Teil Ein.

"1. What is The Tournament?

[Rise of The Black Swan Tournament], also referred as [The Tournament], is the most popular sport in the world.

2. What's the required age I need to register in The Tournament?

14 to 16 years old. Also, no matter what nationality, gender, religion or social status you are. Everyone between the designed age can register in [The Tournament]

3. How is held The Tournament?

After the selection of the participants between all the registered people in [The Tournament], [The Secret First Part] of it is held the first two weeks of summer vacation in a secret location. After the results of said first part.[The Known Second Part] is held in association with [Camellia Academy]. This second part takes a whole year. Then [The Conclusive Third Part], the finishing part is held the next year, while the participants attend their second year of high school in [Camellia Academy].

Needless to say, except the [The Secret First Part], the other two parts are broadcasted all over the

world.

4. What are the benefits of registering in [The Tournament]?

...

Hey, Brunnhildr... Do I need to keep reading this? We can just go to the local office of Schwan Enterprises in the neighboring town..."

"Whatcha' saying? I already registered the two of us in [The Tournament]. Filling the Application Form for you too was sooo troublesome... Anyways... I do not want to go there again to ask about something that I should've know since the beginning, right?"

"WHAAT? YOU ALREADY REGISTERED?? AND ME TOO? Are you insane, sis?! I didn't even said yes and yet you already did it?! Moreover, you've just told me about [The Tournament] this morning!! What's wrong with you??!"

Yes... The ones fighting... These fighting siblings were Brunnhildr and Engel Falsch. 15 and 16 years respectively. But even so, they go to the same grade in Primary School.

And now... Engel was fretting over his sister's hard-headed decisions . He was reading the FAQ's section of the [The Rise of The Black Swan Tournament] website in his laptop while quietly resting in their house living room, to know more about where he was heading to, but got stunned by Brunnhildr's hard-headiness.

"It's okay, it's okay. But c'me on! Here comes the most important part, right?!"

"It's NOT okay!! *Sight* Anyways... I'll keep reading... But just keep in mind that now you've done it!"

Repressed Engel.

"Well...

4. What are the benefits of registering in [The Tournament]?

Besides its [No Fee Registration], depending of your social status, you'll be paid a respective quantity of money, because gathering the needed courage to participate is worth a reward. Also while you advance through [The Tournament], if you are chose to participate, you get rewards worth your advances.

5. What awaits me after [The Tournament] is over?

While [The Secret First Part] is held in summer vacation, the other two parts are held parallel to normal high school studies given for free by [Camellia Academy]. Also the Third Year High School students do not participate in [The Tournament], so they can fully concentrate in their studies. After they finish their high school years, they can apply to any of their respective nation's colleges. Also you can get a job related to [The Tournament] or Schwan Enterprises after high school or college. Because of its diversity, you have no worries about your compatibility rate in the available jobs.

Exceptions: If you are to be evaluated as one of the [Most Valuable Players], or MVP of your class and/or year, it'll be obligatory to accept your enlistment in the national team of your nation for the sake of participate in the [Rise of The Black Rose Olympics] held every three years.

NOTES:

For any other questions or applications, you can visit the nearest branch office of Schwan Enterprises. Our qualified personnel will attend you in the available hours (8 am to 5 pm).

...

Well... That's how the things are sis."

After reading all the section of FAQ's, Engel left his laptop in the nearby table and turned his attention to his older sister, who was next to him in their couch.

*Snore, Snore*

"Shit! Brunnhildr!! Wake up!"

Yes; she was sleeping.

"Eh? What? Is the food ready?"

*Slap*

To his half-slept sister's remarks, Engel gave her a head chop.

"Hey! That hurts!"

"Yes, but you deserve it! Don't sleep in the middle of the explanation. Give me back my seriousness."

"Don't fret over it. I listened clearly... So, what do you say? If we end up being chosen to participate... Do you have the determination?"

Said Brunnhildr while making a quiet yet intense expression.

"Well.. I never thought of applying in the first place... But now that you drag me to it... I'll follow you to the top, Brunnhildr."

Answered Engel with full resolution. And just then...

*The skies extend around me... around me...*

"What's with that ringtone, ya Anime lover?" Said Brunnhildr in a mocking tone.

"Let me be! It's the Legendary Ringtone ya'know!" Panicked Engel while trying to see who had sent a message.

*Ring, Ring*

"Oh, I got a text too." Added Brunnhildr.

While they both opened the message and read it with seriousness...

"Wha-??!!!" "?????"

Below Engel and Brunnhildr a blinding light shone and engulfed the two of them. And while disappearing, Engel thought...

(That's right... today's the first day of summer vacation...)

Teil Zwei.

CONGRATULATIONS!

YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO OFFICIALY PARTICIPATE INTO [THE RISE OF THE BLACK SWAN TOURNAMENT].

YOU NOW, AS A OFFICIAL PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT WILL BE TRANSPORTED TO THE [CREST PLAZA] WHERE YOU'LL BE TOLD THE RULES AND INTRUSCTIONS TO [THE TOURNAMENT].

HAVE A NICE TIME IN THE RACE FOR YOUR DESIRES, MY BELOVED [EGG].

Teil Drei.

[Crest Plaza]

The place where every year lots of [Egg] gather.

Those named [Egg], are the participants of [The Rise Of The Black Swan Tournament].

The [Crest Plaza] is a circular plaza full of antique houses and buildings with no less than 4 floors and most of them had plants covering their walls. With every of the structures with closed windows, it looked like some sort of phantom village.

In the middle of the plaza, there was a majestic fountain with statues of a [Phoenix], a [Swan], a [Chick Bird] and at the bottom there was an [Egg]. Each of them springs water except the [Egg]; and to give a touch of liveliness, there was a stage opposite to the fountain with some torches with dancing white, blue and red flames.

All the place was bathed in sunset light and even some doves were there playfully walking looking for seeds to eat.

And then...

*Boom!!!*

A blinding light together with an explosion sound spread through the afternoon sky for some seconds...

And in an instant...

The [Crest Plaza] got invaded by lots of disconcerted people.

"What is this?"

"What has just happened?!"

"Ehhh?!!"

"Wha-?!"

"Bruh?! where are ya'?"

"Damn!!! I was just taking a dump!!!"

"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?!"

"*Cough, Cough. What's this??!!"

Those are just some of the expressions of the boys and girls that suddenly appeared in [Crest Plaza]... Although one of those... There was no need to say it out loud.

And amidst those people, there was a frail looking, average height boy with night-black hair with some long bangs and absurdly pale skin with lots of freckles, and dressed as "A 80's nerd".

Next to him, was an over the average beautiful girl with night-black ponytailed long hair and white, silky, smooth skin. And as her hair, she has night-black eyes.

She was wearing spats and a pale-red jersey.

Yes... This "Sporty Girl" and the guy next to her were the siblings Brunnhildr and Engel Falsch.

"What... Has just happened here?!" Exclaimed Engel while looking at his surroundings.

"I got just a simple idea of what happened... You too right?" Said Brunnhildr.

"... Though I do not want to say it... It looks like we got teleported or something alike. The question is where we are and why were we teleported."

"Of course is cause [The Tournament]!!" Shouted Brunnhildr

"Most likely..." Said Engel.

When she shouted that... All the nearby (and the not so nearby) people that did not got the idea of what was going on started to react about the fact that they were not in their homes, part-time work places, the mall.... nor the toilet.

That they read the message and got teleported to where they were now; [Crest Plaza].

"WELCOME EVERYBODY TO [THE RISE OF THE BLACK SWAN TOURNAMENT],"

Shouted a woman’s voice through the entire plaza. Everybody turned to where the voice came from and found a sort of bewitching blonde and hazel-green eyed teenage girl with a strange black and green bunny-eared hood, over the stage with the fire torches.

Everybody just decided to keep silent and pay attention to her speech or whatsoever... Even if she was weirdly dressed.

"Thanks for giving me your complete attention, and as well I may introduce myself. My name is Alexandra Cole and I'm the one supervising the tournament this year, also known as [Game Master]. Even if I look young, you're only allowed to refer to me as Ms. Cole. or [Game Master]"

Everybody started to murmur about it and to check over her.

"Well then. First of all I want to congratulate you for being chosen as participants of [The Tournament] -"

Said Ms. Cole, Then everybody in the plaza stared to increase the murmur and excitement started to spread through the participants; the obvious reaction to being selected as a participant in a "Sport" that was broadcasted all over the world.

"-But even like that you are no more than little pieces of chess that are worth no more than a penny!"

She shouted. Everybody stopped talking because of the pressure emitted by Ms. Cole words.

"Even if you were selected as participants, no more than 108 of the 2,000 that are gathered here, will pass to [The Known Second Part]. I will say this in advance but [The Tournament] is not a hike through the hill. You can die here and if you take this lightly... You will die here."

And like that, an explosion of voices started.

"What?!?"

"What are you saying?!?

"The hell you mean by that?"

"Die? Can we die here?"

"I did not register for this!!"

So then, a strong voice could be heard among the others.

"BUT I HAVE NEVER LISTENED OF PEOPLE DYING IN [THE TOURNAMENT] NOT EVEN IN [THE SECRET FIRST PART]"

No one knew whose voice was, but it silenced everyone in the place, and drove Ms. Cole to confirm that only sentence.

"Heh... You smart brats... -"

She said in a murmur...

"Oh well... Now that you've relatively calmed down, I'll start with the [Directions] given by me, the [Game Master] of [The Tournament]."

Teil Vier.

POP QUIZ TIME!

WHAT IS [MAGIC AND SKILLS]?

THOSE ARE THE TOOLS KNOWN IN COMPUTER AND CONSOLE GAMES THAT AIDS THE CHARACTER AND ARE BASED IN OLD MYTHOLOGIES. USING THESE MYTHS, YEARS OF RESEARCH WERE DONE SO NOW IT COULD BE BROUGHT TO REALITY AND GIVEN TO ANY PERSON IN THE WORLD, AND NOW, AS A PARTICIPANT IN [THE RISE OF THE BLACK SWAN TOURNAMENT] YOU NOW OWN THESE [MAGIC AND SKILLS].

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THESE IN [THE TOURNAMENT]?

THE [MAGIC AND SKILLS] NOT ONLY WORKS TO GIVE SPICE TO [THE TOURNAMENT] BUT TO NOT LET YOU DIE IN THE HARSH ENVIRONMENT OF IT. RISE YOUR LEVELS AND STATS, LEARN SKILLS AND DISCOVER NEW MAGIC WHILE ADVANCING IN [THE TOURNAMENT]. THAT IS WHAT [MAGIC AND SKILLS] ARE USED FOR.

NOTE

[MAGIC AND SKILLS] ARE NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THST COMES WITH THE BENEFITS OF [MAGIC AND SKILLS]?

[AVATAR] IS THE BIGGEST GIFT YOU CAN BE GIVEN IN THE WHOLE TOURNAMENT. AS WHILE YOUR REAL BODY NOW IS INSIDE A SPECIAL POCKET DIMENSION WITH THE MOST BIGGEST SECURITY IN THE WHOLE WORLD. WHAT YOU ARE NOW IS NOT A FLESH AND BONES HUMAN, BUT AN [AVATAR]. THIS PREVENT YOU FROM DYING ANYTIME SOON WHILE YOU PARTICIPATE IN [THE TOURNAMENT]. YOUR HEAD CAN BE SHOT OR BE CUT OFF, BUT 60 SECONDS LATER YOU [AVATAR] WILL BE MANIFESTED IN THE NEAREST [PLAZA] OR [FLAG].

AND NOW SOME SWEET WORDS FROM YOUR BELOVED [GAME MASTER]

Teil Fünf.

Like a 3D hologram, a window with some awful and somewhat annoying way of express writing was in front of every participant. After they read it, somehow got the gasp that "No matter what, I won't die here."... And of course, [The Tournament] being the massive "sport" it was, they were aware of the [Magic and Skills].

But even so, It was absurdly sudden that they were transported, or summoned, to the place they were. No one could put up with the surprise of being suddenly dragged to an unknown place and be told they could die anytime.

Even if they had the courage and determination to participate (which was only the 75% of them), this was just too much. That's why even if annoying, the message they saw in front of their eyes was a godsend.

They thanked in their hearts the ones who created the [AVATAR].

"Well then, as you all read the message, I'll start with the formal explanation...

By the way, I'm not the one who makes the messages in your [Menu].

So to begin with, you participants are not in earth anymore. You've been transported to a different dimension. A dimension where magic exist and where we held [The Secret First Part] of the tournament. This planet's name is [Bereich] and here's where you'll live until the first part is over. Do not worry; this is a relatively peaceful world too.

[The Secret First Part] is composed of [Three Stages]. While you are now in the [First Stage], your name as a participant is [Egg], and that will change when you achieve the goals imposed and pass to the [Second Stage].

Oh... A very important thing to announce right now is that you will not be alone in [Bereich]. Here in this dimension, people leave their lives, so you are not allowed to interfere with them. And with interfere I mean "DO NOT BEAT THEM UP, NOR KILL THEM", unless special circumstances are given. If you ever harm a native of [Bereich] more than allowed when not under special circumstances, you'll receive a fitting punishment. The worst one, is to be disqualified of [The Tournament]"

She said while everybody started to record that in their brains so they never were to even try to do it.

"Ah! I almost forgot! There is a [Skill] that has been given to all of you that will help you to understand any language the people of [Bereich] speak and the other [Egg] speak. It's named [Camellia Auto Translator].

Next is... Yes... The time you spend here will not affect your real body inside the pocket dimension except special procedures. That is you will not age, but your hair will grow, your nails too, you may get taller and also the index of your corporal mass may change. Those changes are to put up the sensation you gain while being in your [Avatar], so it will not change after you finish [The Secret First Part]. Needless to say, your magic, skills and stats will be included in said changes.

There will be no difference in your bodies after you return to [Earth] from [Bereich].

And to end with these explanations, there are some instructions:

First: Form a [Party] of a maximum of 6 people and 4 aids or substitutes.

Second: After here you'll be lead to a [Cornucopia] where you can serve yourself of provisions, basic items and basic armament.

Third: Any other questions regarding anything, you can ask to the AI in your [Menu]; even if your question is "How to use my [Menu].

.... Yes... [Menu] is the hologram you saw some moments ago. You operate it with your thoughts and is only visible to you."

Explained Ms. Cole not so eager.

"So then let's start right away!-

[TOURNAMENT START]!!!"

And after said words, the 2,000 people from all over the world gathered there got teleported again in a flash that shone in the now night sky over the [Crest Plaza].

"I wonder what will we see this year... "

Said in a lowly voice the [Game Master] that now was all alone over the stage.

"I wonder if any of them will be able to obtain any of the [Lanzen]. No one since the beginning of [The Tournament] has been able to deserve them."

Such lonely thoughts banished in the night plaza.

*Achoo!*

"Wait, Why I'm sneezing while I'm in an [Avatar]?" Said Ms. Cole while going back to her workplace, the [Unreachable Room].

Teil Sechs.

"CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP!!! THAT BITCH NEVER TOLD US THAT THERE WERE MONSTERS NEARBY THE [CORNUCOPIA]!!!!!"

Was exclaimed by Engel, our newborn [Egg] while running away for his life. And much more similar shouts made by other [Egg] could be heard through all [Bereich].