Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

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

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Quietly,Imuttered,

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Theeokeup:

Halftheeffort...?

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

“Oh?”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Panting,Iasked,

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Timepassed.

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

likeaflowingstream.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.