It's been a while since the Heracross release plan was executed, and Heracross has begun to venture into other seas to start a new life.
The Gyarados in the sea took many years to find a Plate, so Arceus wasn't in a hurry, instead letting the Heracrosses expand their population and increase the number of searchers.
This Heracross appeared here for this reason. Most Heracrosses prefer peace and rarely engage in battle.
However, they are not incapable of fighting; hidden within their bodies is an extremely terrifying power. Once they decide to battle, they display combat prowess quite different from their appearance.
This Heracross was attracted by Uta's singing, which is why it's here.
Arceus is very friendly to humans, and most of the Pokemon he created are the same. As long as others don't actively attack them, they won't harm humans, and in most cases, they even protect humans.
Ordinary wild boars are naturally no match for Heracross, who vanished without a trace under its horn thrust.
"Heral!"
After dealing with the wild boar in front, Heracross turned to Uta and extended an arm, trying to help her up after she had fallen.
"What a big beetle... Do you like listening to me sing?"
"Heral! Heral, heral."
Heracross nodded and even did a gesture to show off its muscles.
"You mean... let me keep singing, and you'll protect me?"
Without the Power of the Evergreen, she couldn't understand what Heracross was trying to express specifically, but through body language, she was able to grasp most of it.
This is the magical aspect of Pokemon; when facing someone who understands them, they can express their intentions through that mysterious power.
"Heral!"
Seeing Uta understood its meaning, Heracross simply sat on the ground. Reality isn't a game; each Heracross differs in size.
When it stood, Uta was just at the base of its horn, and now sitting cross-legged, Uta was just level with Heracross's horn tip.
Seeing the audience was ready, Uta began a new performance. As a songstress who deeply cares about her fans' feelings, she naturally took care of this newly appeared fan.
She had already stopped thinking about finding beetles; in her view, there couldn't be a bigger beetle than this.
After several songs ended, Uta began to "lure" Heracross.
"Beetle, how about you come with me? I can sing to you every day."
Though she couldn't understand the beetle's words, Uta realized this beetle could precisely comprehend human language.
"Heral..."
After a moment of contemplation, Heracross shook its head and then began to gesture.
"You're looking for something? Even better, come aboard Shanks' ship with me. Shanks will take us on adventures to various places, so you can find what you want along the way."
"Heral?"
Listening to Uta describe the scene, Heracross seemed to feel it was worthwhile, ultimately agreeing to Uta's invitation.
"Then we're friends now. Let's go, first help me win the 183rd match!"
Saying this, she dragged Heracross by the hand towards the gathering place, but Heracross seemed to think Uta was running too slowly and used its horn to lift her onto its back, then flapped its wings and flew towards the direction Uta was pointing.
.....
On the other side, Luffy's encounter was entirely different from Uta's. While Uta and Heracross were waiting at the agreed location, Luffy was holding a lot of wild fruits, trying to allure something.
"Please, all of this is for you, just come with me."
In front of him was also a Heracross; the Heracrosses from back then were released in groups, and one appearing here meant there was already a group of Heracross nearby, so Luffy also encountered one.
However, unlike the Heracross that agreed to Uta due to its attraction to her singing, the Heracross in front of Luffy was clearly a glutton, as Luffy's "offering" of a large amount of fruits precariously won its acceptance as a "servant."
These Heracrosses had different personalities; Uta's liked music and was easy-going, whereas the one Luffy encountered was a somewhat arrogant glutton.
As for why Luffy offered food to entice the other, in his eyes, a beetle could be equated with the Pirate King; having such a beetle is practically his greatest dream.
Under Luffy's continuous pleading and food temptation, this Heracross barely agreed to his request, finding a fixed feeder.
Its behavior didn't violate Arceus' instructions, as Arceus' command allowed settling down in a place first, and having a stable caretaker was a good choice.
Due to different reasons, the two Heracross released in separate batches met unexpectedly.
"Heral?"
"Heral!"
Heracross communicated in its language, while Uta and Luffy began a new round of quarrel over it.
"My beetle is bigger! Its horn is longer!"
"Clearly mine's bigger; its head is higher than yours!"
Neither Uta nor Luffy would concede, and as it got dark, they decided to go back and have Shanks act as judge.
...
"Honestly, where did you find such large beetles?"
Watching Luffy and Uta argue about the topic, Shanks scratched his head helplessly. He rarely got involved in the kids' competitions; once adults interfere in their competitions, the results become tainted, so the final outcome is always decided by themselves.
"Just in the mountain behind, Shanks. I promised to bring it on the ship, so we will take it on adventures together from now on."
"Alright, let it be your new friend then."
"Eh?! Why should it be? I want to get on the ship too! Shanks! Take me along!"
Shanks agreeing to let Heracross on the ship made Luffy excited, hugging Shanks' leg, declaring he wanted on the ship too. But in the end, Shanks didn't agree—a boy and a beetle have completely different implications.
After all the fuss, it returned to the issue of whose beetle was bigger.
"I heard some beetles decide their status through duels. They should be the same kind, right?"
Yasopp offered his suggestion from the side, and both Luffy and Uta looked at their own Heracross.
"Heral."
"Heral."
Neither Heracross opposed; instead, they seemed eager to compete, though Heracrosses have a mellow temperament, conflict does exist among the clan. Furthermore, they previously made promises with Luffy and Uta, to help the other achieve victory.
So they squared off and began their duel, a battle with era-defining significance in the Pirate World.