Stellaris Tech Tree HSR

Ding!

As soon as the skirmish ended, a yellow notification box popped up at the top of Chen Lin's vision, accompanied by a familiar sound effect.

Timed research?!

The scattered remnants of the Antimatter Legion glowed faintly, a massive exclamation mark hovering above them. As Chen Lin focused on the wreckage, a new event panel appeared.

[Antimatter Legion: Remnant Debris]

The foolish Antimatter Legion, blinded by their arrogance, has suffered a humiliating defeat. Their pitiful Twin-Blade Marauders were torn apart by our overwhelming firepower, yet some remnants escaped the void's grasp. Within this debris may lie secrets and technologies unknown to us.

[This is our opportunity. Study it! (Unlock the Antimatter Legion Event Chain)][No, such filthy creatures don't deserve entry into our labs! (Gain 100 Energy Credits)]

Ah, classic Stellaris choices.

From his experience, Chen Lin knew the second option would abandon the event chain altogether. In some ways, it was a safer choice—after all, there was no telling what kind of disasters or crises might arise from studying the debris.

But as a seasoned 7+ space strategy gamer, there was no way he'd pass up the potential rewards of the first option. Even if the payoff was uncertain, the risk was worth it.

"This is our opportunity. Study it!"

Chen Lin selected the first option without hesitation.

Immediately, the debris of the Antimatter Legion began levitating, as if lifted by an unseen force. A faint glow enveloped the wreckage before it vanished entirely, leaving nothing behind.

Within his [Technology] interface, a new research project related to the Antimatter Legion was already in progress.

Chen Lin could feel part of his brain's processing power being diverted, as though the research was drawing directly from his mental capacity.

Am I playing every role in this operation myself?

[Time Remaining: 1:59:59]

Two hours of research time—shockingly short. Chen Lin had expected the project to take weeks, if not months.

The rapid progression of this event chain left him curious about what might come next. Most event chains in Stellaris offered lucrative rewards, though some could lead to catastrophic outcomes.

In the end, it's all about taking risks.

"Phew… I thought more enemies were coming," March 7th said, patting her chest in relief as the battle zone quieted. "A few grunts are fine, but a whole swarm would've been a nightmare. Still, you two were impressive! I was worried you might not be able to fight."

March glanced at Stelle and Chen Lin, both of whom didn't look particularly battle-hardened. Stelle had a lean, athletic build, likely from regular activity but not heavy training. Chen Lin looked even less imposing—slender, almost frail, like someone who spent his days hunched over a desk.

Yet their performance had exceeded expectations.

"I was just winging it," Chen Lin admitted modestly.

"I'm the same," Stelle said after a brief pause, nodding with an almost comical sincerity.

"…"

Chen Lin resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

Sure, I've never trained in self-defense, but there's no way someone without experience could pull off the kind of moves you did.

Stelle was clearly trying to sell a story—but to ghosts, maybe.

March 7th dismissed her bow with a cheerful smile. "Doesn't matter! I'll back you up when it counts. Let's get moving."

Lingering too long in enemy territory was risky. The group needed to leave quickly.

The space station's vast layout was a maze of overlapping floors and corridors, brimming with advanced technology that Chen Lin couldn't fully comprehend.

Even with the knowledge granted by his initial Stellaris tech, many of the devices were unfamiliar, requiring deeper study to unravel their mechanisms. For now, he could only make educated guesses.

For example, the transparent energy bridges connecting different sections seemed to be formed from some kind of condensed energy. Beyond that, he had no idea how they worked.

Some hallways were littered with debris—evidence of a hurried evacuation. Bloodstains and bits of human remains marked walls and floors, grim reminders of those who hadn't been as fortunate.

Occasionally, the group encountered Twin-Blade Marauders, though these enemies were weaker than expected. Working together, they dispatched them with relative ease. Unfortunately, no additional debris dropped for Chen Lin to research.

"We're almost there! The elevator's just ahead!" March 7th exclaimed as they approached a set of large doors.

The space beyond opened into a wide area dominated by a holographic display projecting an unfamiliar emblem. Surrounding the display were interconnected metal platforms, crisscrossed with numerous pathways.

At the center of it all stood a cylindrical elevator shaft, spanning the entire height of the station.

The sight was impressive, but Chen Lin couldn't help but critique one glaring oversight.

Not a single safety rail?

What kind of employer designs a workplace this dangerous? Was this their way of testing retirement eligibility?

Quick reflexes might keep younger employees from falling, but older workers… one dizzy spell and they'd plummet straight down. A genius cost-saving measure to reduce pension liabilities.

Brilliant.

"Chen Lin, are you feeling alright?"

March 7th noticed his furrowed brows and approached, concern evident in her tone.

"I'm fine. Just wondering who owns this station."

"You don't know? Oh, right, you and Stelle both have amnesia," March said, catching herself mid-sentence. "The station belongs to Herta, though she's a pretty mysterious figure. I don't know much about her either… but Himeko does! You should ask her later."

"Himeko?"

As they stepped onto the energy bridge, March enthusiastically described Himeko. "She's the navigator of our train! Super skilled, especially with her railgun. You've never seen anything like it—it's so cool!"

"A railgun?"

Chen Lin's curiosity piqued. In Stellaris, railguns were one of his favorite tools of destruction. He often equipped his fleets with them for indiscriminate orbital bombardment, reducing planets to ash.

If this world's railguns were anything like that, they'd be worth studying.

Suddenly, Stelle grabbed his hand. Her grip was firm, holding him in place.

Her thumb lightly stroked the back of his hand, an action that sent an uncomfortable chill down his spine.

How many times is this girl going to harass me? Chen Lin thought, exasperated.

Before he could voice his frustration, Stelle spoke, her tone unusually serious.

"There's… something ahead."

---

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