Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [108]

How could it have come to this? A Supreme Guardian, wielding unparalleled power, now cornered by her own military forces.

Cocolia sat in a garden pavilion, her gaze empty as snowflakes drifted through the air. Around her, ministers who had stayed overnight due to late meetings crowded under the pavilion’s roof, chattering nervously. The freezing wind had yet to cool their panic-stricken minds, and terror was etched across their faces as they stared toward Qlipoth Fort’s gates.

"Lady Cocolia, you must leave immediately! The palace is surrounded by rebels and brainwashed citizens. If we delay any longer, it will be too late!"

The few remaining ministers loyal to Qlipoth Fort urged her with desperate voices. They knew all too well what was happening outside, and they also knew the number of private guards defending the palace was rapidly dwindling.

Gunfire and battle cries from beyond the walls had grown fainter, signaling that the end was near. Everyone present understood the grim fate awaiting them once the rebels breached the palace.

For some ministers—those who had taken advantage of recent chaos to enrich themselves—the terror was particularly acute. Reports from their remaining informants painted a clear picture: neither Bronya’s army nor the enraged citizens were showing mercy to anyone implicated in corruption or betrayal. Death was swift and inevitable for those caught.

"Yes, Lady Cocolia, we must retreat now!"
"Those ungrateful curs! After everything we’ve done for them, how dare they revolt against us?!"

Cocolia stood from her jade bench, her cold gaze silencing the frantic ministers.

She ran her hand along one of the pavilion's stone pillars, her lips curving into a bitter smile.

"Retreat? And where would I go? Off this planet?"

Unlike the people beyond the walls, who feared the endless frost, Cocolia harbored no such fear. With her blessings and inherited power, even the monsters of the Fragmentum would never harm her—they might even obey her commands.

But what was the point?

Her ultimate trump card was gone. The one chance to neutralize external threats and win back her stubborn daughter had slipped through her fingers.

The new world…

In the end, the path she had chosen had doomed Belobog. The power inherited from her predecessors had not opposed her decisions, affirming her belief that she had chosen correctly.

So where had it all gone wrong?

Cocolia couldn’t understand why forging a pact with the Stellaron had been a mistake. Preserving a remnant of Belobog’s people, even if they had to survive as Fragmentum entities—what was so wrong with that? At least they would still be alive.

"Heh…" Cocolia glanced at her hand, now partially encased in icy crystals. She knew the Fragmentum energy within her had grown unstable without the Stellaron’s reinforcement.

Perhaps she should have abandoned the pact and instead sought refuge in the mysterious, unknown empire. Perhaps, then, Belobog might have had a chance at survival.

But it was too late now. The empire’s emissary was dead—killed by the very noble families she had nurtured—and Belobog would forever be tied to that crime.

Looking up at the bleak, white sky, Cocolia resigned herself to her fate. She knew her reign was over, and death was inevitable. Everything here would be reduced to ash and rubble.

Even the Stellaron.

As the Supreme Guardian, she had no doubt that her intentions were pure. A nation on the brink of collapse needed a path to survival, even if it meant sacrificing lives to pave the way for those who would come after.

She had endured the loss of friends, the disdain of her army, and the consequences of her nation’s weakness. To her, the Stellaron’s power and the empire’s might were untouchable forces far beyond her reach.

In her eyes, the only mistake was Belobog’s inherent fragility.

That was all.

A leader must abandon personal feelings, cast away emotions, and act with pure rationality to ensure the nation’s survival. Cocolia could stand by her ultimate goal, though she felt remorse for the lives sacrificed as collateral.

"You should all leave. I’ll stay here and wait for them to arrive."

Her voice, tinged with sorrow and liberation, carried through the silent pavilion. "If you manage to escape, don’t come back for me. There’s no need for all of us to die together."

"Supreme Guardian, you…"

"I will not hold anyone accountable, nor will I betray your whereabouts. Go."

The ministers exchanged hesitant glances. After a few moments, one of them gritted his teeth and left, leading others to follow.

With someone taking the lead, the rest of the ministers quickly dispersed, fleeing the palace and the symbol of Belobog’s power.

Self-preservation was human instinct. Regardless of whether they could escape safely, they had to try.

As the crowd thinned, only Cocolia’s elderly butler remained by her side.

"Sebas, you should leave as well," Cocolia said calmly. "There’s a passage beneath my quarters that leads to a residence on the outskirts of the commercial district."

"Milady…" Tears welled in the old butler’s eyes as he dropped to his knees before her. "I have served you since I was 21, watching you grow from a child into the brilliant leader you are today. You’ve always been clever, determined…"

Cocolia remained silent, her face as cold and unreadable as ever. But a flicker of guilt passed through her eyes.

"I saw you transform Belobog into a thriving city, even as the Fragmentum encroached upon us. History will surely remember you for your accomplishments. I also watched young Lady Bronya follow in your footsteps, only to weep in despair after failing to change your mind…"

"It was then I realized you had changed. You sent Serval away. You reorganized the research division. You began interfering with the border guards’ deployments.

"I knew you must have had your reasons. You didn’t want to do those things, did you?"

"Even when you punished researchers, you spared many lives. But why… why did you do this to Mr. Chen Lin? I just don’t understand!"

Cocolia’s expression faltered.

"You’re right not to understand. I was wrong… I rushed into things, and as a result…"

She glanced at her corrupted body, her smile bitter. "I am no longer myself. And now, as I leave behind this ruin, I am myself again."

The butler bowed his head low. "I will leave, Milady. Please, take care of yourself."

"Mm."

Cocolia nodded faintly. In the end, she had no followers left. The stark contrast to her early days of leadership could not have been greater.

Thud!

The sound of a body collapsing caught Cocolia's attention. She turned to see her old butler clutching a porcelain vial, a trace of liquid still on his lips. His body swayed before he crumpled to the ground. His face turned purple, then black, with alarming speed.

He had poisoned himself.

For the first time in years, a ripple of sadness crossed Cocolia’s heart.

"I’m not worth such a sacrifice, Uncle Sebas…"

Shaking her head, she turned her gaze back to the sky. Above Qlipoth Fort, massive warships loomed like oppressive storm clouds, their dark hulls casting a suffocating shadow over everything below.

"My daughter…" she murmured. "It’s too late now. But if my death could somehow ensure Belobog’s survival, it might not be such a terrible trade."

The chaos outside Qlipoth Fort had quieted. The clash of blades and the roar of gunfire had faded into silence. Heavy footsteps approached the pavilion, their rhythmic cadence echoing ominously.

Cocolia knew she was surrounded.

Surrounded by the forces led by her beloved daughter.

She could have fought her way out. No combination of civilians and Silvermane Guards could possibly stop her. But she didn’t. There was no point.

"Mother, I’ve returned."

The familiar voice brought back memories of a time when Bronya, still a little girl, would beg her for bedtime stories. Back then, she would sit Bronya on her lap and recount tales of war and history.

She looked up at the young woman standing tall and resolute outside the pavilion. After a long silence, Cocolia finally spoke.

"Bronya, you’ve grown… You’ve grown so much."

She ignored the bloodied Silvermane Guards around her, their faces tense with anticipation. In her eyes, there was only Bronya.

Bronya’s expression faltered, and a surge of emotion threatened to overwhelm her. For a moment, it felt like her mother—the one she had known as a child—was back. The figure before her didn’t seem like the tyrant the world had come to fear.

"The others… where are they?" Bronya asked hesitantly.

"They’ve gone. Only one person stayed behind."

Bronya’s gaze shifted to the lifeless figure of the old butler lying in the pavilion. The sight twisted her heart. The woman who had once taught her diplomacy and etiquette now stood before her as an enemy, their confrontation marked by bloodshed and violence.

She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them with renewed resolve.

"Mother, you know why I’m here."

"I know," Cocolia replied evenly. "And I accept everything you’ve come to propose."

Seeing her daughter’s hesitation, she added with a faint smile, "It seems you have questions for me?"

"Yes!" Bronya exclaimed.

"But some things can’t be discussed openly, at least not in front of too many people."

Bronya gestured for her officers to leave the courtyard. They hesitated, exchanging glances. Finally, March and Stelle said something to the others, convincing them to withdraw. Even Seele, usually quick to act on impulse, followed suit without protest.

Cocolia’s eyes lingered on the two familiar faces in Bronya’s ranks, and a knowing glint appeared in her gaze.

"I see… So that’s how it is," she said softly. "Bronya, the empire has allied with you, hasn’t it?"

"Yes," Bronya admitted. "The imperial fleet has agreed to assist in eradicating the Fragmentum. The cost…" She paused, looking at Cocolia with a solemn expression. "You’ve likely already guessed."

"You may ask your questions," Cocolia said, sitting back down.

"Mother… where is Mr. Chen Lin?"

"He has no signs of life," Cocolia answered. "His body is in a room at the back of the palace."

"…"

Bronya felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. She desperately wanted to believe her earlier suspicions, but if Cocolia’s words were true, she might never see her beloved mentor again.

After a moment’s pause, she asked gravely, "Mother, what exactly is the Stellaron?"

"You even know about that?"

"Serval hinted at some details," Bronya explained. "And from what I’ve learned, the Stellaron is connected to the Eternal Freeze, isn’t it?"

Cocolia sighed, realizing there was no point in withholding the truth any longer.

"That’s correct. The Stellaron is the source of the Fragmentum. It descended upon this planet centuries ago, pursued by the Legion of Destruction. Its presence caused untold devastation, turning this world into a wasteland.

Bronya, what I’m about to tell you is a secret passed down by the Supreme Guardians. As my successor, you have the right to know."

Bronya held her breath, listening intently.

"The Stellaron possesses immense, unfathomable power. It cannot be destroyed or removed—only sealed. That seal was the only method we knew to contain its influence. However, the invasion of the Destruction Legion disrupted the facilities maintaining the seal. Over time, they decayed and failed.

Every Supreme Guardian since has heard the Stellaron’s whispers. When their minds could no longer bear its influence, they would venture into the Fragmentum and end their own lives…"

Before Cocolia could continue, a voice interjected abruptly.

"I’m actually a Stellaron spirit!"

"Don’t interrupt!" March Seven clamped a hand over Stelle’s mouth, flashing an awkward smile. "Please, continue."

Bronya’s expression darkened. "And you… Mother, what was your connection to the Stellaron?"

"I struck a deal with it," Cocolia admitted, her tone calm. "I agreed to turn all of Belobog into Fragmentum in exchange for its promise that a portion of our people would survive within it. As the commander of the border troops, you should understand—we cannot stop the Fragmentum’s advance. Extinction is inevitable."

The unending tide of Fragmentum creatures, combined with dwindling manpower and resources, ensured that Belobog’s downfall was only a matter of time.

"Mother, I won’t debate whether your actions were right or wrong," Bronya said firmly. "But such a decision should never have been made without the people’s knowledge. Belobog belongs to its people, not the Builders."

"And what would their knowledge accomplish? Chaos? Another path to ruin?" Cocolia chuckled bitterly, turning to March Seven. "And you—an outsider. You stayed. You must have your reasons, don’t you?"

March hesitated, surprised by Cocolia’s sudden candor, but eventually nodded. "Yes, we’re here for the Stellaron. We can seal it completely. Since you know where it is, can you take us there?"

Cocolia felt the energy within her grow turbulent, the Stellaron seemingly abandoning her. Since last night, it had severed its connection with her entirely.

"Follow me," she said, rising to her feet.

Bronya trailed after her mother, her emotions in turmoil. Then, a familiar voice whispered in her ear.

“Bronya, can you hear me?”

---

T/N: LMAOOO STELLE?? 

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!