Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

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

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Halftheeffort...?

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Oh?”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

likeaflowingstream.

Quietly,Imuttered,

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

Theeokeup:

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Panting,Iasked,

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Timepassed.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”