A pool of blood slowly flowed from the downed boss monster. It was almost reflective enough to see the growing divide between the party.. Sara Lee stood in defiance of him. When did the healer grow a backbone? Was it because he killed something with a human face? Well so what..

He spat on the ground at Jack's feet. The man stared at the wad of flam before looking up with a serious face.

From the corner of his eye he saw Leeroy's spider sneak up to the fallen boss to feed. He waved his hand launching a volley of needles at the arachnid. A line of needles separated the spider from the forming pool of blood. Nero met Leeroy's brown eyes and looked back into Sara Lee's green. The red head was becoming more trouble than she was worth.

"Why shouldn't everyone have a say in what we do?" Sara Lee demanded. Francis chose that moment to slink back into the background. Leeroy's eyes flashed purple and Nero followed the spider's change in tactics. Like a Australian red back threw its spinneret forward prepared to throw sticky web.

Sara backed up behind Jack and prepared to buff him in the fight. He recalled the name of her skill Twilight Serenade. It relieved exhaustion healed the target and raised their speed. A valuable addition to their party and a dangerous asset. If this turned into a fight, he'd poison her first.

There was no guarantee that Leeroy didn't control other spiders. The second this fight started he'd be trapped by spider's web. If he was going to survive this, then he needed to use reason.

"Do you want to give Reverend Julius the power to make decisions for us? He already has over half of the survivors in his flock. Giving everyone the right to vote is handing control over to a priest. He believes we're devils." Nero yelled.

"It's the right thing to do." Jack and Sara Lee said together. Nero's eyes widened. The fight left him then. A small smile stretched his lips while a bitter knot grew in his gut.

"Alright, but there are a few concessions. I hold the power to leave whenever I want. Jack, I want you to make me a full set of armor in exchange. Sara Lee you will heal me whenever I ask." Nero said.

A 1000-watt smile lit her face. Her green eyes sparkled over her dusky features. Sara Lee looked beautiful even covered in dirt and spider guts. Nero could admit to that.

"Sure, we'll agree to that. I'm glad we can stay friends." Sara Lee said. Nero was certain the entire group would die soon.

"Since we're all friends." Leeroy said. Nero turned to see the spider chowing down on the boss's corpse. It wasn't right to reward those who didn't contribute. Though no one had gained more from the boss's death than Nero.

He'd gained another level after killing the boss. Nero turned the camera on and was shocked. When the lens focused on a person their level appeared. While Nero was level 5 the rest were still level four. The only outlier was the execution of the boss. His stat page appeared showing his level closer to 6 than 5. Poison needle also gained another 5 levels after the kill.

HP 67.26 MP 61.6

ATK 66.68 DEF 66.56

SATK 134.97 SDEF 11.11

SPD 11.44 ACC 6.06

Fortune 6.06

"Are you busy?" Francis asked. He looked up to see the others staring at him. Nero nodded his head. He'd been too much of a team player. They were too different. Ideologically, the closest person to him was the drug addict.

Francis was an opportunist. He'd use the distraction to deal a killing blow. For now, he'd stay until everything fell apart. Nero decided that his friend had been wrong. Maybe Nero was a snake, but Francis resembled more a rat to him. So, he'd keep a secret.

It was possible that other groups tried to settle on this floor. He met Francis's gaze and saw a lack of understanding. For once Francis didn't know the game. This wasn't a marathon it was a race.

By the time on his phone 18 hours had passed since they entered the dungeon. A few spider legs bound together for support, the careful web work of their own spiders, and some ingenuity built their first command tent. They had a nice black and shiny table, several sturdy chairs, and room flaps made of spider silk.

"When you have wood you build with wood, but we have spiders. Aren't we humans so industrious?" Francis said.

"Be quiet boy I'm trying to concentrate. Where is the report from the scouts?" Julius muttered. Nero yawned and leaned back in his chair. In less than 4 hours Julius had found his way to the table of their command tent. The flock had quickly picked up arms and started leveling up. Their xp went to the good reverend instead being divided amongst the party. This forming was of a theocracy body. Nero wanted no part of it.

Julius lvl10

Barriers **

DEF 1000

HP 500

MP 0

Francis stood behind the priest a small smile on his face. He was the only counterbalance to this arrangement. Without Francis, Julius would have no check. Unfortunately, Francis had no desire to stop a mad priest from taking advantage of people.

"The scouts are back reverend it isn't good." Nero looked up to see a gleam in the man's eyes. It was gone in a flash and replaced by a good man.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Ethen, they were all good men who knew what they were up against. The devils have forced us to make sacrifices, but god will surely take their souls."

Jack walked in through the tent flap along with Sara Lee and Leeroy. They each took a seat at the table while Julius remained at the head. Their phones each received a message of a list of demands poled by the people.

Julius opened his mouth, but Nero interrupted him. "Before we go over new business, we should discuss the scouting party, their findings, and why they were sent out in the first place." The reverend closed his mouth then smiled warmly.

"Of course, I'll send the report to each of you." Nero scanned over the report.

"You had them investigate the entrance where group b lost their lives. The original vote was to investigate the perimeter of the trap door perimeter. Why did you change the direction of the scout party?" Jack asked.

"I felt it lacked ambition. There is more to learn from the entrance. We can't stay here in hell. Surely there is a way out." Julius argued.

"I notice that none of the scouts who died were from your flock. It must be that holy protection skill of yours." Francis said.

"All who join my flock are blessed by god's grace." Julius said. Nero expected they were killed by the flock.

"Its amazing how easily that compensates for levels. They are all still level one, aren't they?" Francis said.

"Was anything gained from the scouting mission?" Nero asked. The reverend frowned.

"The devil knight who ate that poor boy is prowling in the dark. He was spotted after snatching one of the scouts. I fear we must find a way to appease the monster soon or our numbers will dwindle more." Julius said.

"I propose we open the door to the first floor and leave." Nero said. The table erupted in groans.

"We've been over this Nero. Let it go." Leeroy said. The man's eyes were always deep purple. His skill had changed him.

"Ah, the people have spoken they request a vote of no confidence for officer Nero." Julius said.

"The seats of officers belong only to the strongest of us." Jack proclaimed. Julius smiled jovially.

"The faithful will not rest until they are led by true believers." Julius answered.

"If it will ease the worries of the people, I'll take a leave from the council. I'm leaving the party for now." Nero said. He moved to the party app and disbanded himself.

"Are you sure its safe to go out on your own?" Julius asked.

"I'm certain it is." Francis said.