“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.