Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Halftheeffort...?

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

likeaflowingstream.

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Panting,Iasked,

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Timepassed.

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

“Oh?”

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Quietly,Imuttered,

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Theeokeup:

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

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

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.