Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Timepassed.

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

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

Theeokeup:

Panting,Iasked,

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Quietly,Imuttered,

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Oh?”

likeaflowingstream.

Halftheeffort...?

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.