So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Panting,Iasked,

Quietly,Imuttered,

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Theeokeup:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

likeaflowingstream.

“Oh?”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

Timepassed.

Halftheeffort...?

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

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

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”