“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Timepassed.

Panting,Iasked,

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

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

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Halftheeffort...?

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Theeokeup:

likeaflowingstream.

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

Quietly,Imuttered,

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

“Oh?”

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.