“Oh?”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

likeaflowingstream.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Halftheeffort...?

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Panting,Iasked,

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Quietly,Imuttered,

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

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

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Theeokeup:

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Timepassed.