The alley in Decentraland’s marketplace was a narrow chokehold of shadows and flickering lights, the hum of the bustling streets a distant echo as Claire faced the sudden onslaught. Rust, the elderly token whose weathered facade had masked its true intent, lunged with a surge of energy that belied its frail appearance, its hands clamping onto her arms with a grip like cold steel. Claire twisted, her reflexes sharp from battles in Axie Infinity, but the confined space hemmed her in, the walls of the alley pressing close like a vice.
Before she could fully break free, Sui and XRP burst from the shadows, their forms crackling with chaotic energy. Sui’s sleek silhouette darted forward, a net of shimmering code snapping toward her, while XRP’s rapid strikes came from the side, a blur of precision aimed at her legs. Claire ducked, her essence flaring instinctively as vines of digital code erupted from her fingertips, snaring Rust’s limbs in a desperate bid for leverage. The vines coiled tight, but Rust’s strength—augmented by Pepe’s tech—shattered them with a pulse of static, freeing it to tighten its hold.
Sui’s net grazed her shoulder, its edges biting into her digital form, slowing her movements with a numbing jolt. XRP’s next strike landed—a swift jab to her thigh—sending a shockwave of disruption through her system, her legs buckling beneath her. Claire hit the ground hard, the alley’s surface cold and unyielding, her breath ragged as she scrambled to regain footing. Rust loomed over her, its dim eyes now glinting with a predator’s focus, pinning her arms behind her back with a force that strained her joints.
“Stop fighting,” Rust rasped, its voice a harsh crackle, “you’re coming with us.”
Claire’s mind raced, her senses straining for an escape, but the alley offered no reprieve. Sui circled, its net retracting with a hiss, replaced by restraints of glowing code that snapped around her wrists, tightening with a relentless hum. XRP flanked her other side, its rapid hands securing her ankles with similar bindings, each clasp locking with a digital click that echoed in the confined space. The restraints pulsed with an energy that dulled her essence, her vines fizzling into static as she struggled against them.
“Where are you taking me?” Claire demanded, her voice sharp despite the strain, her eyes darting between her captors.
Sui’s form pulsed, its tone clipped and efficient, “To where it ends. You’ll see.”
XRP’s voice cut in, swift and cold, “CryptoKitties City. Pepe’s waiting—and it’s a long haul from here.”
Claire’s gut tightened. CryptoKitties City—a name she’d heard in passing, a sprawling hub of meme-driven chaos and digital excess, nestled far beyond Decentraland’s reach. It was a stronghold of Pepe’s influence, a place where tokens like Sui, XRP, and their ilk thrived, a city of endless sprawl and lawless ambition. The journey would be grueling—across plains, through contested territories, a trek measured not just in distance but in the peril of Pepe’s domain.
Rust hauled her up, its grip unyielding, forcing her to stand as Sui and XRP flanked her, their forms taut with purpose. “Move,” Rust ordered, shoving her forward, the restraints biting into her wrists and ankles with every step. Claire stumbled, her legs still unsteady from XRP’s strike, but she kept her head up, her mind racing for a way out even as her body complied.
The alley twisted into a darker passage, its walls narrowing further, the marketplace’s noise fading to a muffled drone. Sui led the way, its sleek form cutting through the shadows, while XRP darted ahead, scouting for any interference. Rust stayed close, its static voice a constant threat in her ear, “No tricks—those vines won’t help you now.”
Claire tested the restraints, flexing her wrists against the glowing code, but the bindings tightened in response, their energy sapping her strength. Her essence flickered, dulled by the tech—Pepe’s alliance had planned this well, neutralizing her power with precision. She gritted her teeth, frustration boiling beneath her calm exterior, her thoughts flashing to Doge, Solana, and the others—too far to sense her absence yet, but closing in, she hoped.
The passage opened into a hidden loading bay, a backwater of the marketplace where data streams converged into a transit hub. A sleek transport pod awaited—its surface a patchwork of jagged code and pulsing lights, a vessel built for speed and secrecy. Sui tapped its side, the pod hissing open, revealing a stark interior of cold metal and humming circuits.
“In,” XRP snapped, its rapid hands shoving Claire toward the pod. She resisted, planting her feet, but Rust’s grip tightened, forcing her forward, her bound ankles dragging against the ground. She hit the pod’s floor with a thud, the restraints locking into slots that pinned her in place, her back pressed against the wall, her legs stretched out in front of her.
Sui entered, its form settling into a control node, its energy syncing with the pod’s systems. XRP took a guard position near the hatch, its swift eyes scanning the bay, while Rust loomed over Claire, its static voice a low growl, “CryptoKitties City’s a long way—days, maybe more. Pepe wants you intact, but don’t test us.”
Claire glared up at it, her voice steady despite her predicament, “You think this ends me? My group’s stronger than you know.”
Rust’s dim eyes flickered, “Stronger, maybe, but not here. You’re leverage—Pepe’s been itching to break your rebellion’s spine.”
The pod’s hatch sealed with a hiss, the interior dimming as Sui activated its systems, the vessel humming to life with a jolt that vibrated through Claire’s restraints. The bay outside blurred as the pod launched, slipping through Decentraland’s undercurrents—hidden data streams beneath the city’s surface—evading detection with a speed that rivaled Avalanche’s scouts.
Claire’s mind churned, piecing together her captors’ plan. CryptoKitties City—a chaotic sprawl where Pepe reigned, a fortress of meme tokens and rogue blockchains, far from Decentraland’s reach. The journey would be a slog through contested plains and hostile networks, a route designed to keep her isolated, her fate a bargaining chip or a trophy for Pepe’s alliance. Sui’s efficiency, XRP’s agility, and Rust’s cunning had outmaneuvered her, exploiting her moment of solitude.
The pod’s interior was a cage of cold light and humming energy, its walls pulsing with the rhythm of their escape. Claire strained against the restraints, her wrists raw from the effort, but the code held firm, its dampening effect numbing her essence. She focused inward, conserving her strength, her thoughts a lifeline to Doge’s loyalty, Solana’s wisdom, Chillguy’s ingenuity—her group would come, she knew, but time was her enemy now.
