Stellaris Tech Tree HSR

Youth is a wonderful thing—it helps you adapt quickly to all sorts of strange situations.

In the span of just a few hours, Chen Lin had already accepted his new reality. Well, mostly because he didn't have a choice. The only alternative was dying here and hoping for a better reincarnation in the next life.

And even reincarnation isn't guaranteed…

Since he had already crossed over, the questions of how or when he could return remained unanswered. For now, his only priority was survival. If he could climb far enough up this world's tech tree, maybe—just maybe—he could find a way back.

For now, he resolved to treat this as an extended post-project vacation.

The battle raged on. The eerie glow of Stelle's bat mixed with the icy arrows and crimson laser beams, each striking with precision and purpose.

March 7th preferred to keep her distance, maneuvering gracefully around the battlefield. When enemies got too close, she'd fire a feinting shot and retreat. If she couldn't avoid an attack, a sturdy shield of frost would appear before her, absorbing the blow.

Her combat style was agile and calculated.

Chen Lin, meanwhile, had adapted quickly. During his first battle, he'd nearly embarrassed himself by underestimating his newly enhanced body. But after a dozen skirmishes, he'd gained a solid understanding of his physical capabilities and the flow of combat.

His body, now strengthened to an absurd degree, could execute techniques that would take ordinary people years to master. His strength allowed him to yank airborne Modulators out of the sky with ease, spinning them around like ragdolls before smashing them into walls, where they dissolved into nothingness.

Even attacks that would have been impossible to track with his naked eye before now felt slow and predictable. Two Modulators tried to flank him, but neither came close to landing a hit before being bludgeoned to death with his rifle's stock.

And Stelle?

Pure strength. Pure technique.

There was no comparison between her and Chen Lin. While he relied on raw power and instinct, her movements were precise and devastating.

In less than thirty seconds, the three of them had cleared the field, with Stelle retreating behind March and Chen Lin to observe their ranged attacks.

As for the Trampler…

The massive beast exuded power, its towering frame a weapon unto itself, capable of tearing apart anything in its path.

But here, it was trapped. The reinforced walls and narrow doorways turned its greatest strength into a weakness. No matter how hard it rammed into the walls, it couldn't break through. Instead, it became an easy target for the team's relentless attacks.

Though not the sharpest tool in the shed, the Trampler realized its predicament. Summoning two Modulators to cover its retreat, it attempted to leap away.

Of course, Chen Lin had already anticipated this.

"Stelle!"

"Got it."

Before his command even finished, Stelle was on the move. She vaulted over the barricade, her bat smashing into the newly spawned Modulators. One swing, one kill—both targets were down before they could react.

Chen Lin and March 7th resumed their ranged assault, chasing the Trampler as it tried to flee.

The beast roared in frustration, turning to retaliate whenever the two stepped out into the open. But the moment it moved toward them, they would retreat back into cover.

This game of cat and mouse continued for several rounds. With each exchange, the Trampler grew weaker—its once-imposing frame now riddled with cracks and burns.

Finally, under Chen Lin's relentless barrage, the creature let out a mournful wail as its body disintegrated into the void.

It was as if it cursed the deceitful humans who had bested it, questioning why it had been toyed with so mercilessly. Perhaps it even lamented its towering frame, which had ultimately sealed its fate.

But it no longer mattered. Dead beings don't get to negotiate with the living.

[Antimatter Legion Elite: Trampler]

A loyal soldier of Nanook, the Destruction Aeon, the Trampler wields its massive body as its most potent weapon. Its spear, summoned from the void, has claimed the lives of countless warriors. Its summoned Modulators are a nuisance of the highest order. However, even with its mysterious arsenal, the Trampler now has only one fate left: death.

[Its spear is so cool!] (Gain completed technology: Antimatter Lance; unlock new research: Psionic Theory)

[No worries. Let the investment pay dividends.] (+33% weapon damage against Modulators; gain 10 Energy Credits per Modulator defeated)

[A worthless creation should serve our empire one last time.] (Gain 150 Alloys and 50 Minerals)

For Chen Lin, this was an easy decision.

The Modulators weren't particularly strong, and grinding them for energy credits would be inefficient in the long run. As for the dismantling option? He almost never chose that path in Stellaris.

The Antimatter Lance, though? That sounded intriguing.

Even though the Trampler hadn't shown off its full capabilities—most likely due to the terrain constraints—any weapon derived from it would surely be worth acquiring.

More importantly, this option unlocked Psionic Theory.

Psionic Theory was the cornerstone of the Psionic Ascension path. While Chen Lin still wasn't entirely sure what psionics entailed, he had no doubt it was powerful.

Its spear is so cool!

The moment he made his choice, Chen Lin felt something shift within him.

Suddenly, he became acutely aware of the space around him—not just the air he could feel but also layers beneath it, hidden dimensions he hadn't noticed before.

It was as if the world had transformed from a two-dimensional plane into a vivid, twisting three-dimensional space.

His head throbbed as the revelation washed over him, but the pain was fleeting. When it subsided, the world seemed sharper, more vibrant, and bursting with possibilities.

"Careful! More enemies incoming!"

March 7th's warning snapped Chen Lin back to reality. She pointed to the surrounding platforms, where over a dozen Antimatter Legion creatures were beginning to materialize.

It wasn't surprising—the noise from their battle had undoubtedly attracted attention.

March and Stelle readied themselves for another fight, but before they could act, Chen Lin stepped forward.

With a flick of his wrist, the air beside him tore open, forming a glowing rift about forty centimeters long.

Shing!

From within the rift, several glowing violet spears erupted, spiraling toward the enemies with incredible force. The sheer velocity of the projectiles created visible distortions in the air.

The sudden attack was so unexpected that March and Stelle froze mid-action.

In the blink of an eye, six or seven Antimatter creatures were impaled, their bodies exploding into fragments before disappearing into the void.

Even the remaining enemies, who had barely begun to emerge, were eliminated the moment they appeared.

What should have been a grueling fight ended in an instant.

March 7th stared at Chen Lin, her bow slack in her grip. Her delicate features were painted with a mixture of shock, confusion, and awe.

After several moments, she turned to Chen Lin, who was grinning with excitement, and let out a series of incoherent noises:

"Ah! Ah? …Ah."

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T/N:... so he can just cross his arms and spam attacks now? approved.

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