Chapter 4: A Brutal Assault from Pidgeot
Chapter 4: A Brutal Assault from Pidgeot
"Yaaaaahhh!"
A series of agonizing screams shattered the calm and peaceful atmosphere of the New Moon Forest.
Along the leaf-strewn path, a blue-black, dog-like Pokémon was desperately running, holding a small Grass-type Pokémon, Gloom, in each of its paws. One Gloom's head was covered with grass, its body round and black-blue, while the other Gloom used its own leafy head to clutch onto Riolu's head to avoid being pulled off in the midst of its frantic sprint.
"Yow, did you guys do something to make these birds angry?!"
Riolu shouted while running, addressing the Glooms beside him.
"No, we were just basking in the sun when they came and chased us away!" the Glooms protested, clearly innocent.
From a distance, a group of bird-like Pokémon, Pidgey, and a larger Pidgeot, were frantically flapping their wings, relentlessly chasing after them.
The trouble began like this:
Riolu had been exploring the forest, following the direction he had chosen. During his journey, whenever he got thirsty, he would drink from streams, and when hungry, he would pick fruits from the trees to satisfy himself. He had been thoroughly enjoying his time in the wild.
That day, as he was leisurely taking in the natural beauty of the forest, he suddenly heard a ruckus not far away.
"Oh, sounds like something exciting's happening."
Excitedly, Riolu ran ahead, hiding behind a tree, peeking out to see.
In front of him, a large group of Pidgey were flying in the air, screeching at the Glooms, who were huddled together in the dense grass, trembling in fear.
At the front of the Pidgey flock was a Pidgeot, shaking its head and flapping its wings with sharp, shrill cries.
"You all, leave here immediately!"
Until now, Riolu had mostly encountered Caterpie and Metapod in the forest, and though they had been interesting at first, he had grown bored of seeing the same types. But now, seeing several different kinds of Pokémon before his eyes once again reminded him that he had truly crossed into the world of Pokémon.
However, something felt off.
The Pidgey and Pidgeot flying in the air seemed to be trembling, and Pidgeot's screech was becoming more frantic, laced with an odd restlessness.
"Chaa, you... we... damn it!"
"Chaa! Chaa! Chaa!"
The Pidgeot's cry turned more mechanical and broken, suddenly its eyes turned blood-red, and a brilliant crimson glow emanated from its once-brown body, its face now twisted into a maddened, savage expression.
Not just Pidgeot—this aura of madness seemed to be contagious. The Pidgey behind it also fell under the same chaotic, terrifying influence, their eyes gleaming with madness.
Upon seeing the transformed bird Pokémon, the Glooms, hiding in the grass, screamed in terror. They quickly pulled themselves out of the ground and began running with their little legs, their grass leaves shaking nervously.
As if disturbed by the cries, the Pidgeot locked its predatory eyes on the Glooms, extending its claws and swooping down toward them.
The Glooms, with their short legs, were no match for the flying speed of Pidgeot and the Pidgey. Just as it seemed the Glooms would be captured by Pidgeot's claws, a stone the size of a basin flew from the side, striking Pidgeot and causing it to lose its balance.
Realizing that the Pidgeot's behavior was too strange and unwilling to watch the Glooms be harmed, Riolu grabbed a large stone and hurled it at Pidgeot.
The impact stunned Pidgeot, and its blood-red eyes immediately locked onto Riolu's hiding place.
"Chaa chaa chaa—"
Pidgeot swiftly changed direction and charged at Riolu, while the Pidgey also aggressively attacked the Glooms.
Seeing the imminent danger, Riolu didn't hesitate to turn and flee. As he passed the Glooms, struggling to run, he quickly scooped them up and carried them along with him. The Glooms were small, only a few kilograms, and as a Fighting-type Pokémon, Riolu's strength allowed him to maintain his speed even while carrying them.
Thus, the chase continued.
"Whoo, whoo, whoo!"
Even though Riolu was running desperately, the forest floor was anything but smooth. Sharp, thorny branches and jagged stones scattered across the ground made running even more difficult.
Pidgeot was closing in fast.
"This is not going to work."
Hearing the flapping wings grow louder behind him, Riolu made a quick decision. He stopped, tossed the Glooms away, and turned to face the oncoming Pidgeot and Pidgey.
"Calm down, first check their data."
The light screen appeared just in time to show the data of the incoming bird Pokémon:
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[Pokédex]
Encounter Progress: 5/10
Battle Progress: 0/10
[Real-time Analysis]
Pokémon: Common - Pidgey (Enraged) x9
Level: Lv10
Type: Normal + Flying
Ability: Keen Eye (Accuracy will not be reduced by status changes)
Moves: Tackle (Lv1), Sand Attack (Lv0)
Pokémon: Elite - Pidgeot (Enraged) (Male)
Level: Lv18
Type: Normal + Flying
Ability: Keen Eye (Accuracy will not be reduced by status changes)
Special: Agility (Well-practiced flight techniques allow faster movement)
Moves: Gust (Lv2), Tackle (Lv1), Sand Attack (Lv1), Quick Attack (Lv0)
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"Crap, Lv5 fighting Lv10, and there's a Lv18 one too!"
Riolu mentally cursed his bad luck.
"Plus, this Pidgeot has an Elite title—does that mean it's like a mini-boss...?"
He quickly checked his own skills: Quick Attack and Detect.
Quick Attack: Dashes toward the opponent with lightning speed.
Detect: Fully deflects the opponent's attack by observing their movements.
"Back when I played the games, these two moves were priority moves. I wonder if they'll have priority effects in this reality too. If I can dodge the first attack with Detect, then quickly use Quick Attack to scatter their formation, I should be able to escape during the chaos."
Though unsure how the moves would work, Riolu reasoned that shouting out the move names with energy should trigger them... probably?
Not having much time to think, Riolu adjusted his breathing, focused his mind, and stood in a fighting stance, familiar from his previous life, ready to face the incoming assault.
"Whoo—"
The flapping wings of Pidgeot and the Pidgey stirred up the air, sending a gust of wind toward Riolu as their sharp beaks rushed toward him.
Just as the two sides were about to clash.
"Perfect opportunity, now! Detect, then Quick Attack!"
Riolu's eyes shone with resolve as he shouted the move names at the top of his lungs.
The birds were momentarily startled by the sudden outburst, and their crazed faces turned toward the Riolu posing in front of them.
A brief, awkward silence filled the air.
Nothing happened.
A cold sweat that didn't exist began to drip down Riolu's forehead.
"It's over, I can't use the move... why is it not working like in the games or the anime? Ash just yells and Pikachu uses Thunderbolt."
"Maybe I shouted too hard?"
As the Pidgey remained distracted, Riolu quickly whispered.
"Detect!"
"Quick Attack!"
He desperately made various gestures, hoping for a miracle.
But still, nothing happened.
It seemed that Pidgeot, having seen through the bluff, narrowed its eyes and gave a vicious command to its companions.
"Chaa chaa!"
With a sharp cry, Pidgeot and the Pidgey began their dive once more.
"Great! I'm going to be done for! I'm not even going to survive my first day in this new world!"
Riolu's mind screamed, and with Pidgeot's sharp beak now just inches away, he could only crouch down and protect his head, hoping to minimize the damage.
Just as Riolu braced himself for impact, the situation took a sudden turn.
"Jenny, Water Gun!"