After capturing the Bibarel, Xu Li decided to Head directly to Windswept Run to search for traces of Chimchar.
After finding Chimchar, Xu Li planned to return to Jubilife Village.
After all, he had been adventuring in the Obsidian Fieldlands for a long time, and he had given a large amount of supplies to the Buizel tribe, so he needed to return to Jubilife Village to resupply.
He changed direction towards Aipom Hill, and gradually, music began to drift from ahead, growing louder as Xu Li walked forward.
Xu Li was a little curious and decided to get closer to see what was happening.
"De de de de~ mm ne~ ne ne"
The sound source was closer; it seemed to be a group of Pokémon playing a melody.
Encircled by several large trees, many round Kricketot swayed to the music, rubbing the antennae on their Heads, producing sounds like a xylophone.
There were also several Kricketune, among which a huge figure stood out: the Head Kricketune.
Its entire body was crimson, with a pair of long, drooping antennae. It swayed its blade-like forearms, crossing them over its chest to produce sound. The most prominent melody of this concert came from it.
Kricketune, as merely a cricket, can be bulkier than Pheromosa, its physical attack can overpower Volcarona, its special attack can suppress Buzzwole, and its speed is even faster than Guzma's ace, Golisopod.
It possesses the Swarm ability, on par with starter Pokémon, and its hidden ability is Technician, the same as the Bug-type glory, Scizor.
It truly is a uniquely gifted Pokémon.
Other Pokémon in the vicinity were also listening to this concert. There were Stantler kneeling on the ground, resting and listening.
Nearby were also Bidoof, Paras, Burmy swaying from tree branches, and at the top of a tree—a Chimchar!
Seeing Chimchar right before him, Xu Li wasn't in a hurry.
He sat on a rock at the edge of the concert, picked up Eevee, and together with the Pokémon, quietly enjoyed the performance of the Kricketune and Kricketot.
After all, it wouldn't be good to disturb the event rashly.
"Mm mm~ de de de de~ de~ ne ne"
The concert was still ongoing.
Although Xu Li didn't understand music appreciation, he could discern the rises and falls, indicating that the Kricketune and Kricketot had put a lot of effort into their musical studies.
After one piece, the music temporarily ended, and the Pokémon present all let out joyful cries. The Chimchar perched on the treetop even clapped its hands happily.
The Kricketune and Kricketot rested for a while. Seeing everyone so enthusiastic, the Kricketune Head showed a human-like sense of satisfaction on its face.
After adjusting and communicating with its companions for a bit, it prepared to play music again.
"De de de de~ mm ne~ ne ne"
But this performance was not so smooth.
Because halfway through the performance, many uninvited guests appeared above the concert.
Dozens of Staravia, carrying countless Starly, gathered into a large flock, circling above the concert and emitting noisy and sharp cries.
"Starly~~Star~~"
Among the few Staravia, one was particularly large, its eyes glowing red, and the crest on its Head was the most impressive; it seemed to be their Head.
Staravia are Pokémon that love to gather in conspicuous large flocks, flying over forests and grasslands, hunting Bug-type Pokémon.
All the Pokémon present became panicked and scattered.
The Kricketune Head looked at the flock of Staravia above, its eyes filled with fear, but it remained in place, letting out a sharp whistle, directing the Kricketot on their escape path.
The Staravia tribe and the Kricketune tribe both operate in this area. From the Kricketune and Kricketot's practiced escape movements, it was clear they had been hunted by the Staravia tribe for years.
One Staravia spotted a lone Kricketot, and a white light glowed on its wings as it swooped down first towards that Kricketot, intending to prey on it.
"De de de de————"
The Head Kricketune noticed the Staravia's action, raised its arms, and its blade-like arms crossed like scissors as it rushed towards the Staravia.
It successfully stopped the Staravia at the moment it attacked the Kricketot, and the internal cavity of its body resounded violently, emitting a sharp warning sound.
But this still couldn't stop the Staravia's actions.
The first Staravia acted, like the first crack appearing in shattered glass, and more and more Staravia and Starly sought out their targets.
Though the Head Kricketune had fierce attacks, it only had two hands and couldn't stop the increasing number of Staravia from attacking its kin.
It watched helplessly as the Kricketot in the distance were attacked by Starly.
"Alright, Axew, Rock Tomb! Shinx, Thunder Wave!"
Originally, Xu Li didn't intend to interfere. The education he received in the Pokémon world taught him that in the wild, nature has its own laws, and interfering with battles between wild tribes would break natural rules.
However, after listening to Kricketune's music and seeing the plight of the Kricketune tribe, he couldn't bear it. Nature's rules? Who cared about them? Xu Li was more concerned with what was in front of him.
Upon hearing Xu Li's command, Axew, who had been ready, pressed his hands together, and several rocks squeezed a Staravia that was about to attack with its wings, slamming it to the ground.
Shinx also emitted a Thunder Wave from its tail, hitting a Starly that was carrying a Kricketot. The hit Starly was paralyzed and fell directly to the ground.
"Everyone, come out!"
Xu Li released all his Pokémon, protecting most of the Kricketot.
He, meanwhile, took out sticky balls and threw them one by one at the Staravia in the air. The hit Staravia became dizzy and confused, falling to the ground, some even crashing into trees.
Oshawott took out its Scalchop, protecting the Kricketot. If any Staravia approached, it would attack them.
Growlithe also guarded the Kricketot group, occasionally spitting a small stream of sparks into the air, trying to scare away the Staravia.
Paras, being a bug, also shared the same hatred, spitting out clusters of Spore and Stun Spore into the sky, hitting various Starly and causing them to fall.
"Eevee?"
Eevee looked at the injured Kricketot wailing in front of it and felt an increasingly strong desire to help. Following its instincts, it unconsciously began to pray towards the sky.
A moment later, a stream of energy fell from the sky and flowed into the injured Kricketot, alleviating its pain.
Even Silcoon, upon seeing fellow Bug-type Pokémon being attacked, and recalling the persecution it suffered from Staravia during its Wurmple stage, also shared the same hatred.
Although it couldn't move, it furiously shot String Shot from the small hole in its cocoon used for observing the outside, trying to stick to the Starly's wings.
A few unfortunate Starly flew above Silcoon and had their wings stuck by String Shot, unable to fly anymore.
And that Chimchar, it actually returned.
It darted between several trees, agilely dodging the Staravia's attacks.
What was special was that it actually used both Thunder Punch and Fire Punch simultaneously, one hand wielding fire, the other tightly gripping lightning.
Gradually, the Staravia's attacks slowly decreased, with more of them struggling on the ground.
The Staravia Head, who had been observing the battle from above, seeing the situation, still didn't personally join the fight. Instead, it chirped a few times and then flew away directly, leaving behind the scattered Starly and Staravia on the ground.
Xu Li knew from his knowledge of Staravia that once they form a group, internal strife is constant.
The competition between various teams is fierce, fighting for territory, mates, and food—they fight for everything.
Did the Staravia Head do this, not participating in the battle, to preserve its strength for internal tribal competition?
Seeing the Head fly away, the remaining Staravia also didn't want to fight anymore. They chirped a few times, each picking up their fallen kin from the ground, and quickly left.
Many Kricketot sighed in relief, their round bodies lying on the ground, their antennae emitting sounds of relaxation, lamenting their survival from this ordeal.