Deep within Wutong Forest…
Two Pidgey crept cautiously among the branches, heads lowered as they flew beneath the leafy canopy. When they spotted a fruit tree up ahead that wasn't guarded by any Spearow, their eyes lit up.
"Pidgey?"
They scurried over, grabbed two berries in their beaks, gulped them down, and then picked up two more, ready to leave.
Everything had gone smoothly, but the two Pidgey still felt as though they'd just stolen something. When they looked back, indignation bubbled up.
This territory used to be theirs.
"Pidgey…" (If only one of our older siblings could evolve…)
"Pidgey…" (It's too hard. All the strong older brothers and sisters have already left. Sigh… maybe we should migrate next time too?)
"Pidgey…" (Sigh… but migrating is so difficult…)
After filling their bellies a little and chatting for a while, the two Pidgey flew off, leaving the area behind.
Moments later, two Spearow swooped in, beating their wings as they arrived at the once-empty fruit tree.
Judging by the excited look in their eyes, they were clearly in high spirits.
"Spearow?" (Why did the boss call everyone together?)
"Spearow~" (The boss said that over the next few days, we're going to steal even more food. Apparently, the humans' Wangwang Valley is about to ripen, and there's also a huge orchard over there…)
"Spearow?" (Seriously?)
"Spearow~" (Yeah! Another Spearow told the boss that the berries there are huge and super fragrant. They'd be delicious for sure. And there's only one Pidgeotto guarding the trees, plus some big snake in the water. If we take out the snake, then we can…)
The two Spearow chattered on excitedly, already envisioning a glorious future. Even the sun in the sky seemed redder and hotter than before.
But when they looked up…
That definitely wasn't just the sun burning a little redder.
A massive Pidgeot with wings spanning three or four meters was perched right in the dappled gaps between the trees, blocking the sunlight completely. Its piercing eyes were as sharp as blades, practically stabbing into their souls.
In the bright sunshine, a human silhouette could be faintly seen riding on its back.
One of the Spearow blinked, its voice trembling with uncertainty. "Spearow?" (I think I just saw a Pidgeot. Is… is that really a Pidgeot?)
The other Spearow flapped its wings frantically, its heart hammering in its chest.
"Spearow?!" (That is a Pidgeot! Run!)
"Pidgeot!!"
But before either Spearow could even lift off, a powerful cry thundered through the air, carrying a crushing pressure that pinned them where they stood. In the next instant, Pidgeot dove down and slammed into them, grabbing both terrified Spearow firmly in its talons.
"Unbelievable… I just brought Pidgeot here to look for you lot, and you're already plotting to raid my orchard?"
Lin Feng leapt down from Pidgeot's back and stared at the two Spearow trapped in its claws, recalling the conversation he'd just overheard.
A troubled expression crossed his face.
The "boss" they were referring to was probably the evolved Fearow. As for the Spearow who'd informed the boss about the orchard, it was likely the one Lin Feng had captured back in his plantation.
After all, only that particular Spearow would know that there was also a Milotic guarding the water near the orchard.
He hadn't expected that, after being released, that Spearow hadn't learned its lesson at all. Instead, it was already scheming to target his orchard and even the Wangwang Valley fields outside the village.
So greedy.
"Pidgeot!"
Pidgeot descended slowly, glaring coldly at the two Spearow. Its grip tightened until the pair of them squawked in pain.
Lin Feng gently stroked Pidgeot's blazing crimson wing feathers. "Hold onto them for now. The priority is reclaiming your territory."
He then took out a Poké Ball. "Come out, Caterpie."
"Caterpie?"
A flash of red light, and a yellowish Caterpie emerged from the Poké Ball. The moment it saw Pidgeot and the two Spearow, it shrank back, using all its strength to crawl up Lin Feng's leg.
Even though Caterpie knew this enormous Pidgeot wouldn't hurt it, the instinctive fear of birds was deeply ingrained in its insect nature.
And now that Pidgeot was cloaked in fiery energy, it was even more terrifying…
"Use Electroweb to trap those two Spearow."
"Caterpie?" (°ー°〃)
Trainer… what did you just say?
How could my Electroweb possibly trap Spearow?
Still, it hesitantly turned toward one of the Spearow and launched an Electroweb.
Electric sparks crackled and wove into a net. The moment Pidgeot loosened its talons, the web snapped around the two Spearow, binding them tightly.
In the very next second, no matter how the two Spearow struggled, they simply couldn't break free from the Electroweb's grip.
"Caterpie?" (○???)ノ
Did… did it actually work?
Caterpie stared at the scene, its already blank black eyes growing even rounder with shock.
It vividly remembered that morning when its Trainer had patted it on the head and suddenly it had learned this move.
At the time, it hadn't thought much of it.
But now, seeing that this move could actually trap flying birds…
Did that mean it wouldn't get eaten in the future?
Thinking along those lines…
Caterpie felt like its future had suddenly become bright and full of hope.
"Looks like I was right… Miltank ate the green dumplings, and its milk production is now four or five times what it used to be. The quality has gone from C-grade to B-grade, with signs of climbing even higher. That's a sign of abundant internal energy needing an outlet through milk production.
By the same logic, Snivy ate the green dumplings and can now extend Grassy Terrain over a wider area each day, massively boosting plant growth. That's also energy being released.
But Caterpie is different. In its first stage, it only needs to store up energy and wait quietly to evolve into Metapod. Since it can't vent that excess energy, the power from the green dumplings has all been channeled into increasing the strength of its moves. That's why its String Shot and Electroweb are unbelievably tough…"
Lin Feng couldn't help sighing as he watched the scene unfold.
If Caterpie kept stockpiling energy like this, he couldn't even imagine how potent its powders' negative effects would become once it evolved into Butterfree.
Especially considering…
In Lin Feng's Eye of Appraisal, both of those Spearow were above Level 15…
Yet Caterpie was still only around Level 7 to 9.
"Caterpie~"
(●'?'●) "Let's see if I can trap the big one."
Caterpie turned and fired another Electroweb this time at Pidgeot.
"Pidgeot?"
Feeling the tingling shock around its legs, Pidgeot froze for a second. Then it casually flexed its muscles, snapping the Electroweb clean off and lifting clumps of dirt along with it.
Afterward, it glanced down at Caterpie with a puzzled expression, as if asking, "What exactly are you doing?"
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