron sheets. Combining the two, Iron Bay Town finally leveraged the manpower advantage of local tribes, starting to produce many crude cloth iron armors!

The cloth iron armors are lighter than cloth bronze armor, and due to the quality of the iron material, the defense is about the same, far inferior to the Castilians’ breastplate. However, with the protection of heavy armor, it meant the original attacks from evil demon’s weapons could be endured not just once but three or four times, or even more! This third raid will only be more brutal than the second!

"There’s something strange about this place! The wind always carries a scent of blood!"

"The Wolf Head Great Tribe has accepted us, allowing us to fight the enemies... Where are the enemies?"

"Find the enemies! Kill them! Can we eat them?"

"Seems unnecessary, they say there’s plenty to eat here, won’t need to eat people!..."

The barbarian soldiers from the grassland were discussing enthusiastically, quiet and discipline were non-existent, but ferocity and courage were inborn instincts sifted out. Like a pack of rowdy wolf dogs, under the management and leadership of the Kingdom’s Warriors, they gradually disappeared into the Oriental moonlight and into the sparse forest inland.

"May the Chief Divine protect us! Let’s head back!"

Xiu Maoying stood quietly for a long time, his face showing inexplicable sadness and somberness. Red-haired Chabo pursed his mouth, his eyes full of concern for his brother Mique. He vividly remembered the prophecy given to them by the old shamans of Totonac; they would achieve the greatest deeds and capture the "big white fish"! And now, this prophecy was being fulfilled on the battlefield of the divine war. But what was the cost of the prophecy, and who would bear it?

The long sail rose, and six caravel sailboats sailed westward into the deep sea. Their departure was merely temporary; after returning to Cuba’s Iron Bay Town, they would bring another batch of Kingdom’s Warriors! The final horn of the divine war had already sounded, and the goal this time was to completely push the Castilians off Puerto Rico Island, thoroughly repelling this wave of evil demon invasion!

"Hasha~~"

Several days flew by. The Kingdom’s army finally traversed the sparse forest on Puerto Rico’s outskirts and encountered the Taino tribespeople for reception. The evil demon’s comprehensive coastal destruction of Puerto Rico and the spread of horrific plagues had already become known to all tribes on the island! The Sky Department originally in the mountains could no longer sit still. They actively communicated in all directions, providing supplies for the Kingdom’s new army, and seeing them as the last hope!

"May the Chief Divine protect the great Western Island! Up ahead is your brave warriors’ rest village! But the plague from the evil demon has also appeared there, and we’ve been providing them food, but dare not go any further. The women of the Earth Department are caring for them, and some have recuperated strong men with small spots like beehives on their faces. These men were saved from the evil demon’s lair by warriors and won’t get ill again, so it’s safe to contact them..."

The grandmother from the Sky Department personally led the way, bringing the army led by Kepili to the Kingdom’s Warriors’ supply stock. Her face full of wrinkles clearly showed unease, fear, and worry, and she softly asked.

"Chief Divine of the Western Tribes! Can you ensure completely defeating the evil demon once? Once you contact the evil demon and retreat... you might also catch the plague, like the brave warriors from the previous two batches!"

"Yes, we are aware of these matters. The Chief Divine watches over us, and we can only move forward, fight or die!"

Kepili spoke calmly, observing the old grandmother of the Sky Department intently. He looked at her for a moment, then pointed to the rear of the team, indicating the Taino musketeers carrying matchlock guns, and spoke meaningfully.

"As the Chief Divine bears witness! This is the village and territory of your Brave Island tribe! We come not fearing death, to aid you... and must acquire a commitment from you!"

"Ah? Tell us! What do you want? Food, drink, golden stones, colorful feathers, we will give you everything!"

"No! We do not want those! We only want your faith, to honor the Chief Divine as the supreme Great Divine Spirit! To accept our priests, and return to the loving embrace of the Gummy People Brothers Tribe!"

Kepili spoke solemnly, word by word. The Sky Department’s grandmother was silent for a long time, then solemnly nodded.

"I swear by the spirit of my ancestors! If you can banish the evil demon... not just our Sky Department, but all tribes on Brave Island, will worship the Western Chief Divine who saved us! If this vow is broken, let me die from the plague! As for the Gummy People Brothers Tribe, we never considered you outsiders, we’ve already seen you as the same clan!"...

"Good! This single promise is enough! We stake our lives in battle for these words!"

Kepili seriously nodded, touched foreheads with the grandmother, performing the vow of the Taino people. Then, he instructed warriors, barbarian soldiers, and Taino militia to halt, and headed towards the supply village with only Priest Adin.

In the Taino Mountain Village, footsteps and coughing mingling in sound, many tribespeople with pox-covered faces busied themselves by the spring. In the center of the tribe, large and small bonfires burned, occasionally extinguished, with people collecting ash and burned mud. These grasses and woods were also delivered with the help of the Sky Department, otherwise the manpower here couldn’t prepare so much.

"Ah! Chief Divine protect us! Western Chief Divine tribe’s support has arrived! New aid has come!"

"Great, people have finally arrived!"

"Quick! Quick to inform that warrior leader, Huitu Mazi!"

The excitement and joy of the Taino Mazi echoed throughout the village. Moments later, supported by two Mazi, a diseased warrior of the Kingdom emerged. Huitu Puapu, covered in pox, stumbled to the village entrance. Upon seeing the support, Captain of Kepili Warriors, he stood there, tears filling his eyes.

"It’s you! Kepili!"

"?! Are you, Puapu?! You’re healed?!"

Kepili stared for a few moments, shivering all over. His face lit up with excitement, and as he was about to rush forward, Puapu frantically waved and shouted.

"Don’t come close! Do not enter the village, nor let your people enter!"

"The warriors and archers in the village are all infected and collapsed from the plague!"

"Mique and Tai Giant Eagle are also struck down! Please don’t come in!!..."