Genshin Impact: Towards Godhood

Red sand billowed, almost obscuring the entire sky.

Mishal stood frozen, watching the tall shadow slowly approaching from a distance, and couldn't help but shiver.

How are they supposed to fight this?

The massive Ruin Guard's size alone was daunting. It didn't need many attack methods; even just standing and moving slightly was enough to crush most combatants' spirits.

The disparity was too stark, so stark that it made resistance seem futile.

"If this is your final move, then I think you've lost, Mr. Rama," said the man standing beside Rama, scrutinizing the giant Ruin Guard with interest. "Khaenri'ah's technology might be of more interest to the Doctor and the Jester."

"You think the Ruin Guard can't handle this problem?"

Rama's expression remained unchanged.

"It can," the Harbinger named Tartaglia smiled kindly. "I don't think any mortal could resist this war machine. Even I can't guarantee I could destroy it."

"But a friend in Liyue taught me many things, like this chess game. I've already captured the enemy's king."

"So, naturally, the match is already over."

The outcome of the main battlefield might have far-reaching implications, but there were too many factors that determined victory.

Even in a magical world with elemental power, a decapitation strike still held significant value.

"Although I knew a Harbinger would personally arrive, I didn't expect it to be you."

Rama flexed his wrist bones. "Not bad."

Among the Harbingers ranked by strength, Tartaglia was the only one he could somewhat manage.

If it had been the Lady, he would have had to plant bombs and escape directly.

No point in fighting an opponent he couldn't possibly defeat.

"Fighting strong opponents is my personal interest, but you're not really a strong one, are you?" Tartaglia showed little interest. "You lack that quality of challenging everything. In your life, strength has never been the most important thing."

Mortals can pursue many things, like wealth and power—both valuable and difficult to obtain.

These alone could consume their entire lives.

Gaining strength involves more trouble than wealth and power, and the returns often aren't as direct.

The Qixing aren't particularly powerful opponents, but with Morax and Liyue behind them, Tartaglia had to respect each of the Qixing.

Despite this, Tartaglia still readied his Hydro blades.

He relaxed his shoulders. "Let's say it's to avoid the bill from the Wealth given to me. I spent too much money in Liyue and didn't find a worthy opponent."

"A trip to Sumeru is a good way to relax."

Tartaglia smiled casually. "So, are you ready?"

Killing isn't the goal; it's a means.

What they wanted were secrets, and people had to stay alive until the secrets were obtained.

"Yes, I'm ready."

Rama nodded politely.

In the next moment, the blade cut through the air.

"Your reaction is too slow." Tartaglia advanced aggressively. "What, haven't you trained seriously?"

He wasn't going all out, but his elemental power was a notch above Rama's. Even though Rama had taken numerous alchemical potions, Tartaglia still had a slight edge.

That wasn't the issue; the issue was that Tartaglia had fought his way up from the ranks of the warriors.

Rama had only ever fought easy battles, essentially one-sided victories.

Rama raised his hand to block the Hydro blade, his expression calm.

He wasn't foolish enough to fight bare-handed against an elemental user. He didn't have that much confidence.

"It's a bit difficult, but I can manage."

Rama glanced at the shallow scratch on his gauntlet, maintaining his composure.

With the gauntlet and his alchemically enhanced body, Rama wasn't at a disadvantage in direct confrontation.

He just lacked combat experience.

"Manage?" Tartaglia laughed. "Then keep trying."

His job was to crush Rama's fighting spirit, not kill him.

If his opponent still found the game worth continuing, he still had time.

After all, the soldiers charging ahead had nothing to do with the Fatui. If they died, they died.

"Please," Rama spoke calmly.

The alchemical poison mixtures had begun to take effect, and Tartaglia should soon notice. With his control over his body, once he sensed his strength waning too quickly, he would realize something was wrong.

But by then, it would be too late.

There are many ways to kill; fighting isn't the most convenient.

This was a proper duel.

Rama never gained the upper hand. Tartaglia usually attacked, and he defended.

Every counterattack missed its mark, causing no harm.

"Your stamina and elemental power exceed this limit. Is the legacy of the ancient times truly so useful?"

Tartaglia rubbed his chin with one hand.

He freed one hand to fight Rama, and the fire elemental phantom behind Rama couldn't break past a single blade.

"Counterattacks require strength. You've missed so many times but haven't shown significant fatigue."

"This level of recovery isn't something humans should have."

Humans aren't naturally adept at using elemental power.

They need some external aid to drive elemental power; this is a well-known fact.

From the life-draining Delusion, the Vision granted by gods, to the Inazuma wanderers' Fuli Symbols...

Humans aren't adept at using elemental power, so progressing in this area requires greater costs.

But Rama seemed like a fire elemental creature in human skin.

"These are relics of ancient technology. If you're willing, I could share these results with you."

"Provided you leave the Fatui and join my faction."

Rama offered an empty promise.

"No need. If I capture you, your stuff is mine anyway," Tartaglia laughed. "Besides, I've been holding back long enough. You should see that."

"If you continue resisting, I'll have to use more violent means."

It wasn't that Tartaglia couldn't see Rama stalling for time. As a warrior, he believed in swift victories, but work was work.

The job was to get the secrets, not to kill. Even a brute like him would patiently spend money and time on someone to get the secrets he wanted.

"Please."

Rama reached out, and the phantom behind him solidified.

Elemental bursts aren't sustainable. Since humans drive elemental power using Visions, even a "Genshin" can't resist elemental damage.

In other words, the flames you wield can kill your enemies and yourself.

Of course, with bodily enhancements, you wouldn't be burned, frozen, or paralyzed by your own powers.

But from the start of the battle, Rama's elemental power had never ceased.

This wasn't just talent; his body easily handled elemental power like a non-human creature.

Tartaglia's interest piqued.

Whether it was divine relics or Rama's secrets, this person was worth his full effort.

Once he brought Rama back, any secrets he held couldn't be hidden from the Doctor.

Rama glanced at his experience points and shook his head slightly.

The increase wasn't significant, no level-up.

It seemed killing was more rewarding than fighting.

But killing Tartaglia now was too difficult.

Tartaglia fought seriously.

As a warrior, when he fought seriously, he went all out, without holding back any means.

Demonic Armor, Delusion, and Vision together briefly boosted his maximum output.

"Armored warrior?"

Rama raised an eyebrow.

That was a development direction.

External armor relied on humans, but Rama trusted machines over bodies, so he hadn't considered this path.

But as a temporary weapon, it seemed worth studying.

"You still have time for nonsense."

Tartaglia's voice carried impatience. "Seems my attacks are too slow?"

Demonic Armor's pressure caused Tartaglia pain. This wasn't a special price, just the body's limit. Exceeding it caused pain.

In this state, he loathed thinking because consciousness brought pain.

Rama took a deep breath, and the phantom solidified completely.

Even now, he didn't fully understand elemental skills and bursts. The system helped him directly grasp fire elemental power.

The Vision was merely an accessory.

This specialness granted advantages, like bearing higher elemental power.

A giant over ten meters tall versus an armored Tartaglia.

In terms of momentum, Rama had already won, by a large margin.

**But He Truly Couldn't Win**

Upon activating his Foul Legacy Transformation, Tartaglia's usual Hydro element shifted to Electro.

The thunder spear was indeed more formidable than the water blades.

Combined with the speed boost from the armor, Rama found it increasingly difficult to react.

Typically, the longer a fight drags on, the harder it becomes, but Rama seemed to handle it with growing ease.

It wasn't that he had quickly found flaws in Tartaglia's combat skills; it was simply that Tartaglia was beginning to weaken.

"My strength...is waning?" Tartaglia paused briefly, but instead of worrying, he intensified his attacks.

It didn't matter—as long as his enemy died before his strength was completely drained, it didn't matter if he weakened.

He abandoned the plan to capture Rama, deciding instead to kill him.

In the Fatui's missions, at least in this one, Rama's life was not as valuable as Tartaglia's.

He was willing to sacrifice his life to complete a mission, but this wasn't the time for that.

The continuous thunder echoed, and Rama silently maintained his elemental power, standing firm in the center of the storm like a statue of a fierce deity.

Victory in this struggle was his, the only difference was the manner in which he would achieve it.

Because Tartaglia didn't want to die.

Being poisoned wasn't something one could endure just because they wanted to.

Tartaglia still believed he could solve the problem before it became critical and then leave with Rama.

But soon he would realize he had to either severely injure Rama and die himself or retreat entirely.

Rama knew he held the upper hand, so he remained calm throughout.

"Star-Sea Whale."

Without shouting, the deadly technique didn't need to be loud to kill.

A massive whale formed from Hydro energy surged from the ground.

Tartaglia, withdrawing from the battlefield, didn't leave any harsh words nor did he check the outcome; he simply turned and rushed away.

Rama raised his hand, and the blurry humanoid figure behind him became clearer but remained a phantom.

It extended a hand, grasping the body of the Hydro element whale.

Rama gripped tightly with both hands, thoroughly tearing apart Tartaglia's abrupt escape trick.

"What a pity."

His face was slightly pale, and he casually picked up two alchemical potions, drinking them both.

If the fight had continued, Tartaglia would have been forced to stay.

Rama had prepared poison, bombs, mechanical units, and supply drugs; the appetizers had just been consumed, and the guest had already hurriedly left.

Without the Foul Legacy Transformation, Tartaglia had a greater chance of escaping unscathed.

But once a warrior like him got serious, he went all out, leaving no hope for the enemy.

It's a good habit for a lion to use its full strength against a rabbit, but even good habits can be exploited.

The greater the physical exertion, the faster the toxins in the air took effect.

If the fight had been slower, Rama would have suffered much more.

His recovery ability was strong, but being a level lower meant he could only be beaten down with no chance to fight back.

"You'll be back."

Rama glanced at his status screen, then stopped paying attention to the departing Tartaglia.

With the Foul Legacy Transformation, Tartaglia could even briefly fly. Rama had tools to support flight too, but there was no need to rush to kill.

A half-dead Tartaglia still held considerable value.

**[After a relatively tough sparring match, your proficiency in elemental combat has significantly improved.]**

**[You have gained 378 points in elemental proficiency.]**

Sparring...this wasn't a true fight to the death. Tartaglia initially aimed to subdue Rama, but upon realizing something was wrong, he tried to fight seriously, only to be hindered by the poison.

Between completing the mission and his own life, he naturally chose the latter and withdrew.

It was just a sparring match, but it was still valuable.

If he had killed him directly...

There were still real prey like Dvalin and Osial.

"Indeed, I must not miss any of these opportunities."

Rama made up his mind once again.

(End of Chapter)