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

Panting,Iasked,

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Halftheeffort...?

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Oh?”

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Timepassed.

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Quietly,Imuttered,

likeaflowingstream.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Theeokeup: