Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Quietly,Imuttered,

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Halftheeffort...?

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

“Oh?”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

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

Timepassed.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Panting,Iasked,

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

likeaflowingstream.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Theeokeup: