Outnumbered!

Watching Tropius, the uninvited guest that had entered its territory, Fearow launched an attack without hesitation.

Fearow was an unreasonable kind of Pokémon. It attacked almost any creature that entered its territory.

Like an arrow loosed from a bow, Fearow charged straight at Tropius.

"Tropius, leave this Fearow to me!" Lu Li shouted excitedly.

Lu Li formed a Hand Seal with both hands. A Golden Needle instantly condensed and shot toward Fearow in a streak of light.

Fearow's wing was instantly pierced by the Golden Needle. With its wing injured, Fearow let out a shrill scream before falling toward the forest below.

Seeing this, Lu Li thought, I hope the Pokémon is all right.

Having successfully driven back Fearow, the uninvited guest, Lu Li was just about to leave when he heard rustling sounds.

Soon, another Fearow flew out of the forest, followed by two, then three...

Lu Li's face turned green as he watched seven Fearow emerge from the forest.

With his current energy reserves, he could use the Golden Needle Art at most three times. He had already used it once, and after two more uses, Tropius, which was only at the Normal-level Early Stage, would be besieged by at least five Fearow.

Although Jinji Village was far from Qingfeng City, according to territorial divisions, Jinji Village was definitely human territory. Why had wild Pokémon like Fearow come here? And so many at once?

In the wild, any Spearow capable of evolving into Fearow was at least at the Normal-level Late Stage. There might even be Experienced-level Pokémon among them.

Lu Li finally understood why the villagers of Jinji Village had moved away. With such a group of troublesome neighbors next door, how could ordinary people dare remain here?

Without hesitation, Lu Li hurriedly shouted, "Tropius, run!"

Upon hearing its trainer's command, Tropius flew into the distance without looking back.

Faced with Lu Li, an intruder who had attacked their own kind, how could the already hot-tempered Fearow let him go so easily?

Watching the Fearow close behind them draw nearer and nearer, Lu Li gritted his teeth with a grim expression.

At this rate, Tropius would definitely be caught.

The only thing worth being thankful for was that this flock of Fearow did not know any long-range moves.

"Tropius, when I release the flames, dive down. Then be ready for me to recall you into the Poké Ball." After speaking, Lu Li formed a Hand Seal with both hands and activated the Flame Manipulation Art.

The Flame Manipulation Art was merely a basic minor spell for alchemists. Its destructive power was even weaker than an Ember used by a Pokémon of the same level, but its true effect was to create and control flames.

The tiny flame Lu Li threw out instantly expanded, engulfing the Fearow flying directly toward them.

Having received the order in advance, Tropius plunged headfirst toward the forest below.

Just as Tropius was about to pass through the canopy, Lu Li recalled it with a Poké Ball, while he himself fell into the forest.

After landing, Lu Li rolled forward. Once he had dispersed the force of the fall, he hurried beneath a Big Tree and hid.

The Fearow that passed through the flames looked at the empty sky and instantly let out furious screeches.

The Fearow circled angrily above the forest. Though they were not particularly intelligent, they knew that the damned Tropius and the two-legged Pokémon had definitely hidden in the woods below.

Hiding beneath the Big Tree, Lu Li kept praying that he would not be discovered.

But things did not go as he wished. Through his Spiritual Sense, Lu Li sensed a young Fearow shooting toward his location.

Daring not hesitate any longer, Lu Li rolled forward again.

The Big Tree where Lu Li had been hiding was instantly pierced through. Having failed its attack, the Fearow immediately called its Companions.

Knowing that he had been exposed, Lu Li could only release Tropius again.

"Tropius, it looks like this will be a hard fight," Lu Li said solemnly.

Lu Li calculated the remaining energy in his body. He could probably use the Golden Needle Art twice more, which meant they still had to face five Fearow.

The good news was that wild Pokémon like Fearow definitely did not know many moves. So far, they had not displayed any long-range moves.

"Tropius, use Leech Seed on any target you can reach." After speaking, Lu Li formed a Hand Seal with both hands, activating the Golden Needle Art once more.

This time, his target was Fearow's head rather than its wings.

Fearow's head was pierced through, and it fell stiffly to the ground.

Seeing their companion killed, the remaining Fearow grew even more furious.

Lu Li continued directing, "Tropius, Sweet Scent."

A pink fragrance spread through the air, but the Fearow, their eyes clouded by rage, did not care. One Fearow that had closed in on Tropius opened with a Fury Attack.

Lu Li took the opportunity to use the Golden Needle Art to deal with the Fearow that had injured Tropius.

The situation instantly became one against five. With no means of attack left, Lu Li had truly become an ordinary trainer.

Fortunately, Tropius's Leech Seed had succeeded, and Sweet Scent had also covered the battlefield.

"Tropius, use Razor Leaf on the Fearow directly ahead!"

Tropius condensed Razor Leaf and fired it straight at Fearow.

That Fearow did not even try to dodge. It charged directly into Tropius's Razor Leaf, while the other Fearow did not remain idle either.

They attacked Tropius from different directions. With Tropius's somewhat sluggish speed, it could not evade attacks coming from so many angles.

Moreover, they were in a forest, where the terrain was even more complicated and it was difficult even to fly.

Only Pokémon like these, which had lived in forests for years and excelled at flying, were barely affected.

Fortunately, because there were many trees around, Tropius did not have to worry about being completely surrounded.

"Tropius, dodge every attack you can!" Lu Li could only shout.

In fact, even without Lu Li saying so, Tropius was doing its best to evade Fearow's attacks. Even so, two Fearow still got close and left several wounds on Tropius's body.

"Tropius, hold on, then keep using Leech Seed. Hit whoever you can," Lu Li continued directing.

Because of the terrain, Tropius's Leech Seed struck with perfect accuracy.

Through his perception, Lu Li discovered that two Fearow had already been hit by Tropius's Leech Seed.

But at the same time, Fearow's second wave of attacks arrived.

Lu Li continued commanding, "Tropius, keep using Leech Seed! Then endure it."

Tropius's Leech Seed hit another Fearow, bringing the number of Fearow afflicted with Leech Seed to three.

Tropius gained two more wounds. Including the earlier attacks, Tropius had taken at least six moves in a short time: four Pecks and two Fury Attacks.

Fury Attack in particular had inflicted the most wounds on Tropius.

Sensing that Tropius was nearing its limit, a sharp glint flashed in Lu Li's eyes. Then he shouted, "Tropius! Use Special Growth on everything around you with all your strength!"

The setting that Fearow only knew Peck has been revised. That was my mistake. What I originally meant was that Fearow had only displayed Peck, not that it only knew that move.

The setting of this book is that Pokémon do not automatically learn moves as they level up. Whether a Pokémon can learn moves depends on its aptitude. If everything followed the games, it would conflict with the setting and outline, so I can only make suitable revisions.