“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.