Timepassed.

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Halftheeffort...?

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Theeokeup:

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“gratutions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

likeaflowingstream.

Panting,Iasked,

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Oh?”

Quietly,Imuttered,

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.