Panting,Iasked,

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

“Oh?”

Timepassed.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Theeokeup:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

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

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

likeaflowingstream.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Halftheeffort...?

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

Quietly,Imuttered,