Mythical Tournament

Elevora began her explanation.

I expected you wouldn't know anything about the tournament.

Well the tournament I'm talking about is just the preliminaries. The preliminaries begin six years before the actual tournament because it's a long process of selection and grooming for the actual tournament.

The official tournament is called the "Mythical Tournament of Gaia".

Most people in this world don't even have an inkling of the true tournament unless their ancestors passed knowledge of it down in their lineage. Now you have to be from a special organization or background to be able have a chance just to enter the preliminaries, and only those who are at the top of this generation can make it to the actual tournament. 

On Gaia most powers, organizations and cities will host their own contest to select their top geniuses, who will later enter the preliminaries of their kingdom or domain. 

There is no limit to how many combatants can enter the preliminaries, but there are restrictions. 

No matter what one has to be less than thirty years of age. On top of that only one can't enter the Grotto more than three times and there's no way around this restriction not even possessing another body. And lastly only one hundred people can enter the grotto everytime it appears, so the top hundred will be chosen to enter the grotto. 

But…. The top three participants will receive prizes, and the number one in the end will receive priceless treasures from all of the powers involved in the tournament and will be dubbed the "Grotto's Champion". To top it off the number one also get three request and one demand, most of the request are met but can be denied and the one demand has to be accommodated.

Most of the request are met because previous Champions end up as super power houses or possible inheritors of mythical powers from the mythical beast. 

Only one hundred people from Gaia will proceed beyond the preliminaries to enter the true tournament, which will also have the other continents participating. 

It didn't always used to be like that. Originally it was Gaia's ancestors who discovered the grotto, but after thousands of years and world threatening events occurred its existence was eventually found out by other lands and races, which led to the second world level war. 

The entire world fought for the rights to enter the grotto and of course Gaia couldn't fight the entire world, so a treaty was made which established the tournament allowing all parties an equal opportunity to enter the grotto and receive its benefits. 

That being said now, the tournament is much longer than it used to be. Each other continent has one hundred participants, and Atlantis and the Black Forest also send participants. 

....

After a very lengthy explanation from Elevora, Horo was left completely speechless. He had so many questions he didn't even know where to start. 

Before he could even ask one though, Elevora beat him to it as if she expecting a ton of questions from him.

"There's no point in asking more questions about that topic I've said all I can say. Seeing as you didn't know any of that information, I'm sure you don't know a lot about the world. If you want to learn more than normal people and combatants you have the perfect opportunity right now, by joining us in name you will have a head start. If you become an honorary disciple you'll have plenty benefits from the jump, and using merit points you obtain from completing task for the palace, you get even more benefits such as treasures, skills and techniques, and most importantly information."

"I'm pretty sure I can receive all of that in the guard, including backing, I don't think I'll receive that by just being an honorary disciple. Also what head start does joining your palace provide?", Horo snorted slightly with this retort.

She laughed loudly "Oh my, you have no idea, in fact the depth of our foundation is beyond your imagination. Our foundation dates back to before the founding of this kingdom, and our ancestors even played a part in the creation of this kingdom."

Horo eyes widened. 

She smile viciously and continued to laugh while pointing at him and saying " You truly have no idea of the opportunity laid before you, I guess I truly am too kind as they say."

She just laughed, and laughed, and laughed, while holding her stomach. 

"Ha ha ha ha ha, first off our two main techniques are very unique and stand at the pinnacle of this world. Secondly, our well of recourses is immeasurably by the likes of your comprehension. If you should the talent and put in the work, you're bound to grow beyond what you previously thought you could. 

Horo couldn't continue with the superfluous words, if a golden spoon was being given to him why not eat with it. 

He shrugged his shoulders and said "Now from what it seems I think it's you who want me here, so I'll take up the offer." 

Elevora was left wide eyed and let out a sound as if she'd been duped "Hughhn?".

Now Horo was the one left laughing at the look on her face for ten minutes straight….