Halftheeffort...?

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Quietly,Imuttered,

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Timepassed.

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

likeaflowingstream.

Panting,Iasked,

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

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

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Theeokeup:

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Oh?”