Chapter 161

Don't push yourself too hard.

"I didn't force you—"

"Even if you're trying your best, don't overdo it, okay?"

While Bavan Shi and Favia were talking, Tlaloc suddenly spoke up.

The Black-Haired Girl, her expression calm, furrowed her brows slightly as she gazed at the silver-haired youth and the Red-Haired Fairy.

"Since you're such good friends, can't you consider each other's feelings a little more?"

"Um, I'm sorry... Well, there's nothing I can do... After all, if I still can't learn it after so long..."

At this moment, Bavan Shi looked like a scolded child, shrinking back.

Favia, however, seemed unfazed, smiling as she said, "Even so, such things are unavoidable for the sake of the future."

Although the two did not communicate much, they shared the same thoughts and had the same reasons for doing so.

"Those two guys are really something else."

In fact, Tlaloc, who had been watching closely, understood this point.

Of course she understood.

It is precisely because they can do this that their relationship is so good.

"... You two are such a perfect match..."

Tlaloc sighed helplessly and murmured softly in a voice no one could hear.

"Huh? Tlaloc, you just said—"

"It's nothing, you two continue, I have to go now."

The Black-Haired Girl casually dismissed Bavan Shi's question and walked away on her own.

It's November, the season when the biting north winds are gradually arriving.

Inside Tenochtitlan, flowers in season were blooming, and their familiar fragrance, carried by the recent breeze, brought a smile to Tlaloc's face.

The more beautiful Tenochtitlan is, the happier she is, and she wishes she could stay that way forever.

After all, Tenochtitlan is City that captivates everyone, even making them forget to breathe.

It is City that shines with a 'special' brilliance in the heart of the cruel Central and South American World.

"Tenochtitlan is definitely the most beautiful."

As the Black-Haired Girl walked towards the Moon Lake in Tenochtitlan, which was herself, the cheers of the Aztec still echoed deep in her mind—words she would only utter when she was alone.

Although she is the incarnation of Lake Texcoco of the Moon Lake, and can be called Tlaloc, her real name is Tenochtitlan. This sounds like self-praise, but even her brother Tezcatlipoca, whom she considers her brother, probably hasn't heard of her.

Sitting on a chair beside Moon Lake, Tlaloc squinted his eyes, enjoying the warm moment under the bright sunlight.

Then she heard a sound—

In the distance, the sound of drums could be heard.

The thumping sound continued incessantly.

This wasn't the first time she'd heard this sound, but even so, the Black-Haired Girl opened her eyes with a sense of nostalgia, because it was the activity the people living here were carrying out for the Ritual, and it was everything she loved; seeing it made her feel warm inside.

The constant flow of people was incredibly noisy, even overwhelming Tlaloc.

Such radiant smiles, such a lively atmosphere— the Black-Haired Girl felt a pang of sadness at the thought of the important Ritual to come.

The Great Temple of Tenochtitlan once housed the Rain God and the Huitzilopochtli, but with the arrival of Favia, the Huitzilopochtli has been removed. And soon, before this momentous Ritual, even the Rain God will be removed, for Favia's Fifth Sun.

The idea that Outsider created Faith that placed him above all the gods, based on his own Prototype, would be unacceptable to the local mystic community no matter what.

However, for Tlaloc, this sadness did not last long before it disappeared.

Because she sensed the Moon Lake, and a sense of vitality naturally arose in Tenochtitlan.

Tlaloc recalled what Favia had said to him a few days earlier when she was looking for him.

Lake Texcoco, the final resting place for the wandering Aztec, was later the name of the lake on which Tenochtitlan was built, also known as the Moon Lake.

"... You already know my identity?" Tlaloc showed no panic, his face remaining as cold as ever. "So what?"

Favia didn't seem too bothered by the Black-Haired Girl's obvious disgust, and simply continued:

"I need your help, the assistance of you who are the convergence point of 'Human Order' that brings peace and prosperity to mankind, and who are also the Third Sun in this moment."

Upon hearing this, Tlaloc exhaled and then spoke:

"... What do you want me to do?"

"Assist me in inscribing the Fifth Sun on the Sun Stone at the Ritual to be held in a few days, so that everyone will know of the existence of the Fifth Sun."

"You make it sound so simple, but do you think it will go that smoothly? That's something that's been passed down since the Age of Gods, a tangible manifestation of the concept of Fate."

"... I can't say for sure, but I do need your help as the Third Sun, Tlaloc."

The Black-Haired Girl's expression remained as cold as if she were about to kill someone, and in most cases, she couldn't convey any emotion through her tone of voice.

In the end, she only uttered one sentence to the silver-haired man.

I will come.

"You've arrived?"

As evening approached, Tlaloc returned and opened the door to find Bavan Shi gently embracing Favia, relaxing her body, and leaning against him, motionless, as if asleep.

Favia remained unfazed by the sudden arrival of the Black-Haired Girl, continuing to hold the sleeping Bavan Shi in her arms. After asking a question, she turned her gaze to the window, where she saw those clear blue eyes looking calmly toward the Great Temple. Tlaloc also looked toward the Sun Stone, an Inheritance down from the Age of Gods.

"... I thought you'd have more time to rest with her, but I didn't expect it to be so soon."

"Just a short rest is fine, as long as Xiaoxi can get some rest."

That gentle expression made Tlaloc hold his breath instantly, instinctively pressing his hand to his excited heart and taking a deep breath.

Sometimes, this human will do these kinds of things because of Bavan Shi.

Therefore, seeing her with that expression makes me feel lonely and left out, unsure of what to do with my feelings.

"Are you ready for the Ritual in a few days, Rain God Tlaloc?"

"Of course." Tlaloc tossed his hair, his expression completely expressionless. "But it feels a bit strange to me calling you that... Oh well, whatever."

"After all, you are the Third Sun."

Favia said firmly.

"... Okay, that'll do."

The Black-Haired Girl seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

Although in her memory, this person's views were as strong as ever.

This might leave her with indescribable feelings.

"What's wrong?"

The silver-haired youth seemed to notice a rare change in the Black-Haired Girl's expression.

"Nothing."

"If you have any concerns about this, you should just relax and treat it as a normal Ritual."

"Normal?"

Tlaloc blinked and couldn't help but say.

Ordinary? This is a highly disrespectful event; how can it be considered an ordinary thing?

But actually, it's unlikely that just anyone could achieve the same result as him.

Only then did she belatedly realize that, in reality, Favia was completely different from what the Tezcatlipoca had described.

"We'll use the 'great achievements' of all the Sun to carve the Fifth Sun onto the Sun Stone, in order to deal with a world whose rules are being broken and which is gradually heading towards destruction... This is a plan that we've been talking about for a long time."

Hearing Favia say this so casually, Tlaloc silently responded in her mind, "Yes," though she herself didn't seem to realize it.

"Frankly, I think it's premature to talk about the possibility of preventing the world's destruction this way. Even if you really become the Fifth Sun... I still don't think this rule will be so easily resolved."

This Bloody Human Sacrifice Ritual, so long that Tlaloc barely remembered its end, filled the entirety of Central and South America with cruel rules of blood, and she felt it couldn't possibly end so easily.

Only...

"However, if it could really end like this... I think that would be nice."

Upon hearing this, Favia pondered for a while.

"If it ends like this..."

He only got halfway through his sentence before stopping.

Tlaloc felt he could vaguely guess the reason.

While Favia might wish for this cruel rule to end, it wasn't actually his purpose in coming here; it was merely a side effect.

Once the missing, mysterious object on his chest is found, he'll have no reason to get involved in the conflict between Central and South America and South America and Spain; he can simply leave at a later time.

Thinking about it this way made the Black-Haired Girl feel resentful and depressed.

She wasn't quite sure why she felt this way.

However, Favia remained silent, saying nothing, but simply straightened his back and gazed at her with calm eyes.

This made Tlaloc somewhat anxious, and he even felt an urge to draw his weapon and fight, apparently because he hadn't killed him yet.

In short, the Black-Haired Girl understood at that moment that she was undoubtedly in a terrible mood.

Ugh, this guy is so good at reading the room and saying nice things to make Bawanshi happy.

But now it seems like they know nothing at all. Ugh, it's infuriating.

"... My initial goal was simply to find this thing." Favia held up the broken Silver Key to her chest and said with a smile, "Because my sister is waiting for me, I have to collect them all. I've also been thinking about how I'll meet her then. I haven't decided yet."

"But before that time comes, whether I've thought it through or not... well, there's one thing I've already decided."

In Favia's voice, there was once again the voice she had heard before, as if it contained an unshakable determination.

"I'm here, and that's my choice."

243: "I came here to destroy something." (5k5)

A gentle breeze blew through the ancient city, the dense forest where animals roamed, and along the nearby roads. Although the wind was strong, the Americas, who had been waiting for a long time, made no sound. To them, the howling wind was like heavenly music, and the vast ocean blessed the earth with the Sun's grace.

Today, a grand Ritual uniting the people of Central and South American World is about to take place.

Unlike the Human Sacrifice of the Aztec and Maya, and unlike the totem worship of Indian, it was a unique and unparalleled new Ritual.

This didn't require much publicity; they simply needed to know that the organizer's name was Favia to understand.

Favia, at this moment, when people in Central and South America the Americas hear this name, they will immediately say:

"He was a great man, like the Sun on Earth."

This was the first impression this person left on the Indigenous Americans.

Favia is known in the hearts of the indigenous people of Central and South America for abolishing the protracted Living People Sacrifice, resolving the Flower Wars, unifying the world, rescuing compatriots suffering from the torment of the Demon Spaniards in distant lands, and enabling the dialogue of languages to have a unified meaning.

Cultural convergence, along with the accounts of the indigenous people rescued on the Island of Cuba, gave the indigenous people of Central and South America a clearer understanding of the white-skinned Spaniards. In their eyes, they were merely Demon in disguise, unlike Favia or Father Bartolomé.

For this reason, every Native American in the Americas would likely, in the future, participate without hesitation in the struggle to defend their homeland and expel invaders when their country is in peril, and this spirit would gradually take deep root in their national character.

At noon, outside the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan, Water City, Favia with his left hand painted blue and his right hand painted gold, and Jaguar Man Mask, a gift from the Tezcatlipoca, draped over his bare torso.

This was a symbol used by the Maya, Aztec, and Indian during their grandest Ritual.

The Maya blue, the Indian gold, and the Aztec's favorite blood red, but since Human Sacrifice had been banned by him, he used the Sacred Beast of Central and South America as the standard. It can be said that the Favia based their practice on traditional customs and modified them, otherwise there would have been no need to go topless.

A red flower drifted into the view of people in Central and South American World, followed by blue and gold, and then the red flower flew into a world with only these colors.

These colors floated lightly in the wind before people, and as if reflexively reaching out, they gently grasped the gift that seemed to have fallen from the sky. Turning their heads in the direction of the oncoming wind, they saw figures.

Thus, a giant Coyote followed behind, with numerous priests and officials surrounding the figure in the center.

Although he hadn't come over yet, people already knew who he was.