Stellaris Tech Tree HSR

At Stelle's words, March 7th, who had been leading the way, froze mid-step. Her face turned pale as if she'd seen a ghost, and she dropped into a crouch before bolting back toward the hallway.

Caught off guard, Chen Lin found himself yanked along by Stelle, sprinting nearly a hundred meters before managing to stop and catch his breath.

Turning back, he finally saw what Stelle had spotted.

Behind the elevator platform they had been about to step onto, a hulking creature stood, its body covered in chitinous armor or perhaps a metallic carapace. The monstrosity looked like a cross between a centaur and something out of a nightmare.

Would it use abilities like War Stomp or Whirlwind?

Its senses seemed dull; despite the group's earlier proximity, it hadn't noticed them until now. The faint noises of their retreat had apparently caught its attention, and it was now cautiously scanning the area.

There was no mistaking it—the creature radiated a menacing aura that screamed do not engage lightly.

"A Trampler… Why is one of those blocking our way back?"

March 7th ran her hands through her pink hair in frustration, making a mess of the previously neat strands.

"Is it strong?" Chen Lin asked.

"Strength? Eh, I'd call it… quantum-strong-ish. But the area's too cramped—fighting here would be risky. One wrong move and we might fall off."

"Good thing Stelle spotted it," Chen Lin said with a sigh, gaining a clearer sense of March 7th's personality.

She was an optimist through and through, almost recklessly so, with a carefree approach that didn't exactly scream tactical expertise.

Stelle puffed out her chest proudly at the praise.

"Humph!"

"Don't 'humph' at me. And could you let go of my hand already?" Chen Lin muttered, exasperated.

Reluctantly, Stelle released his hand, her expression almost pouty.

March 7th summoned her longbow, nodding at Chen Lin's comment. "True. Nice catch, Stelle. But don't worry—I can handle it myself. It'll just take a little time."

"I'll smash it!" Stelle exclaimed, gripping her bat and practically bouncing with excitement.

March 7th quickly stopped her. "Wait! Trampler spawns are usually accompanied by Antimatter Legion guards. Stelle, you and Chen Lin should focus on holding off the reinforcements while I deal with the big guy. Sound good?"

While March had no problem taking on the Trampler, she didn't trust herself to handle an entire swarm of enemies at once. This plan, though not perfect, was the best compromise she could come up with.

Stelle's eyes lit up. "Mm-hmm!"

"You're agreeing way too fast," Chen Lin said, glancing at the oversized creature. "Have you two even noticed its size? How's it supposed to fit through that door?"

He pointed at the nearby entrance, lips twitching.

The doors in the space station were designed for human workers, most of them only wide enough for two people to pass through at once. The ceilings weren't much better, with a maximum height of around 2.3 meters.

By contrast, the Trampler was nearly four meters tall, its body width larger than the three of them combined.

It was clear the door and the surrounding walls—constructed from some absurdly durable alloy—would hold firm against the creature's bulk.

March 7th blinked, realization dawning. "Oh! Why didn't I think of that?"

Because you don't exactly scream "strategist" material.

Chen Lin kept the thought to himself. Spending time with March had made it clear that she wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.

"Here's the plan," Chen Lin said, seizing command. "We use the door as a choke point. If it can't get through, we'll have the advantage. If it does manage to squeeze in, we retreat to that larger room over there—it's spacious enough to maneuver, and the narrow passages will work in our favor. If it runs, we chase it; if it attacks, we kite it. Simple."

After a brief pause, he added, "Got it?"

March 7th clapped her hands, eyes sparkling. "Wow, that's so smart! You're amazing, Chen Lin. Is this what being a researcher is like?"

This has nothing to do with being a researcher—it's just common sense.

Chen Lin's modesty kept him from responding.

Meanwhile, Stelle pouted, her gaze silently accusing. It seemed to say, What am I supposed to do while you two stay back and attack from range?

"You'll handle anything else that makes it through. March and I will support you when we can, okay?" Chen Lin said gently, his opinion of her rising slightly. Despite her quirks, Stelle had acted selflessly earlier, pulling him out of danger without hesitation.

"Mm!" Stelle's expression brightened instantly.

With their roles assigned, the group prepared to execute their plan. Chen Lin and March 7th readied their respective weapons—a rifle and a bow—while Stelle stood in the back, nonchalantly swinging her bat.

For the first time, Chen Lin had the chance to observe March 7th's fighting style up close.

Though she wielded a bow, there was no quiver of arrows in sight. Instead, icy projectiles materialized whenever she drew the string, emitting a chill that noticeably lowered the surrounding temperature. The process felt almost magical.

"Ready?" March asked, her bowstring fully drawn.

Chen Lin took a deep breath.

"Fire!"

A frosty arrow and a red laser cut through the air simultaneously. The sudden clash of cold and heat sent ripples across the platform before striking the Trampler.

The ice arrow shattered part of its neck armor, frost spreading across its exposed flesh. Chen Lin's laser blast, meanwhile, left a fist-sized dent in its helmet, smoke hissing from the charred surface.

"ROAR!!!"

The Trampler howled in rage, its torso rearing up as it spread its massive arms wide.

As if responding to its call, the air around it shimmered with blue light. Eight floating "Modulators" materialized in an instant, their glowing forms immediately zeroing in on the group.

Chen Lin followed the plan, retreating while firing a parting shot. Passing Stelle, he tapped her shoulder.

"You're up."

"Oh…"

Stelle blinked, seemingly distracted by some stray thought.

The Modulators wasted no time, charging headfirst into the corridor. The sound of their impacts against the walls snapped Stelle out of her daze. A glint of ferocity flashed in her golden eyes.

Taking a wide stance, Stelle swung her bat in a powerful arc.

The first Modulator didn't even have time to process the attack. Her strike connected with devastating force, sending it hurtling back into the opposite wall, where it exploded into a puff of blue mist.

Chen Lin paused mid-aim, momentarily stunned.

How heavy are those things?

Judging by their size, they couldn't be much lighter than the Twin-Blade Marauders. Yet Stelle had swatted one away as if it were nothing.

Wait… how did I even manage to pin her down earlier?

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T/N: Through the power of comedy!

Hello! Thank you so much for reading this chapter. WiseTL has worked hard to bring these wonderful stories to you, and I'm so happy we could share this moment together! Don't you think stories are a little like dreams? Each one has its own colors and shapes, and they grow even brighter when shared with others.

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