Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [72]

Retreating wasn’t even a consideration.

The Frosted Behemoth—one of the toughest Riftspawn in the Underworld—had been obliterated in less than half a round by Chen Lin. With the greatest threat eliminated, there was no need to deliberate further.

As March and the others joined the fight, Seele quickly realized that these so-called "scientists’ bodyguards" were anything but ordinary. Not one of them was weaker than her—in fact, they seemed to be holding back, fighting as though they were toying with the Riftspawn. They weren’t even breaking a sweat.

Seele wasn’t particularly well-read, her literacy just enough to get by, but even she had to admit one thing:
“Impressive.”

The nascent Rift was swiftly dealt with as Chen Lin severed its energy conduit. The oppressive presence of the Rift faded away, leaving the area calm once more. No new Rifts appeared, and it was clear that the Rift’s expansion had been completely halted.

“Thank you.”

Seele expressed her gratitude sincerely. Although she could have handled most of the Riftspawn herself, doing so would have inevitably led to casualties—a result she couldn’t bear to accept.

The Underworld’s healthcare was poor, and even minor injuries could lead to severe complications or death due to infections. The newcomers’ intervention had likely saved lives and spared families from undue grief.

Eyes are the windows to the soul. Though Seele maintained her usual stoic expression, the last glimmer of wariness in her gaze faded away. When she looked at Chen Lin and his group now, her demeanor had softened considerably.

As Chen Lin had anticipated, before they even met Wildfire’s leader, they had already earned the goodwill of Seele, one of the group’s core members.

From this moment on, Seele fully accepted them as allies.

“I didn’t expect you to have such extraordinary weapons,” Seele remarked as she walked up to Chen Lin, giving him an approving pat on the back. “That explosion startled me. Way more powerful than that cold, clunky junk we have at the Furnace Core. And you’ve got this calm, unbothered vibe too. I like it.”

Chen Lin chuckled lightly. “I’m not much for close combat. All I can do is support from a distance. I’m just glad everyone’s safe.”

“Not much for close combat, huh…”

March 7th shot Chen Lin a sidelong glance. Her mind wandered back to the time on the Herta Space Station when he had launched a Legion soldier straight into the ceiling with a single kick. If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she might have believed his scholarly demeanor and calm words.

The dust from the explosion settled, and the battlefield came into sharp focus.

The ground was riddled with craters, nearby rocks reduced to rubble. The acrid smell of gunpowder lingered in the air.

“By the way, I thought I felt someone pull me earlier. Did anyone see anything?” Seele asked, slinging her scythe over her shoulder, her expression puzzled. “When I turned around, there wasn’t anyone behind me.”

The Wildfire members looked equally confused and shook their heads.

“No one came near you, Seele. We wouldn’t dare get involved in your fight—it’d just slow you down.”

Wildfire members were seasoned enough to recognize their limits. They knew when to stand back and when to act, trusting their teammates to handle the situation.

“Really?”

Seele had always trusted her instincts unconditionally. She was certain someone had pulled her—there was no mistaking it.

Since none of Wildfire’s members had approached her, the only suspects left were Chen Lin and his group.

As if on cue, the entire Trailblazer team was staring at Chen Lin. Seele naturally followed their gaze and saw his calm, unreadable face. Hands on her hips, she marched over and asked bluntly:

“It was you again, wasn’t it?”

Chen Lin didn’t deny it. “Just a little trick I was born with. Think of it as a party trick at best. Honestly, you were already dodging—it probably just felt like I amplified your reflexes. Perfectly normal biological response.”

“Uh-huh…”

Listening to his deadpan explanation, Seele felt a flicker of self-doubt. In her mind, this scholarly young man was undoubtedly a brilliant scientist. Though she didn’t fully understand what he was saying, she figured it must be correct.

After a moment’s thought, she nodded solemnly and clapped him on the shoulder.

“Fine. I owe you one. You’ve been a big help. If you ever need anything, just say the word—I’ll have your back without a second thought.”

As the group pressed on, they heard distant cries of alarm and the sounds of battle. Scrambling up a steep slope, they found themselves overlooking a fast-flowing underground stream. The clear water shimmered with glowing geodes scattered among the gravel at the bottom.

The stream originated from a nearby mine, where underground springs fed into the river, creating a ten-meter-wide current.

A rickety wooden bridge spanned the stream, its planks weathered by time. A dozen poorly dressed adults were frantically urging their children across to the other side.

Behind them, armed villagers fought desperately against advancing Riftspawn, holding the line as best they could.

Among the chaos, Seele’s eyes immediately locked onto Oleg, who was struggling in the thick of the fight.

Without hesitation, Seele vanished in a flash of violet light, reappearing across the stream. With a single sweep of her scythe, she cleaved a Riftspawn into pieces just as it was about to ambush Oleg.

“Seele? You’re just in time—help us cover the villagers’ retreat to the town!” Oleg called out, his relief palpable. “Be careful—there’s something strange deeper in.”

“Got it.”

A natural fighter never stops moving, even while speaking. Seele was no exception. Her lithe figure weaved through the battlefield, every strike leaving devastating wounds on the Riftspawn.

Meanwhile, March 7th caught a child who nearly fell into the stream.

“Gotcha! Be careful, okay? Head to the back—it’s not safe here,” she said, gently guiding the child to safety.

The Trailblazers worked together to help the villagers retreat. But as March glanced toward the mine, a shiver ran down her spine.

Why does it feel like something in there is watching me…?

---

The mining settlement was one of the largest communities in the Underworld. Mining was a common job—low in skill requirements but demanding in physical labor. It was often the only viable choice for those struggling to survive.

However, the income was meager, barely enough to support a family’s basic needs. Many miners worked long hours in distant mines, returning home only after weeks of grueling labor.

The settlement was largely made up of the elderly, women, and children. When the Riftspawn attacked, they were caught completely off guard and unable to mount an effective defense.

Although Wildfire had anticipated the settlement’s vulnerability and patrolled regularly, the Riftspawn’s sudden appearance still caused significant casualties.

Among those lost was a young girl, barely eight or nine years old.

Her story was tragically ordinary. Like many children in the settlement, she had been learning mining techniques from the village elders, a rite of passage for future miners.

Her parents worked far away, leaving her in the care of her grandparents. Life was simple, though she often felt lonely.

The other children avoided her, teasing her for her nickname, “Little Fox,” a reference to her delicate features and her family name, which resembled the word for fox.

Over time, the loneliness became her constant companion.

As the girl wandered aimlessly in the chaos, she caught sight of her grandparents beckoning to her from the other side of the stream.

Seele noticed her immediately and fought her way over, but Chen Lin was faster.

Scooping the girl up, he turned just in time to see Seele glaring daggers at him, her fury barely restrained.

“Uh-oh…” Chen Lin muttered, sensing imminent danger.

Before he could react further, a dark golden beam of energy shot out of nowhere, striking him square in the face.

---

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!