Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Oh?”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

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

Theeokeup:

Panting,Iasked,

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

likeaflowingstream.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Quietly,Imuttered,

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Halftheeffort...?

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Timepassed.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.