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.