For humanity, burn the stars.

On this planet once known as "Earth," massive cities stacked one on top of another have formed a new ecosystem.

The top floor, the first urban level, is the only floor that can enjoy natural sunlight.

Warm light shone on the towering, sleek purple buildings.

This is the place on this planet where only the most powerful and privileged, even among the rulers, can reside.

On a viewing platform suspended in mid-air, with an elegant design resembling a blooming violet, two figures lean against a crystal-clear railing, looking down at the layered urban structure below.

However, the planet is no longer inhabited by humans, and it is no longer called "Earth".

The planet's current inhabitants are a different kind of humanoid creature with sticky, deep purple skin that gleams with a glaze-like sheen in the sunlight.

They have smooth faces with only two eyes and a mouth, no hair, and an optical fiber-like organ on their heads.

A humanoid creature that has no external ears or nose, has four tentacles on its arms, and does not walk on legs.

At this moment, the two figures on the terrace were both wrapped in well-tailored silver fabric, with four flexible tendrils extending from their arms and hanging naturally at their sides.

The lower body is not legs, but an anti-gravity levitation device that allows them to float gracefully a few centimeters off the ground, without getting covered in dust.

"The theme of the next research group is 'humanity'."

"Whether it's their artwork or their sociological analysis, they should go up to the podium and share their insights with the students."

"This is a bit troublesome. What are you thinking, Luke?"

Communication is not through the mouth, but directly through a delicate, soft organ on the head that sways slightly like a fiber optic cable.

The other one, known as Luke, gently swung the fiber optic organ on his head, the end of which drew an elegant arc in the air.

"Varian, I plan to check out the lowest level area."

"What could be more suitable for this topic than simply capturing some humans?"

Its four tentacles rose and swayed happily.

"I wonder if we can catch any unusual individuals..."

Varian's fiber optic organ on his head curled slightly, as if he were somewhat worried about it.

Of course, it was never out of humanitarian considerations.

"Humans... I have never actually seen one with my own eyes."

"But those creatures nowadays are completely unrelated to the 'humanity' that the research institute is focusing on, aren't they?"

"After all, the surrenderers were transformed after the war, becoming completely unrecognizable and turning into 'shell people' under our control."

"Not only their bodies, but their culture was also destroyed. They don't even know what has happened to them or to this planet."

"Retaining full brain function but being spiritually castrated, completely losing creative potential."

Do you think the teacher would like this kind of material?

Luke shook his head and spun around in mid-air.

"Whatever, I just want to go down and take a look."

"My father once said that even the lowest ecological niche has something worth observing."

Upon hearing Luke mention his father, Varian had nothing more to say and simply nodded in agreement.

After all, that person is the current planetary governor of this planet.

Varian nodded slightly, also somewhat concerned.

"So when do we set off?"

"I'm also very concerned about whether the 'ocean' really ever existed."

Luke's eyes widened slightly, and he asked in surprise:

"Do you like water?"

Varian, fearing that Luke would misunderstand him, immediately responded, his laughter faintly mimicking human emotions.

"No, how could that be?"

"The racial aversion to damp and liquid environments will not change."

"Just like it's written in the textbooks, the first thing we did after conquering this place was to wipe that giant body of water, which we called the 'ocean,' off the surface of the planet."

"Then, the city was built up layer by layer on top of it."

"I just wanted to see what that 'garbage sea' where humans are allowed to live actually looks like."

In fact, with their technological capabilities, they are fully capable of completely decomposing and efficiently recycling all the waste generated on the planet.

Therefore, the purpose of the 'garbage dump' located at the bottom is not to dispose of garbage.

The reason it is kept and waste is regularly dumped from the upper level is for one purpose only: to humiliate.

All the monetary systems and exchange rules that humanity has ever established are allowed to continue in a distorted form within District 51.

Scavenging, exchanging currency, or trading food are lifestyles that only the most impoverished people can afford.

Those were behaviors that were specially permitted to continue in order to observe their struggles and ugliness.

All of this was simply to make the observation more vivid.

It's like watching ants kept in a transparent anthill, embodying the absolute power of the dominant species.

Having received Varian's explanation, Luke nodded in satisfaction.

The two aliens, still receiving their education on Earth, looked at each other and laughed, their laughter stiff.

Because the function of using facial muscles to laugh is not one of their original physiological functions.

Along with the complex emotional expression patterns represented by smiles, they were all acquired from humanity, a defeated race.

Just like all other cultures, architectures, and aesthetics that have been plundered, they have also incorporated some of humanity's physiological functions and structures into themselves.

They even copied the social structure.

Although this race once had a matriarchal system, its social hierarchy was still in a relatively primitive state.

However, this particular branch on Earth has developed into one with a strict and clear social hierarchy.

From the top floor to the bottom floor, only those with corresponding status can reside on that floor; the rules are very strict.

This is a race that is constantly occupying, establishing roots, and expanding in the universe.

Their civilization, like the cities stacked on the planet beneath their feet, was built layer by layer by constantly absorbing, integrating, and piling up fragments of the conquered cultures.

Luke stopped his stiff 'smile,' and the fiber optic organ on his head swayed gently.

It turned around, and the levitation device silently glided to the edge of the platform. Almost simultaneously, a streamlined purple aircraft floated up.

Varian kept his distance from Luke, quietly following behind him, and hitched a ride with his distinguished classmate.

"Butler, destination: District 51, edge observation point."

A smooth, synthesized sound came from inside the aircraft.

"Command confirmed."

The hatch closed, the aircraft silently rose, and then transformed into a streak of purple light.

They fell silently down the vertical passage connecting the various levels of the city to the deepest, darkest bottom of the planet.

Luke's two tentacles gently overlapped in front of him, making a gesture that resembled 'expectation'.

This was also learned from the database of human behavior.

"Hopefully we can catch some special individuals to make things more interesting."