Chapter Fifty-One: The Antarctic Continent

Heaven and earth were vast and bleak, blanketed in white snow. This was the southernmost tip of Midgard, the continent least touched by human footsteps, the sacred land of ice and snow—Antarctica.

A team of researchers pressed forward across this expanse. They were members of the American Antarctic Expedition, heading toward a valley they had recently discovered. Within that valley, they had come across ancient artifacts—man-made objects that defied all expectations. Even today, scientific research in Antarctica was fraught with difficulty, let alone the prospect of habitation. According to the theory of continental drift, Antarctica had completely separated from the other continents fifty million years ago, making the presence of humans impossible.

Yet these artifacts suggested that, in this pristine sanctuary of the earth, people had trodden long before anyone believed possible. Such a revelation was enough to overturn current knowledge of biology and history—and to immortalize the discoverers. Thus, the team concealed their find, choosing to investigate themselves before sharing it with the world. After all, they were ordinary researchers; if they reported their discovery now, their base would surely be taken over by higher authorities, and experts would come to claim credit for any breakthrough. The glory of a world-shaking discovery would belong to others.

Now, the team had returned to the valley where the artifacts had been found. Surrounded by mountains, the place formed a small “oasis.” In Antarctica, an oasis was not a lush haven of trees and flowers, but rather a patch of land free of snow and ice, precious to explorers and scientists accustomed to the frozen wastes. When they found such a place, it felt intimate and welcoming, and so it earned the name “oasis” among the Antarctic community.

Initially, the team was excited to report the discovery of a new oasis. Though not particularly large, it would still earn them recognition in the scientific community. But soon they stumbled upon a peculiar artifact within the oasis—a find that would have been overlooked if not for a meticulous member of their group.

This artifact appeared, at first glance, to be an odd stone—twisted and gnarled, resembling a lump of warped flesh. The researchers initially assumed it was a bizarre product of nature, but their careful colleague sensed something amiss. He was especially fond of ancient sculptures, and upon seeing the stone, he felt an inkling of strangeness. When he approached and examined it closely, he discerned faint contours on its surface. He called the others over, and together they pieced the severely damaged statue back together from scattered fragments.

Once the stones were roughly joined, it became clear to all that the object was indeed man-made. The reconstructed remnants formed a shattered statue, which, when digitally restored with 3D software, appeared all the more vividly before their eyes.

It was a sculpture of a mass of flesh adorned with countless tentacles, and at the center of those tentacles, a humanoid shape could be glimpsed. This discovery electrified the archaeologists, who unanimously deemed it the greatest find of the century. Amid the excitement, one team member holding a fragment tumbled onto the statue, causing it to shift backward by a meter. Beneath the statue, a concealed passageway was revealed, much to the astonishment of the group.

Their anger at the careless mishap quickly gave way to exhilaration. If a single statue could yield such riches, how much greater might be the secrets hidden within a man-made underground tunnel? They had no intention of venturing down immediately; lacking the necessary gear, they moved the statue to seal the entrance, wary of unknown dangers and unwelcome animal intrusions.

They hurried back to the base and returned equipped for exploration. Prepared at last, they pushed aside the statue, donned oxygen tanks—precautions against unknown viruses and gases—and readied themselves for the descent. Captain Robert ordered two team members to guard the entrance, while the others, secured with safety ropes, began their careful journey down. This was a plan they had carefully devised en route; sending everyone down at once would be foolhardy.

After traversing a short passage, the group entered a spacious cavern. Robert checked the signal on his radio, then turned his attention to the cave itself. Despite the passage of ages, it was unmistakably artificial. The cavern branched into four tunnels: one leading back to their entry, and three others leading into darkness.

“Captain, what should we do now?” Mike, the youngest and most enthusiastic among them, eagerly awaited the next step. Many films and television programs spoke of mysterious civilizations in Antarctica; while most of his colleagues believed this was an ancient human site, Mike insisted it was the remains of aliens. After the Battle of New York, extraterrestrial civilizations were no longer secret in the eyes of Midgard’s people.

“Mike, don’t get ahead of yourself. Whether in science or archaeology, only calm pursuit leads to truth,” replied Robert. He was forty-nine, yet still unknown in the scientific world—a bitter pill for one so proud. All his life, he had been admired, but his legend seemed to have ended when he chose the path of research. He had considered quitting, but leaving in disgrace would mean losing all dignity. So, after the discovery of the ruins, he defied advice and chose to lead his team in exploration before reporting their findings.

After carefully examining the three other tunnels, Robert decided on a collective approach. It was prudent to be cautious—the age and origin of these ruins were uncertain, and no amount of renown was worth risking one’s life. Since they would proceed together, the choice of which tunnel to take became important. Robert selected the leftmost passage, and the team gradually descended. On the surface, one member watched the video feed from their monitors, while the other stood guard, keeping watch and tending the safety rope.