Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [235]

A desert…?

Why is there a desert here?

In the blink of an eye, the scene before Phantylia changed completely. She had been deep within the tangled roots of the Ambrosial Arbor, yet now she stood in an endless expanse of sand.

The blazing sun above was merciless, its heat scorching. The sand beneath her feet burned like boiling water, blurring the line between reality and illusion. The dissonance left her momentarily disoriented, unable to tell what was real.

Not far away, an oasis held a strange, out-of-place black void, filled with shimmering, fluorescent blue powder. Phantylia attempted to approach, but each time she took a few steps forward, she was inexplicably sent back to her original position. After several failed attempts, she frowned and shifted her attention elsewhere.

Her connection to the Ambrosial Arbor was severed. The boundless, ever-flowing power of Abundance could no longer nourish her body. All she had left was the small fraction of Abundance energy stored within her own flesh—just enough to sustain her form.

So, this was another space altogether.

As for what this place was…

She had no way of knowing.

Sweeping her gaze around, Phantylia noticed that the treasure she used to store her alternate bodies had also been brought here. Seeing that those bodies remained intact, she felt a small sense of reassurance—at least she wasn’t entirely defenseless.

Having witnessed firsthand how Chen Lin had repeatedly forged alliances with the Xianzhou through cunning schemes, Phantylia knew just how devious he could be. If she showed too much weakness now, he would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to crush her completely, extinguishing any will to resist.

Thus, she laughed, utterly unfazed.

“Oh? Is my esteemed benefactor playing hide-and-seek with me? If that’s the case, then I won’t hold back.” Her eyes gleamed with amusement as she glanced around. “I wonder how many of my attacks this place can withstand?”

Through careful observation, she determined that this space resembled a highly intricate barrier—one where many paths were visible yet blocked by invisible walls, preventing her from proceeding.

Her experience told her one thing:

If she shattered these barriers, she would return to the depths of the Ambrosial Arbor!

Before absolute power, all tricks and schemes were meaningless.

Phantylia stretched out her hand, gathering swirling spheres of energy in her palm. The orbs pulsed with a mixture of Abundance and Destruction—forces capable of rending reality itself. Just as she had torn open the Ambrosial Arbor’s sealed space with ease, summoning forth rivers of molten lava to consume everything in their path, she would do the same here.

But not everything in this world bent to her will.

Just as she was about to unleash her attack, a crisp snap of fingers echoed through the space—

And the energy in her palm dissipated in an instant.

"!!"

Boom!

Sensing a presence behind her, Phantylia spun around, slamming her palm into the ground. She had expected the force of Destruction to melt the sand into molten liquid, swallowing her pursuer whole, while the divine power of Abundance would sprout endless vines to ensnare them.

At the very least, it would serve as a display of her strength—a warning that would crush their morale while bolstering her own.

But—

She struck nothing but sand.

And nothing happened.

No—

It wasn’t just that.

Phantylia could still feel the power of Destruction granted to her by Nanook. The divine energy of Abundance still flowed through her body. Yet both forces recoiled, retreating to the farthest corners of her being, refusing to obey her call.

She was rapidly becoming… ordinary.

And the culprit behind this was undoubtedly—

Him.

Phantylia’s gaze sharpened as she looked forward.

Chen Lin had appeared without her noticing, approaching at a slow, unhurried pace. At a glance, he seemed completely ordinary—just a man strolling forward.

But looming behind him—

Was an enormous, translucent violet figure.

It was a perfect replica of Chen Lin, identical down to the finest detail.

And the moment its gaze fell upon her, Phantylia’s body—flawless as it was—began to crack under the immense pressure. The ominous sensation creeping into her bones sent a shiver down her spine.

It… wanted to devour her.

A grotesque sound—chewing, swallowing—echoed directly into her soul.

At that moment, Phantylia’s spirit let out a silent scream. It felt as though a mountain had been dropped onto her shoulders, pressing down on her neck.

She struggled to lift her head, attempting to look toward the sky—

Crack!

Her neck snapped instantly.

Her head drooped limply toward the ground.

If not for the protection of Abundance, she would have died on the spot.

In that instant, the violent, brooding aura that had long surrounded her dissipated.

The fierce, domineering woman who had exuded nothing but menace now trembled uncontrollably. Her once-sharp gaze became unfocused, darting around in confusion, her mind an empty buzz of white noise.

Pure, overwhelming power.

Irresistible.

She had never felt this way before.

Not even when she first stood before Lord Nanook had she suffered such humiliation.

Why…?

Why was she so powerless now?

“Ah… ah…”

Each step Chen Lin took forward sent a sledgehammer crashing into her soul.

She collapsed onto her knees, her limbs trembling, her voice barely forming coherent sounds.

Meanwhile, [Zroni Nexus] rejoiced.

It hungrily absorbed the power within Phantylia’s body, nourishing itself, growing ever stronger.

Lush grass sprouted from the desert sands.

The once-barren land softened into damp, fertile soil.

Vibrant butterflies took flight, resting upon flower buds that had just begun to bloom.

Drip.

Drip.

Phantylia’s head sank lower and lower.

As Chen Lin’s footsteps drew closer, she buried her face against the ground, holding her breath, motionless.

And then—

She understood.

She had always regarded others as mere ants beneath her feet.

Yet now, faced with the violet apparition mirroring Chen Lin’s every move, she finally realized—

She was no better than an invisible microorganism.

If that entity behind him was a god—

Then what was he?

Phantylia no longer dared to think.

Simply lowering her head was enough to make her feel an unbearable, multidimensional pressure, as if the entity before her had transcended the very concept of divinity she had ever known. It was a being capable of shaping reality itself, of dictating existence or oblivion at will—an entity so absolute that even the faintest thought of resistance within her was crushed to nothing.

This was a being she couldn’t even look at.

A being she could never defy.

A being whose mere presence threatened to shatter her very soul, for the simple reason that she lacked the capacity to comprehend it.

Beyond divinity…

Four words surfaced in Phantylia’s mind.

This was not a god bound by rules—this was a god above the rules. This was something even the Aeons could never be.

“Phantylia.”

Hearing her own name, Phantylia’s entire body trembled violently.

“Ah… ugh…”

“Why are you kneeling?”

Chen Lin’s voice was filled with puzzlement.

“This is your chance to challenge me. Haven’t you always been so curious about whether you’re stronger than me? Well, here’s your chance.”

After successfully pulling Phantylia into [Zroni Nexus], Chen Lin had immediately begun preparing his next move.

First, he concealed his presence and gathered a large quantity of [Zroni Dust], keeping it stored on his person. Then, he lay in wait, biding his time, contemplating the most dramatic way to make his entrance—after all, [Zroni Nexus] had given him quite the grand stage, and it would be a shame not to make full use of it.

Once everything was ready, he finally unraveled the psionic energy veiling his form—only to witness Phantylia slamming a furious palm against the ground before locking eyes with him in sheer terror… and then immediately dropping to her knees.

What the hell?

Seeing her sprawled on the ground, too terrified to even speak properly, Chen Lin glanced behind him in confusion.

There was nothing there that could have frightened her.

When did Phantylia become so obedient?

Is this some kind of trick? A feint to lure me into underestimating her?

If that was the case, then there was no reason to hesitate—he might as well strike first and use [Zroni Nexus] to erase this physical vessel of hers completely.

With just a flicker of thought, the psionic realm around them responded. [Zroni Nexus] eagerly caressed his cheek, its energy morphing into a law-like decree that placed an immediate restriction on Phantylia’s body.

Before she even had time to react, an overwhelming sense of impending doom overtook her.

Her so-called immortal body—

Shattered into dust.

But even this…

Was not true destruction.

As if imbued with life, the fragments of her form instinctively began to coalesce, reconstructing themselves at an alarming speed. Even reduced to this state, her body refused to die.

Every cell in her being was alive.

Each particle, the moment it was scattered, held the undeniable will to recombine.

Chen Lin had only just begun to entertain the idea of awakening these scattered fragments’ psionic potential—when [Zroni Nexus] moved on its own.

It poured psionic energy into Phantylia’s remains, accelerating the latent potential within her cells, triggering a chain reaction.

Violet flames erupted into the air.

The surrounding atmosphere burned fiercely, and more [Zroni Dust] was absorbed into his storage. Yet despite his efforts, the flames refused to subside.

The fire burned so intensely that Chen Lin had no time to gather all the dust. Instead, he simply allowed [Zroni Nexus] to consume what remained.

Like a starving child who had never known a full meal, it devoured everything it was given—an existence that had always feared to take what it desired, now finally granted permission to indulge.

And so it grew.

Expanding. Shifting.

Mountains rose, rivers flowed—

Life flourished.

It was reading Chen Lin’s memories, shaping the environment according to his subconscious, constructing a world from the echoes of his mind. A microcosm, now complete with its own burgeoning ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Phantylia’s burning body had been moved somewhere less obtrusive, left to incinerate quietly.

But not even seconds passed before her true form emerged again, swiftly retreating into yet another vessel.

Remaining in her true state for even a moment was unbearable. Without a body to shield her, she wouldn’t last long before vanishing entirely.

Chen Lin recognized this new body.

It was oddly familiar—its features a composite of various Xianzhou faces he had seen before, pieced together with a surprisingly good sense of aesthetics.

Phantylia had a rather refined sense of beauty, it seemed.

He watched as she shrank.

From a towering colossus of over a hundred meters, she dwindled to merely thirty—then, finally, to a form barely over ten meters tall.

Kneeling before him, her diminished figure looked strangely appetizing.

But for the sake of sustainability, Chen Lin maintained a composed expression, offering her a gentle smile.

“Phantylia, weren’t you so eager to challenge me?”

“I haven’t restrained you, nor have I forbidden you from speaking.

“So why are you just kneeling there, motionless?

“Lift your head. Look at me. Speak.”

“Ah… M-Master…”

At his words, Phantylia was startled to find the oppressive force had slightly weakened.

She could finally form proper words.

The suffocating weight that had pinned her body eased, allowing her to move, even if only a little.

Summoning every last ounce of courage, she slowly, painfully lifted her gaze.

Chen Lin smiled down at her, his expression calm, while the colossal entity behind him continued to stare into her very soul.

Forcing a wobbly grin, she crawled closer, stammering, “L-Lord… L-Lord Master, did… did I put on a good enough performance for you…?”

Sometimes, when faced with the prospect of death, dignity became meaningless.

Especially when the one holding her fate was… something far beyond her comprehension.

She had no choice.

She had no thoughts of betrayal—she only wanted to live.

Chen Lin let out a short laugh.

“Oh? So your performance was so convincing that I should praise you for it?”

“N-No! I wouldn’t dare!”

Phantylia frantically shook her head.

She feared that if she displeased him even slightly, he wouldn’t just destroy this body—he would annihilate her.

She had seen that fire.

And as a being of spirit and mind, she instinctively knew that if it touched her true form, she would never rise again.

“I-I… I exist only to serve you, Master…”

“Is that so?”

Chen Lin reached out and gently patted the massive head before him, his tone soft yet unreadable.

“Then tell me—how many bodies do you have left?”

Phantylia flinched.

“…J-Just three… No matter how perfect my vessels are… in the face of your divine strength… I-I am nothing…”

“I see.”

Chen Lin turned away.

For a brief moment, Phantylia thought she had been spared—

Then came his chilling voice:

“Let’s play a game.”

Her heart sank.

She shook her head desperately.

But then—

“I wasn’t asking for your opinion.”

Chen Lin’s voice was absolute.

“Every five minutes, I’ll burn one of your bodies.

“If you fail to replace it in time…

“I’ll burn you instead.”

Phantylia’s face turned deathly pale.

Before she could protest, the countdown began.

And her body—

Exploded.

The game had begun.

Her body shattered into fragments without reason, as if reduced to mere components on an assembly line, operating methodically and without pause.

Burning… absorption… the excess blue dust fell to the ground and vanished instantly.

Phantylia stared blankly at the scene before her, regret filling every corner of her mind. She could only frantically justify herself.

“Master, I swear—I never betrayed you!!”

“1 minute and 24 seconds remaining.”

Phantylia hastily summoned another body and threw herself into it. But before she could even settle in, that all-too-familiar sensation of being switched on surged through her once again—forcing her to flee.

Another new, even more refined body—

Exploded.

“T-This… this is my original consciousness core! I… I forgot to return it to you earlier… Hahaha, Master, please… please take it!”

“2 minutes and 41 seconds.”

Shortly after, Phantylia gritted her teeth and entered yet another body, but just like before, she barely had time to adjust before she was forced out again.

“T-This is my last body… please, Master, have mercy…”

Boom!

One after another, her vessels were forcibly awakened, their psionic potential violently ignited—only to be immediately obliterated, burned to ash.

Phantylia quickly realized that pleading was utterly useless.

As she desperately searched for an escape, she did not forget to hurl curses at Chen Lin.

“Spare me, and I will forget everything that happened today! Let’s settle our grievances here and now—otherwise, if Lord Nanook brings down divine punishment, you won’t escape unscathed! Don’t be so foolish!”

“I am Phantylia, a Lord Ravager! You should be honored that I’m even willing to cooperate with you! You deceitful, despicable wretch—”

“You never planned to let me go, did you? You’re just extracting power from my bodies for your own use! Well, let me tell you—I’d rather die here than let you take another vessel from me!”

But as soon as she saw Chen Lin’s expressionless face and heard the countdown nearing zero—

She immediately pulled out another body and slipped into it.

“Master… please… just one more chance! Phantylia swears eternal loyalty! Phantylia will be your servant for all eternity—just please, let me live!”

“Hahaha, Master, i-if you want my body, it’s easy! I still have value! I can find materials for you to craft more vessels, I can make bodies for you to burn—see? I can still be useful!”

Chen Lin chuckled softly.

“…What does that have to do with me wanting to kill you?”

With that, he resumed his countdown, each number weighing down on Phantylia like a mountain, crushing her beneath the sheer psychological torment.

Phantylia had considered attacking him.

But the moment she even thought about making a move—

The countdown immediately hit zero.

And her body detonated.

There was no escape.

This place did not belong to the real world.

Even if she could regain control of her power—so what?

How could an ant fight against a god?

Her fate was already sealed.

One after another, her bodies were reduced to glowing blue dust, until finally, any remaining desire for resistance was snuffed out.

The foreign power invaded her true form. The psionic energy wrapped around her, now more connected to her than ever—both familiar and utterly alien.

Then—

A small flame flickered to life.

It was precise. It burned in controlled bursts—sometimes dimming, sometimes flaring—like a branding iron searing itself into her soul, leaving behind an agonizing imprint.

It hurt so much that Phantylia began to consider ending it herself.

She had no idea how much time had passed when, at last, she pulled out her final body.

By this point, her vessels had shrunk to human proportions—so small that she now barely reached Chen Lin’s chest.

She no longer cared whether the flames would scorch her.

She crawled toward him, forehead slamming against the ground in frantic desperation, her head cracking open, blood and flesh splitting apart.

Tears, snot, and saliva mixed together as she sobbed, her voice rapid and panicked—

“Master… this is really my last body… please, please, just one more chance… Phantylia will do anything! I don’t want to die! I can’t die—please, please…”

---

T/N: damn... also only one chapter today so it fits nicely

This is a fan translation of 在星穹铁道点群星科技树真的没问题吗? by 杏雨诗韵 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!