The fate of Iyama's destiny did not take long to manifest what it holds. At the age of six, Iyama, who was already a strong champion among his age grade and wrestling category with out rival, was full of energy and skills to contest with those between the ages of seven to ten. The mysteries surrounding his birth became clearer to the people of Iden.
At the age of ten, Iyama became a hero in the traditional moonlight wrestling competition. With his extraordinary powers and skills, he had set new records far beyond what anyone had ever done in the village.
He became the first ever in the history of Iden traditional moonlight wrestling, at the age of ten, to defeat the two higher age grades and categories; who were of ages eleven to thirteen and fourteen to sixteen respectively.
He completed in the two different categories because no one in his category was his match. So he was made a champion of champions over the three wrestling categories. However, the other two higher categories were permitted to have their champions; though, they suffered defeat in the hands of Iyama.
However, Itoya and his wife Akomu were very happy to see their son dominating the village traditional wrestling which Itoya in his days was a tool for training. Iyama's brave exploit was in fulfillment of Itoya's prophecies to the people through his fun and jokes. Iyama became the pride of Itoya and the family at large. Itoya was redeemed by his son from the shame of not able to win a wrestling match in his life time.
In addition, Iyama's brother, Ireko, was also not doing badly. This was because of his hard work as well as the training and back up he got from his brother, Iyama. But he was not in anyway close to the wonders of Iyama, his elder brother.
At the age of fifteen, Iyama had dominated all the different age grades in the wrestling categories and even became the trainer to the junior wrestling categories. As the champion of champions, he made history by challenging and defeating the five champions in the different categories in a one night moonlight contest.
It was his victory over the five champions that earned him the nickname : "The great cat". That is, the one who his back will never touch the ground in any wrestling contest no matter how strong and skillful his opponent may be.
Indeed, he could only be compared to nothing but a cat that will never allow it's back to touch the ground. Iyama's performance in the moonlight wrestling took the act to a higher height in the history of Iden. Where ever he went, he was given the treatment of a hero and he was a hero indeed.
Iyama's performance reminded the people of the mysteries that surrounded his birth. The elders after due consultation and discussions among themselves, over Iyama's defeat of the five champions, decided to promote him to the senior wrestling category; judging by his ability and capability which was far too much for the junior categories to cope with.
With this development, Iyama became the first ever citizen of Iden to be promoted into the senior wrestling category at the age of fifteen. The promotion could be seen as two different sides of coin. To Iyama, it was all happiness and opportunity for a test of his power and skills. But to the wrestlers in the senior category, it was tension and a big challenge to avoid the worst defeat of their lives in the hands of Iyama.