Ash sprinted at the front, simultaneously activating Aura to guide himself.
Although his Aura mastery wasn't as profound as his Viridian Power, LV.17 Aura was already capable of probing a vast area. Under Aura perception, Ash finally saw the truth behind the bird flock Pidgeotto had rushed toward.
What he'd mistaken for a peaceful returning-to-the-nest scene—
Was in fact a brutal hunt.
A Fearow, leading a large flock of Spearow, was relentlessly chasing another Fearow and a single Spearow.
The Fearow being hunted was already covered in wounds from head to toe.
The Spearow it shielded behind its body was in slightly better condition—but still battered and bloodied.
Facing a younger, stronger Fearow and an entire Spearow flock, the older Fearow and Spearow were already at death's door.
If the pursuers weren't deliberately toying with them, the hunted pair would have long since become lifeless corpses.
Even so, both of them were riddled with bleeding puncture wounds from vicious pecks.
The Fearow leading the attack narrowed its cruel, cunning eyes. Seeing the older Fearow stubbornly holding on, its gaze suddenly shifted to the Spearow hiding behind it.
A vicious idea flashed through its mind.
In the next instant, it accelerated like lightning—its long beak spinning at high speed like a drill—as it viciously stabbed toward the Spearow behind the Fearow.
"GA—!"
Seeing its child under attack, the older Fearow acted purely on instinct, lunging forward to block the blow.
But the attacking Fearow's eyes gleamed with malicious triumph—
Because from the very beginning, its true target had never been the Spearow.
"PU-CHH!!"
The spinning beak abruptly changed direction and plunged straight into the Fearow's abdomen.
Caught completely off guard, the older Fearow took the hit head-on. Its soft belly was pierced clean through.
"GAA—!"
The fatal wound tore open its lower body. A blood-soaked cavity gaped wide, with part of its torn intestines spilling out.
The Fearow coughed up a mouthful of blood, its pupils losing focus, before its massive body plummeted toward the ground.
"JEE—GAA!!"
"PIDGEO—!!"
Watching the Fearow crash heavily onto the earth, the Spearow it had protected screamed in despair and dove down after it.
At the same time, Pidgeotto, arriving at full speed from Viridian Road, witnessed the scene and let out a heart-rending, blood-curdling cry.
"GA—! Where did this Pidgeotto come from? Dares to interfere with our business—courting death?"
The Fearow leading the Spearow flock sneered as it spotted the fast-approaching figure.
"GA—Boss, that Pidgeotto looks like the one the old hen picked up back then—the mongrel we forced out of the flock."
A Spearow squinted at Pidgeotto and spoke with sudden realization.
"GA—So it's that mongrel."
"Back when I hadn't evolved yet, I had to pressure the old hen together with you all just to drive it away."
"I never expected it to come back now."
"Perfect. I'll kill this mongrel and its brat right in front of the old hen… then eat them both."
"I want that old hen to die under double torment—body and mind."
Staring at Pidgeotto flying closer, the Fearow's eyes gleamed with savage bloodlust.
—
"Mom, look—look! It's Brother! Brother's back!"
"GA—… Brother? So he really came back… I thought he'd never forgive me… I didn't expect to see him again before I died…"
"GA—No! Spearow, tell your brother to leave—now!"
"Scar-Eye hates him to the bone. Back when Brother was still in the flock, Scar-Eye constantly bullied him with the others."
"If I hadn't been holding them back then, Brother wouldn't have just been expelled—he would've been killed."
"Now Scar-Eye has evolved into Fearow. He poisoned me with toxic berries, then gathered these traitors to wipe us out."
"If Brother comes back now, Scar-Eye will never let him live."
"Spearow—make him leave. Tell him to fly as far away as possible."
Lying in a pool of blood, the dying Fearow coughed violently as it spoke.
"JEE—Mom… Brother can't leave anymore. Scar-Eye and Crooked-Leg have already surrounded him."
"GA—…Then it seems our family truly will die together today."
"GA—That damned Scar-Eye."
"Spearow, since we can't escape, don't worry about me anymore. Go help your brother."
"You two should kill as many traitors as possible—if we're going to die, we'll at least drag some of them down with us!"
"JEE—Yes!!"
The Spearow's eyes filled with grief—then hardened into burning fury.
With a final response to its mother, it beat its wings and charged toward the sky, flying back to where Pidgeotto was surrounded.
—
"JEE—Brother! Mom told me to help you!"
Flying alongside Pidgeotto, the Spearow stared at its elder sibling in shock.
The frail, bullied brother from childhood—who'd been driven out of the flock over half a year ago—had grown this powerful.
He had already evolved into Pidgeotto.
"JEE—Brother… Mom said we can't escape today."
"She wants us to kill as many traitors as possible, so we won't die for nothing."
The Spearow hovered beside Pidgeotto, eyes blazing with killing intent toward the Fearow and Spearow flock ahead.
There was no fear on its face—only excitement.
Clearly, Pidgeotto's battle-loving nature ran in the family.
SMACK!
Without a word, Pidgeotto suddenly slapped Spearow aside with a wing, knocking it flying.
"JEE—Brother! What are you doing?!"
The Spearow cried out, confused and aggrieved.
"PIDGEO—Fly in the direction I came from. Find a human boy carrying a Pikachu."
"He's my Trainer. He has the power to heal injuries."
"Go find him and save Mom."
"Leave this place to me."
Usually quiet under Ash's command, Pidgeotto spoke rapidly and firmly, issuing clear instructions.
"JEE—A human with healing power… Brother, is your Trainer that boy who gives free treatment at Dashiwan Valley near Pallet Town—Ash?"
"PIDGEO—This is no time to talk! When are you ever going to fix that chatterbox habit?!"
"GO—NOW!!"
"JEE—O-okay! I'm going!"
The Spearow wasn't upset at being scolded—instead, it felt strangely warm inside.
Beating its wings, it turned sharply and flew off at full speed toward the forest road.
—
Above the forest canopy, blood-soaked feathers drifted slowly down.
And the real battle…
was only just beginning.
--------------
T/N:
Access Advance Chapters on my
P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals