Many Hermits were already tired and they weren't ready for the endless attacks of their controlled friends. Xisuma managed to make his way around the battlefield to find Grian who was having his own problems with Sam.

"Grian!" Xisuma shouted, jumping over a log and catching up to the shorter Hermit.

"X! Sam is controlling the Hermits but I don't know how..." Grian hugged Xisuma and briefed his friend on the situation.

"Yeah... I'm not sure either..." Xisuma muttered, pulling away from the embrace.

Suddenly, a knife flew past Grian's face, inches away from cutting him. They all turned to Sam who had just thrown the sharp object.

"You were talking for too long... I got bored." Sam said nonchalantly.

Grian looked at his two friends beside him and sighed.

"Alright... I guess we're doing this." Grian smiled as he pulled out the axe he stole from Cub.

Xanthe pulled out his own weapons: two daggers, each in one hand. Xisuma also equipped himself with a netherite sword, enchanted with sharpness II.

Sam took no hesitation in running towards them, knife in hand. For a second, Grian remembered all the times Sam had hurt others and himself in the same way. He brushed the thoughts aside and dodged Sam's blade, stumbling backwards.

"You've gotten better Gree-on!" Sam laughed maniacally, referencing the times that he stabbed or injured the winged Hermit.

Grian ignored the comment, and held his axe ready. Xisuma charged at Sam, catching him off guard. The blades almost reached him, but Sam held up his own knife to deflect any hits he could have taken. Xisuma used his other blade to try and stab Sam but he caught X's hand before he could get hit. Sam then kicked X in the stomach, making him stumble back to Grian and Xanthe.

Xisuma held the side of his stomach and regained his posture beside his friends.

Sam decided it was his turn. He ran towards Grian, smiling and almost giggling at the situation. Grian tried dodging but the feathers on his wing were skimmed, leaving them slightly shorter than the rest. In retaliation, Grian clutched the axe and swung it at Sam who jumped backwards and avoided the hit.
Sam had stopped laughing now. He understood the graveness of the situation. If Xanthe managed to cast the spell, he'd be banned and sent to a prison in the Void for the rest of time itself.

Suddenly, Mumbo ran from behind Sam and tackled him to the ground. Mumbo had already discarded the black blazer he usually wore, which left him in a waistcoat and white shirt. He also kept his tie on, even though part of it was missing and the rest was very dirty. Sam gripped his knife tightly and stabbed Mumbo in the arm. This made Mumbo hiss in pain and fall off of Sam, clutching his bleeding arm.
Grian took no time in taking the crossbow that he was previously using and loading it with an arrow. He shot the arrow without a second thought and it hit Sam in the chest.

Sam screamed from the unexpected hit and pulled the arrow out hastily. His scream alerted the controlled Hermits who ran towards Sam to protect him. Mumbo had stumbled to the rest of the group and the other Hermits had made their way to Grian, Xanthe and X.

"We'll retreat for now..." Grian heard Sam mutter to the three people in front of him.

Etho threw down a smoke bomb, which made some of the Hermits cough and splutter. The only thing that could be seen was the ground and some distant lighting. A lot of confusion made the group start talking and shouting, leaving a perfect opportunity for the three controlled Hermits to propel themselves into the air with fireworks. Soon after, Sam was seen with his own pair of elytra, speeding off into the distance.

"Grian!" Grian turned to see Mumbo running towards him at full speed.

Mumbo tackled Grian into a hug and held him tightly. They had been through so much during the past week that it was surreal to see eachother without keeping any secrets.
Grian pulled away gently, remembering the open wound on his best friend's arm.

"Mumbo. You're bleeding...a lot." Grian said, awkwardly gesturing to the blood staining Mumbo's white shirt.

"Oh...yeah. That's fine, we have some bandages somewhere... I'm just really glad you're back unharmed." Mumbo smiled at him friend.

"Listen, I know you guys are being sentimental, but we're going to have to heal the wounded and also set up some sort of camp. Even though we're in Boatem, there isn't enough space for everyone, so some will have to sleep in tents." Xisuma started rambling from behind.

"X, everything will be fine! I promise." Grian grinned at his taller friend, reassuring the Hermit.

Grian looked over to see a crowd forming around Xanthe, who was stood awkwardly, not sure what to do.

"Guys, this is Xanthe! He's from the Void and he also happens to be one of the only people who can ban Sam from the server." Grian explained, pushing his way through the other Hermits around him.

"Hi. Like Grian said, I'm here to help you all." Xanthe announced.

After Xanthe's short introduction, the crowd began to break up an people began to start doing their own thing.

"Wait! If I could just have your attention, please!" Xisuma shouted.

Everyone immediately turned to look at him, knowing he was usually the group's smarts.

"As you all know, Sam is still out there. He could strike at any moment. That's why we need to work as one big team. We'll have people on lookout at all times and we'll all do our part to help others. For now, we need to create tents and light a fire to cook food on. Those who are wounded will need immediate medical attention, and everyone else who is well enough can get to work." Xisuma continued, making sure everyone knew what they were doing.

"Does anyone have anywhere where I can set up a medical station or healing center?" Stress shouted from across the field where she was crouched beside Scar, who had his arm close to chest.

"My starter base is probably the safest out of them, considering I haven't built it off the floor or in an awkward position." Grian shouted back, pointing to his small house beside the group.

"Thanks, G!" Stress replied with a grin.

The first fight was over, but they all knew there was another one coming. They just didn't know when...