The figure was Cynthia, who'd arrived in Paldea and was casually exploring the region.
Cynthia watched the scene calmly, her gaze fixed on the Bronzor-form that Jason had taken.
Behind Cynthia stood a terrifyingly imposing Pokémon—Spiritomb, bound by countless grudges and souls to its Odd Keystone.
That Shadow Ball that just saved Jason had come from Spiritomb.
Simply by standing there together, Cynthia and Spiritomb radiated an aura that could match—if not surpass—the Hypno's.
Then Cynthia's voice drifted out, unhurried:
"Using psychic power to bend others' wills isn't exactly admirable~"
The chaotic battlefield fell eerily quiet in an instant.
Every face showed a different emotion, but without exception, the moment they saw the newcomer they felt the confidence in Cynthia's presence.
Cynthia just stood there, her tailored black trench coat swaying lightly in the night breeze that funneled through the ruins. Her deep gray eyes swept the gathered Pokémon, calm and measuring.
Her gaze landed first on the puppeted Tinkatuff and Tinkatink—eyes hollow, bodies moving like marionettes—and her brow knit by the slightest degree. Then her eyes returned to Jason.
In a voice only she could hear, she murmured, "Is it you?"
Jason felt a spark of excitement. He deeply admired Cynthia's strength. But the instant their eyes met, his heart lurched: Wasn't she supposed to be in Sinnoh? Why is she here?!
His mind stalled, and a bold notion crept in:
No way… does Cynthia want to catch me, too? Am I really famous enough that even Cynthia cares?
While he agonized over whether to "accidentally" get caught and speedrun life as a winner, Cynthia's gaze drifted gently past him.
"…"
The heart that had leapt to his throat eased back down.
Guess I overthought it. So why do I feel a little disappointed?
At last, Cynthia locked onto the Hypno radiating that immense psychic pressure. One look, and she read the board. With the Paldea Pokédex data Geeta had shared, it was obvious: in this scrap-metal minefield, Tinkatink should be the natives—so the Hypno, its Hypno underlings, and Bronzong were the invaders.
If it were a normal turf war, she wouldn't bother. The world is vast; she can't police everything.
But…
This Hypno had seized the minds of the Tinkatink and made them "kill each other," attacking the very allies they'd just fought beside. That contemptible tactic crossed the line—and it angered Cynthia.
The Hypno eyed the suddenly arrived woman with a powerful aura, and a flicker of caution showed in its deep gaze.
What a formidable Trainer…
It could feel both the Trainer and her Spiritomb were anything but ordinary.
Cynthia didn't waste words. She turned her head slightly and said softly, "Spiritomb—if you would."
Vmmm…
The Keystone binding 108 souls thrummed. Spiritomb leapt forward, the purple mass of grudges and wills forming a taunting grin as it stared down the Hypno.
At Spiritomb's appearance, an oppression even heavier than Hypno's psychic pressure blanketed the field.
"P-…pok!"
The six Hypno behind their leader began to shake uncontrollably under that weight, struggling even to stand. Bronzong, utterly lacking in nerve, quietly slipped to the back of the group—ready to bolt the moment things went south.
Hypno noticed its bell's cowardice. If Bronzong hadn't promised it could forge a Twisted Spoon, Hypno would have disposed of it already. And now the forging had caused such a mess it had to clean up. Any other day it would've smacked Bronzong first—but the suffocating pressure from Spiritomb forced it to let the bell be and focus entirely on the newcomer.
Meanwhile, Gast—caught in Hypno's Hypnosis—had been struggling in her own mind to resist. Spiritomb's crushing aura hit like a bucket of ice water; her foggy consciousness snapped awake at once.
"Keh?"
Blinking, she looked around at the Tinkatuff and Tinkatink frozen in attack stances, eyes empty. Panic fluttered as she searched for Jason—then spotted the Bronzor shape he'd taken. Her fear eased a little. Without thinking, she darted behind him.
"Jason! Jason! I thought I'd never see you again! Keh-keh-keh~" she blurted, on the verge of tears.
Jason soothed her in a low voice. "It's okay. I'm here."
Warmth settled in her chest—until his next line erased it in an instant and set her teeth on edge.
"But Gast… why do you cry 'keh-keh-keh'? That's weird~"
"I like it! None of your business!" she huffed, bumping him with her translucent shoulder.
After teasing Gast, Jason turned his eyes back to Spiritomb, now squared off with Hypno, and couldn't help a private sigh.
After all, the Spiritomb before him had once stood up to the Pikachu and gone blow for blow. Sure, it took Destiny Bond to trade one-for-one—but still. Against the Pikachu.
A one-for-one with Pikachu—what more needs saying about that?