The roads of New York were packed.
Pedestrians and vehicles moved about desperately, each trying to escape the relentless morning traffic. It was as hectic as any other day in the city.
On one of the many congested roads, a medium-sized, rectangular, streamlined bus sat at the heart of the traffic. From within it, loud chatter and excited voices erupted, though they were almost completely drowned out by the constant blaring of car horns around it.
Inside the bus were the culprits of the noise—the students of Midtown High.
Some were gossiping loudly, others tossing paper balls across the aisle, while a few chatted animatedly with their seatmates. It was utter chaos.
The journey had begun over an hour ago, right after the principal had announced a surprise excursion to the city's only alien museum. None of them had ever been there before. In fact, no one from Midtown High had.
The museum was a very special place, one that required specific invitations from the establishment to enter. Schools and individuals who had been granted access were extremely few. Midtown High had applied for years, only to be declined every single time.
Yet today, they had finally been accepted.
Inside the bus, Zayne sat near the center, beside the left window. Kira occupied the seat next to him in the two-seat section. The two were deep in a pleasant conversation, their expressions relaxed and genuine.
The rest of the team was similarly paired.
Gwen sat beside MJ.
Peter sat with Ned.
Ethan was seated next to Connor.
Trent sat beside Harry.
It was almost a perfect arrangement.
Even more surprising was the presence of the new teacher, "Natalie," who was also riding along with the students to the alien museum—on her very first day of work. Her luck truly seemed off the charts.
One might even say karma had finally rewarded her for all the stress she had endured.
As the traffic slowly loosened, the bus picked up speed. The engine revved softly as it moved eastward through the city. From there, the ride became smooth and uninterrupted.
Another hour passed.
Soon, the bus reached its destination.
The students were brimming with excitement, and even Zayne felt a surge of anticipation. After all, he had never visited an alien museum in either of his lives.
Then—
A sci-fi-like building came into view.
It wasn't particularly tall, nor was it short. It stood somewhere in between, its presence commanding attention. Its exterior design alone filled the gawking students with awe and anticipation. They had never seen technology this advanced up close before.
It felt like stepping straight into their fantasies.
As Zayne and the others stepped off the bus, they noticed several humanoid creatures moving about the premises. Humans were present too, though they shared the space evenly. Each group of visitors was accompanied by museum personnel clad in official uniforms, their posture exuding confidence and pride in their establishment.
When the students looked up, the museum's name was displayed in midair through advanced holographic technology—far beyond anything Earth had developed, though still inferior to what Zayne possessed.
AETHON MUSEUM
A miniature UFO hovered beside the name, accompanied by an animated alien logo bouncing playfully around the letters. The words gleamed with an aurora-like sheen, perfectly complementing the glass-like exterior of the building.
"Woah… this place looks way cooler than on TV."
"I never want to leave. From now on, this is my home."
"Do you guys see those alien baddies? I might be able to bag one."
"Bro, shut up. You haven't even bagged your studies yet."
"I invested—"
Comments flew everywhere as the Midtown High students stared at the building and the beings around them. It felt as though they had entered an entirely new world.
Minutes later, a staff member approached to receive them.
She was a female alien with pink skin, elongated ears, and visible fangs. Aside from those features, she looked almost human.
As the students were led inside, the atmosphere shifted completely.
If the outside had been sci-fi, the interior was pure fantasy.
The space was vast, divided into multiple sections. Some areas showcased alien history, others displayed spaceships and androids. There were statues of legendary alien figures, and even more fascinating—a zoo section filled with bizarre yet beautiful creatures.
It was a perfect mix, not chaotic but harmonious.
Even Zayne and his team, who had witnessed countless wonders within their base, were surprised. If the base was a paradise, then this place felt like an entirely new world.
It was utterly mesmerizing.
They took countless pictures as the female staff member guided them through the museum, explaining the significance of each section—especially the statues, which carried histories that were both surprising and deeply intriguing.
The first male statue had a beard and a single vertical eye. He held a sword raised high, as if piercing the heavens themselves.
The second male was heavily muscular, his features almost human—if not for his lower body, which was that of a snake. A massive hammer rested on his shoulders, his stern expression radiating unyielding resolve.
The two female statues appeared to be of the same race. Both possessed the features of Rafkonians. They looked completely human, save for their inhuman beauty and the armor they wore. They resembled mechanical Valkyries rather than fairytale maidens.
According to the female alien guide, the four statues represented the pioneers of the alien race on Earth. They had fought fiercely against enemy races, sacrificing everything to guide the survivors to a safe and hidden planet.
Even after arriving, they were met with fierce opposition. The last survivor—and their leader—a Rafkonian Valkyrie, had continued to fight. Over the years, she clashed with humanity, eventually pacifying most of the rifts and animosity between them. Without her, most of the aliens on Earth would have been wiped out or enslaved by their enemies—and by humans.
As the Midtown High students listened to the epic tale, their eyes shone with brilliance and excitement, as if they had personally witnessed the battles and the eventual pacification led by the female supreme.
Even Natasha was mesmerized.
She couldn't help but think to herself, "If I had that kind of power… I could have escaped those tragedies."
Zayne, standing among his classmates, wore a complex expression—one that could only be seen and understood by him alone. His gaze was locked onto the towering statues before him, unmoving yet heavy with meaning.
"Hidden and safe, huh?" Zayne murmured internally. "I'm afraid that safety will be shattered soon. When it begins… how will the alien leader respond?"
His thoughts continued, sharp and unrestrained.
"Will she protect her own kind… or will she be forced to protect the humans as well?"
A fierce light flickered within his eyes. As someone who possessed an almost invincible source of information, Zayne had long since known this history—and even the forbidden truths buried beneath it. Truths capable of shattering the fragile peace of the entire planet, regardless of whether one was a hero, a villain, or a mere civilian.
Zayne knew that beneath the planet's peaceful surface, terrifying things were unfolding. Things so twisted and unnatural that even Mephisto himself would feel irritated by their existence. And most importantly, the truth surrounding the alien leader was far from simple. The roots of the matter ran unimaginably deep—so deep that no one could ever hope to pull them out.
No one, except Zayne.
He intended to tear it all out in one decisive move and shatter the horrendous system festering within the underworld. He was confident in that goal. After all, he had been planning for days.
Kira, noticing Zayne's distant stare and silence, tugged lightly at his sleeve. The small gesture startled him, drawing an embarrassed smile to his face. He had been so deep in thought that he hadn't even realized she was still talking to him.
"Can't lose my composure," Zayne reminded himself. "Today is my lucky day. Nothing could possibly ruin it."
Refocusing his attention, he turned back to the female attendant, who had just finished her explanation about the statues. The group was about to move on when—
Snap.
The lights throughout the entire museum cut out at once.
Instantly, panic erupted from every corner of the building. Confused voices and frightened gasps echoed through the dark halls. Before anyone could even react further—
A woman screamed.
"Ahh!!! Th-The s-statues… the statues moved!"