In the Aztec creation story, the four gods first create water, other gods, and a sea monster called Cipactli. As they continue to create things, though, Cipactli eats all their work. So the gods kill Cipactli, and from her body create the world. Her head becomes the heavens, her middle becomes the earth, and her tail becomes the underworld. Like in the Norse myth, the murder of the creature that becomes the world is described as destruction that must occur before creation can truly begin.

Find the full story of Cipactli and the creation of the earth here.