Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

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

Theeokeup:

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Quietly,Imuttered,

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Halftheeffort...?

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Panting,Iasked,

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

Timepassed.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

likeaflowingstream.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Oh?”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.