Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Quietly,Imuttered,

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Timepassed.

Halftheeffort...?

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Theeokeup:

Panting,Iasked,

“Oh?”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

likeaflowingstream.

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

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

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.