Honkai Star Rail: I Became the World Tree — Chapter 34

Chapter 34: News of the Stellaron

In the metallic expanse of the Belobog Robot Settlement, the air was heavy with the scent of engine oil and rusted scrap. A spatial tear rippled into existence, and Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng stepped through the portal, returning to the dreary underground world.

As soon as their boots hit the iron-plated ground, they spotted Seele. The fiery core member of Wildfire was currently squatting on a jagged boulder, looking entirely absorbed in her own world. Ever since March had lent her a smartphone the previous day, Seele had fallen down a terminal rabbit hole of playing Angry Birds. She was completely addicted, her mind constantly running simulations of the specific level she was stuck on. Even when she paced around, her fingers would occasionally twitch, mimicking the motion of pulling back a virtual slingshot.

Hearing the hum of the closing portal, Seele snapped her head up. Seeing the trio emerge, her face lit up with genuine relief.

“Stelle! March! Dan Heng! You’re finally here. How did it go?”

Stelle let out a smug hum, dramatically tossing her ash-gray hair over her shoulder. “What do you think? Could anything possibly go wrong with the Galactic Baseballer on the case? Anyway, where are Natasha and Bronya?”

Seele pointed her scythe toward the makeshift mechanical shelter nearby. “They’re working inside Clara’s house. Come on, I’ll take you to them.”

With that, she hopped off the rock and led the way. As they walked through the camp of patrolling automatons, Seele slowed her pace, leaning in close to March. The usually brash girl suddenly looked sheepish, her cheeks dusting with a faint pink.

“Hey, March,” Seele mumbled, avoiding eye contact. “Can I borrow that phone of yours to play for a bit longer? I just need a few more tries on that pig level.”

March immediately dug into her pocket, pulled out the device with the game already booted up, and handed it over with a bright smile. “Sure thing! Honestly, once we manage to get back to the Astral Express, I’ll just give you a phone of your own.”

Seele frowned, shaking her head firmly as she took the device. “Don’t just give it to me for free. I’ll provide the credits, and you can help me buy one when the time comes. I don’t take handouts.”

March simply smiled and nodded in agreement, knowing better than to argue with Seele’s pride.

The four of them pushed open the heavy metal doors and entered Clara’s home. In the center of the first-floor hall, Bronya and Natasha stood over a wide table completely covered in scattered documents, deep in a hushed discussion.

Stelle strolled in, raising a hand. “Bronya, Natasha, morning.”

The two women paused their work and looked up. Bronya’s tense shoulders immediately relaxed, a look of pure delight crossing her face. “Stelle! You’re back. Judging by your expression, the matter should be resolved, correct?”

Beside the Silvermane Guard commander, Natasha covered her mouth, a gentle chuckle escaping her lips. “That goes without saying. Look at the beaming smile on Stelle’s face. She practically has victory written across her forehead.”

Stelle offered a cheeky, wide-toothed grin. “It’s all settled. And as promised, I’m adding you all to the guild.”

With a flick of her wrist, Stelle accessed the system interface. A moment later, digital prompts materialized in front of Bronya, Seele, Natasha, Clara, and Hook.

[The Leader of the Star Adventure Group invites you to join the Adventurers Guild!]

[Accept / Decline]

Seele was in the middle of calculating an optimal bird trajectory when the glowing virtual interface suddenly popped up, blocking her screen. She gave it a casual, annoyed glance and blindly tapped the accept button just to get it out of her way.

Sitting in the corner, Clara clicked accept immediately. The young girl was eager to go play with Anviel again. Anviel had been busy minding the store and could not visit the Underworld freely; her trip a few days prior had only been possible because Samuel had personally granted permission.

Natasha read the glowing text hovering in the air, a soft smile touching her lips as she reached out to tap the confirmation. “One can tell exactly who the leader of this guild is at a single glance. The Star Adventure Group.”

Stelle planted her hands firmly on her hips, puffing out her chest. “Hehe, because this is my guild!”

Bronya tapped her own prompt to accept, then looked toward the energetic Trailblazer. “Stelle, when can we head over?”

Stelle raised her hand, ready to rip open the spatial portal right then and there, but Dan Heng stepped forward, his voice calm and measured.

“No rush. We still have something we need to ask Svarog.”

Dan Heng turned his gaze toward the open doorway, looking outside where the massive, imposing figure of Svarog was currently organizing a patrol route for a squad of vagrant automatons.

Stelle blinked, her hand dropping to her side. “Oh, right! I completely forgot. We do have something to ask Svarog. Bronya, wait just a moment.”

Bronya and Natasha nodded, following the Astral Express crew as they stepped back out into the dim light of the cavern.

Dan Heng approached the towering machine. “Mr. Svarog, we have something we would like to ask you.”

Svarog ceased his directives. The massive robot turned around, his single glowing red optic scanning the three Trailblazers. After a heavy moment of mechanical silence, his synthesized voice rumbled through the air.

“You are here to inquire about the Stellaron, are you not?”

March jumped slightly, her eyes widening in shock. “Svarog, how did you know? We haven’t even said anything yet.”

Svarog’s optic pulsed steadily. “Based on gathered intelligence, you have been asking about the Stellaron everywhere since arriving in the Underworld. Coming to see me is statistically the most probable course of action regarding this matter.”

Stelle nodded, dropping her playful demeanor. “That’s right. Samuel told us to ask you. He said you have specific information about the Stellaron. He also mentioned that the Stellaron is a taboo in your programming that would normally make you go berserk. Is that true?”

Svarog gave a slow, heavy nod. “Under my baseline directives, I would have eliminated any organic subject who learned of the Stellaron’s existence. However, Samuel’s appearance introduced an overriding variable into my system. The Stellaron is no longer classified as an unsolvable threat.”

Stelle crossed her arms, satisfied. “I see. Then can you tell us what you know about it? Ideally, we need its specific location.”

“I do not possess the exact coordinates of the Stellaron,” Svarog replied, his mechanical voice flat. “I only possess a visual recording.”

A bright light flashed from Svarog’s optic, casting a high-resolution holographic projection into the dusty air between them. The group gathered around, watching the shifting terrain and frozen landscapes silently play out.

A few minutes later, the projection flickered and vanished. Bronya stood frozen, her mind rapidly cross-referencing the geographical landmarks she had just seen with the maps of Belobog she had memorized since childhood.

“That terrain,” Bronya breathed out, her voice tight. “The Stellaron is actually located at Everwinter Hill.”

By now, Seele had shoved the dead smartphone back into March’s hands, the battery having finally given out. Hearing Bronya’s deduction, Seele immediately unhooked her massive scythe from her back, the blade gleaming in the dim light.

“Since we know the location, let’s head over there right now and take care of it.”

Bronya turned to her, shaking her head firmly. “No. While the Stellaron certainly needs to be handled, there is another matter that takes absolute priority right now.”

Seele lowered her weapon, looking genuinely puzzled. “What could possibly be more urgent than the Stellaron?”

Bronya looked away, her gaze drifting toward the distant, ramshackle tents of the Wanderer camp. “Securing supplies for the people of the Underworld. Previously, I lived in ignorance. I wasn’t clear on the specific situation down here; I only knew that life was difficult. I didn’t expect it had reached such a dire, fatal state.”

Svarog suddenly interjected, his internal processors calculating the grim reality. “Currently, eighty percent of the human population in the Underworld is in a state of severe starvation. They rely entirely on water to fill their stomachs. According to my calculations, if this situation persists without intervention, large-scale mortality will commence in exactly seven days.”

Stelle, March, and Dan Heng stared at the robot, a cold dread washing over them.

“Oh my god,” March whispered, her hands flying to her mouth. “I didn’t realize the situation down here was already this critical.”

Bronya nodded, her expression hardening with absolute resolve. “Therefore, the most pressing matter is to obtain immediate supplies to save the lives of the people in the Underworld.”

Natasha stepped forward, her gentle demeanor replaced by the authoritative presence of Wildfire’s true leader. “To this end, Wildfire will form a temporary alliance with Mr. Svarog. We will consolidate all remaining supplies and manpower to fully address the famine.”

Dan Heng gave a short nod of agreement. “In that case, let’s put the matter of the Stellaron on hold for now. Saving lives comes first.”

“It works out,” Bronya added, pacing slightly. “Over the next few days, I can contact a few reliable people on the surface. With their help, our chances of success when we finally go to deal with the Stellaron will be much higher.”

With the immediate plan settled, the heavy atmosphere lifted just a fraction. The group did not waste any more time chatting in the dust.

Stelle stepped back, swiping her hand through the air to open the glowing, swirling portal to the Source Continent. She turned back to the group, making a grand, theatrical sweeping gesture toward the gateway.

“Star Adventure Group! Move out!”

Meanwhile, far away from the frozen tragedy of Belobog, the General Store on the Source Continent was bathed in warm, comfortable sunlight.

Inside, Anviel was humming a quiet tune, diligently wiping down the wooden shelves with a clean rag. Near the open entrance, Samuel sat comfortably by the carved tea table, casually sipping a cup of light, fragrant tea as he enjoyed the peaceful morning breeze.

Before long, the air in the center of the Star Adventurer Group Station rippled. Samuel watched over the rim of his teacup as Stelle and her crew confidently marched out from the portal gate.

Following closely behind the Trailblazers, Bronya, Seele, and Hook stepped onto the foreign soil. The three Underworlders immediately froze, their eyes wide as they took in the impossible scenery surrounding them. They stared at the vibrant green grass, the endless expanse of the clear blue sky, and the towering, majestic canopy of the Irminsul tree stretching over the horizon.

Hook dropped her stuffed bear, her small mouth hanging open in absolute shock. “Wow! Such a big tree! And the roof… the roof is so blue!”