"A Watcher?!" Xisuma repeated dumbfounded. "But how did they enter?! The server is whitelisted!"

"The Watchers are probably the most powerful beings in the whole universe, did you really expect you would've blocked them just by whitelisting your server?" Grian exclaimed with an almost inquisitory tone that sent chills down X's spine.

"I..." The older admin wanted to respond with a cool comeback but he didn't have one so he just scratched his helmet.

Xisuma was one of the best admins out there and sometimes, while he was visiting the Main Hub, other co-workers of his would've approached him to ask him advice.

He never thought that one day he was going to face someone that could easily shatter his server's security!

The worst part of it all was that Grian made it seem like breaking into a highly secured server was something that the Watchers could do with ease.

If the those beings really had such a devastating power, did the hermits stand a chance against them?

Xisuma was brought out of his trail of thoughts when he heard Grian sigh loudly.

"Alright, it doesn't matter if they were able to break in, now we must make sure the other Hermits are safe." The blond said with a bold and determined tone.

"Call everyone and tell them to gather here at my Hobbit Hole, I... I need to go check on something." He added as he stormed back inside his base.

"Grian wait-" Xisuma called out for his friend but the blond avian had already disappeared inside the wooden base.

He sighed and looked at his communicator for a moment and decided to do as Grian said.

"I hope you know what you're doing..."

As Grian ran inside his base, he heard Xisuma calling him but decided to just ignore it.

The older admin must've been confused and Grian wished he could've explained the situation to him better but there was no time for that.

The dirty blond knew how good Xisuma was at his job and he was sure he was going to do the right thing.

The avian stopped for a second and scanned his surroundings, looking for his ender chest.

Once he spotted it he quickly ran up to it and whispered some words in Galactic before opening it.

Inside it there weren't his diamonds and all the other things he put during season 7. The only object that was present inside it was a white mask with a purple symbol.

His old Watcher Mask

He took it out and stared at it for a few moments.

After he joined Hermitcraft he just threw it inside an ender chest and concealed it using magic, hoping to never see it again.

Why was he taking it out now?

The more he stared at it, the more he wanted to put it away and burn it... And yet there was a voice inside him that told him not to do it.

"If I use it to fight the Watchers, it won't turn me into one of them... Right?" He thought as he stared at the mask.

The Watchers' masks made their powers stronger but despite that, Grian never approved them.

He always thought that the power they gave to the other Watchers were what turned them into the heartless monsters they were now and he certainly didn't want to become one of them, that was why even during his apprenticeship he wore it as less as possible.

He was going to use that power to save his friends... That made him better than the Watchers... Right?

Why was Grian so scared of the Watchers? Sure, they were very powerful but deep down he felt like that wasn't the reason behind all of his doubts.

He felt like he needed to prove himself, to show that he was very different from the Watchers... But why?

Was it because he was one of them? He could deny it as much as he wanted but he would've never been able to fully escape from the grasp the Watchers had on him.

Aside from all the evil things the other Watchers did though, Grian didn't really mind being one himself.

After all he really loved flying with his wings and couldn't imagine living without them, his magical powers were pretty great too...

Grian was brought out of his trail of thoughts as he heard the sound of rockets.

He looked at the mask for another second before shoving it mindlessly into his inventory.

He quickly walked back outside and was met by a group of concerned hermits that were talking with eachother.

As he stepped outside he was approached by Xisuma. "Not everyone is here yet but most of the hermits arrived, it shouldn't take long for the missing ones to arrive."

Grian nodded and was about to respond when he was cut off by False.

"So, what's going on here!?" She exclaimed with a both confused and worried tone.

The two admins exchanged glances before Xisuma stepped closer to the crowd and spoke up. "I'm sure you were all able to hear the loud thunder that shook the entire server."

"Yeah, it was kind of hard to miss. I think it came from the Shopping District but I'm not too sure, Doc went there to investigate." Bdubs said nonchalantly.

The builder's comment sent a chill down Grian's spine. "HE WHAT?!"

"He went there to investigate. I told him it was probably a bad idea but he didn't listen to me." Bdubs simply shrugged.

Grian looked at Xisuma with a shade of pure horror in his eyes. "I must go there immediately!"

"What?! There's no way I'll let you go there alone, I'm coming with you! Together we will be able to-"

"No! You need to stay here and make sure the other hermits are safe. Trust me, I'll make sure to bring the others here safely."

Before Xisuma could say anything else he spread his large wings and leaped into the sky, leaving a worried admin and a bunch of confused hermits behind.
_________________________________________

"Thank you so much for breaking the two up Joe! If you didn't do anything, I'm sure they would still be arguing." Stress thanked her friend as the group of players walked through a large field.

"You don't have to thank me for that, although if you wanted the two to stop arguing why did you try to give them sticks with a knockback enchantment on?" Joe asked, giving the girl and inquisitory look.

"I'll admit that it might've been a bit counterproductive but it would've been fun to watch, right?" Stress smiled but Joe simply rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, breaking them up was a good idea but... Why are you making us WALK back to the jungle? Can't we just fly? My legs hurt already!" Iskall complained.

"Because I'm sure that a nice walk will help Mumbo and Taurtis relax!" Joe replied.

The three players looked at said duo. Those two were walking with their arms crossed, both looking in opposite direction and occasionally turning their head just to glare at each other.

"Ehm... Are you sure about this Joe? They still seem pretty angry to me." Iskall commented as Stress nodded, clearly sharing her friend's opinion.

"Just give them time, after all, the jungle is pretty far away and unless some kind of catastrophic events happens, they will have plenty of time to-"

BOOM

A powerful lightning struck before the five players, cutting Joe off.

Suddenly the sky became purple and a strange symbol appears right in the middle of it: it was the Watcher's emblem!

Taurtis gave the symbol a terrified glance. "Oh nonononononononono! This can't be happening!" He exclaimed.

"Taurtis? Do you know what's going on?!" Joe asked the raven haired boy.

"The Watchers... They found me!" Taurtis managed to respond.

"Wait, is this happening because of you?!" Mumbo exclaimed, giving Taurtis another angry look.

"Cut it out you two! This isn't the time!" Stress interrupted them, giving them a look that sent a chill down their spine.

"What is it Taurtis? Aren't you happy to see me?"

A tiny purple ember started flickering where the lighting had struck.

Suddenly the flame started growing and all of a sudden it disappeared, leaving a tall figure standing where the fire once was.

Aside from her long brown hair, the entity's features weren't very visible since she was wearing a long black vest with some purple stripes on it and a white mask. She also had a pair of huge wings coming out of her back.

"Yadira!" Taurtis exclaimed with a voice full of hatred.

"I'm surprised you still remember my name, after you escaped Evo, I thought you wanted to forget me." The Watcher said with a sarcastic tone.

"Anyway, I'm not here to chat. You see, I know it's only been a couple of days but the others and I already miss you SO much, why don't you come back home with us?"

"Well I don't miss them and I'm not coming back, period!"

"Awww how cute, you actually believe you have choice! There's no need to worry though, once we'll get back we'll have so much fun that you will never want to leave again, just like the rest of your pathetic friends." A sinister grin appeared on the Watcher's face.

Taurtis' expression turned from one of anger to one of pure fear.

"Don't you dare lay a finger on him!" Joe exclaimed out of nowhere, catching everyone's attention.

"Look, you may have some personal grudge against one another but the members of the Hermitcraft server are completely innocent and it would be unfair to involve them." He continued.

"Ehm... Joe? I don't think that trying to reason with her is a good idea..." Iskall whispered.

"Nonsense! I'm sure we will be able to talk this though without any iss-"

Before Joe could finish his sentence, a lightning stuck a few inches away from him, startling all of the players.

"Or maybe not!" He nervously added as he hid behind the nearest Hermit, who just happened to be Stress.

"I can see why Xelqua liked the inhabitants of this server, they are pretty unusual..." Yadira thought out loud while she looked thoughtfully at the group of players.

"Xelqua... Do you mean Grian?" Taurtis asked with a confused tone.

"Wow you're cleverer than I thought you were! Well then, if you're so intelligent I'm sure you will do the right thing and just give Grian to me." The Watcher said with a threatning tone.

"And what makes you think we will help you?" Iskall asked, challenging Yadira.

"It's either you help me or I'll just erase you from existence and look for him myself." She responded as many purple particles started glowing around her.

The players exchanged glances and then responded together.

"NO"

"What?!"

"Grian is our friend and we would never betray him!"

Yadira stared blankly at the players for a couple of seconds.

"Friendship... What a useless feeling!" She exclaimed, taking everyone off guard.

"You players always rely on others to do the stupidest things and you hope that they will help you when it really matters, too bad you keep on forgetting the most important thing." She laughed.

"Players are obsolete! They are weak and when they need to face the smallest of difficulties they will get filled with fear and try to save their own life at all costs, even if it means letting others down."

"Maybe some previous players you've met might've been like that... But us hermits would never betray eachother!" Iskall exclaimed. "We're a family and here nobody gets left behind!"

The other hermits nodded while Taurtis stared at then with a mixture of surprise and worry in his eyes.

"Well then..." Yadira started as a dark grin appeared on her face. "...Shall we test that?"

In the blink of an eye her hands lit up and two purple flamed started burning in them.

"Good idea!" Doc exclaimed.

From behind the group of players a trident leaped in the air and flew towards the Watcher's head.

The weapon would have surely hit Yadira... Is she didn't stop it when it was a few inches from her using her magic.

The Watcher looked at the trident for a couple is seconds before breaking it in half and throwing it on the ground, still using magic.

"Is this really all you've got?"

The hermits turned around to see the creeper scientist staring at his beloved trident that was now laying on the ground. "That's... Not good..."

"Great job Doc, maybe the next time you're trying to sneak attack someone don't, I don't know...give yourself away?!" Iskall yelled with an annoyed tone.

"Hey, I was trying to help!"

"Well that didn't work very well now, did it?!"

"Stop complaining with me! If it wasn't for that guy that lady probably would've have come here in the first place!" Doc exclaimed pointing at Taurtis.

"He's not completely wrong though-" Mumbo chimed in.

"Come on Mumbo! I've had more than enough of your childish grudge with Taurtis!" Stress yelled.

"Ehm... Guys? We have other things to worry about right now-" Taurtis tried to stop the hermits from arguing.

"Taurtis is right!" Joe cried. "You're acting like 6 years olds! You better stop this before-"

"SILENCE!"

Yadira's voice echoed across the valley, shutting everyone up.

"I thought that you could serve a use for me but I was clearly wrong. Xelqua might be interested in you, or even love you, but to me you're nothing more than a bunch of nuisances that are stopping me from achieving my goal." She continued, the rage in her voice was very clear.

"And everyone that gets in my way must be destroyed!" She finished as a purple aura started burning around her.

"Well, shiiii..." Doc started trailing off as he moved his gaze from the raging Watcher to Joe.

"It's fine Doc, I'll give you a pass for this one."

"WELL, SHIT."
_________________________________________
I FINALLY FINISHED THIS CHAPTER!

I just realized it's been a freaking month since the last time I posted something in this book... Wow ÓwÒ

I wish I could say that I had a serious problem that stopped me from writing but the truth is that I was simply on vacation just didn't feel like writing -w-'

Well, at least I was able to get it out eventually :P

Anyway, I noticed that this book recently hit the 3k views and I wanted to thank you for that! I didn't expect my first book to be so succeful and I was absolutely overjoyed when I found out!

Last thing last, I've been recently working on a new project that will soon start here on Wattpad: Star's Hermit Challenges.

I basically created a Discord server and invited some friends of mine and made them do some writing challenges.

My idea consists in posting all the Hermitcraft Oneshots the participants will do for each challenge and let the readers decide who the winner is.

I will probably post the main book in this couple of days and the first oneshots should be uploaded after the 7th of September so if you're interested I suggest you stay tuned!

Wow this ended up being a pretty long note... Whatever, I'm sure that 70% of the readers exited when the chapter ended.

If you actually read this while thing you get a cookie UwU

Well, I guess there's nothing left for me to do aside from signing out, see ya around little muffins!
~Star