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.