Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

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

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Quietly,Imuttered,

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Panting,Iasked,

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Oh?”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

likeaflowingstream.

Timepassed.

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Theeokeup:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Halftheeffort...?

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.