Timepassed.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Quietly,Imuttered,

Theeokeup:

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Halftheeffort...?

Panting,Iasked,

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Oh?”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

likeaflowingstream.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

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

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.