Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

On the vast sea, a fierce wind gathers dark clouds. Between the clouds and the sea, a petrel flies proudly like black lightning. With sharp eyes, it overlooks the distant ship. Then, the storm sweeps in, swallowing both the petrel and the fleet!

"Oh Chief Divine! The sky was just clear not long ago, why did a storm suddenly arise?! Is it my curse..."

Huitu Puapu, dressed in leather armor, widened his eyes in horror, staring at the black clouds approaching from the horizon. Those clouds gathered in clusters, carrying a roaring sound, seemingly slow yet swiftly approaching. In just a moment, the rolling clouds swallowed the Kingdom's exploration fleet. The sky darkened instantly, and the waves surged violently; even the double-decked longship spun like a toy amidst the waves!

"Chief Divine, bless the fleet! We have been sailing eastward safely for nine days, covering at least over seven hundred miles! The Cuba Snake Island in the East must not be far, right around the fleet. This is the final test; if we survive this storm, we can reach the sacred Land of Prophecy!"

Chief God Priest Tomate, wearing a short robe, raised the emblem of the Chief Divine, staggering and loudly encouraging the crew. Though he had never seen such a severe storm, his devout faith gave him a fearless heart and courage to face death.

"Praise the Chief Divine! He will grant us holy blessings to overcome this obstructing storm!"

"Boom! Boom!"

Thunder roared in the sky, tearing through the dull heavens, illuminating the turbulent sea. Tall shadows like walls appeared nearby, suddenly rushing toward the swaying fleet.

"Oh Chief Divine! Cloud Serpent Divine! Ahh..."

Apprentice Dark Snake grabbed the rope and screamed in terror. An eight or nine-meter-high wave crashed directly toward him. With a "splash," the wave swept over the bow, engulfing Dark Snake's thin frame, and then "bang," smashing against the ship's side. Dark Snake immediately blacked out, his hands weakly releasing the rope, flailing like seaweed.

"Splash! Splash!"

After the fierce wave passed, Dark Snake lay flat on the deck, spitting bubbles. Beside him was Didi, similarly dizzy. Didi barely lifted his head and looked around, discovering the crew scattered everywhere, seemingly missing some familiar figures.

"Phooey! Such a big wave, such a big wind, and such a big thunder!"

Sailor Didi shook his head, spitting sea water that had flooded his mouth, salty and choked, making him very uncomfortable. He looked up at the vast clouds, seeing the dim daylight, his heart filled with fear. But amid the fear, he touched his tattooed forehead, gaining a devout conviction.

"Oh, no. The Chief Divine is the biggest! He will shine upon us, like the sun in the sky!"

However, it seemed the Chief Divine did not hear Didi's prayer. On the nearby sea, again another wave was gathering, rising like a hill growing from the sea, about to sweep in!

"Boom! Boom!"

Lightning and thunder, deafening roars carrying piercing white light, became music in the storm. Sailor Didi glanced at the horizon and gasped in shock.

"Hiss! Another big wall!"

Didi hurriedly tied two more loops with the rope around him. Then, he finally saw Dark Snake lying flat, surprising him. After a slight hesitation, he grabbed the rope and tied Dark Snake to his side.

"Chief Divine bless us! Hold on! Holding till the end is the victory of light!... Cough cough!"

Chief God Priest Tomate's shouts floated faintly on the ship, remaining resolute and fearless. Huitu Puapu leaned against the mast, tying himself and the bow of the mast together. It looked quite determined, like sacrifices.

As for the other Samurai and sailors, most of them looked ashen-faced, terrified, trying hard to secure themselves on the longship. Low prayers rose on the ship, like the only hope for everyone.

Didi looked around but did not see Old Man Chiwaco, suddenly feeling anxious. The previous wave was so big, could the captain, the old man, have been swept away by the waves?... Thinking this, Didi's nose stung, and holding Dark Snake, he cried bitterly.

"Wuwuwu! Dark Snake, the old man, is gone!..."

"Splash! Splash!"

The surging sea tides rolled in once more, making the longship sway and spin half a circle. Under the flagship's cabin, there was suddenly a "bang bang!"

"Hiss! Tikalo, your bald head, is really both bald and hard!"

Old militia Chiwaco clutched his head, glaring at Tikalo at the ship's bottom. Tikalo looked pale, just about to speak, but vomited with a "wow."

"Cough cough! God... Ah..."

"Damned old heaven! How long will this storm last? How far are we from Cuba Snake Island?!"

Chiwaco grabbed Maya merchant Tikalo with one hand and Kuba, the Cuban guide, with the other. He glared at the frightened Kuba, asking harshly, then turned to Tikalo.

"Quick! Translate for me!"

Tikalo struggled to speak, exchanged a few words with Kuba, and then turned around and replied reluctantly.

"The storm on this sea is quite impermanent. This suddenly appearing storm must have been brought by a hurricane. Maybe it will stop the next moment and move away. Or it might last four or five days before dissipating..."

"Hiss! Four or five days? No, how can the fleet keep holding for four or five more days! We've never encountered such a big storm in our previous explorations!"

Chiwaco turned pale, his feet swaying. He gritted his teeth, his expression revealed urgency, asking again.

"Exactly how far are we from Cuba Snake Island?"

Tikalo asked aloud. After a moment, he hesitated, awkwardly answering.

"Kuba says, according to the days of sailing, we should have already reached Cuba!"

"What!"

Chiwaco angrily jumped up, then "bang," hit the deck overhead. He held his head, muttering curses.

"Arrived at Cuba? You can't see even a hint of land anywhere around..."

"When the storm rises, you can't see far. Kuba says our position must be near Cuba..."

"Damn! Right nearby? This blind fool..."

Chiwaco released the two, leaving them ignored in the cabin. He turned and climbed up to the deck, seeing high waves pressing from above.

"Ah! Blind Your Majesty..."

"Splash! Splash!"

"Phooey! Phoo phoo..."

After a long time, Chiwaco crawled up from the deck, spitting out full mouthfuls of saltwater. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, shaking his head hard, binding himself with ropes. Then, his legs wobbled as he staggered to find Nautical Priest MeKate.

"MeKate, where is the current wind heading?"

"Cough cough! Respected Chiwaco Captain..."

MeKate, looking wretchedly soaked, holding a compass, huddled in the corner of the longship. He stretched out his finger, dipped it in rainwater, felt for a while, and then uncertainly responded.

"Seems it's heading east, south...and sometimes west, north..."

"Wind east south, sometimes west north...ship swaying left, right, unmoving..."

Chiwaco stared, thinking for a while. Then, he looked at the swaying, aimlessly drifting longship, gritting his teeth, asking.

"MeKate, where is our ship's bow pointing?"

"Uh...just now it was southeast, now it seems northwest again..."

Chiwaco's eyes sharpened, looking at the surrounding sea. Vaguely, he saw several other longships, their bows differed but not too far off.

"Damn it! The fleet never moved, didn't advance, just spinning in the storm..."

"Uh! Respected Chiwaco Captain, such a sudden storm, the crew has never encountered before, hard to row at this moment..."

"Hoist the sails at the bow and stern! Letting the wind lead us forward!"

Old militia Chiwaco bit his lip, decisively shouting the order. His eyes revealed once again a desperate decision, like the night the capital city broke.

"Hoist the sails! Whatever it takes, we must not stay here!"

"Hoist the sails! Chief Divine covers the fleet, steering the bow east!"