Chapter Sixty-Six: The Alien Base

The story rewinds to the moment when the explorers first arrived at the cave. The six members—Captain Robert, biologist Franklin, archaeologist Saroyan, physicist Mike, geologist William, and engineer John—entered together, led by Robert’s excitement, eager to uncover the secrets of this ancient civilization’s mysterious ruins.

Indeed, to them, these were mysterious ruins. They believed they were still within the Antarctic continent, merely transported by unknown means of an ancient civilization to an uncharted valley. The very secret of it all, they thought, was hidden within this mountain cave.

Naturally, should they be the ones to uncover this secret, their names would be remembered through the ages as a monumental chapter in human history. The promise of such a triumphant future beckoned, and so, whether an elder with steady composure or a lively youngster, none opposed Robert’s seemingly reckless decision.

They pressed on into the pitch-dark cave. Their searchlights were nearly out of power, yet the tunnel seemed endless. This was hardly surprising, given the considerable energy already spent on the journey to the cave. They had not anticipated such a detour and thus carried neither portable generators nor spare batteries.

To ensure the cameras continued functioning, Robert enforced strict control over the searchlights’ power usage. Fortunately, before their lights failed entirely, a faint glow appeared ahead. It seemed this interminable passage was finally reaching its end.

Robert was overjoyed. Along the way, he had already documented what remained of ancient murals adorning the tunnel walls. These wall-paintings only deepened their conviction that they had made an unprecedented discovery.

Upon spotting the cave’s exit, Robert breathed a sigh of relief. So far, only murals had been found. If his instincts were correct, the end of this passage would reveal the ruins of a lost civilization. With luck, in this undisturbed place, they might even discern the outlines of ancient buildings.

The rest of the team was equally eager. Robert continued at the forefront, and none contested his leadership or sought to claim the glory for themselves. His authority as captain was undisputed, and no one wished to challenge him for the title of “discoverer” at such a crucial moment.

At the cave’s mouth, Robert instinctively held his breath. The sight before his eyes was awe-inspiring, and his abrupt halt drew the curiosity of the others. They gathered around him, gazing into the distance—and, like Robert, were struck speechless by astonishment.

Not far ahead, nestled within the mountain’s heart, lay a cluster of fantastical structures. Though worn by the ages, these ancient buildings remained intact, each emitting a distinct radiance. Remarkably, this was not an open-air city, but a vast, artificially hollowed chamber within the mountain itself.

The light they perceived was emitted by the buildings themselves—a fact that left them profoundly shaken. It was beyond imagination that, countless years ago, a civilization could have hollowed out a mountain to construct a city within, with every structure glowing in the darkness—a veritable ancient city of eternal night.

“Captain, am I seeing this right? A glowing city? How is that possible?” Mike was the first to recover, his astonished voice snapping the others from their reverie.

“What’s so strange about it? Don’t forget how we arrived here,” Robert replied, regaining his composure, his face flushed with excitement. Even the mere sight of this city’s façade convinced him he was destined to become the most celebrated Antarctic explorer.

“So, Captain, should we go inside?” Mike asked, barely containing his enthusiasm. As the youngest of the group, the instant he saw the city, he was sure it must be an alien base. While its design was not overtly technological, perhaps that was the hallmark of this alien civilization. Of course, he kept these speculations to himself, avoiding any argument with the captain.

“Of course. We’ll follow this path down. Once we’re inside, everyone must take as many photos and videos as possible—this is our great discovery,” Robert said, nodding to his companions. He had already noticed a ramp nearby, likely the original passageway.

Descending these ramps toward the city's heart, the joyful expressions on their faces gradually faded, replaced by furrowed brows and incredulous contemplation.

“Captain, these buildings aren’t suited for human habitation. The scale is enormous, and the interiors are very strange,” Franklin whispered to Robert. Since entering the city, he’d noticed many peculiarities. Many details of the architecture did not accommodate humanoid use, a suspicion confirmed once they stepped inside.

One would expect that a civilization capable of such grand construction would build to suit its own kind. But from what they had seen so far, the buildings were bizarre in the extreme.

First, the doors were much taller than any normal human-made structure—a feature perhaps explained by a race of giants. But inside, matters grew stranger. There were no furnishings for sitting or sleeping, nor any trace of related objects. It was difficult to imagine that beings capable of building such a city would have no furniture. It was a baffling realization.

Mike, meanwhile, was elated. He believed without a doubt that this was an alien base, the very evidence of extraterrestrials in Midgard’s ancient past.

Before long, the murals they discovered within the buildings confirmed this suspicion. This was indeed an alien base. The murals depicted a race of beings resembling plants: enormous spindle-shaped torsos, crowned with starfish-like limbs, five appendages below serving as legs, and what seemed to be a pair of wings on their backs.

Though the existence of alien civilizations was not entirely secret, such discoveries paled beside the wonders of human antiquity. Moreover, the authorities would never permit such information to be made public. Still, Robert mused, perhaps he could leverage this find for some advantage—it was, in any case, not a loss.

With their spirits buoyed by this remarkable revelation, the group adjusted their mindset and began a cautious exploration of the alien base. After all, an extraterrestrial site might be riddled with advanced traps. Even these bold explorers grew prudent as they proceeded.