By the time Jason, Gast, and Tinkatuff raced to where the Hypno were trashing the place, the fight was at a fever pitch.
Or rather—the Tinkatink were being steamrolled.
The little smiths who usually only "ding-ding" their hammers were getting pushed back without a chance to counter by six Hypno, each pacing with that unnervingly rhythmic pendulum stride.
"One, two, three… six!" Gast hovered midair and counted fast.
"Hmph, we've got the numbers," Tinkatuff growled, fury flashing as she watched her sisters get battered. She slammed the giant hammer down with a boom. "Counting everyone still rushing in, we've got eighteen Tinkatink. Six Hypno? We can handle that!"
Jason swept the field and didn't agree.
Numbers don't win by themselves.
Sure, Steel typing gives Tinkatink natural mitigation against Psychic—but—
These Hypno were drilled. Their battle experience was obvious. Their coordination? Near perfect.
One used Disable to lock down the biggest threats; another cast Hypnosis for broad control; the rest capitalized with precisely placed Psycho Cut.
The Tinkatink, by contrast… were a scattered mess. All brawn, no coordination. Several hammers swung at the same target at once—only to trip each other up while the Hypno slipped away. Compared to the "big sis" beside him, their combat experience was worlds behind.
Even after all the Tinkatink arrived, the scene stayed ugly. Tinkatuff finally saw the real problem, awkward embarrassment crossing her face.
"Ahem… my sisters—you know, they mostly just hammer. Fighting's not… their thing."
Not their thing? Jason grumbled silently. This is a bunch of PvE crafters getting ganked by PvP sweats.
Just then, Gast drifted close, eyes shining with absolute fan-girl faith. "Let Jason command you! Jason's amazing!"
Tinkatuff glanced at him, hesitated, then nodded. She could swing—no problem. Commanding? Hard pass. As their sole evolved and strongest member, she solved problems with raw force.
With the leader's okay, Jason didn't hesitate.
"Gast—no spectating. We're up!"
In Tinkatuff's gaze, he and Gast shot forward like arrows. Tinkatuff charged after. Another moment and the smiths would all be down.
…
"All Tinkatink—on me!"
His voice cracked like thunder.
"Don't stare at the Hypno! They'll Hypnosis you! Open distance!"
"All Tinkatink—Fairy Wind!"
Mid-scrap, the Tinkatink froze at the stranger's orders—until their big sis barked, "He's here to help—follow his lead!"
No more hesitation. As one, they raised their little hammers—
Vmmm!
Pink whirlwinds of Fairy energy spun off their bodies. Under Jason's direction, eight Fairy Winds braided into a single sweeping storm, blasting the six strutting Hypno off balance and wrecking their formation.
With his nimble calls—and the combined fighting of him, Gast, and Tinkatuff—the six Hypno were beaten back at heavy cost.
[Defeated Hypno…] ×6
[Hypno Dex completion +5%] ×6
[Hypno Dex current completion: 30%]
As they withdrew, the leader spat a threat: "Just you wait! Our boss won't spare you laborers! Don't you dare run!"
…
Even with the Hypno gone, Jason didn't relax. He coolly read the board. The evolved Bronzong earlier; this tight Hypno unit now—both had a boss behind them. Anyone who could marshal Pokémon that strong was well beyond his current pay grade.
Fighting head-on was suicide.
His first instinct: Bail.
He went straight to Tinkatuff and Gast and laid it out. "Listen to me—we can't stay. Live to fight another day. We need to abandon these ruins now."
Gast—now in "Jason's word is law" mode—nodded immediately. "Where Jason goes, I go!"
Tinkatuff and the smiths were stubborn to the core. Faces set in iron resolve.
"We're not leaving!" Tinkatuff planted her hammer, voice firm. "This is the best home we've found to live and forge. We've poured sweat into this place."
"We'll die here before we run!"
"Never run!"
Behind her, Tinkatink raised their hammers and roared as one.
Jason sighed. Stubborn—every last one.
He was torn. Reason said run now. But Tinkatuff had just helped them against Bronzong—he couldn't just sell allies out at the first sign of bigger danger. Even as Pokémon, there's such a thing as owing people.
"Jason…" Gast tugged at him, voice small. "Do we really have to run? Can't we help them a bit more?"
Truth be told, she didn't want to run either. She was the "first resident" here. And now that the misunderstanding with the smiths was cleared—and Tinkatuff had promised not to bully her—she wanted to help them.
While he wavered—
The dim sky over the ruins suddenly darkened further. A tide of psychic energy rolled in like black clouds, blanketing the site.
Every Tinkatink trembled under the crushing aura, hammers slipping. Even Tinkatuff gripped her hammer and shifted to a guarded stance, braced for a nightmare.
Jason frowned.
"So soon?"