The Spirit Hands were summoned, ready to rumble with Gary—except they’d somehow missed the memo that Alwin had already let the humans go. All five pairs slumped in disappointment, fingers drooping like wilted flowers, floating around aimlessly as if trying to find something to do.

"Now's not the time for that, we've got to save Lin." The hands perked up when they heard the distress in Alwin's voice and saw the gruesome scene of Lin turning lighter shades of green as more blood was let out. "And be gentle!"

A pair of hands floated over to the severed limb, while the rest went over to Lin' unconscious body. They lifted her carefully, supporting her head, legs, and remaining arm. The hands took much greater care of the Goblin girl, compared to when they were grabbing and tossing her into the sky without a care in the world—granted that the differences in treatment were specifically due to Alwin's orders. Right now, he had to deliver Lin to the archer goblin so that she could hopefully administer some first aid, then after that administer second and third aid because she really needed it.

Leading the way, Alwin pushed aside low-hanging branches and bushes with his body, carving a path as the hands followed with Lin in tow. He spotted Uchronia and Gus safe and sound, their heads leaning against each other as they slept, blissfully unaware of the horrors that Alwin had witnessed. He'd come back for them later, that much he promised.

Further in the distance he could spot, the archer lady. her bow and quiver laid out on the ground next to the three melee members of Goblin Force Five. The three of them were still knocked out, blood-drenched bandages wrapped around the chests of the half-naked goblin and the large goblin.

The hands floated toward her, while Alwin hopped alongside. A single misplaced hop caused a twig to snap underneath him. The archer lady rolled to her bow and drew it in less than a second, the arrow aimed right for him. If he had any hands available he would raise them up, but right now those hands were busy with a blood-leaking Goblin.

"Oh, Cor! Lin?"

The Spirit Hands laid Lin down beside the half-naked goblin, with one pair gently placing her severed arm where it belonged—as if that would magically reattach it.

"What happened over there?" she asked, already pulling gauze from a pocket on her quiver. Alwin noticed the various pouches labeled with neat handwriting: Gauze, bandages, Small Healing Pills—this Goblin was prepared for anything. Except maybe this.

Memories of what happened not even five minutes ago flashed in his mind, each one felt like a stab by Gary Stew and those young masters. Regret and anger coursed through his body. The thought weighed heavily on his mind like a boulder pressing down on him, a dark cloud that the Dark Slime couldn't blow away.

Now that Lin was safe with the archer lady, nothing was holding him back. He could go and chase after them. Gary was injured; they couldn't have gotten far. The two young masters had knives instead of swords, they wouldn't stand a chance against his relentless attacks. Why didn't he factor this into his calculations? Was he really that incompetent at making plans? Uchronia really was right, he didn't think things through.

"She protected me," Alwin said. "The humans got away too. I don't think they could've gotten far. I'm going to chase after them."

“No, you’re not,” the lady archer shot back, not even looking up from her work as she wrapped gauze around Lin’s stump. “The last thing I need is another body to worry about. I need your help here.”

"But—"

"No! I need help transporting them back to camp. We've got two in critical condition! The Small Healing Pills aren't enough!"

"Fine!" Alwin was mad—if that wasn't obvious enough. "Can I at least roll my friends over?"

The lady archer nodded her focus still on Lin, who was now part mummy. She was wrapping up Lin's stump, blood already dying the white fabric red, creating a makeshift tourniquet to prevent her from bleeding out completely.

Alwin hopped over to his two friends sleeping soundly like a log, the Spirit Hands hovered alongside him, each one taking turns to provide comforting pats, reassuring him that he did everything he did to the best of his ability. But did he? He was useless, a burden. The only thing he knew how to do was shoot out different flavors of Spirit Blast and hope it would overwhelm his opponent. He couldn't do anything but run when Uchronia and Gus were captured. He couldn't do anything but watch as Goblin Force Five risked life and limb to save his squad. He couldn't do anything.

The Spirit Hands picked up Uchronia and Gus and brought them back to the archer lady, who had just finished dressing up Lin. She popped a few Small Healing Pills into Lin's mouth and instantly the ragged breath that punctuated every second smoothed out, as if she was just taking a nap rather than hanging on by a thread.

From her quiver, she pulled out five rods that resembled arrows, except a lot thicker. What was she going to do? Shoot them back to camp? Alwin watched as she untied each one, unraveling the deep green threads that held them together. They sprung open, revealing that those were in fact not arrows, but foldable stretchers, ones that were green and brown presumably to help blend into the forest.

"Put your friends on one of the stretchers here, then help me carry my squad back to camp."

Alwin had done just that, he placed Uchronia and Gus onto one of the empty stretchers before helping to place the rest of Goblin Force Five. She had only permitted Alwin to carry the black armored goblin and the large goblin—the big guy required the help of all ten of his Spirit Hands.

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She didn’t trust him with Lin or the half-naked goblin, but at least she let him place Lin’s hand back on her body after she was secured to the stretcher. Guess she didn’t want to risk any more accidents.

Once everyone was safely strapped onto the stretcher, she brought out her own set of Spirit Hands, five of them to be exact. They each went to the ends of the stretcher and together with Alwin's own Spirit Hands, lifted them up, ready for transportation. It was time to move out. The lady archer’s instructions were clear: SLOW and STEADY—her words, not Alwin’s. An arrow was nocked and drawn, just in case anything decided to jump out at them.

Before they could take a step, the archer spun around, her bow drawn, ready to unleash on the unsuspecting person behind them.

"Oh heavens! Put that thing away before you shoot an eye out!" the voice cried—it was Maple’s mom, with Maple herself bouncing along beside her.

"Hi, friendies! Mommy made snackies!" Maple chirped.

Snackies? Not exactly what Alwin was in the mood for. Maybe Gus would’ve appreciated it, but he was still out cold. They were still alive, he could hear their breathing, but they hadn't woken up yet. What if Gus and Uchronia never woke up? What if… He shook his head. No, they’d wake up. They had to.

"Oh, Cor" Maple's mom said as she came close enough to inspect the damage done. "Avert your eyes, child." She wrapped her tail around Maple.

"It's dark! Are we playing hidie and seekie, Mommy?" giggled Maple.

"Yes, dear. Why don't you count to a thousand while we hide, okay?"

"Yay!"

"And cover your ears, dear."

"Okayie!" Maple wrapped her own tail around the side of her head, her eyes still covered by her mom.

Maple’s mom turned to the archer. "You! Monster Army, what happened? And why are you putting these children in danger? Are you out of your mind! Why are you recruiting kids!" she shouted.

"There was a group of extremely powerful humans lurking around your village. We managed to chase them away but at a grave cost." She looked at Lin. "I'm not sure why there are kids attending the academy, as far as I'm aware the age requirement hasn’t changed." She glanced over at Alwin.

"Well, I demand an explanation! Go fetch your superior!"

"Ma'am... my superior is currently on a stretcher, missing an arm."

“Oh—I... I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

"Ma'am, if it's okay with you, we'd like to return to camp now. If you have any enquiries feel free to reach out. You know how to find us."

"Wait! Let me speak to the children, at least."

"Very well."

"Boy! Dark Slime boy!"

Alwin had been staring at the ground the whole time, replaying all of the battles in his mind, trying to figure out how he could've done better. He had been passively listening, letting the words flow in one ear and out the other, not paying attention to what the people around him were saying. He was so lost in his thoughts, that he barely registered that he was being called until the archer nudged him with her bow.

"Boy!" Maple's mother shouted.

"Huh? Yes?"

"Are you okay, boy? Are your two friends okay?" She looked at the stretcher that held Uchronia and Gus.

"Yeah, they're just... sleeping. Big battle, they're y'know, just tired."

"Are you sure you're okay? You could always stay here with me and Maple, your friends are invited too. You don't have to join the army.

Alwin paused. Her offer was tempting, comforting even. But was that really the life he wanted? No daily practice, no listening to Milvus drone on during lectures, no Uchronia barking orders at him—well, she probably would anyway. It sounded stress-free. But would it be? Gary Stew and those young masters were still out there. He had a duty to defend monsterkind, his life's purpose. As much as he craved a lazy life without grueling training, he knew he couldn't abandon his mission. To did the world of humans, ensure no one had to suffer, no one had to live in fear—that was what he truly wanted.

"Sorry, Maple's mom, but I can't do that. This is my calling."

"But—"

"I'm sorry, but I have to."

"But you're just kids! Think this through, please! A life of war isn't worth it."

"Someone has to make a sacrifice. I won't let that be you or Maple."

"But... why you kids?"

"It's just the way it is. Take care of Maple and make sure she gets lots of snackies, okay?"

She sighed, "Just be safe. And you!" She turned to the archer. "I'll be expecting an answer, and it better be a good one, or else!"

"I understand, ma'am. Now, shall we go?" The archer glanced at Alwin.

"Yeah." Alwin looked at Maple and her mother. "Goodbye, and I'm sorry for bringing the humans to your village. Help us say goodbye to Maple too."

With that, they set off, the archer lady scanning the surroundings. Her bow was at the ready, poised to unleash arrows at any opportunistic humans that might dare cross their path. Fortunately for them, the most perilous threat they encountered was a particularly brazen bird. It flew high above them, choosing their path as the perfect spot for a pit stop, splattering an unwelcome gift right in front of Alwin.

Finally, the gates of the Human Hunter Camp came into view. That archway made of twisted branches, the pair of goblin guards standing watch, and the rest of his classmates having a lively discussion about their first venture against humans.

When the Goblin guards spotted them, they blew a whistle. No sound escaped the instrument, but half a minute later a group of goblins all dressed in white came rushing to the camp entrance. The rambunctious aura that surrounded his classmates ceased, when they tracked down the source of the commotion, and saw Alwin hopping back with a sullen look on his face. Looks of horror and discussions of speculation ensued when they finally laid eyes on the treasure that he had brought back.

The Goblins in white pushed through the crowd while the guards kept them at bay. Their stretchers were brought into the camp, and taken to the medical trees. Alwin and the archer lady were forced to undergo a medical check-up as well, no matter how much Alwin insisted he was fine.

“Seriously, I’m okay!” Alwin protested as a goblin medic poked and prodded him.

“Standard procedure,” the medic said, unmoved by Alwin’s attempts at resistance.

“But what about Uchronia and Gus?” Alwin pleaded, glancing toward the stretchers being hurried away.

“Standard procedure,” the medic repeated, not missing a beat.

Alwin sighed, resigned to his fate. Looks like he didn't have a say in the matter.