Theeokeup:

Halftheeffort...?

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Panting,Iasked,

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

likeaflowingstream.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

Quietly,Imuttered,

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

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

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Oh?”

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

Timepassed.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.