Breaking Step (Dungeon Runner 3)

Breaking Step, Chapter 62

"I don't have them roaming about on this floor."

"What's a Big Brute?" Don asked.

"The big golems in the boss room on the second floor," Mez answered, "and in the final boss room."

"Tibs named those too?"

"Sto did," Tibs replied. "There has to be something you can do to convince him. Bring one of the Gnolls, or the people golems."

"The Gnolls aren't things I can—"

"Dungeons don't talk, Tibs," Don stated.

Tibs faced the sorcerer. "According to who?"

"Everyone," Don replied, hints of exasperation slipping in.

"Not me."

"Everyone else." Don ran a hand over his face. "Is this because of all his elements?"

"Yes," Tibs replied.

"I wish you'd told me it's affecting your mind." Don looked at the others. "Shouldn't a cleric see to him? One who can heal," he added. "How come the one at the door didn't notice anything? She seemed old enough to—"

"Only initiates have door duty," Khumdar said. "I do not expect working with the mind is something they have learned yet, if it is something anyone outside those with mind as their elements can do."

"Then we should get one to see Tibs," Don said. "Because this can't be good."

"I might...have something," Sto said. "But are you sure this is something you want him to know?"

"Yes, I'm done keeping secrets."

"Then make sure he wants to know while I check on something with Ganny. Ganny!" he called, his voice fading.

"Sto can prove he's a person," Tibs stated, "If you want it proved."

"Tibs, this is a dungeon," Don said, the exasperation clear now. He looked at the others. "Why haven't you done anything about this delusion of his?"

"Just say you want the proof so we can go on with getting the loot," Jackal said. "Unless you forgot, we have a floor to clear and a new one to look at."

Don studied Tibs. "Alright, give me your word that once whatever you think the dungeon is going to do doesn't happen, you will come with me to someone who can help you."

"After the run," Jackal said.

"Sure," Tibs said.

"Take Don to the first cache," Sto said. "You're going to need what's in it. Ganny agreed this is worth bending the rules for."

"Okay. It's going to be at the cache after the first fight," he told Don, sensing for the changes to the triggers Ganny had made.

"Of course it will," Don said, sounding amused.

* * * * *

"Cover your eyes!" Tibs yelled, waited a second, then released the compressed light essence. He followed it with rushing the Gnolls before him. He sliced the first one, flung a ball of corruption at the next, leaped over another and stabbed it in the back as he landed, then grinned at the one before him, which stepped back in surprise, and he iced it.

His grin broadened as he made the metal hammer, then swung it as hard as his earth filled arms let him and it exploded into shards. He turned to look at the rest of his team as the hammer dissolved back into essence.

"We're going to have to rethink every fight," Ganny said. "If Tibs's not going to hide everything he can do."

"Or we can remind him that if he makes it too easy on himself, I'm going to have to make it harder on everyone," Sto replied. "Why didn't you use lightning?"