The three Hypno kept their posture extremely low—almost groveling.
One, clearly the leader, cautiously lifted its head and asked Bronzor in a fawning tone:
"The boss sent us to ask… is that thing still not finished?"
Bronzor didn't answer right away.
It simply fixed its gaze on the Hypno that spoke.
An invisible psychic pressure swept over the Hypno at once.
Its body jolted; it ducked its big head immediately, trembling so hard it barely dared to breathe.
Only then did Bronzor lazily reply in an arrogant drawl:
"What's the rush?"
"You think that thing is easy? Just 'make it' and it's done? It's not that easy to produce!"
"Also—go back and tell your boss, the one who only knows how to nag, to send more hands to gather materials for me! As long as the materials are sufficient, I'll just grab those pink runts nearby and use them as labor! With their help, the success rate might be a bit higher!"
The Hypno bobbed its head like a pecking chick. "Y-yes! Understood! I'll deliver your words exactly!"
"Then get lost." Bronzor's voice went cold. "Don't hang around disturbing my rest."
The three Hypno bolted like they'd been pardoned, fleeing at a speed that didn't match their dopey looks at all.
…
Only after they left did Bronzor float back to the top of the ore mound.
It looked down—then its body flared again with a terrifying surge of psychic power.
Vmmm!
The entire small mountain beneath was enveloped.
The spoons wedged under the mound began to bend bit by bit under the combined weight of the ore and Bronzor's psychic force.
Soon, one spoon couldn't take it anymore; it snapped clean in two.
The psychic energy coating it vanished immediately.
All around lay countless other spoons already broken the same way.
…
From a nearby shadow, Jason watched every second.
Seeing the rippling psychic field around the mound, he clicked his tongue.
"Not even evolved yet, and it's this strong… what happens if it does evolve?"
A prickle of wariness crept into his heart. This thing was far deeper—and scarier—than he'd thought.
Gast drifted back out of the shadows beside him, her translucent body shaking with fear. Even her "keh-keh-keh" laugh was weak and breathless.
She glanced at Jason, flustered. "Jason… maybe we don't take revenge? That thing looks… really strong…"
Jason shook his head.
Yes, Bronzor's psychic power was absurd—but it still hadn't evolved. If it's unevolved, it's not at its peak. That means it can be beaten.
What is it, Pikachu? Infinite scaling? Please.
He wasn't about to back off. If anything, the conversation he'd overheard only sharpened his curiosity.
"What is that thing they're making? It needs that much material—and they even want to grab Tinkatink as labor?"
"So wild Pokémon are… this busy on the regular?"
He turned to the nearly-"scaredy-ghost" Gast. "What's there to fear? I said I'd help you get payback. I don't go back on my word."
He pressed for details on Bronzor's habits and move pool. Once he had what he needed, he reworked the plan.
…
After scoping things out, he and Gast moved to a narrow passage formed by two massive furnaces.
Jason first turned into Glimmet and, from cover at the entrance, laid Stealth Rock.
Unfortunately Bronzor was obviously running Levitate. Toxic Spikes and similar "spike" moves wouldn't touch it.
With the setup done, he nodded to Gast.
"Go on, Gast. Time for your performance."
"Keh! Leave it to me!"
Wearing a brave face, Gast floated toward Bronzor.
"Hey, tin-face—come fight me!"
She eyeballed the distance, making sure Bronzor shouldn't be able to hit her with psychic moves from there, then jeered louder.
Bronzor cracked an eye, glaring.
Right now it was focused on wrapping the spoons under the mound with psychic force to offset the weight. It didn't want this annoying Gastly disrupting its work.
"Scram. Don't make me hit you," it snapped.
Seeing it only scold and not strike, Gast got even bolder and pulled a grotesque face at it.
Bronzor ignored her the moment it finished barking—treating her like air.
Puffed up and peeved, Gast slunk back to Jason.
"It won't respond. I can't do anything."
Jason sighed, then told her, "It looks focused on its project. Try laughing to throw it off."
Gast tilted her head. "My laugh is so sweet—how would that distract anyone?"
Jason was speechless.
Who told you "keh-keh-keh" is sweet?
At his urging, she reluctantly drifted near the mound again, muttering, "Jason's even worse than me… My laugh is obviously adorable—how could it bother anyone…"
Still, she did as told and started giggling around the mound.
"Keh~"
…
Under that laugh, Bronzor grew restless. Even the psychic grip under the mound began to waver.
Finally, several spoons snapped in quick succession as its control slipped and the weight crushed them.
This time, Bronzor lost its temper.
It turned on Gast—and burst with a savage psychic pulse.
Realizing Jason's prediction had hit—her laugh had enraged it—Gast went blank.
Ugh, no taste at all… nobody appreciates my sweet laugh…
Annoyed or not, the moment she felt that violent surge, panic spiked.
I'm done for! If I don't run, I'm toast! Help me, Jason!