"A simple comparison: the durability of a mechanical body far surpasses that of flesh and blood. Furthermore, they don't feel pain and can deploy and utilize weapons in various situations."
"Lastly, they themselves are bombs. Killing one is just the beginning."
"In contrast, a normal human's strength can't break through external armor. Even with specialized weapons, their destructive power is relatively limited."
Faruzan's physical condition was quite outstanding.
Having taken successive doses of alchemical elixirs, she was fully capable of punching through the mono-eye of a ruin guard and directly pulling out its energy core.
Though she couldn't compare to that captain Arundolyn mentioned, who could allegedly pierce the core of a ruin guard with Klee's crayons... After all, crayons and fists enhanced by alchemical potions are entirely different.
A more ordinary human would need weapons to break the core, taking advantage of the opponent's moment of stasis to defeat the ruin guard.
"You've told me the value of these alchemical potions. Even if they can be mass-produced, they are still relatively expensive."
"I've taken so many, yet you said that two combat machines could take me down."
Faruzan did not dispute Rama's assessment. "But the value of these alchemical potions must exceed the cost of two combat machines, right?"
Rama did not hide the truth.
He wasn't rescuing her for free; he clearly informed her of the Mora spent on her so she would know how much she owed and what price to expect later.
"Indeed, it's not worth it," Rama nodded. "To cultivate a flesh and blood body to rival steel machines, the cost is prohibitively high."
In terms of combat, at this stage, even simply adding two steel plates as armor would make it difficult for an average person to deal with.
Just look at Mondstadt.
Swords, spears, bows, and other weapons derive their lethality half from the materials used and half from the wielder.
Weapons made of rare materials are not for ordinary people to use.
An average person can't slice through steel with a common sword.
But the missiles of ruin guards and the beams of constructs... these weapons, whether in the hands of a child or an adult warrior, have a fixed power.
Klee can reshape the landscape of Windrise. Even Jean wielding the Dandelion Breeze Sword might not achieve that in a year.
But in a head-to-head match, Klee wouldn't find a winning chance against Jean.
In early civilization, advancing technology was far simpler and more effective than cultivating personal strength.
And even at higher levels, technology still holds promise for the future.
The puppet created by Raiden Ei had the strength of a god, and Scaramouche's ascension to godhood demonstrated that technological creations in Teyvat are not without potential.
Of course, the materials for the puppet were too rare.
Raiden Shogun's puppet was made from Ei's own godly body. Scaramouche's ascension began with a Vision, followed by meticulous planning by the Fatui and the Akademiya, culminating in his elevation.
But regardless of how they got there, they did.
Footprints left on this path show it's not a dead end; others can follow.
Faruzan awaited Rama's answer.
"Consider the problem from my perspective for a moment."
It wasn't really a problem, Rama spoke calmly. "I have two paths before me. The first, I turn myself into a mechanical lifeform."
"The second, I retain my flesh and blood body and continue living like a normal human."
"Both paths lead to the same place: I will have the strength of a powerful god."
The paths and the goal were clear, so the choice was understandable.
Faruzan wasn't foolish. After a moment of thought, she said, "Mortals becoming gods is not without precedent. It's not surprising you want to walk this path."
Mondstadt's first Grand Master, Vanessa, ascended to Celestia and became a god at the end of her life.
"Vanessa, huh..." Rama smiled and shook his head. "Don't take them as examples to follow."
"If you think you can do what others can, you'll often find it very challenging."
"This path is difficult. My only way to walk it is to gather everything Sumeru has to offer—including resources and the wisdom of scholars—and use them as a foundation to climb higher."
"That is the value of rule," Rama said softly. "To lead a kingdom in a single direction with the will of a king."
"Of course, the most important point is that Teyvat's gods believe the future belongs to humanity."
He chuckled. "Since they believe humans are the rightful masters of this world, the kingdom I wish to establish must have humans as its mainstay to survive."
"That's a bit too... much..." Faruzan fell silent. "Just because of the gods' beliefs, you don't think humans have other values?"
Rama understood Faruzan's confusion.
It was normal.
For ordinary people following the path of technology, it's impossible to independently advance to higher branches of technology.
Faruzan, standing near the pinnacle as a scholar, understood well that human energy is limited. Usually, achieving depth in one field is already rare.
Of course, after unlocking technological creations like alchemical elixirs, human physical qualities improve, granting scholars more time, energy, and quicker thinking to delve deeper into academic fields.
It's a virtuous cycle: advanced technology supports human development, providing more resources for research.
But the further you go, the more time and energy it takes to unlock a new branch of technology.
Typically, the pace of problem-solving can't keep up with the increasing complexity of issues, causing technological stagnation.
You may be one step away from the next level, but that final step remains out of reach.
It's an unavoidable issue. Advancing technology requires investment, with no guaranteed return.
(End of Chapter)