Learn about the menace

"Please, have a seat, dears, so I can explain everything," Delia says.

You and Midori each take a chair and sit down in front of her desk.

"Two days ago, a pair of guards were on their usual patrol near the part of Viridian forest north of the village when a Beedrill suddenly attacked them. One of them died after being poisoned, but the other managed to escape and report the incident" Delia explains.

"I suppose you immediately requested scouts from the Guild" you say.

"Exactly. Venus is coordinating the scouting team right now. They managed to locate the hive. It's still relatively small, about one kilometer north of the village, but we have no idea how quickly it was built."

"So I guess your mission for us is to deal with the hive, Miss Mayor?" you ask with a slight smile.

Delia lets out a small sigh.

"Yes... I didn't expect to request your assistance for something this dangerous, unlike the other council members. But this is an emergency."

"Don't worry, Delia. We understand" Midori says reassuringly.

"Some reinforcements should arrive soon" you add. "We'll probably wait for them and launch the operation tomorrow."

"Thank you, dears. Once this is over, we will celebrate properly together" Delia replies with a warm smile.

Before anyone can continue, the office door suddenly swings open.

A village guard rushes inside.

"Miss Mayor!" he says, breathing heavily. "Two Beedrill musus have been spotted near the edge of the forest. They aren't approaching the village, but... they seem to be searching for something."

You immediately stand up.

"I guess we won't be waiting for our friends after all."

Midori nods. "Ready?"

"I sure am."

You both head for the door.

"Good luck, dears," Delia says. "Please be careful."

The guard leads you to the northern edge of the village.

From there, you can clearly spot two Beedrill musus flying between the trees.

They don't seem interested in the village itself.

Instead, they constantly scan the forest below.

"Dangerous ladies in sight," Midori says as she summons her vines. "Ready to go, Erik?"

"I am."

Just as you're about to move, both Beedrills suddenly turn toward the same point deeper inside the forest.

Without hesitation, they dart away.

"I think they found whatever they were looking for," you say.

"Let's hurry." The two of you sprint into the forest.

After a few minutes, you finally catch up.

The Beedrills are attacking a massive old tree, repeatedly driving their spear-like forearms into the thick bark as if trying to tear it apart.

Chunks of wood fly in every direction.

Looking closer, you notice movement beneath the exposed roots.

"Someone's hiding under that tree" you whisper.

"They're trying to get to them," Midori replies.

She suddenly raises a hand.

"Wait... listen."

You both focus on the Beedrills.

"Traitor... Traitor... Return... To the hive..."

Their voices are perfectly synchronized.

Emotionless. Almost mechanical.

"Could it be...?" Midori whispers."

"We don't have time to think about it."

You immediately leap out of the bushes.

"We need to save her!"

The Beedrills instantly stop attacking the tree and turn toward you.

You also summon you Charmander dual short blade.

As you land, you summon your dual Charmander blades.

"Enemy... Enemy... Kill... For the hive..."

Only now do you notice their eyes.

Completely black. Dark energy seeps from their bodies.

The same corrupting power you saw inside Rash.

The two Beedrills immediately launch themselves at you.

Their spear arms thrust toward your chest with incredible speed.

You jump backward, narrowly avoiding both attacks.

Midori slams her hands against the ground.

Thick roots burst from beneath the soil, wrapping around one of the Beedrills' legs and pinning her in place.

The other one quickly flies out of reach.

"Take that one!" Midori shouts. "I'll handle this one!"

You nod.

Without wasting another second, you rush forward.

Your twin blades cross in front of you before slicing outward in a blazing X-shaped attack.

The Beedrill barely reacts in time, crossing both spear arms to block.

The impact forces her backwards through the air.

The impact forces her backwards through the air.

She immediately counters with a rapid series of thrusts.

You weave between the attacks, your heated blades clashing against her hardened spear arms, sparks flying with every impact.

She never hesitates. Never retreats.

Every attack is aimed at killing you.

You duck beneath another stab before sweeping one blade toward her legs.

She lifts herself into the air just enough to avoid it, then dives toward you again like a living spear.

You sidestep at the last possible moment.

Her momentum carries her past you.

You slash across her side, leaving a burning wound.

She doesn't even flinch.

Instead, she spins around and attacks again with the exact same relentless determination.

"...No pain...Only the hive..." she mutters.

You grit your teeth.

"There really isn't anything left of you..."

She lunges one more time.

This time, however, she commits completely to the attack.

You instantly seize the opportunity.

One of your blades flashes upward.

The other follows a split second later.

Both strikes land.

One of her spear arms is cleanly severed.

The limb falls to the ground.

The Beedrill barely reacts. She simply keeps advancing.

You have no choice. You know there's only a way to stop a crazy beedrill.

As she thrusts again with her remaining arm, you sidestep and swing both blazing blades in one final horizontal slash.

The attack cuts cleanly through her body.

For a brief moment she remains standing.

Still trying to move toward you.

Still trying to attack.

Then the dark energy consuming her body begins to unravel.

Her form slowly dissolves into black particles carried away by the wind.

You lower your swords.

"Rest in peace..."

"Dammit!"

Midori's voice snaps you back to reality.

You immediately turn around.

She's lying on the ground, covered in bruises, while the second Beedrill prepares another diving attack.

Without thinking, you cross your blades.

A blazing X-shaped wave of fire shoots across the clearing.

The Beedrill barely avoids it.

Rather than continuing the fight, she immediately turns around and flees into the forest.

"Midori!" You rush to her side.

""Y-Yeah..." she pants. "Just a few bruises and scratches... Damn, these girls are strong."

Green healing magic flows through her body as her wounds begin to close.

"T-They... went away?"

A cute, female voice comes from beneath the tree.

You slowly approach the exposed roots.

"They did," you say gently. "You can come out now."

A tiny head cautiously peeks outside.

"As I thought..." you murmur. "A Weedle musu."

The Weedle slowly crawls out from beneath the roots before stretching her stiff limbs.

She must be around Charlie's age.

"Phew..." she sighs in relief. "Thank you, mister... My sisters suddenly became really scary..."

"You knew them?" you ask.

She nods sadly.

"Yeah... they were my hive sisters..."

Her cheerful smile fades.

"...At least... I think they were."

You exchange a glance with Midori.

"Would you mind coming with us?" you ask gently. "We could really use your help."

The Weedle musu thinks for a few seconds.

"Well... I can't really go back home anymore..."

She forces herself to smile.

"So... okay!"

You smile back.

"What's your name?"

"You can call me Bibi" she says with a small bow.