"Yaa (God Mountain), guenda (Ancestral Spirits), guirá (awaken). Binni (the comers), becha (arriving), xquidxi' (radiance), guibi (devoured). Gani (the first), becha (arriving), goni (falls) ti (before) naa (the gods). Guenda (Ancestral Spirits), naa (the gods), bido (blood), lani (road home)!"
"?? What is this Priest Elder of Silver Tip City saying?"
"Ah! This, revered Divine King... This is ancient Zapotec. They are disrespectful, offensive words..."
"The Main God bears witness! I pardon you of any crime! Translate it for me! Word by word—speak!"
"This?... Yes! Yes! Honored Divine King, he is saying..."
The Alliance's long-distance merchant knelt on the ground, lifted his head, and cautiously glanced at the Divine King's expression. Then, not daring to defy him, he translated word by word.
"The God Mountain and Ancestral Spirits of the Zapotec have awakened... The enemies who come, even their sacred light will vanish... The first king to invade Oaxaca Valley will fall, and he will pay with his life before the gods... The God Mountain and Ancestral Spirits wait together; blood is the road home to death!"
"...!"
The Royal Banner snapped in the wind, and the distant silver mountain was stained with the blood of the setting sun. Divine King Avet stood beneath the banner, gazing toward the pyramid temple directly below the mountain. Threadlike red streaks were flowing down from the pyramid's steps, proclaiming return and death before the gods. And Silver Peak, the most honored Priest Elder of Silver Tip City, wore a Quetzal feather crown and jade rings shaped like Corn, standing before the supreme Divine King. His face, carved with divine patterns, was twisted with ferocity, and he raised his ten bitten fingers, issuing the most venomous curse.
"The Sun of the north will set, and His radiance will be extinguished! The king of the