章節 26: Physical Limits
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"Camille will be very busy the coming days. She has too much to handle now. Piltover won't rush into a conflict, so you still have time."
In the dim basement of the Noxian embassy, Ryan stood across from Viktor. On the table between them, more than a dozen Primordial Hex crystals were neatly arranged, their faint glow illuminating the room.
"Understood, Your Excellency," Viktor replied earnestly.
"The message has been passed to Silco. He's far more adept at this thing than I am."
A day had passed since the council meeting ended, yet most people were still absorbed in the shock of the Ferros family reclaiming their seat in Piltover's Council.
Meanwhile, preparations for war remained hidden, known only to a select few.
Camille had taken over the enforcer squad and was rigorously drilling her troops. The recruits, who hadn't fired their rifles in ages, were quickly being whipped back into shape.
Ryan picked up one of the Primordial Hex crystals, rolling it in his hand before setting it back down with a solemn expression.
"Before we delve into the topic of mechanical ascension, I need to confirm something. How much do you understand about the limits of human physicality in Runeterra?"
"The limits of the body…" Viktor murmured, furrowing his brow.
"After shimmer injections, some test subjects can bend steel with their bare hands. It's said that General Darius of Noxus is nearly invulnerable."
Ryan chuckled lightly, his tone almost amused.
"Darius' physical capabilities far exceed what you imagine. Even if he were targeted by a cutting-edge turret and struck by four rounds simultaneously, it wouldn't be enough to kill him."
Ryan's expression turned contemplative for a moment before he added, "But if we're comparing strength, the girl from Ionia with her blades left a deeper impression on me. When the commander and I fought her together, we still couldn't defeat her."
Ryan's gaze darkened slightly as he recalled the memory.
"The commander even lost a hand in that battle. To be fair, she was wielding some kind of mystical power from Ionia at the time, something that defied logic and resisted even the strongest magic."
"That's impossible!" Viktor exclaimed, his voice rising in disbelief.
Ryan's description of Darius had shattered his understanding of human limitations.
"Don't underestimate what humans are capable of," Ryan said, his tone sharp.
"Remember the five paths I mentioned before. To give you a clearer perspective on mechanical enhancement, I'll use someone you know as an example. Let me think… who would be suitable…?"
After a few moments of thought, a sly smile crossed Ryan's face.
"Let's take the daughter of the Kiramman family—Caitlyn. She's the standard template for a Piltover enforcer."
Viktor nodded, not particularly interested in Caitlyn's combat abilities but eager to understand the broader picture.
"If we compare her to someone stronger, let's talk about Jayce Talis—your old colleague. His physical strength is roughly equivalent to that of an elite Noxian soldier, about three to five times greater than Caitlyn's."
"Jayce comes from a family of blacksmiths," Ryan continued.
"He's been forging since childhood. I've seen his strength firsthand; his physique reflects years of labor."
Viktor nodded in agreement, unsurprised that Jayce was comparable to an elite soldier.
"That makes sense. Jayce is a scientist who uses technology in combat. Even so, Piltover can't compete with Noxus, the most powerful military force in the world. If Jayce were comparable to a Noxian general, that would be shocking."
"He's still growing," Ryan replied.
"If he fully embraces augmentation technology or continues using Hextech devices, his strength will gradually increase, perhaps even approaching Camille's level."
"Councilor Camille's lower body is made of a prosthetic—an intricate metal framework," Viktor mused.
"But I can't discern the material."
"Each enhancement she's undergone represents the pinnacle of Piltover's technological achievement at that time," Ryan said, his tone reverent.
"Back then, the Ferros family was the very heart of Piltover's innovation and power."
Ryan didn't want Viktor to feel burdened by the situation and instead encouraged him.
"If Zaun can become an independent city recognized by all nations in the future, you'll have the resources to achieve everything you dream of."
"Alright, let's get back to the topic. Camille's power level is what we call the 'Champion level' in Runeterra. Excluding her mechanical legs, her physical capabilities are at least 30 times greater than Caitlyn's—likely even more," Ryan explained, using a metaphor to clarify.
"Champion level… Your Excellency must be one of them," Viktor said, his tone filled with awe and a spark of ambition as though he had just set a new goal for himself.
Ryan shrugged slightly, offering a nonchalant response.
"Mages are different from warriors. I'm not as strong as you think. My affinity lies with water-based magic, so I'm an auxiliary mage. And truthfully, my physical condition is quite poor. Magic always demands a price."
Viktor glanced at his seemingly frail superior, a mix of disbelief and curiosity in his expression. After all, this was the same man who had slaughtered seven Ionian mages single-handedly.
The more Ryan downplayed himself, the more Viktor found him enigmatic and unfathomable.
"Let's not dwell on that. That's enough general knowledge for now," Ryan said, changing the subject.
"As for individuals like Ionia's champions or higher-tier figures such as General Darius and Garen of Demacia, it's best not to concern yourself with them just yet. Focus on reaching Champion step by step."
Ryan deliberately withheld one detail: Camille's mechanical legs couldn't be dismissed as "normal."
In fact, they granted her power on par with those who were a full tier higher than her. Still, he trusted Viktor, and this conversation was a test of sorts.
"I understand, Your Excellency Ryan. Based on Champion standards, how many Hex Crystals would be suitable for a core?" Viktor asked, glancing at the table covered in Primordial Hex Crystals.
Their ethereal blue light reflected in his determined eyes.
Ryan observed Viktor thoughtfully and replied, "For the most basic champion, around three crystals should suffice. But there's a problem."
His tone grew serious.
"Please, go on," Viktor urged.
Ryan's gaze sharpened. "Your soul can't withstand that kind of power all at once. Even one crystal would be dangerous."
Typically, mechanical ascension involved merging consciousness with machinery.
However, in Runeterra, consciousness is intertwined with the soul, and certain runes can manipulate the soul itself.
While Ryan wasn't a master of souls, his time in the Immortal Bastion had exposed him to countless books on the subject, enough to know the risks.
He sighed and continued, "I can oversee the process, but once it begins, there's no turning back. The outcome will be irreversible."
"I'm just an ordinary man," Viktor admitted, his tone calm but resolute.
"I can't endure the raw power of the crystals as I am. That's why I created this."
A small smile played on Viktor's lips as he pulled a Hex Gem encased in runic engravings from his bag.
"I'll infuse this into my body to replace my heart. When I regain consciousness, my mind will be capable of sustaining the core's strength."
Ryan's expression darkened, and he frowned in disapproval.
"This method is crude and reckless—pure gambling. Have you ever had any successful trials?"
"I haven't conducted human trials," Viktor confessed.
"Animal experiments failed. But based on my calculations, this method has the highest probability of success."
Ryan's tone turned sharp. "Mr. Viktor, your life no longer belongs solely to you. You're no longer the man who needs to gamble it away."
"…," Viktor said nothing, lowering his head, but his resolve remained unshaken.
Ryan could see the determination burning in Viktor's eyes.
True, Viktor didn't need to gamble out of desperation. But for him, achieving mechanical ascension was a gamble worth taking.
Viktor knew he could progress cautiously, but that path would only lead to minor enhancements—perhaps five to ten times Caitlyn's physical capacity.
That wasn't enough for him. It wouldn't touch his soul, and it wasn't the future he envisioned.
Seeing Viktor's steadfast expression, Ryan let out a sigh and relented.
"Fine. If you've made up your mind, I have an idea. Katarina, bring the potion."
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