After Kotoko Iwanaga's explanation, Morpheus, Saeko, and Hitomi Kisugi finally gained some understanding of the Dark Tournament.
According to Kotoko, the Dark Tournament originated from the battles between the previous Goddess of Wisdom and various yokai.
Back then, it wasn't even called the Dark Tournament.
It was merely the Goddess of Wisdom sparring with yokai every so often.
This continued for nearly a decade. As time passed, the previous Goddess of Wisdom grew old and gradually stopped fighting the yokai.
After all, age catches up, and humans can't keep fighting forever.
Many yokai wanted to turn the Goddess of Wisdom into a yokai so she could continue battling.
Compared to yokai, a human's lifespan is painfully short.
Even a minor yokai could live for centuries.
But a human? At best, a few decades—maybe a century.
Though called a goddess by the yokai, the Goddess of Wisdom was still human. When she aged, she could no longer fight.
The battle-hungry yokai, having forged deep bonds with her over years of fighting, didn't want to see her fade away.
They proposed turning her into a yokai, but, unsurprisingly, she refused.
Some might be willing to become a yokai for a longer life.
But even though she had grown close to the yokai, she refused to become one, choosing instead to die as a human.
In the end, the previous Goddess of Wisdom got her wish.
She passed away in her hometown.
Every year, countless yokai would visit her grave to pay their respects.
They would hold grand battles in front of her tomb as a way to honor their friend.
Over time, these grand displays evolved into competitive duels.
After decades of development, the first official Dark Tournament was born.
But back then, the Dark Tournament was vastly different from what it is now. Over the long years, it gradually transformed into the modern Dark Tournament.
Now, the Dark Tournament had strayed from its original purpose, becoming a grand spectacle of competition between yokai and superhumans.
It was held every three years.
Each time, a flood of participants would sign up.
The winner could make a single request to the tournament's organizers, and as long as it didn't harm their interests, they would do everything in their power to fulfill it.
Morpheus, intrigued, asked, "Do you know who the organizers of the Dark Tournament are? Why would they set such strange rules?"
Kotoko shook her head. "The organizers are very secretive. Few know who they are, though many speculate they might be a legendary great yokai."
"As for why they set these odd rules, I have no idea."
Morpheus glanced at Saeko with a smile. "Hearing you say that, I'm actually getting interested in this Dark Tournament."
Initially, he wasn't interested because he thought he already knew everything about it, and it lacked mystery.
But now, it was clear this Dark Tournament was completely different from the one he knew.
That sparked his curiosity.
Saeko's eyes gleamed as she asked, "Will you join the tournament, my lord?"
Morpheus shook his head. "No need to compete, but I'll tag along to watch. Just here for the show."
As he'd said before, even if this Dark Tournament had changed, it was still a low-tier event in his eyes. No need to dominate it.
Watching would be enough.
Saeko didn't press further.
Hitomi, however, was thrilled by the mysterious nature of the tournament. She grinned and said, "Count me in! I want to check it out too."
Saeko nodded. "You're welcome to join."
She was in the process of gathering teammates, and Hitomi's interest was perfect. As Morpheus's followers, both had learned magic and wielded powerful Light abilities, so their strength was solid.
Then she turned to Kotoko. "Are you joining the tournament?"
Kotoko's eyes flickered, but she shook her head. "I'm not interested, but I can help you register. From what I know, the Dark Tournament has no restrictions, but teams are limited to a maximum of five members."
"If Lord Morpheus isn't competing, you'll need to find three more people."
Morpheus thought for a moment. "I'll take one spot. I won't fight, but I can get you two strong teammates."
Watching from the audience was one thing, but being in the competitors' area offered a completely different experience.
He preferred the latter.
To make up for taking a spot, Morpheus planned to find two powerful teammates for Saeko and Hitomi.
Saeko had no objections.
Without Morpheus, she wouldn't even have enough people to form a team, so she wasn't about to refuse his offer.
Kotoko pulled out her phone, opened a strange website, and began registering them. She paused to ask, "What do you want to name your team?"
Saeko and Hitomi immediately looked to Morpheus. Naming was naturally his call.
Morpheus said, "How about the Team Extraterrestrial?"
Saeko replied, "No objections here."
Hitomi quickly chimed in, "Same."
Kotoko nodded and asked, "What about the last two teammates' names?"
"Karna and Medusa."
Kotoko froze for a moment, as if to say, Are you sure?
Morpheus grinned. "What's wrong? Are those two not allowed to compete?"
Kotoko shook her head. "Of course not."
She promptly added the names to the registration. It wasn't her who'd be facing them, so no harm done.
In that moment, Kotoko almost pitied the yokai participating in the Dark Tournament.
If they knew their opponents would include the legendary son of the Sun God, Karna, and the snake-haired Gorgon, Medusa, they might lose their minds.
Those two were just too overpowered.
Soon, Kotoko had everything sorted.
"I've registered you. Within three days, someone will come to review your qualifications. They'll also provide the tournament's schedule and location."
Morpheus couldn't help but ask, "A tournament entry requires a review?"
***
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