“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

Theeokeup:

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Oh?”

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Quietly,Imuttered,

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Timepassed.

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

likeaflowingstream.

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Halftheeffort...?

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

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

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Panting,Iasked,

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.