Quietly,Imuttered,

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Oh?”

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

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Halftheeffort...?

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

likeaflowingstream.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Theeokeup:

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Timepassed.

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Panting,Iasked,

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”