Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Theeokeup:

Halftheeffort...?

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Timepassed.

Quietly,Imuttered,

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Panting,Iasked,

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

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

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

likeaflowingstream.

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

“Oh?”

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”