Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

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

“Oh?”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Panting,Iasked,

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

Timepassed.

Halftheeffort...?

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Quietly,Imuttered,

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Theeokeup:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

likeaflowingstream.

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.