CHAPTER 1175: CHAPTER 736: SECOND KINGDOM EXPEDITION, THE GOD HAS ARRIVED!

The sun rose to the zenith, blood-red floating on the sea. Longships drifted near the shore, clearing the battlefield after the battle. The sailors fished out the goods from the sea, captured the overboard prisoners, and handled the dead bodies. The Kingdom’s warriors laughed and chatted loudly, cutting off the heads as trophies, perceiving the fierce battle just now as mere routine.

In fact, in such a one-sided battle, there was indeed no pressure. Only about a dozen were lightly injured, three or four seriously injured, while two died from poison arrows. Meanwhile, the dead or overboard Xiguayou people covered the coast, numbering probably a full two hundred!

"Praise the Chief Divine! He guides us to reunite once again!"

Priest Tomate stood smiling at the flagship’s bow. His eyes shone, watching the Red Stone Chief Bociba of the Red Soil Tribe approach in a small canoe and then board the longship of the flagship. Priest Tomate’s smile remained as gentle as two months ago, only more confident and composed.

"Red Stone Chief, the Chief Divine’s great power has shielded us! The siege of the Red Soil Tribe is lifted! The Xiguayou people have been completely defeated, abandoning all captives in their escape. They suffer devastating losses and will not return anytime soon!"

"Oh! Praise the Divine... Esteemed Priest Tomate, you are a friend to the Red Soil Tribe, truly grateful for your rescue! And you, honorable Water Chief!..."

The Red Stone Chief, slightly short in stature and with a plain face still marked by red patterns, jumped onto the longship, and knelt on the deck, deeply grateful for everyone’s rescue.

"Blessed by All Gods and Ancestors! We thought we would suffer misfortune, yet unexpectedly, you defeated the ferocious Xiguayou people! The villagers they captured remained on the shore, rescued by the village militia. Many looted items left on the shore. And dozens of fleeing enemies escaped into the surrounding jungles... This is truly a victory beyond my wildest dreams!"

"Haha! This is all thanks to the Chief Divine’s blessing!"

Priest Tomate laughed heartily, full of enthusiasm, lifting the Red Stone Chief. Then, he tightly grasped the other’s arm and, smiling, began another topic.

"Esteemed Red Stone Chief, since we last parted, have you thoroughly read the Chief Divine’s scripture I left? Is there anything unclear that you need to ask me?"

"Uh!... The Chief Divine’s scripture... I read it... Good! The drawings are good! Hmm, this material called ’paper’ is truly magical..."

Hearing this, the Red Stone Chief stammered and responded with a forced smile. He had indeed thumbed through the scripture Priest Tomate left, but he didn’t recognize a single "rune," merely skimmed through the picture stories. He even learned about the depicted eagle, snake, hummingbird, preparing to draw them on the Zemi God Card he worshipped.

As for the Chief Divine or the Supreme One, he comprehended none of it from start to finish. In truth, he had no intention of converting to the Chief Divine, only planned to worship one divine. After all, all things have spirits, and relying solely on one god, how could it possibly suffice? However, with the Longboat Tribe coming to the rescue and defeating the marauding Xiguayou people, he couldn’t say much given such a great kindness.

Thinking of this, the Red Stone Chief tugged at his hair and sincerely invited.

"Priest Tomate, my good friend! You came such a long way and fought such a big battle! The tribe is grateful from top to bottom and wants to prepare a grand celebratory feast for you... Why not let the warriors and hunters of the longship rest in the village, with all the food and drink guaranteed aplenty!..."

Upon hearing this, the Water Chief nodded repeatedly, also issuing an invitation with a face full of joy.

"Indeed! Priest Tomate, this successful defeat of the enemy rests upon your valiant Longboat Tribe! Upon returning to the Mayali Region, I will also hold a grand celebratory feast for you!"

"Haha! Red Stone Chief, Water Chief, thank you for your invitation! However, the celebration is not urgent at the moment."

Saying this, Priest Tomate’s smile receded, his expression solemn. He glanced calmly at the Water Chief, speaking one word at a time in simple Taíno language, said with a deep voice.

"The Chief Divine is the War God, sheltering the tribe’s warriors to achieve victory in battle! According to our tribe’s tradition, after every great victory, a sacred prayer ritual must be held, offering sacrifices to console the Chief Divine!..."

"Esteemed Chiefs, since we participated in the battle together, we are comrades in life and death, and should share the Chief Divine’s glory! In the upcoming prayer ritual, both of you must attend together under any circumstances!"

"The Longboat Tribe’s tradition, the victory prayer ritual? Fine, I’ll participate!"

Upon hearing this, the Water Chief readily agreed. The Red Stone Chief hesitated at first but, seeing Priest Tomate’s solemn face, nodded as well.

"Good! Good! People! Prepare the captive sacrifices, erect the Chief Divine Emblems, ignite the Sacred Fire basin, burn the Cuba Divine Smoke, ready the Tequila!"

Priest Tomate beamed a smile and issued orders in a clear voice. He looked at the longboat, praising the several dozen blood-stained warriors of the Kingdom with Mexica Language, loudly announcing.

"The Chief Divine has bestowed boundless power, showing His majesty! Warriors and sailors, your brave fighting spreads the glory of the Chief Divine, also earning reverence from the Taíno Chiefs! They have decided, just at this moment, to formally convert to the Chief Divine on this longship!..."

"Quick, quick, get ready! Cut off the heads of the Taino people and pile them below the Chief Divine’s emblem. Then prepare two captured sacrifices! Right here, we will offer the enemy’s heads, present the enemy’s hearts, and hold a solemn prayer ceremony for the conversion of two Taino allies!"

"Roar, roar! Praise the Chief Divine! We fight for the Divine, spreading His glory!"

Upon hearing these words, the Kingdom’s Warriors and the sailors on the longship cheered excitedly. Immediately, the cheers, along with orders, were transmitted to all the longships, causing the whole coastline of the Red Soil Tribe to erupt in frenzied cries!

"Fight for the Divine, spread the glory! Sacrifice! Sacrifice! Conversion! Conversion!"

The cries roared like thunder, reaching everyone’s ears. The Water Chief and the Red Soil Chief exchanged glances, both with inexplicable dread on their faces. And as a two-meter tall wooden stone emblem was erected, a scene that awed them and even instilled fear unfolded!

One by one, freshly severed, blood-dripping heads were boldly brought by the Kingdom’s Warriors and piled beneath the emblem of the Sun Hummingbird. In mere moments, a pile of one or two hundred was formed! Blood-stained heads tangled together, stacked layer upon layer into a small pyramid over a meter high. The base was composed of blue-haired tribespeople, the middle of red-haired tribal warriors, and at the very top, three purple-haired warrior leaders!

At this moment, these "fierce and evil" Taino marauders, in the hearts of the Taino people, had their heads neatly stacked together, like stones. Their necks dripped with blood, their faces frozen in expressions of terror, anger, unwillingness, or despair. Their eyes widened, staring at the leaders before the emblem, especially the two Taino chiefs.

"Ah! Ah this! Ancestors!..."

Faced with such a horrific sacrificial scene, the two simple-hearted Taino chiefs turned pale, shocked beyond words. However, once the sacred chieftain rites began, they could never be interrupted midway! Several accompanying Preaching Priests skillfully lit the Sacred Fire, burning Divine Smoke, devoutly chanting the sacred scripture.

"Praise the Supreme Main God! We offer the enemy’s heads to You, praying for Your gaze, praying for Your arrival!..."

"The Divine has arrived! Offer the sacrifices!"

With a declaration from Priest Tomate, two red-haired Taino captives were brought to the bow. Seeing the pyramid of heads, they turned ashen and began struggling fiercely. Yet, several strong Kingdom’s Warriors held them down firmly, revealing their violently heaving chests.

Priest Tomate’s face was solemn, without any expression. He deeply glanced at the two Taino chiefs, watched their faces full of shock and reverence, and nodded slightly. Then Priest Tomate raised the sacrificial Obsidian Dagger, glanced at the sacrifices before him, and suddenly leaned forward!

"Splurt!"

"Splash!"

"Sizzle..."

"Ah this! Ancestors!"

The dagger fell amidst the astonished cries of the two Taino chiefs. Warm blood splattered, and when it fell into the fire basin, it erupted into faint charred smoke. The acrid smoke permeated, carrying a strong fishy smell that assaulted the nostrils. The prayers from the priests aboard surged loudly, and the Kingdom’s Warriors fervently began their hymns.

This was a conversation between Divine and human, a bloodthirsty tradition on the Mexica Highland that persisted for two thousand years, and was a devout blood sacrifice never seen by the various Taino divisions!

"The Chief Divine casts His gaze upon devout us!... He will personally witness, witness His faith spreading for the first time on Cuba Snake Island!..."

Priest Tomate declared passionately, his demeanor both devout and fervent. Then he lowered the blood-dripping Obsidian Dagger and slowly turned around, revealing a High Priest robe already completely stained red. His face and hands were smeared with blood, yet his smile was radiant and sincere.

"Water Chief, Red Stone Chief..."

Seeing the familiar yet unfamiliar Priest Tomate, the Water Chief felt a surge of uneasy fear in his heart, his face turning pale. Beside him, the Red Stone Chief silently stepped back, only to be firmly blocked by surrounding Warriors. The two looked around, seeing dozens of Kingdom Priests and Warriors encircled around them, eagerly watching. The flagship of the fleet had long been packed, and six surrounding longships offered no route for escape.

"Come forth! You, esteemed chiefs!"

Priest Tomate looked at the two with sincerity, gentle like a kindly elder, patiently guiding wayward children, with no room for refusal.

"The sun is at its zenith, the Supreme Main God is watching us! Come, let me convert you, let you become the first batch of glorious believers in the Chief Divine on Cuba Snake Island!... Come, offer your hair, offer your blood, offer your spirit... Give everything to the Chief Divine, and He shall bestow light, protecting you henceforth!"

"The Divine has arrived, on this vast and pure sea! He is true, and the only faith! And I will let you know..."