Chapter 254: An Unexpected Cry
Xiu had deliberately paused at the edge of the Fearow's territory, hoping to initiate some form of communication— because a direct confrontation, even one he was confident Abra could win, was rarely the optimal solution.
Fighting benefits no one. The Fearow would be injured, perhaps even killed. His own resources would be expended. If Xiu could negotiate with the other party instead of resorting to a fight, then he would gladly walk the extra mile.
But as Abra drifted forward, projecting calming, non-threatening psychic signals— the response was anything but as a massive bird erupted from the high canopy of the ancient tree, its wingspan casting an imposing shadow over the forest floor, momentarily eclipsing the sun. It shrieked, a harsh, guttural cry, its attitude unmistakable: Take one more step, and I will tear you limb from limb.
"Fearow! I'm here to negotiate!" Xiu called out, his voice firm, trying to project authority. But the wild Pokémon seemed entirely unresponsive to human speech, its aggression only intensifying at the sound of his voice.
So much for peace, Xiu thought with a resigned sigh. This one's all instinct, no intellect. Can't reason with it until it's been beaten half to death to listen... He gave a curt nod to Abra. "Alright, Abra. Let's do this."
He then deliberately stepped forward, crossing the invisible boundary with a subtle wave of his hand, calling the start of fight.
The Fearow wasted no time on further warnings. It launched itself from its high perch, plummeting towards them in a terrifying dive. As it descended, its powerful wings tucked in, its body began to rotate with incredible speed, and its long, sharp beak transforming into a lethal drill.
Drill Peck, Xiu recognized instantly. The same move it used to decimate the forest's smaller inhabitants. The attack was aimed directly at him, completely ignoring Abra hovering nearby.
The Fearow's dive was astonishingly fast, its spinning form a blur against the dappled sunlight. Rinko, watching from her hiding place, cried out a warning, but Xiu merely waved a dismissive hand, his focus absolute.
At the last possible second, just as the Fearow's drill-like beak was about to connect, Xiu sidestepped with a casual, almost contemptuous grace.
The Fearow, its attack trajectory locked and momentum unstoppable, slammed headfirst into the forest floor where Xiu had been standing an instant before. The impact was tremendous, gouging a deep crater in the earth, sending clods of dirt and splintered rocks flying.
Xiu, shielded by Abra's subtle psychic barrier, remained untouched, observing the aftermath with a detached calm.
The Fearow, dazed but not seriously injured – its long, flexible neck acting as a natural shock absorber – rolled several times, crashing through the undergrowth before coming to a stop. It shook its head, momentarily disoriented, then began to spread its massive wings, preparing to take flight again.
"Abra, now!" Xiu commanded. "Don't let it fly!" He and Abra plunged into the dense forest after the recovering Fearow, leaving a stunned Rinko behind. Where should I go? What should I do? she wondered, her heart pounding.
The Fearow, recovering quickly, was indeed about to launch itself back into the sky. But Abra, under Xiu's unyielding mental command, was faster. A visible shimmer of blue psychic energy erupted around Abra, its form seeming to distort as if it were momentarily phasing between dimensions. The air crackled with power. It raised a small, three-fingered hand.
The two opponents, predator and prey, met in the dim forest clearing. The Fearow lunged upwards as Abra thrust its hand forward. A shockwave of pure psychic energy, a shimmering blue ripple visible even to the naked eye, blasted from Abra's outstretched palm. It tore through the air, kicking up a vortex of fallen leaves and forest debris, and slammed into the ascending Fearow with brutal force.
The Fearow was knocked violently backward, tumbling end over end, crashing into the thick trunk of an ancient tree with a sickening thud. It slid to the ground, dazed, but not yet defeated. It struggled to its feet, shaking its head again, and, with a defiant shriek, attempted to launch itself into the air once more.
But Abra's second attack was already on its way. Another psychic shockwave, even more powerful than the first, struck the Fearow squarely in the chest. This time, there was no rolling impact to cushion the blow.
The Fearow was slammed back against the tree with even greater force, the impact echoing through the forest. Leaves and small branches rained down as the surrounding vegetation recoiled from the dissipating psychic energy. The Fearow collapsed in a heap, its wings splayed at unnatural angles, emitting low, pained moans.
"Alright, Abra, that's enough," Xiu said quickly, stepping forward as Abra prepared a third strike. "Don't kill it." He had specifically instructed Abra to use attacks designed to subdue, not inflict lethal damage. With Abra's true power, this Fearow wouldn't even have lived to see tomorrow.
He approached the downed Fearow. "Ready to listen now?" he asked, his voice calm.
But as he drew near, the Fearow, with a last, desperate surge of defiance, lunged at him, its sharp beak aimed at his throat.
Xiu didn't even flinch. He continued walking forward. Just as the Fearow's beak was about to connect, an invisible, crushing pressure slammed down upon it, pinning it to the ground at Xiu's feet. Abra, its eyes glowing with cold, blue light, held the struggling bird immobile with its telekinesis.
"Playing tricks, are we?" Xiu crouched beside the pinned Fearow, looking directly into its terrified, hate-filled eyes. "Naughty, naughty." He then straightened. "The fight is over. Now, are you going to tell me why you're here? Why are you driving out the other Pokémon?" He looked at Abra. "What's it saying?"
Abra shook its head almost imperceptibly.
"This is my territory now," Xiu stated, his voice hardening. "Leave immediately, and I'll let you live. Understand?"
The Fearow merely thrashed against Abra's psychic bonds, its eyes still blazing with fury.
"Fool." Xiu projected his thoughts to Abra. A pity. He sighed. "I gave you a chance. You chose not to take it." He looked at Abra again. "Kill it."
As Abra intensified its telekinetic grip, the Fearow's body, now enveloped in a visible blue psychic aura, began to contort. A piercing, agonized shriek tore from its beak.
Xiu listened, his expression impassive. But then, as the Fearow's cry echoed through the forest, another, similar shriek answered it – fainter, more distant, but unmistakably from the same species – coming from the direction of the giant nesting tree.
Xiu froze, his head snapping up. Fearow are solitary! How can there be two?
His surprise was instantly communicated to Abra. The psychic Pokémon, its attention also drawn by the unexpected second cry, paused for a moment. And in that brief instant, the telekinetic bonds around the first Fearow loosened almost imperceptibly.
It was all the opening the desperate bird needed.