Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1631 - 1161: Columbus’s Blood and Tears

Under the bright sun, the air was filled with the sound of shouts, while the undulating sea interwove with bright gold and pale red. In the instant the canoe rose and fell, two deep sounds of bows merged into one, shooting towards the ship's rail several meters high!

"Whoosh!..."

"Holy Mother bless! Almighty bless! Demon bless!...Merda! You clumsy fools! Hurry up...uh?! What the...ah!!"

Beside the rudder of the Santa Maria, a luxurious admiral's hat suddenly flew up, and the loud scolding stopped abruptly, turning into a high-pitched and eerie scream!

"My ear! Ear!!..."

"Ah?! It's an arrow! A native's hidden arrow, shot from the canoe behind us!!..."

"Damn it! Where's the firearm? Quick, shoot them with the firearm!..."

"Brother-in-law!!"

"Diamiiiii---chiaaaaa!!!..."

At the stern, under the horrified gazes of everyone, Columbus staggered, sitting down heavily by the ship's rail. At that moment, his piercing scream sounded like a prolonged chant in a theater. This impactful high note could even overshadow all protagonists in the new drama popular in Italian City States! He painfully clutched his left face, but blood continued to drip from his side. Between the bright red in front and the sky blue behind, most of his left ear's outline had disappeared, and it was unclear where it fell...

"Almighty! Brother-in-law, you! Your ear is gone!...Holy Mother! Brother-in-law, will you...will you die?..."

"Vaffanculo! Even if you die, I won't!!..."

Columbus shakily extended his left hand, observing the bright red blood stains on his palm, feeling the warm liquid still flowing from his left ear, glancing at the fallen remnants on the deck. His eyes instantly turned blood red, like a furious and deranged beast, his voice hoarse, roaring in fury!

"Alana! Go, shoot those natives behind us dead! Go!!..."

"Ah? Yes, Commander..."

Forty paces away, seeing the disappearing figure at the ship's rail, hearing the loud scolding of the Evil Demon Chieftain, two Red Crow trusted aides exchanged a glance, showing some regret on their faces.

"Alas! Even this close, they missed..."

"Damn it! It's all because of the sea! The ship rocks terribly..."

"Stop babbling, there's still a chance for another arrow! Chief Divine bless!...Who to shoot?..."

"Shoot the one holding the long tube, aiming at us! Judging by the clothes, he looks like a Chieftain..."

"Hmm! Play it safe, aim for the chest!..."

"Alright!..."

"Quick! Hurry with the loading! Prepare to ignite..."

At the stern, as Alana helped the sailors load the gunpowder and set up the matchlock gun, he turned his head towards Columbus, displaying genuine concern on his face.

"Brother-in-law! You're still bleeding...you really won't die, will you? If you die, who should I listen to on this ship?..."

"Cazzo! Shut up! You're the one who's going to die..."

"I didn't mean that...ah!!...Brother-in-law...I...arrow...save...save..."

Before he could finish speaking, Alana suddenly froze, his chest filled with intense pain. He widened his eyes, glanced down with difficulty, and then abruptly leaned forward, disappearing over the ship's side.

"Splash!"

"Almighty! The boatswain has been shot and fallen into the water!..."

"Ah! What an accurate shot, it must be the natives' Divine Shooter!"

"What to do? What to do?!...Commander, should we stop and retrieve the boatswain?..."

Upon hearing this question, the sailors' anxious gazes instantly focused on Expedition Commander Columbus. Columbus sat with legs apart by the ship's rail, his face still bleeding, eyes filled with disbelief. He looked at the empty rail, but within a single breath, the shock in his eyes turned to grief, then to tears falling for the first time. Yet, his wide-open mouth, without hesitation or a moment's doubt, shouted an icy command!

"Full sail! No lowering!…Minchia! Northward! Go!..."

"Yes! The commander ordered full sail, continue northward!..."

"Ah? This...yes!..."

As the wind grew stronger and the ship sped up, the Santa Maria fell into a deathly silence. The sailors busied themselves without speaking, each with their head bowed, no one daring to glance at Columbus's expression or willing to dress his wounds.

Only the second captain De La Cosa crouched down, carefully observing the sea. He looked at several miles away, a longship ending its battle, carrying native warriors on board, approaching. He then looked a hundred paces away, seven or eight canoes gradually drifting further, unable to catch up with the big sailboat...

"Praise the merciful Almighty! The speed is picking up, we're finally safe!"

De La Cosa's calm gaze finally rested on the foremost canoe. He watched two native archers with weapons, pulling someone from the sea, tying them with ropes...De La Cosa pursed his lips, couldn't help but sigh softly.

"Alas! Alana the Guard Chief, also the boatswain on the ship!...Boatswain...hmm?..."

De La Cosa murmured quietly, his eyes gradually squinting. Alana was Columbus's most loyal and capable follower, the sharp claw Columbus used to manage the sailors, unexpectedly lost here. And with Alana such a trusted aide gone overboard, Columbus directly abandoned him, the sailors who still firmly followed Columbus on this ship were likely...

"Almighty bless! Columbus, the leader! Your ear...it needs urgent dressing!..."

De La Cosa turned around, his squinted eyes suddenly opening wide. With a genuinely concerned expression, he approached Columbus, quietly placing his right hand on the scimitar at his waist. Columbus, meanwhile, widened his eyes, trembling all over. He stared intensely at the slowly approaching second captain, suddenly seeming to realize something.

"Merda! Juan! De La Cosa!...The captain discovering the new route, now only the two of us remain. I promised to make an oath with the bird's beak, agreed to be brothers!...We...we will go to the Queen together, share this great hono...uh?!...Arrow...poison!..."

As Columbus spoke, suddenly his expression changed. He tried to speak but could only utter indistinct words. A cold numbness spread rapidly from his left ear, extending to half of his face, paralyzing his tongue!

"Huh...huh!"

"Huh?! The native arrow is poisoned?…Columbus, my leader? Leader? Are you alright?..."

De La Cosa stood cautiously on the spot, two steps away from Columbus. He tentatively called out a few times, slowly drawing his scimitar. Columbus, by the rail, struggled to stand but found half of his body paralyzed, ultimately falling powerlessly onto the deck, gazing upwards at the sky, unable to move his neck.

"It's over! The arrow is poisoned!...It's over! I haven't won the glory for discovering the new route, haven't made those who laughed at me bow down and kneel! Vaffanculo!..."

At this moment, listening to De La Cosa's cautious approaching footsteps, gazing at the vast Caribbean sky, countless thoughts flashed through Columbus's mind, along with scenes of maritime exploration. The hardships and mockery experienced over twenty years, struggles and hopes, until the ecstatic joy of discovering the new route, all flashing through his heart!

At this moment, this commoner "Admiral" from the Italian City States, stubborn as a mule Expedition Commander, finally, tears streamed down his face...

"Minchia! It's truly over...I'm going to die in the East!...Merda! I experienced so many dangers...never expected in the end, I would die at De La Cosa's hand!! Dio!!..."