Silence.

Xisuma's eyes went wide, the admin unable to move, his body glowing and shaking.

The axe was a second away from killing Mumbo.

The weapon in the admin's hands suddenly exploded into thousands of miniature pieces, Xisuma getting thrown back into the wall by the violent explosion. All eyes turned to Grian, the small watcher radiating with energy. The chains wrapped around Grian's body began to change from the dark purple to a pearlescent white, before they turned into dust, fading away with the wind.

"You little brat! Why won't you just listen to me?!" Celeste growled, a purple aura surrounding her hands. She snapped her fingers, Xisuma reappearing beside the otherworldly creature. He held a bow that radiated dark energy, the admin narrowing his eyes at Grian. Enzo raised an eyebrow, moving to Celeste's side and mumbling something in her pointed ear. The talk watcher smiled, nodding in agreement to whatever Enzo had told her.

"We'll make you a deal, Grian." Celeste spike kindly, placing a hand on Xisuma's shoulder, the admin barely reacting, his emotions seemingly washed away. "You beat our admin in a fight, we won't kill Mumbo. But if you lose..." Enzo held Mumbo, a small dagger to the Redstoner's throat.

"Fine. But if I win, you have to let all of the other hermits go too." Grian growled, narrowing his eyes at the two creatures before him. Celeste pressed her lips together before she nodded, extending her hand towards Grian, the small watcher slapping it away.

Grian summoned his weapon, a glowing white blade forming in his hands. He was already incredibly tired, from breaking out of the watcher's chains, to simply summoning a weapon, he couldn't keep using his magic for much longer. Meaning Grian had to rely on his PVP skill alone to beat the magical admin.

Before Grian knew it, Xisuma appeared before him, the admin delivering a powerful kick that sent Grian flying backwards and slamming into the wall, which cracked as he made impact. The hermit cheered as this happened, while the remaining free hermits looked away, they couldn't bare to watch Grian fighting Xisuma.

"X-Xisuma..you need to snap out of it!" Grian tried to reason with him, the small watcher quickly raising his blade to block the admin slicing him in two. Xisuma held a new blade, radiating in dark energy. The admin's eyes were hidden away by his helmet, but Grian could see the look of hatred in his eyes.

The small watcher kicked Xisuma in the chest, giving him a chance to get away from the insane admin. The brainwashed hermit looked to the watchers, both of which gave disappointed stares, The admin biting his lip. He needed to win. Then everything would be okay. Everyone would be safe.

"Just stay still Grian!" Xisuma called, dragging his blade through the ground and glancing around the courtyard, looking for the former watcher. "I need to win this!"

"Xisuma, you're being controlled! Can't you see it?!" Grian called from his hiding spot, the admin narrowing his eyes at the custom spruce trees, where the small hermit's voice had been coming from. Xisuma slasher his blade through the air, which sent a blast of purple energy towards the trees, destroying them in a single blast.

"Where are you hiding you little brat?!" Xisuma and Celeste said in sync, their voice seemingly combined with one another's. Grian held his breath, hiding behind the large stage. A purple aura surrounded his body, the small watcher flying up in the air, before being thrown against the stage.

"Well Grian..." Xisuma spoke, The small watcher being met with the admin's weapon. A small smile cured on X's lips, the admin narrowing his eyes at the traitor. "Ready to give up?"

"Not even close." Grian said with a smirk, ripping the purple cloak off his body and throwing it onto Xisuma, who dropped his weapon and stumbled back, trying to get the silk cape off his head. Grian took his opportunity, getting off the ground and sweeping Xisuma off his feet, the admin tumbling off the stage and landing on his back.

Xisuma ripped the cloak in two, growling as he finally got the cloth off his face. His visor was cracked and his helmet was dented, he was beat up and exhausted, barely able to get off the ground.

"GET UP!"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

"FIGHT HIM!"

Voices cried out from the crowd, Xisuma glancing around at all of the brainwashed hermits, struggling to reach for his weapon. The admin's arm went limp, Xisuma giving up on trying to win. He was slowly breathing, barely able to escape as he was met the tip of Grian's glowing sword. Xisuma narrowed his eyes at the former watcher, before laying his head back down onto the ground, closing his eyes.

"I give up. You win. Just make this quick." The admin growled, bracing himself for a swift and painful death. Grian bit his lip, looking back to the watchers, who both looked furious at Xisuma's loss. The small hermit looked away, shutting his eyes as he raised his weapon, before stabbing his blade into the ground.

"There. I won. Xisuma is defeated." Grian growled, looking back at the watchers, Celeste narrowing her eyes and snapping her fingers. Xisuma reappeared in midair, slamming down onto the stage, his body quivering in pain.

"Xisuma, prepare for the shift of worlds." Enzo growled, the admin struggling to push himself off the ground. He stood up, limping over towards the corner of the stage, trying to hide his face from the disapproving stares from the brainwashed hermits. He looked to Grian one last time, before a large purple screen appeared in front of the admin, Xisuma letting out a sad sigh and getting back to work.

"I won, so let the hermits go!" Grian commanded, the watchers looking between one another. Enzo roller his eyes, dropping Mumbo carelessly on the wooden stage flooring. Grian quickly ran to the Redstoner's side, Mumbo seemingly unconscious.

"Mumbo? Mumbo wake up!" Grian cried, shaking the Redstoner by his shoulders. Celeste snapped her fingers, and Mumbo's eyes suddenly opened, a dark purple now in place of the Redstoner's normally hazel eyes. The mustached hermit stood up, his body stiff and waiting for a command.

"There. We didn't kill your little friend." Enzo growled, Celeste happily smiling as she placed a hand on Grian's shoulder, the ex-watcher horrified.

"B-b-but you said-"

"It's ready, my watchers." Xisuma interrupted, the two watchers smiling with glee. Enzo snapped his fingers, and Mumbo suddenly grabbed Grian by his shoulders, putting the small hermit in a headlock. The ex-watcher thrashed in Mumbo's arms, who let out a playful laugh, picking Grian up and carrying him towards the three other magic-users.

Xisuma moved the large purple screen into the middle of the stage, each of the magic users taking a corner. Mumbo stood behind Grian, a hand on the small hermit's shoulder, tears filling Grian's eyes. They each summoned a ball of energy, using their power to blast the command screen.

The screen began to morph, the world seeming to rip in two, revealing a large glowing portal in the center of the stage. Cheers echoed through the crowd, hermits laughing and happily celebrating.

"Beyond this portal lies a new world!" Enzo started, gesturing to the large portal, more cheers erupting from the crowds. "Once this world is destroyed, we shall start construction on an empire!"

One after the other, hermits rushed through the portal, disappearing into the world beyond. The remaining hermits who were not controlled had to be dragged their by force, the hermits struggling to put up a fight. Mumbo held tight to Grian's shoulders, forcing him towards the portal.

"Mumbo," A voice called, the brainwashed hermit suddenly stopping and turning to the source of the voice. Xisuma held his hands behind his back, the gleam in his visor preventing Grian from seeing the admin's expression. "Go on ahead. I want to have a word or two with Grian..."

The mustached hermit smiled, bowing before the admin and disappearing beyond the portal. Grian was shaking, anxiously tugging on the red sleeves of his sweater, while Xisuma simply removed his helmet, the admin's eyes watery and filled with hot tears.

"You....you spared my life..even when I was going to kill you...why..?" Xisuma questioned, Grian holding his breath a bit. He couldn't tell if this was another one of the admin's tricks, and it scared him.

"W-well...

I-I saw you and..

I saw myself....

Someone who's scared of the watchers."

Xisuma pauses for a moment, biting his lip. He wiped the tears out of his eyes, before the admin placed his helmet in Grian's hands, much to the small hermit's surprise.

"You'll need this," Xisuma said, the admin pausing once more. He reluctantly placed a hand on Grian's shoulders, slightly smiling at the small hermit.

"Take care of the hermits....

Since I won't be there for them."

Xisuma pushed Grian through the portal, the last thing the small hermit saw was the admin's tear filled smile, before Grian faded away into the new world.