The light of April shone; spring was warm and flowers bloomed. Cloud Snake Fortress towered majestically among the mountains, overlooking the Tlaxcala Valley for tens upon hundreds of li. And amid this fertile valley, black smoke from slash-and-burn fields could already be seen, heralding the arrival of spring plowing on the plateau.
Xolotl wore the elaborate robes of the Chief High Priest and, in the main god's temple of Cloud Snake Fortress, met Stanley the Giant Bear, commander of the Eagle Noble Regiment, who had come from the capital. This valiant royal general was not only Avet's most trusted family general, but also a famously battle-hardened warrior. He wore forty jin of long, cloth-covered Bronze Armor, yet remained quick on his feet, running like a bear, and respectfully knelt on one knee before Xolotl in salute.
"Blessed by the Main God! Prince Xolotl of Divine Revelation, I finally meet you! The supreme Divine King has long been waiting in the Lake Capital. Please set out with us as soon as possible!..."
Hearing Stanley's sincere "invitation to set out," Xolotl's eyelid twitched, and he smiled politely. He swept his gaze over the dozens of alliance military nobles who had come with Stanley, but did not see his father, Xoloc, who served as deputy commander of the Eagles. After a moment's thought, Xolotl smiled and nodded, agreeing.
"Blessed by the Main God! Respected Eagle commander, then let us depart as soon as possible!..."
Very soon, Xolotl took leave of Quetz, commander of the Kingdom Warrior Battalion stationed at Cloud Snake Fortress, and led one thousand Imperial Guards down from the perilous, unfallen mountain city, entering the continuous alliance camps and legions below. A full thousand warriors of the Eagle and Jaguar Noble Regiments, all fully armored, saluted Death God's Wolf Banner and