He comes round during a storm and rises from the stinking pit, causing a passing merchant to have a heart attack. Using his clothes and possessions he walks to the docks and enrolls as a passenger on a ship bound for the New World that is all the rage in the wake of Columbus' voyages. On board he befriends a poorer man called Jaime who hopes to make his fortune. They arrive in Hispaniola and soon crowd into a tavern where Hernan Cortez, a fair-haired noble intent on finding riches and fame, recruits them and many others into his expedition. For Casca, it is a chance to see the lands of the Teotec he last saw over 1200 years ago and see what has happened since. They land on the coast and press inland, meeting many tribes who either ally themselves or oppose the Spaniards. An interpreter, a young woman, joins them and recognizes Casca as the Quetza, the old God of Death, from the jade mask she saw in the city of Teotihuacan. She informs Casca the Aztecs now rule and their city of Technotitlan has replaced the old, crumbling Teotec city.
After many fights they arrive in the Aztec capital and demand gold. Casca hopes the Aztecs can be saved from the Spaniards but soon comes to realize the bloodthirsty sacrifices the Aztecs perform have to be stopped one way or another. He slips out and visits the old Teotec city and finds his old mask and dons it. He lives in the city for some time and the Aztec king, Moctezuma, is fooled into believing Casca is the god Quetza. Casca tells the king he is doomed, as are his people and Cortez is to be obeyed. The Aztec people rebel, however, following a bloody suppression of one of their festivals and Moctezuma dies by accident. His death is blamed on the Spanish and the Aztecs drive the invaders out, including Casca who has rejoined them. He witnesses Jaime being carried away by the Aztecs for sacrifice and is unable to save him in the flight back to the coast. But even as the Aztecs feast on their victims, they are unaware that Jaime carries the smallpox virus.