CHAPTER 1190: CHAPTER 751: THE JUDGMENT OF FIRE IN THE AUTUMN OF 1489 AD

The white cloth army camp was shrouded in fog by the burning smoke and dust. The chill of autumn entangled the edge of dawn. In the air, there was a strange and pungent smell, inexplicably evoking feelings of familiarity and fear. The mountain wind faintly brought the sound of desperate sobbing and hoarse shouting.

"Almighty! Please! Save us... from the demon’s hand! Save us!..."

The cries came from the army camp but were blocked by guards in armor. Leaves fell, brushing past their solemn and cold faces, the burning torches held high, and their grayish cloaks marked with crosses. Amidst these guards were two figures—one old, one strong—the highest-ranking individuals in the entire Crusader camp.

The elder wore a cold black robe, adorned with a simple black hat, showing no trace of bright colors. His gaze was even colder and more solemn than the black he wore, resembling the glaciers atop Mont Blanc in the Alps. The only slightly shiny part was the gold Bishop’s cross on his neck, symbolizing the exalted status of a high Divine Servant.

As for his name, it was known and feared throughout the Peninsula, able to make even the Great Nobility of Castile tremble. He was Thomas de Torquemada, the first Chief Inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition and a black-robed monk of the Dominican Order.

In the six years since Thomas became the Chief Inquisitor, he had issued 28 verdict decrees, expanding the charges for religious trials to more than twenty. He personally sentenced over five thousand to burning, forty thousand to punishment, confiscation, and lifetime imprisonment... on average, burning a thousand people a year, with eight thousand imprisoned! The prosecuted were mostly "Jewish converts" and "Moorish converts."

In other words, in the Spanish dioceses, if you were a Jew or a Moor, even if you converted to the Almighty, your faith’s authenticity would be questioned, subjected to the scrutiny of the Inquisition. Over the past six years, almost none could pass the scrutiny. This frenzied religious trial was a reflection of Castile’s religious zealotry and the fundamental characteristic of its Crusader nation.

Thomas’s other role was as Queen Isabella’s confessor and mentor, arguably her most intimate supporter and ally.

The marriage of Queen Isabella and King Fernando was initially his suggestion and plan. After the union of the Dual Kings, he served as the third most influential figure after them, representing the Divine Authority of the Spanish diocese, closely supporting their regime. In truth, the smooth commencement of this crusade against Granada could not happen without his full support and rallying!

Listening to the cries from the army camp, Chief Inquisitor Thomas’s expression remained calm. His eyes held neither cruelty nor compassion, only unwavering certainty.

"Fernando, are they all here?"

"Respected black-robed monk... Almighty forgive! The sixteen hundred who were corrupted by the demon are all present."

King Fernando slightly lowered his eyes, showing a hint of reluctance. He sighed deeply, evident compassion surfacing on his face, visible to the surrounding guards. This king of Aragon was in his prime, with a long face, wide forehead, and deep eyes, conforming to the era’s aesthetics, making him rather dignified.

He was dressed in agile chain armor, covered by a vibrant cloak marked with a cross, with gilt plate armor boots on his feet. This bright attire sharply contrasted with the nearby gray priest’s robe. The distinctive red-yellow stripes on the cloak were the symbol of Aragon, representing the King of Aragon.

"Merciful Almighty! May you cast your gaze and save the souls of the unfortunate from the flames about to burn!"

Before the ensuing "salvation" occurred, King Fernando lowered his head, sincerely praying for the Crusader Knights detained in the camp. Witnessing the king’s devotion, surrounding Castilian lords and accompanying priests also lowered their heads in sincere prayer.

"..."

Thomas the Inquisitor turned his head, his expression unchanging, deeply looking at Fernando. Upon receiving the news of the plague outbreak, he rushed from Seville’s court at Fernando’s invitation, day and night, disregarding danger. His first request upon meeting him was to preside over "salvation from demonic corruption!"

The method of ’salvation’ was to gather all the sick guards together, bind them with ropes, detain them in the army camp, and pile up flammable kindling. Then, under the command of the Inquisition priests, the flames of judgment would be ignited!

Chief Inquisitor Thomas calmly waited for a moment, neither urging nor praying. It was only after King Fernando finished praying and wiped the tears from his eyes that Thomas solemnly recited the Revelation, loudly proclaiming.

"God said, ’I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. The books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.’"

"Judgment begins! Ignite!"

The Inquisitor’s voice was firm and powerful, like a mountain advancing. The king’s guards, holding torches, followed the priests’ instructions to ignite the kindling at the camp’s periphery. They then threw the burning torches into the depths of the camp. Soon, fierce flames erupted from all around the camp, rising two or three meters high before gradually merging into a sea of fire!

"Ah! Merciful Almighty! Please! Please!"

"Ah! Ah! Don’t! Don’t burn me! Ah ah!"

Within moments, the burning camp erupted with piercing screams, sharp as though throat-slashed, like rising from a dreadful hell. Hearing such terrible cries, several guards couldn’t help but show emotion, displaying expressions of terror or compassion.

Among everyone present, only Chief Inquisitor Thomas remained emotionless, with King Fernando’s eyes brimming with tears. Throughout, their expressions never changed.

The fire grew larger, the flames burning higher, even emitting continuous black smoke. The sharp and haunting screams quickly became hoarse and low before gradually fading away. The entire camp burned in bright flames yet seemed as silent as the deepest darkness.

Chief Inquisitor Thomas patiently waited for a moment, again neither urging nor praying. It wasn’t until the fierce flames consumed the entire camp, with no chance of survival for the sick guards, that he lowered his gaze and once more loudly declared!

"God said, ’They were judged according to what each had done. Then death and the underworld were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, they were thrown into the lake of fire.’"

"Judgment complete! They will go to their deserved places according to each one’s deeds! And the demon’s power will be burned away by the flames of judgment!"

Upon hearing the revered Chief Inquisitor Thomas, representing the Almighty, proclaiming, the guards’ expressions gradually settled. For most of the Holy War Army, this "salvation" ritual wasn’t seen as brutal slaughter, but indeed a salvation!

Only under the Chief Inquisitor’s presiding, representing the Almighty, could the sacred judgment burn away the demonic power infesting the sick guards’ bodies, thereby saving their souls!

After such a brutal "salvation," the morale of the surviving Holy War Army in the camp not only wouldn’t decline but could slightly recover. How long this morale might last depended on how long the next massive plague outbreak could be delayed.

The black smoke gradually dissipated, with a burnt protein smell and grilling fragrance filling the air. Amid this peculiar aroma, King Fernando quickly furrowed his brow. He turned sideways, bowed to Chief Inquisitor Thomas before preparing to leave. With the camp’s troops’ morale unsteady, he had many matters to handle. He also needed to find ways to capitalize on the effects of this "salvation" ceremony to stabilize morale.

"Fernando, don’t rush off. Before coming here, Isabella entrusted me with a message for you."

Chief Inquisitor Thomas, unchanged in demeanor, sniffed the fragrance in the air, looking into King Fernando’s eyes. He solemnly posed a critical question.

"Isabella asks you, outside the Baza fortress, how much longer can the siege camp hold out?"