CHAPTER 1: SUBTERRANEAN CIVILIZATIONS DO EXIST, THOUGH NOT ON EARTH

In a star system dozens of light-years away from Earth—the cradle of humanity—on a planet in the Gliese 667C star system, covered in snow and ice, a place that most civilizations, which have yet to leave their home planet, would deem uninhabitable, life is bustling in a particular corner.

"Ahhh! I should never have listened to that idiotic AI and bombed the ice cap. I shouldn’t have trusted those jerks from the base saying it was close and thoroughly scouted with no dangers. And I certainly shouldn’t have overestimated myself by coming to this planet alone!"

A figure, donning a helmet that conceals his face and clad in what seems like ancient, heavy armor, is surprisingly agile, darting back and forth on the desolate planet. He skillfully dodges explosions erupting behind him and occasionally executes stylish vertical jumps. All this would seem enjoyable—if you ignored the screams he was letting out, which were loud enough to be heard even in the planet’s thin atmosphere.

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"I should never have believed that dumb AI when it said no civilization more advanced than primitive human societies could exist here. But what are these underground lizards?"

The figure, clad in thick armor, briefly pauses, gazing toward the vast snowy mountains behind him. He clenches his fists in frustration and lets out a howl filled with confusion, anger, and resentment.

"You scaly lizards think I’m weak! You sneak up with missiles, you don’t play fair! Wait and see—I’ll return with justice on my side, and I will be back!"

With that declaration, the figure swiftly resumes his retreat, disappearing into the icy expanse. Moments later, smooth, spherical objects break through the surface of the ground and explode, leaving a massive crater behind.