"…Damn it, I'm going all in!"
Looking at the trap he had painstakingly prepared, Icarus gritted his teeth.
There are only thirty or so Tauros… why panic?
If I grab one quickly and run, it'll be worth it!
After a brief moment of hesitation, greed won.
The reward was simply too big to give up.
"And the Beedrill territory isn't far either… If I handle this right…"
At the edge of danger, his mind instead became completely calm.
He began rapidly calculating.
If he could stir chaos, use the herd against itself, and seize the opportunity—
This mission could still succeed.
---
"Victreebel, eat some Energy Cubes first. Use Ingrain + Photosynthesis to recover. And weave a few more vine nets!"
"Pidgeotto, calm down and tell me exactly what happened!"
"Vine~"
Victreebel nodded and immediately began rooting itself, restoring energy while extending more layers of vine nets.
"Pidge… pidge…"
After seeing Icarus's calm expression, Pidgeotto also steadied itself and quickly explained everything—
Including the… incident.
---
"You actually…"
Icarus was speechless.
On one hand, he didn't expect Pidgeotto to pull that off so perfectly.
On the other—
That Tauros leader had been so enraged it called in reinforcements.
Normally, Tauros herds in the forest were split into smaller groups of a dozen or so due to terrain limitations.
Even though there was technically a "leader," the groups usually lived separately.
But now?
That leader had dragged multiple groups together.
---
"…Not bad."
After a moment, Icarus's expression shifted.
"This might actually work in our favor."
He even smiled.
"Pidgeotto, you did great."
---
Then he quickly laid out the plan:
"The first part stays the same. Once one or two Tauros fall into the trap, I'll throw Poké Balls immediately."
"As soon as they're captured, you grab the balls and bring them to me."
"Then comes the key part—"
"When you pick them up, throw them to me… and then keep provoking the trapped Tauros."
"Focus on the leader. Push it as far as possible. I'll back you up."
---
"Pidge?"
Pidgeotto looked confused.
But in the end, it didn't question it.
It would just follow orders.
---
The rumbling grew louder.
The herd was getting closer.
---
"Vine~"
Victreebel raised its vines—nine layers of poisonous nets were ready.
"Good."
"Pidgeotto, go show yourself again. Keep their attention on you."
---
"Pidge…"
With some reluctance, Pidgeotto flew back.
---
Soon, it spotted the herd again.
Some Tauros had already fallen behind—only about twenty remained in pursuit.
---
"Pidge! Pidge!"
"Can't catch me! You useless grass-eating cows!"
Following Icarus's instructions, it immediately began taunting.
---
"MOO!!!"
The moment the leader saw it—
Its eyes turned blood-red again.
All rationality vanished.
---
It roared, urging the herd forward.
This time, it stayed slightly behind—
It had only one thought left:
Don't get hit again.
---
"Moo! Moo!"
Under its command, the herd surged forward even faster.
---
"Pidge!"
Seeing them accelerate, Pidgeotto turned and fled.
---
Soon, it returned to the trap zone.
"Pidge! Pidge!"
They're coming!
---
"I see them."
Hidden nearby, Icarus could already spot the dust cloud.
He gripped several Poké Balls tightly.
"Victreebel, watch the timing."
"Pidgeotto—be careful. Grab the balls fast and don't get caught."
---
"Vine!"
Ready.
---
"RUMBLE—!"
The charging Tauros stormed forward, completely focused on the fleeing bird.
---
"Moo!"
The leader didn't even look at the ground anymore.
All it saw was its target.
---
"Pidge!"
At the last moment—
Pidgeotto suddenly shot into the sky.
---
"—!"
The Tauros in front sensed something wrong and tried to stop—
But it was too late.
---
"CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!"
The ones behind slammed straight into them.
---
"CRACK!"
The disguised surface collapsed.
Three Tauros plunged into the pit.
---
"MOO!!!"
---
"Pffft! Pffft!"
The ground spikes pierced into their bodies.
These weren't ordinary traps—
They were specialized equipment Icarus had bought at a high cost.
---
"Now!"
"Vine—!"
Victreebel released control.
Layer after layer of vine nets dropped instantly, wrapping around the trapped Tauros.
Paralyzing toxins spread quickly.
---
"Moo… moo…"
The trapped Tauros panicked, struggling wildly—but the nets tightened further.
---
At the same time—
"Pidge!"
Pidgeotto dove down.
Two Poké Balls had already been thrown.
It grabbed them with its claws and immediately flew back up—
---
"Here!"
It tossed them toward Icarus.
---
The third Tauros in the pit was already dying.
It could only let out weak cries.
Neither of them paid it any attention.
---
Once airborne again, Pidgeotto locked onto the leader.
Its eyes sharpened.
---
"Pidge… pidge~"
It began circling above—
Its stomach already starting to churn again.
---
(End of Chapter)