The word “WHY” from the Mystic Axie’s mouth left everyone in a state of paralysed bewilderment. Solana, with all her experience, had never encountered an Axie capable of speech. This was beyond the scope of what they knew of these digital creatures. As their minds raced with questions, the Axie repeated, “WHY,” its voice echoing through the sanctuary, snapping everyone back to the present.
With each step the Axie took towards them, the ground beneath its feet discharged electricity, a visible sign of its immense power. The notion of fighting seemed absurd; survival now hinged on fleeing, yet turning their backs to this creature felt like a death sentence.
Claire, breaking the silence that had gripped the group, spoke up, her voice clear and calm, “Why what?” She emphasized their peaceful intentions, gesturing towards the children, “We don’t want to fight; we don’t want to harm any of the Axies. These children are innocent. If we must die, spare them.”
The Mystic Axie took another step, the electrical discharge more pronounced, yet it did not attack. Instead, it watched as Claire, with her hands at her sides to show no threat, walked towards it. The group, though fearful, was poised to act at any sign of aggression towards Claire.
Stopping just within arm’s reach of the Axie, Claire repeated her question, her voice now a soft inquiry, “Why what?”
The Axie lowered its head to meet her gaze, its eyes, made of pure code and energy, seemed to search Claire’s soul. In a voice that was both commanding and filled with an ancient sorrow, it asked, “Why have you come into our home?”
Claire explained their dire situation, “We had no choice. We’re in a desperate rush to reach Decentraland.”
The Axie’s response was sharp, its tone laced with protectiveness and accusation, “You dare to defile these lands with your presence. I am the guardian of all you see around here. I guard it from your kind who hunt my brethren for profit.”
Claire was at a loss, her words stuttering, unsure how to respond to this revelation. She had no knowledge of such hunting.
The Mystic Axie continued, its words heavy with the weight of its duty, “I have seen thousands of my kind hunted and killed. At first, I did not intervene, letting nature take its course. But then, more and more hunters appeared, nearly hunting us to extinction. I could no longer sit idly by. I have guarded this place for over a thousand years, killed and driven off more hunters than I can remember.”
Just as the conversation seemed to reach a critical point, a voice, deep and thunderous, came from behind the group, “They mean no harm.” All eyes turned towards the sound, and there, stepping from the shadows, was their guardian, the one who had watched them from the mountains.
The figure was a lion of immense stature, its size rivalling that of the ascended Axie they had previously encountered. Its physique was one of power, muscles well-defined beneath its golden fur, which shimmered like the sun itself, its mane flowing with an elegance that radiated light and authority.
The group stood between two giants of the digital world, one a protector of the land they now stood upon, the other a watcher from the shadows, now revealed as a potential ally or another layer of complexity in their quest to reach Decentraland. The air was thick with tension, curiosity, and a newfound respect for the intricate balance of this digital ecosystem they had inadvertently entered.
