The given integral is: \[ I = \int \frac{x^2}{\sqrt{x^6 + a^6}} \, dx \] To solve this, use the substitution \( u = x^3 \), so that \( du = 3x^2 \, dx \). The integral becomes: \[ I = \frac{1}{3} \int \frac{du}{\sqrt{u^2 + a^6}} \] This is a standard integral, and its solution is: \[ \frac{1}{3} \log | u + \sqrt{u^2 + a^6} | + c \] Substituting \( u = x^3 \) back into the result, we get: \[ I = \frac{1}{3} \log | x^3 + \sqrt{x^6 + a^6} | + c \] Therefore, the correct answer is (D).