After encountering the Blue Tezcatlipoca in the rainforest, who called himself the Dinosaur King, Shiomi and his group did not linger any longer. By the time night fell, they had reached the Storm Border, which had landed near Chichen Itza, and reunited with the others.
The following day, after disguising themselves with magecraft, Shiomi set out with Morgan and Scáthach accompanying him. Passing through the streets where the Deinos lived, they headed toward the altar where the Dinosaur King resided.
As they approached, Shiomi imagined that the emerald-colored, mineral-like structures extending toward the sky atop the altar were actually made of resin.
The cosmic tree that pierced through Mictlan reached its apex at this very altar in Chichen Itza.
The emerald resin formations resembled enormous claws rising from the city toward the sky, shaped as though they were meant to receive something. It was a peculiar structure, clearly designed with a specific purpose in mind.
According to Tepeu, this was the "Sun Altar" that the Deinos had naturally established after founding Chichen Itza.
Whether in Proper Human History or in a Lostbelt, the higher a place stood, the closer it was to the sky, and therefore the closer to the gods. Height symbolized authority.
However, the reason Chichen Itza had become the sacred domain of the Deinos in Mictlan was a natural phenomenon unique to this land: the 'Solar Sojourn'.
As the name implied, the 'Solar Sojourn' concerned the beginning and end of the sun's journey.
In Proper Human History, the sun exists in outer space, and the Earth revolves around it.
But the underground world of Mictlan had no cosmos. The sun existed within Mictlan itself.
After integrating the information of Proper Human History with the data gathered in Mictlan, Tepeu reached a conclusion nearly identical to that of Chaldea.
The sun of Mictlan was an artificially created miniature sun, just large enough to sustain this subterranean world composed of nine layers spanning several hundred kilometers.
Within Mictlan, the sun began its movement from the third layer where Chichen Itza stood. It would travel down to the deepest ninth layer, then return again.
The altar at the center of Chichen Itza was the sun's "home".
It received the returning sun, revitalized it, and then sent it out again for a new cycle of movement.
Those resin claws functioned like the stand that holds a crystal orb or pearl, designed to support the artificial sun.
"Even so," Scáthach said, "Mictlan's gravity comes from outside the strata. How an artificial sun manages to float is still full of unanswered questions."
"It's actually quite simple," Morgan said with a smile. "The laws governing Mictlan didn't develop along the same path as Maya civilization did in Proper Human History. Even though this is an underground world, its physical laws can't be considered entirely equivalent to those of Proper Human History."
"And besides, there's also the faith surrounding Kukulkan, the 'Sun's Teachings'."
Shiomi jumped onto a massive step taller than himself, then turned back to face the two.
"So this Lostbelt has its own god? Or maybe that artificial sun is actually the incarnation of the Lostbelt's god?"
"That's exactly what I meant," Morgan replied with a nod.
She and Scáthach almost simultaneously took Shiomi's outstretched hand, using it as a pivot to lightly leap up to the next step.
"Either way," Scáthach continued, "as the Dinosaur King who rules Chichen Itza and governs the Deinos, the Blue Tezcatlipoca should be able to answer these questions. According to the intelligence gathered by the companions who arrived here earlier, the Dinosaur King ordered the great plains bordering the Second Netherworld to be sealed off, forbidding anyone from approaching."
"While the stated reason is to prevent Ocelotl from entering the third layer where Chichen Itza lies and threatening the people living here, if the Black Tezcatlipoca on Daybit's side truly wanted to act, he could still reach the second layer without confronting Chichen Itza directly and launch a long-distance raid on Chaldea's Storm Border."
"That's exactly what we need to clarify."
Shiomi turned his gaze toward the top of the altar, now only a few steps away.
The three of them climbed onto the summit.
There were no Deinos here. Only a single young man stood beneath the golden solar calendar stone, his back facing Shiomi and the others.
It seemed he had been waiting there in advance.
"As we said yesterday, we have come to pay you a visit, Dinosaur King of Chichen Itza, Blue Tezcatlipoca."
Given that his attitude differed from that of the Black Tezcatlipoca, Shiomi maintained the proper level of respect.
Since the divine authority had split into two opposing factions, there had to be internal circumstances separating the two Tezcatlipocas.
Rather than rushing into hostility, it was better to first determine who was friend and who was enemy, and find a safer and more reliable way to resolve this Lostbelt.
"You're right on time. About what I expected."
The Dinosaur King turned around.
"In any case, I already sent away all the priests of Chichen Itza. Those guys are pretty diligent though. Even if I tell them to take a break, they'll be back before long."
"That works perfectly for us as well," Morgan said, standing beside Shiomi while quietly observing the surroundings of the altar from the corner of her eye.
There were no other magical energy reactions.
The altar itself contained magical power, but its nature was extremely pure. Even standing within it, their own magical signatures felt like impurities by comparison.
This was the manifestation of the Greater Source.
"Well then, let me introduce myself again." The Dinosaur King smiled calmly.
"I'm meeting you today not only as the Dinosaur King, but also as the King of this Lostbelt. So go ahead. Tell me your purpose. Why have you come to this Lostbelt, and what do you intend to do here?"
"To remove the Fantasy Tree, locate ORT's traces, and eliminate the 'Alien God' before it merges with the sleeping ORT. By cutting down the Fantasy Tree, we can prevent ORT from awakening and stop the destruction of the entire planet outside the Lostbelt."
Shiomi answered honestly.
In front of a god, lying was rarely meaningful.
Especially in a situation where both sides had chosen to speak openly.
Unless one had come to declare war.
"I see."
The Dinosaur King showed a hint of surprise, but quickly understood.
"That makes sense. After entering this Lostbelt, your authority was taken from you and divided among three different factions with opposing positions."
"Recovering my husband's authority is also something that must be done," Morgan explained. "It simply happens to coincide with our original objective, so we didn't bring it up separately. Unless it matters to you, Dinosaur King."
"It's not particularly important," the Dinosaur King replied. "But since that trial was arranged by the 'Black' side, I was curious whether the person involved intended to give up on it."
"Other than the Bewitching Consort we've already defeated, the remaining holders of my authority are the 'Alien God' and a man who calls himself Camazotz," Shiomi said.
"I wonder if the Dinosaur King knows anything about this Camazotz. Of course, I'm aware he isn't the Camazotz from the Aztec myths of Proper Human History."
...
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