Chapitre 38: Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [38]
Weapons have always been tools for people to wield.
When a weapon's usage becomes so straightforward that a simple demonstration suffices for someone to operate it effectively, it's often called a "foolproof weapon."
No matter the time or place, as long as someone near the weapon understands how to use it, the enemy naturally becomes a non-issue.
In his personal shipyard, Chen Lin made some quick adjustments to the Swarm Missile launcher. He removed the energy block capable of continuously generating ammunition, leaving it as a disposable unit loaded with a single salvo of missiles. With this simplified version, he rapidly produced enough for the Silvermane Guards accompanying him.
Chen Lin's goal wasn't to flaunt his own combat prowess. Instead, he wanted the people of Belobog to experience firsthand the devastating power of advanced weaponry—technology leagues ahead of their own. Only then could he leave a lasting impression.
People have two defenses: the body and the mind.
Chen Lin was administering a "reminder," subtly breaking down Belobog's psychological defenses. He wanted their army to understand that, against absolute power, physical strength was meaningless.
The message was clear: stand with him, and the monsters that plagued them would become mere dust in the wind. Stand against him, and no one would have the courage to resist.
To put it simply, be friends, and you'll have milk and bread. Become enemies, and the consequences would be unthinkable.
It wasn't just about the Stellaron anymore—Chen Lin had his own goals to achieve.
Each weapon configuration could be customized at will. For Chen Lin, producing a large batch of disposable Swarm Missile launchers required only minimal alloys and minerals. Within minutes, he had equipped the Silvermane Guards with weapons far beyond their comprehension.
The soldiers marveled at the mysterious young man who had seemingly conjured these weapons from nowhere. They were lightweight, easy to carry, and devastatingly powerful—far beyond anything they had ever imagined.
"Fire!"
Whoosh!
Boom!
Dense smoke and snow filled the air, the acrid stench of gunpowder clinging to the battlefield.
The Guards were familiar with guns, as Bronya and her personal guard wielded firearms. They were also accustomed to cannons, but even the largest cannonball couldn't compare to a single missile from these tubes.
Using the launcher's targeting system, soldiers locked onto their foes with precision. The missiles would then home in on their targets, weaving around obstacles to strike from above, the side, or even behind.
What once required entire squads to handle now took just a few men to obliterate.
Hundreds of Riftspawn lay scattered across the battlefield, their grotesque forms rendered unrecognizable.
Chen Lin nudged the dumbstruck Pela with his elbow.
"Pela, let me share a little wartime joke from my homeland, back when it wasn't yet unified."
"What's that?"
"On a scorched battlefield, a soldier named John was cleaning up. A comrade from his hometown passed by and asked, 'Hey John, have you seen Shaar? He was in the last group to charge forward. I've been looking everywhere but can't find him. I've got a letter to return to him.'
"John looked down, realizing he'd stepped on something. He picked it up, stared at it silently for a moment, then said, 'I think… Shaar's scattered all over the place now. No need to return that letter.'"
Pela quickly grasped the dark humor behind the joke, though its grim implications made it hard to laugh.
Still, curiosity got the better of her.
"Mr. Chen, was that war really so brutal?"
"Oh, quite brutal. Over four years, more than ten million people died, and another twenty million were injured."
"...Ah." Pela covered her mouth, her wide eyes filled with shock.
"Luckily, the weapons back then weren't very advanced. Otherwise, the casualties might've been several times higher."
Pela fell silent, contemplating the implications. Belobog's entire population wouldn't last more than a few weeks in such a war.
Her awe and fear of the "Empire" Chen Lin hailed from deepened.
While Pela processed the information, the Guards used their newfound weapons to clear the remaining Riftspawn. They tended to the wounded and improvised stretchers to carry the injured back. Even the civilians, relieved to have survived, stepped in to assist.
Soon, the last survivors formed an orderly line and began their retreat. Meanwhile, smaller Rifts started to fade, their oppressive aura weakening. The larger Rifts teetered on the brink of collapse, spawning a few feeble monsters before vanishing entirely.
Chen Lin observed the phenomenon and shared his discovery with Pela and the surrounding Guards.
The revelation hit them like a thunderclap:
Rifts could disappear?
---
Back at the command post, Bronya paced anxiously. Her expression betrayed her inner turmoil.
Reports from the front lines indicated a noticeable slowdown in the Riftspawn's onslaught. Their attacks came in waves, with increasingly longer intervals between them.
This contradicted everything they knew about Rifts, which typically grew stronger over time, amassing more and more monsters.
After much thought, Bronya identified only one variable: Chen Lin's team.
That polite, unassuming young man had already delivered one miracle after another since arriving in Belobog.
He had uncovered new energy sources, devised innovative metal alloys, and introduced novel engineering concepts. The research department had been working tirelessly to decode his formulas and designs.
Could he really be the cause of this shift?
"How has there been no word after all this time…"
Bronya was helpless to do anything but wait.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a commotion outside the command post. Bronya's heart lifted, and she hurried outside.
The camp was abuzz with activity. Injured soldiers were brought in for treatment, and medics worked tirelessly to stabilize the critically wounded. Thanks to the Guards' training, most injuries hadn't worsened during transport.
Among the most grievously injured was Gepard, who had been rushed to the central hospital. The doctors held out hope for his survival.
Bronya scanned the crowd for a familiar figure, and soon she spotted him atop a makeshift platform of stones and wooden planks: Chen Lin.
Behind him stood the Guards who had accompanied him, their postures proud, each carrying a Swarm Missile launcher. Soldiers surrounded the platform, drawn by Chen Lin's rousing speech.
"Comrades! Today, we discovered the secret to the Rifts. These Rifts rely on energy to spawn their monsters. If we exhaust that energy quickly enough, the Rifts will vanish! They are not invincible!"
He paused, his voice rising with conviction.
"As an outsider, I had no right to involve myself in your struggle. But after living among you, I've come to love Belobog—its culture, its people, and its resilience. I consider this place my second home.
"And when I see this beautiful city scarred by Rifts, my heart shatters!"
Chen Lin clenched his fist, his voice resolute.
"For my home, I will fight alongside you. I will supply weapons to anyone willing to join the battle, and I will teach you how to use them. Together, we will reclaim what is ours. This is our city, not theirs!"
One of the Guards sighed. "My old home was in the industrial district. It's a monster den now… I'm in."
"Same. My family's courtyard must've been overrun ages ago."
Their words stirred memories among the crowd. Soldiers exchanged stories of what they had lost, their voices tinged with anger and sorrow.
"Defending won't work forever. But now, with Chen Lin's weapons, we can finally fight back!"
A younger soldier hesitated, murmuring to himself, "Shouldn't we just keep defending for now?"
Chen Lin's sharp ears caught the remark. His eyes lit up as he pointed to the soldier.
"You're absolutely right! But not to keep retreating—we need to strike back! Defense alone leads to nowhere. Now is the time to act!"
He raised his fist high, his voice ringing with fervor.
"Let's reclaim our land, plant our fields again, and never bow to these filthy invaders! Let us make history as the first to conquer the Rifts! Together, we will take back our home!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, their fatigue replaced with renewed determination.
"Ohhhhh!!! Reclaim our home!!!"
Bronya watched from the back of the crowd, tilting her head. She couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.
That night, the roar of artillery echoed across Belobog, its fiery glow illuminating the city.
The battle to reclaim their home had begun.
---
The roars of artillery and the fiery glow of explosions in the night sky pulled many civilians out of their homes. They gathered at the edges of the battle zones, staring toward the commercial district now engulfed in conflict.
Some were murmuring anxiously, fearing that the monstrous Riftspawn had surged once again to seize the streets of Belobog. Others, bolder and driven by curiosity, ventured closer to the scene, drawn to the noise and chaos like moths to a flame.
The Silvermane Guards stationed at the barricades quickly stepped in to manage the gathering crowds. Their ranks were already thin, but ensuring the safety and order of the populace was paramount.
Rumors began spreading among the onlookers.
"Isn't the commercial district completely overrun? What could cause such chaos in there now? More monsters?"
One particularly vocal merchant, with a thick coat thrown hastily over his shoulders, frowned and said, "Didn't they say those outsiders were in the Rifts? Maybe they triggered something!"
The panic in the crowd grew, whispers turning to anxious chatter, until the Guards stepped in. After receiving approval from their superiors, they began addressing the civilians directly.
"It's not what you think. The commotion is due to good news," one Guard explained, his voice steady and calm. "Our visitors from the stars have discovered a way to eliminate the Rifts. They are working with us to reclaim the commercial district!"
Gasps of disbelief rippled through the crowd.
"Wait… eliminate the Rifts?" an older man asked, his weathered face lit with hope.
"That's impossible. Everyone knows Rifts can't be stopped!" another doubted, his arms crossed.
The Guards patiently continued. "It's true. With the weapons they've provided and their strategy, we're not just holding the line anymore—we're driving the Riftspawn back. They've already cleared large sections of the district and collapsed several smaller Rifts entirely."
The excitement began to build as civilians realized what this could mean.
"Could it really be true?"
"I saw them!" chimed in a middle-aged woman from the crowd. "They came to my restaurant a few days ago—two men and two women, one of them carrying what looked like strange machinery. I thought they were some high-ranking officials, the way they carried themselves!"
"Yeah, I saw them at my magazine shop!" another shouted, a young man with ink-stained fingers. "One of them even bought a few novels from me. Polite, well-spoken… Can you believe those are the people saving our city?"
The crowd buzzed with awe and curiosity, each person piecing together fragmented memories of the mysterious outsiders who had walked among them.
Nearby, a stout woman turned to a younger girl. "Faith, have you seen them?"
---
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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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone