In an instant, arrows and bolts pierced into Jarrod and pointedly didn’t land on where my arms had him locked in. The melee people reached me and swords stabbed into him, axes chopped down, and even a whip wrapped around his throat, cutting off his pained screaming.

  “What the fuck?!” I said, instinctually releasing Jarrod, who fell to the ground writhing in pain. As I stepped back, the crowd surrounded him and his screaming was quickly cut off.

  “Holy shit!” Cari and Gregory both said as they skirted around the crowd to where I was standing looking dumbstruck.

  One among the crowd, who looked like a phoenix woman, stepped in front of me as the crowd stood back from Jarrod’s remains. Her accent was vaguely southern.

  “I’m sure that was surprising for you. First, my name is Bethany. Second, uh, everyone hated Jarrod, and you gave us an opening we couldn’t refuse. Sorry about attacking you earlier. He was a real asshole, but he could kill us easily, as can you. We’d appreciate it if you didn’t.”

  Phoenixfolk. Level 37. Swirling within with the fires of vitality, Phoenixfolk are notorious for being able to regenerate from deadly blows, erupting with flames when they die and reborn in the ashes.

  “I agree he was an asshole, and I have no intention of killing any of you. I had no intention of even killing him, but here we are. That said, I’d like to get any Common rarity or higher items from him, and his body. Inferior magic items no longer give me any stat boosts, so I’m not so worried about those.”

  “Of course. Anything else?”

  I started to shake my head, but I stopped. “Actually, yes. Do you know a Mau named Jenny or a Minotaur named Tim?”

  “I do not, no, but we have a few hundred people back at camp, so it’s definitely possible that they could be there.”

  “Was Jarrod the leader here?”

  “He was, yes.”

  “Who is the second?”

  Bethany shrugged. “I honestly do not know. He didn’t really trust anyone. I suppose it would fall to the strongest.” She pointedly stared at me.

  Quest Updated!

  Quest: Forced Teamwork.

  Objective: The monsters about the tutorial space have grown stronger and now wish to gain control of the spheres. The protections that were in place have faltered, and you are in danger. To regain protective bubbles, you must team up and get at least 50 control spheres together.

  Control Spheres Controlled by You: 94/200.

  Total Control Spheres Controlled: 200/200.

  “Oh no, I’m not the management type. But I’ll take it for now until we can figure it out.”

  The crowd had separated from the body, having stripped the weaker magic items from it. They left the bow and the armor. I picked up the bow and handed it to one of the other archers. She nodded in thanks.

  “You may want to face away from this,” I said as I began picking up the body.

  If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  You have devoured Ghillie Leathers, Uncommon. All stats increased by 20. Consuming magic items does not grant experience points.

  You have devoured Level 61 Human Archer. Their highest stat was Perception. Your base Perception has increased by 68 points. Bonus stats from eating a Human Archer of a higher level than yourself. All stats increased by 30. Bonus experience earned.

  DING! Class: Hypocrite Revolutionary has increased from Level 28 to Level 34.

  Class skill selections available.

  DING! Race: Omnis Vorare has increased from Level 27 to Level 30.

  Race skill selections available.

  No time for that now.

  The group now led by Bethany took us through the bubble toward its center. She held up a sphere she pulled from somewhere on her person and held it up, sending a pulsing flare into the air. “Don’t worry, it’s just to bring all the scouts back to town.”

  We reached a section of the tutorial city that had been built up, or rebuilt. It looked more or less intact, including several buildings having glass windows. An area at an intersection had been chosen and set up as a town square. A meter high wooden platform had been built, with seating set around it. A wide pedestal in the center of the platform was made with numerous recesses in which rested many Control Spheres.

  Bethany motioned for me to step up onto the platform. I wasn’t very happy about this, but I did so. Bethany stepped up and we watched as the crowd grew. Over 200 people eventually showed up and crowded around the platform. They had to bring in more chairs, as they had not all been present at the same time in a good while.

  “Hello, everyone. Many of you know me. For those who don’t, my name is Bethany. Erin, please step up onto the platform.”

  The archer who had Jarrod’s bow, whose name I just learned was Erin, hopped up to the platform. She held up the bow.

  Recognition became growing white noise as the talking amongst the crowd increased.

  “It is true! Jarrod is dead!” A cheer erupted through the crowd. He must have been a real nightmare to deal with. “Our new leader is Dan, slayer of Jarrod!”

  The cheering stuttered and died down. They all stared at me expectantly.

  “Uh… hi. I’m not really one for being a leader, but I’m sure we can figure something out. While I have you all here, I’m looking for a Mau named Jenny and a Minotaur named Tim. They likely stuck together after we got separated a while back.”

  The chatter picked up again before a section of the crowd started to separate. Jenny and Tim ran forward, Jenny leaping up and pulling me into a big hug. Tim looked sheepishly relieved to see that I had not died. She wore the same armor and such that she had before, though it was a bit worse for wear. He wore something that looked like a black tuxedo made of interlocking plates, on which were a number of hammered images of explicitly sexual content, about which I had several questions we didn’t have time for just then. They were in the low 40’s level-wise and looked exhausted, if happy to see me.

  “Dan! Why is your level so low?” Jenny asked.

  “Oh, it just hasn’t caught up,” I said. “Want to see something neat?”

  “Hell yeah!”

  My chest opened wide to reveal rows of shifting teeth, “I have a second mouth!” I said with my chest.

  Jenny clapped excitedly, then dropped her hands in confusion. “Is that good? It’s a bit scary!”

  “Hey! Why does he get to be leader?” a voice in crowd shouted.

  The crowd around us went silent. I had forgotten we were still on the platform, and I moved to address the crowd. “Sorry about that. I think it’s time for a meeting of the minds. Please return to your rounds for now, and we’ll get updates to how things will work after the meeting. Thank you.” I turned to Bethany. “I assume you have some kind of war room for meetings?”

  “Of course.”

  “Answer the question!” someone else shouted.

  Bethany turned to look right at the shouter, glancing at me once before speaking, “Do you want to be leader?”

  “Uh… no?” the voice shouted, the man looking down.

  “I do!” a different voice called out.

  She turned to address me. “Do you want to give the crowd a show?”

  “I’d rather not, but if that’s what it takes, sure.”

  “Just not on the platform, please,” Bethany said.

  “Clear an area!” I shouted, jumping to stand in the hastily cleared space next to the man who wished to be leader.

  He was a Level 47 Scalekin, heavily muscled, holding a large green crystalline blade, and wearing obviously summoned crystal armor.

  “Your level is low, why should you lead us?” he sneered at me.

  “I suppose you will have to do as an example.” I tried to sound nonchalant, though I was kind of excited to test myself.