Shadow Over Elmshade

The wind shifted.

Ray halted mid-step. The forest had grown too quiet. No rustling. No distant Pokémon calls. Even the leaves seemed to hold their breath.

"Kira…" he said, low and tense.

She caught his tone immediately and scanned their surroundings. "What is it?"

Ray's eyes locked onto the treetops.

Then came the shriek.

A deafening, metallic cry split the silence like a blade. Before either of them could move, something massive plummeted from above—faster than any bird Ray had ever seen.

CRASH!

A thick branch shattered just meters from them, and a hulking avian shape landed with an explosion of leaves and dirt.

Feathers sharp like daggers. Beak curved in a wicked hook. Eyes glowing with feral heat.

It was a Fearow.

Twice as big as Pidgey. Wings wide as a Gligar's shadow.

Ray's blood ran cold as his vision activated involuntarily—his Statsight responding to the threat.

Fearow – Aptitude: Deep Green | Combat Level: 37Status: Wounded. Highly Agitated. Territory Invasion Triggered.Warning: Critical Threat Level – Immediate Retreat Recommended

Thirty-seven?!

This wasn't just strong—it was absurd. No Pokémon in a low-threat training zone should've had that kind of power. Not even close.

Ray barely had time to pull Kira down behind a log as Fearow slashed the air with its wings. Bark exploded off a nearby tree, slicing it in half.

Kira peeked over the log, eyes wide. "What the hell is that?!"

Ray didn't answer. He couldn't.

He was calculating, analyzing, trying to find anything that would give them a chance. But all his mind saw was red warnings and power spikes.

Kira wasn't waiting.

"Machop! Get in front of us! Use Focus Energy and—Low Kick when it dives!"

Her voice was steady—but she had no idea.

Machop – Combat Level: 27Ten full levels below.

Fearow screamed and launched into the air with a single beat of its wings.

It dove.

Machop jumped into position, planted his feet—and was instantly swatted aside by a single slash of Fearow's wing.

"Machop!" Kira screamed as her partner was flung into a tree trunk, crumpling to the ground.

Ray's heart twisted. "Pidgey—Gust! Do anything to stop it!"

Pidgey flew up, wings whirling, unleashing a desperate blast of wind. The Gust struck—but it only slowed Fearow's next dive by a second.

That second was enough.

Pidgey avoided the beak—but not the talons.

They raked across its side, feathers scattering as it cried out in pain and crashed to the ground, skidding across the dirt.

Ray ran to it. "Pidgey!"

He knelt beside his partner. Blood matted its side. Its eyes were still open—but dim.

Fearow hovered overhead now, circling. Preparing for the next strike.

"Kira," Ray said, trying to stay calm. "We need to get out. Now."

"We're not leaving them!"

Ray gritted his teeth. He wasn't planning to. But he couldn't explain why this was hopeless. Kira didn't know about Statsight. About levels. About the difference between a 27 and a 37.

But he did.

And right now?

They were standing before a monster.

Fearow shrieked again. It dove once more, talons spread wide—

And everything went red.