Stellaris Tech Tree HSR

About a minute passed before Herta finally spoke.

"I still don't get it, but this definitely isn't normal. Sorry, you two need to come out. I think I need to recalibrate the machine."

The screen distorted, shattering completely, and Stelle and Chen Lin found themselves back on the space station.

"It's over?" Stelle asked, confused. She hadn't even experienced anything, yet she was already being paid for it?

"Yes," Herta replied with a nod. Then her gaze locked onto Chen Lin, the doll's eyes seemingly penetrating right through him. "You understood the logic behind the Simulated Universe just from my brief explanation and triggered such an anomaly. Are you hiding something from me?"

"I have amnesia."

"Hmm, Asta told me that. And?"

Chen Lin pointed at his head with a calm expression. "But as time goes on, I might remember more. For now, I only have a vague sense that my mind holds theories capable of overturning the current universal paradigm."

Not a lie—once my research finishes, I'll know everything anyway.

Herta, unaware of his thoughts, frowned slightly but showed rare patience as she listened.

"Such as?"

Noticing her curiosity, Chen Lin decided to drop a bombshell.

"Miss Herta, have you heard of Psionic Theory? Or perhaps higher-dimensional space... the Shroud?"

With Herta's scientific avatar working overtime for him, Chen Lin was confident that research into Psionic Theory would soon be complete. This was a crucial prerequisite for Psionic Ascension.

Once he obtained this technology, all he needed was to unlock one tradition, and he'd gain access to an ascension slot, allowing him to activate the first stage of Psionic Ascension—Mind Over Matter.

That alone would grant him a significant power boost. Psionics had always been a fantasy of his—imagine skipping the hassle of waking up early for class, using psionic teleportation to appear right at the classroom door after brushing his teeth.

And mental telepathy? That would make acing exams effortless. Transparency across the entire test hall? Yes, please.

"Psionics? The Shroud?" Herta tilted her head, visibly intrigued.

"Yes. Psionics is energy manifested through consciousness, while the Shroud is a higher-dimensional space where higher beings observe lower dimensions—what we colloquially refer to as the 'realm of gods.'"

At this, Herta's interest visibly spiked.

"Go on, go on!" she urged.

Explaining the intricacies of Psionics and the Shroud in full wasn't something Chen Lin could manage yet. Instead, he relied on the knowledge already in his mind to give Herta a basic overview. Psionics, he explained, was energy amplified and materialized through human consciousness. Its strength varied—like rivers and oceans, hills and mountains on a planet.

When systematically developed, Psionics unlocked humanity's full potential, enabling feats like bending reality to one's will. A single glance, a fleeting thought, could shatter worlds or obliterate stars.

Without relying on external materials, psionics could tear through space itself, enabling instantaneous travel to any desired location.

Psionics could serve as a weapon to destroy all enemies or a shield to repel all harm. Some psionics users could even perceive and influence future events, reshaping the course of destiny.

Overflowing psionic energy could create avatars, allowing one to monitor any location they'd previously visited while retaining considerable combat ability.

"Thought is a reflection of the world, yet also a microcosm of the universe itself. It is the true essence of cognition, with consciousness being the greatest tool of all!" Chen Lin declared.

As a touchscreen panel was brought into the office, Chen Lin began sketching out the foundations of Psionic Theory. He didn't just present it as abstract idealism but also incorporated elements of physics, hoping to deepen Herta's understanding.

Stelle, unable to make sense of their conversation, waved goodbye and left the office early. Now, only Chen Lin and Herta remained.

As time ticked by, Herta couldn't help but feel that some of Chen Lin's claims were nonsensical. However, the numerical data he provided seemed to validate his theories. Could psionics truly exist?

This also reinforced how vast and varied Chen Lin's knowledge was. His understanding spanned fields she hadn't even considered.

Even if Psionics didn't exist, Herta found herself increasingly fascinated by the young man before her.

Back at his age, I hadn't delved into anything this strange, she thought.

Earlier, Chen Lin had clarified that he was still piecing together fragments of his memory. It was natural that he couldn't present a fully formed theory yet.

After who-knows-how-long of explaining, Chen Lin eventually hit a wall in expanding Psionic Theory. Deciding to stop, he concluded, "Alright, this is as much as I've remembered so far."

[Date Updated. Resources Refreshed.]

Unity Gained: +456

Trait 'Genius Society Member' Triggered by Head Scientist Herta (Incomplete).

Research Completed:

Psionic Theory

Administrative AI

Ceramo-Metal Materials

A one-percent chance, and it triggered?

Before Chen Lin could marvel at his luck, a torrent of knowledge flooded his mind. The overwhelming influx of information left him dazed for only a few seconds, thanks to his growing familiarity with the process.

Seeing him frozen, Herta assumed something was wrong.

Just as she was about to call out to him, Chen Lin's expression shifted to one of stern seriousness, leaving her unsure of how to respond.

"Miss Herta," he began solemnly, "I've just remembered more about Psionic Theory. My earlier explanation was too shallow, too careless. Now… let me show you what true psionics research looks like!"

"Oh…" Herta blinked in surprise, instinctively settling into her chair as Chen Lin began erasing his earlier equations with visible disdain, preparing for a new round of explanations.

"Psionics originates from consciousness, from genes! It is the root of all things, the mother of creation, the shadow of the universe. Here, let me introduce you to the concept of psionics as an ionic dynamic energy material…"

At first, Herta wasn't fully invested. But as Chen Lin continued, her amazement grew.

Psionics, something she had dismissed as abstract fantasy, was being laid out before her with unprecedented clarity and structure.

One explained, the other questioned. One calculated, the other pondered.

Herta's doubts crumbled in the face of Chen Lin's comprehensive Psionic Theory. She realized that this ancient, forgotten idea, long discarded in the Amber Age, had simply lacked proper development.

Now fully serious, Herta brought out a touchscreen tablet, filling dozens of pages with detailed notes.

Just as she was deeply engrossed, Chen Lin abruptly stopped.

"Why'd you stop? Keep going!" Herta looked up, puzzled.

"That's it for Chapter One," Chen Lin replied nonchalantly.

"But didn't you say Psionic Theory spans over 4,000 chapters? Move on to the next one!"

Spreading his hands, Chen Lin said, "I haven't remembered the rest yet. I'll tell you when I do. Bye!"

Without waiting for a response, Chen Lin turned and left, leaving Herta sitting on her small chair, dazed.

After a long pause, she leapt up in frustration, ignoring the startled gazes of the station's staff as she ran out, yelling:

"You bastard! I wasn't done listening! Psionic Jump Theory—explain it now! I demand an answer!"

---

T/N: hmmm frig i don't know if Herta's personality is too uhh expressive here let me know if i should tweak it :3c

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