Konata and her fellow competitors stood atop a large staircase with carvings of Olmec embedded in them. Each giant stair was divided into 4 sections. The second and third stairs had carvings as well, but the bottom stair was in two sections and had no carvings. Ayeka and Videl were on the farthest left. Next to them were Konata and Kagami. Next to them were Sasami and Sakura. On the farthest right were Ako and Riko. In walks Kirk Fogg behind the girls standing in the middle presenting Olmec with his story.
KIRK FOGG: As we continue our quest, it is now time for Olmec to tell the story of the Legend of the Jade-Handled Sword Kusanagi, but pay close attention. Because your knowledge of the Legend may bring you one step closer to Olmec's Temple.
OLMEC: Long ago in ancient Japan lived a rather rude deity named Susano-O-no-Mikoto. He was recently kicked out of the divine world of Takamagahara for being rude towards his sister, the sun goddess Amaterasu, and was told never to return again. While wandering the province of Shimane, in the village of Izumo, Susano-O saw an old farm couple crying at a farmhouse near the river.
"What seems to be wrong, old man?" he asked.
"Woe are us," the farmer replied. "Tomorrow night's the night we have to sacrifice our eighth daughter to the river demon!"
"We begged him to spare her," his wife added, "but he said he'll destroy our home and eat us if we refuse!"
"Relax, I have a plan," Susano-O said. "Go home and make eight buckets of your best sake and offer it to this demon. I'll take care of the rest."
The following night, a giant serpent demon with eight heads began to slither out of the river. This demon is known as the dreaded Yamata-no-Orochi. When Yamata-no-Orochi drank the buckets of sake, he was poisoned. Susano-O leapt into the air and cut down the demon into nothing. The farmers thanked Susano-O by marrying their eighth daughter, Kushinada.
Before he left, Susano-O noticed a sword with a solid jade handle embedded in Yamata-no-Orochi's tail. Susano-O pulled it out and it shined brighter than the sun. With his new wife Princess Kushinada in tow, Susano-O went back to Takamagahara and presented the jade-handled sword to Amaterasu as an apology for his rude behavior.
Amaterasu named the sword "Kusanagi" and she herself gave it to her son Jinmu, the first Emperor of Japan as a sign of respect. Overtime, ninjas stole Kusanagi and hidden it inside the Temple for safekeeping.
Your quest is to find the Jade-Handled Sword Kusanagi and bring it back here.
KIRK FOGG: Thank you, Olmec. Tell us, where can we find the Jade-Handled Sword?
OLMEC: The Jade-Handled Sword Kusanagi can be found in the Room of the Ancient Warriors.
KIRK FOGG: Alright, teams. You're standing on the Steps of Knowledge. In a minute, Olmec will ask you a question. If you know the answer, stomp down on the ancient marking in front of you, and wait for me to call on you. If you're right, move down one step. If you're wrong or you run out of time, I'll give the other teams a chance to answer. The first 2 teams to make it to the bottom step will move on to the Temple Games in order to earn the right to enter Olmec's Temple. OK, Olmec. Let's hear your first question.
OLMEC: The goddess Amaterasu rules over the heavenly world of…
Takamagahara, Nirvana, or Asgard?
KIRK FOGG: Silver Snakes?
RIKO: Nirvana?
OLMEC: Incorrect.
KIRK FOGG: Orange Iguanas?
SASAMI: Takamagahara
OLMEC: That is correct.
Sasami and Sakura walked down to the next step in their section as Olmec begins his second question.
OLMEC: The serpent demon Yamata-no-Orochi is a distant relative to what mythological monster?
The Salamander, the Basilisk, or the Hydra?
KIRK FOGG: Red Jaguars?
VIDEL: Basilisk.
OLMEC: Incorrect.
KIRK FOGG: Orange Iguanas?
SAKURA: Salamander.
OLMEC: That is also incorrect.
KIRK FOGG: Green Monkeys?
KAGAMI: Hydra.
OLMEC: That is correct.
Konata and Kagami walked down and stood side by side with Sasami and Sakura.
OLMEC: Susano-O-Mikoto is the Japanese god of…
Storms, the Sun, or the Moon?
KIRK FOGG: Silver Snakes?
AKO: Storms?
OLMEC: That is correct.
Ako walked down the steps with Riko behind her, and are right beside Sasami and Sakura, just as Konata and Kagami are.
OLMEC: According to our legend, on what body part of Yamata-no-Orochi was Kusanagi embedded in?
Its tail, its head, or its stomach?
KIRK FOGG: Silver Snakes?
AKO & RIKO: Its tail.
OLMEC: Correct!
Ako and Riko jump down to the next step in their section, leading the pack.
KIRK FOGG: The Silver Snakes are in the lead. The next correct answer could lead them to the Temple Games. Olmec, let's have your next question, please.
OLMEC: Takamagahara is a heavenly world from what religion?
Buddhism, Shintoism, or Taoism?
KIRK FOGG: Red Jaguars?
AYEKA: Buddhism.
OLMEC: Incorrect.
There was no answer as a high-pitched whistle and bell began to chime.
OLMEC: The correct answer was Shintoism.
KIRK FOGG: Next question, please, Olmec.
OLMEC: During ancient times, the capital of Japan was which city?
Kyoto, Osaka, or Nara?
KIRK FOGG: Green Monkeys?
KAGAMI: Nara.
OLMEC: That is correct.
Konata and Kagami stepped down and are on the same level as Ako and Riko.
KIRK FOGG: The Green Monkeys have tied up with the Silver Snakes! The next question could put one of these teams in the Temple Games. Olmec, let's have your next question.
OLMEC: After expelling Susano-O in a fit of rage, what did Amaterasu do?
Flood the earth, lock herself in the palace, or start a war?
KIRK FOGG: Orange Iguanas?
SASAMI: Flood the earth?
OLMEC: Incorrect.
KIRK FOGG: Silver Snakes?
AKO: Lock herself in the palace.
OLMEC: That is correct!
Ako and Riko jumped down on the last step as they celebrated being the first team to qualify for the Temple Games.
KIRK FOGG: We have our first team! The Silver Snakes are going on to the Temple Games! We need one more team to make it to the Temple Games. Olmec, next question.
OLMEC: Kusanagi was given to the first Emperor of Japan. Was his name…
Nobunaga, Jinmu, or Hirohito?
KIRK FOGG: Green Monkeys?
KONATA: Hirohito.
OLMEC: Incorrect.
KIRK FOGG: Red Jaguars?
AYEKA: Jinmu.
OLMEC: That is correct.
Ayeka and Videl finally head down towards the next step in their section, but have a lot of catching up to do, with Sasami and Sakura ahead of them and Konata and Kagami close to advancing.
OLMEC: What was the name of the eighth daughter of the farm couple?
Omoikane, Kushinada, or Amaterasu?
KIRK FOGG: Red Jaguars?
AYEKA: Omoikane?
OLMEC: Incorrect.
KIRK FOGG: Orange Iguanas?
SASAMI & SAKURA: Kushinada.
OLMEC: That is correct.
KIRK FOGG: The Orange Iguanas are tied with the Green Monkeys. One more answer can put either of them one step closer to Olmec's Temple. Red Jaguars can catch up. Olmec, next question.
OLMEC: Izumo, where Susano-O wandered, is in which Japanese province?
Shimane, Okayama, or Nagasaki?
KIRK FOGG: Orange Iguanas?
SASAMI: Okayama.
OLMEC: Incorrect.
KIRK FOGG: Green Monkeys?
KAGAMI: Shimane.
OLMEC: That is correct!
Konata and Kagami jumped down and celebrated with Ako and Riko, although the twins themselves sort of didn't feel like celebrating with them. Ayeka, Videl, Sasami and Sakura walked down to join the rest of the pack.
KIRK FOGG: We have our 2 teams! Moving on to the Temple Games are the Green Monkeys, and the Silver Snakes! The Red Jaguars and the Orange Iguanas will not go home empty-handed and here's what they'll receive:
ANNOUNCER: Nestle Quik. All signs point to a creamy and chocolatey fun-filled afterschool treat. Chocolate Milk? Think Quik™.
KIRK FOGG: When we come back, the Green Monkeys and the Silver Snakes will battle it out for the right to enter Olmec's Temple, right after this!
As Konata, Kagami and the Suminoe twins head backstage to prepare, Ayeka, Videl, Sasami and Sakura join Ryoko, Sawyer, Anri and Miharu in the grandstand.
"What complete nonsense this was!" Ayeka said in a huff. "We should've won!"
"Don't beat yourself up for it, Princess," Ryoko responded. "That's my job."
"Well, at least I got further than you, you wretched hooligan!" Ayeka retorted back.
"Always with these two…" Sasami sighed. "Well, let's see how Konata and the others will do in the Temple Games."
"This ought to be very interesting," Videl said. "I wonder what Temple Games do they have in mind?"
