Three days later.
When Vijay returned with the people of the Garuda Tribe, Sujay Rao had already made preparations to integrate them into the Night Tribe.
In truth, there wasn't much to arrange. Although the Night Tribe had grown significantly, it was still a tribal society, not vastly different from the Garuda Tribe. The only noticeable difference was the wooden fence that encircled their settlement.
Sujay Rao had planned for this expansion long ago, so the enclosed land was vast enough to accommodate the newcomers from the Garuda Tribe without issue.
To prevent any potential unrest, Sujay Rao dispersed the members of the Garuda Tribe, scattering them across various corners of the Night Tribe's territory.
"Better safe than sorry," he thought.
Having tens of thousands of people clustered together in their own groups could lead to turmoil. Even if the Night Tribe emerged victorious, the losses would be devastating.
To celebrate the successful expedition, Sujay Rao hosted a grand feast for the warriors, earning their loyalty and admiration.
Then, he held an even larger banquet for the new members of the tribe. This gesture not only eased their worries but also gave them a sense of belonging to the Night Tribe. After all, the Night Tribe seemed to have an abundance of food and was incredibly generous.
At the end of the feast, Sujay Rao, draped in an animal skin cloak, stood atop a towering altar and addressed the newly joined tribesmen:
"Hundreds of sunsets ago, the Night Tribe was a small clan of only a few hundred people. Our warriors were so weak that they couldn't even hunt monsters. We survived by farming and fishing…"
"Now, the Night Tribe has grown to hundreds of thousands. You may not understand how large that is… Let me tell you this: before our rise, the most powerful tribe along the Red River was the Garuda Tribe, with only 40,000 people. The Night Tribe now has over 430,000 people—more than ten times the size of the Garuda Tribe!"
The crowd reacted with a mix of pride, awe, and fear. Most were simply stunned.
Before the rise of the Night Tribe, the Garuda Tribe was the dominant force along the Red River, with over 40,000 members and nearly 5,000 fierce warriors. They were renowned across the Black Soil Plains, and their movements kept other tribes on edge, fearing they might become their next target.
Now, the leader of the Night Tribe claimed their numbers surpassed ten Garuda Tribes. How could this not shock and terrify them?
As for whether this claim was true or not, the crowd believed it. There was no reason for their leader to lie.
"Do you know why the Night Tribe has risen so quickly?" Sujay Rao asked, his voice carrying over the crowd.
He spread his arms wide and raised them to the sky. "Because the Night Tribe is blessed by the gods—not mere totems, but true gods. They are greater than any force in this world, the gods who control the very essence of creation and can reshape reality itself."
Under the bright moonlight, Sujay Rao looked like a mad prophet, his voice echoing with fervor.
"Gods?"
"What are gods? Are they like totems?"
"If we worship these gods, can we become as strong as the Night Tribe's warriors?"
The crowd murmured, trying to make sense of Sujay Rao's words. To them, gods were simply more powerful totems. Tribes across the Black Soil Plains worshipped totems, often naming themselves after them. The Garuda Tribe revered the mighty Garuda, a mythical bird, while the Nandi Tribe worshipped the bull-headed Nandi, the sacred vehicle of Lord Shiva.
So, when Sujay Rao spoke of gods, they assumed he meant a more potent totem. After all, the strength of a totem was measured by the strength of its tribe.
Some tribesmen, still loyal to their old beliefs, felt uneasy hearing Sujay Rao's words. But with the Night Tribe's overwhelming power, they dared not object.
The warriors, however, cared little for such matters. They only wanted to fight. Though they didn't fully understand Sujay Rao's speech, they felt their blood boil, eager to join the Night Tribe and conquer the Red River alongside them.
Just as the crowd buzzed with chatter, the sky suddenly darkened. The bright moon was swallowed by thick clouds, plunging the Night Tribe into complete darkness. Before panic could set in, an overwhelming presence emanated from the altar, pressing down on everyone like a mountain. It felt as though they had fallen into an abyss, unable to breathe.
Then, in their minds, a divine figure emerged—a being of infinite size, with eyes like the sun and moon, and veins like rivers and mountains.
When His eyes opened, it was day. When they closed, it was night.
His breath became the violent winds that swept across the heavens.
When He walked, the earth trembled.
"My name is…"
The divine figure spoke, but His words were incomprehensible, echoing like a distant thunderclap.
As quickly as it had come, the vision faded. The moon reappeared, its light bathing the kneeling crowd.
The people of the Night Tribe were the first to shout:
"Praise the King of Eternal Night!"
"Our Lord is eternal!"
"Praise the King of Eternal Night!"
The newly joined tribesmen hesitated for only a moment before joining in the chant.
Sujay Rao, standing atop the altar, allowed himself a small smile. Then, he raised his voice:
"As long as you are part of the Night Tribe, you will all be under the protection of the King of Eternal Night."
Before the crowd could react, he continued:
"Fight for the King, and death will not be your end. Even if you fall in battle, if you prove your bravery, you may ascend to the divine realm and become an immortal guardian."
As he spoke, a towering shadow over ten feet tall materialized behind him. The shadow raised its hand, and a shower of pure, glowing liquid rained down upon the crowd.
The warriors who absorbed the liquid felt their strength surge. They had been elevated, their power increased.
"Praise the Eternal Night!" they shouted, their eyes blazing with newfound fervor.
Nothing could have convinced them of the gods' power more than this tangible boost to their strength.
The rest of the crowd, witnessing this miracle, abandoned any lingering doubts. They joined the Night Tribe wholeheartedly, their minds now filled with a single purpose:
—To fight for the King of Eternal Night.
"Welcome to the Night Tribe," Sujay Rao said as the shadow behind him dissipated. "Together, we will fight for Eternal Night!"
"Fight for Eternal Night!" the crowd roared.
"Fight for Eternal Night!"
"Fight for Eternal Night!"
Their voices echoed like the roar of a tiger breaking free or a dragon rising from the depths.
(End of Chapter)