Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Theeokeup:

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

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

Timepassed.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

likeaflowingstream.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

Halftheeffort...?

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Panting,Iasked,

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

“Oh?”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Quietly,Imuttered,

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

So,Icalledforth“me.”