Quietly,Imuttered,

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Oh?”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Halftheeffort...?

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Panting,Iasked,

Timepassed.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

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

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Theeokeup:

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

likeaflowingstream.

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.