Hot tears streamed down Seraphine's eyes.
In truth, she still did not fully understand.
Yet, she was shaken and deeply moved by the resounding melodies of these souls.
The passion of the Zaunite students burned fiercely.
Even the most rational and calm Viktor trembled slightly with excitement.
Actually, after pondering all night, he had already come up with an answer quite similar to the ultimate goal Levi had spoken of.
But what troubled him was that this ideal was simply too beautiful; he had no idea how to actually achieve it.
Human strength was simply too weak.
Compared to building a utopia through human effort, Viktor secretly felt that the method of Mechanical Ascension seemed much more feasible—
At least it aligned with his professional expertise. He actually had a vague sense of confidence regarding Mechanical Ascension.
As for building that ultimate ideal, Viktor had no confidence whatsoever. He could never do it alone.
But now, Levi was telling him:
"So what if we can't achieve it?"
"Do we just give up because we can't achieve it?"
"No!" Viktor's thoughts instantly cleared as he declared, "We don't need to achieve it; we just need to move forward! Taking even a single step closer to that ideal is already a victory!"
If they took one step forward, and future generations took another, step by step, even if they never realized the final ideal, they would still be drawing closer to the ultimate goal!
This world would ultimately become a better place because of their efforts!
With this realization, the students' thoughts gradually unified. They were no longer lost and bewildered in the face of their ideals.
Even though, at this very moment, they faintly realized from Levi's words that merely approaching that ideal would require sacrifice. It would demand the sacrifice of a generation, perhaps even several.
Yet, they still passionately pursued this ideal:
"Then, Mr. Levi, what exactly should we do now?"
Having established the ultimate goal and unified the students' thoughts, it was finally time to discuss concrete courses of action.
How exactly should they take that first step forward?
What was their short-term goal?
Levi had to present a practical and feasible plan, rather than just delivering another impassioned, rousing speech.
And Levi did not disappoint them.
Without realizing it, he had become a mentor to these genius students, guiding them toward the path ahead:
"Our short-term goal is—"
"To achieve national independence for Zaun, to build the first Jannaist city-state in history right here in Zaun, and to secure the victory of the struggle in this single city!"
This answer was resounding and firm. However, it provoked varying reactions.
The majority of the students strongly agreed, believing that their most pressing task was to save their suffering Zaunite compatriots.
Yet, a few hot-blooded students felt that Levi's theory of a single-city victory was somewhat too conservative:
"Teacher Levi," they unconsciously addressed Levi as a teacher, even though he was just a worker, "shouldn't the Great Harmony you spoke of be realized on a global scale?"
"Why do you emphasize the victory of Zaun alone, rather than considering a worldwide struggle?"
Because taking too big a stride is a surefire way to pull a muscle.
For a newborn, just surviving is an achievement.
Premature death is normal. It might even take several failed attempts before a child is born who can actually grow up.
Levi appreciated the students' enthusiasm, but he told them with absolute rationality:
"Our struggle isn't a novel. We must be realistic and analyze specific problems on a case-by-case basis."
"Think about it, everyone. Given the current objective conditions of Runeterra, is there really the foundation to immediately spark a worldwide struggle?"
Compared to Earth, the current political landscape of Runeterra could only be described as incredibly surreal.
Piltover and Zaun began their industrial revolution three hundred years ago, unlocking the technological branches of steam and electricity. Now, they had even entered a third industrial revolution ignited by Hextech and Chemtech.
But what about the rest of the world outside the Twin Cities?
Let alone embracing the ideological trends of the industrial revolution, achieving large-scale machine production, or developing a mature working class...
Most regions and nations hadn't even sparked a Renaissance!
Demacia was still playing around with knights and nobles, while Shurima was overrun with warlords and chieftains.
Ionia was practically a giant martial arts realm, with various sects and schools occupying mountain peaks, farming at home, and remaining self-sufficient.
The Freljord was even more absurd. Its frozen wastelands were fundamentally unsuitable for the development of human civilization, leaving it stuck in a primitive era of slave-owning tribes.
Noxus was slightly better, possessing a rather lopsided military-industrial foundation. But at its core, it was still a classical military empire built on slavery. Massive numbers of serfs were still bound to the manors and fields of military aristocrats, completely unliberated.
Yet, three hundred years had already passed since the industrial revolution in the Twin Cities.
The Twin Cities were practically approaching Cyberpunk 2077, so why was every other nation still playing Crusader Kings?
"Why did this situation occur?"
Because, of course, this world was made up by people on Earth. It was already a blessing they hadn't written in a Wakanda brawling with alien technology—cough, cough.
Anyway, if one were to analyze it seriously:
"It is still because the merchant class of Runeterra is far less powerful than they appear."
"They have only achieved a deformed, abnormal growth in Zaun and Piltover, and have not successfully extended their tentacles to every corner of the world."
On Earth, the arrival of the industrial revolution sounded the death knell for the era of absolute monarchy. Roaring machines crushed all the obsolete things that stood in their way.
If you didn't want to change with the times, the ironclad ships and cannons of foreigners would come and force you to change.
But the situation in Runeterra was completely different:
Ironclad ships and cannons? Tanks and machine guns?
Were they really that impressive?
Try experiencing Demacian Justice, the Noxian Guillotine, or Ionian Fervor.
Imagine this: Piltover merchants sail their armed merchant ships to a foreign coast, preparing to deliver "freedom and democracy" to the natives—
And then the natives charge forward like an overwhelming avalanche, wearing runic armor, wielding enchanted greatswords, riding basilisks, silverwings, and giant Drüvask boars, while hurling colorful fireballs, water bombs, boulders, and tornadoes from their hands.
Bah! What industrial revolution?
Is it stronger than the archery, horsemanship, incantations, and magic passed down from their ancestors?
I just want to close my borders and farm at home. Do you really have the guts to bombard me with cannons?
"Therefore, in nations and regions outside the Twin Cities, the old relations of production have not been broken at all. The power we currently possess is still far from comparable to the warriors and mages who rule the old world."
"Meanwhile, as a highly developed commercial economy, Piltover's internal contradictions have long been successfully deflected by its rulers. They use their technological and financial hegemony to shift the burden onto external economic colonies like Zaun and Shurima."
"So, in the entire world, the only place with the foundation to develop a struggle is the single city of Zaun!"
"And thanks to the deformed economic development of the Twin Cities, Zaun is now the largest heavy industry city in Runeterra, the world's factory with the highest concentration of labor. Its population has grown continuously over the past three hundred years, and it now boasts as many as two million people!"
Yes, even though Zaun was a living hell, its population had been steadily increasing.
Because Piltover, right across the way, was a paradise.
Every year, foreigners from all over the world gave up everything to chase their dreams in Piltover. And the vast majority of them would be weeded out by the city—either driven out by Enforcers or left to fall into Zaun on their own.
As Piltover's massive factory and giant slum, Zaun absorbed countless bankrupt foreign immigrants from the city above every year.
The bigger Piltover's businesses grew, the more factories opened in Zaun.
Naturally, the number of people here also increased.
Moreover, they were almost entirely workers—workers who were natural allies.
"As long as we can unite these two million Zaunites, it will be enough to guarantee our victory!"
Janna's peak was thousands of years ago, before the Shuriman Empire began to ban the transmission of her faith.
How many people were there in the entire world back then?
And how many of them could have been Janna's followers?
In other words, even during her golden age, the number of Janna's believers was only a few million at most.
Yet, the population of a single modern industrial metropolis could rival that of an entire ancient nation.
Therefore, relying solely on the two million people currently in Zaun, there was hope to push Janna's power back to its absolute peak.
"When that time comes, Zaun will have the protection of a demigod. Even against a powerful nation like Noxus, we will not be at a disadvantage!"
"We will have a way to survive, and then—"
"We will explore the path further ahead!"
Power Stones, reviews, and comments— really helps a lot
Want to read ahead? Get access to 50+ extra chapters on my Patreon:
👉 patreon.com/Aragai_Sama