Chapter 4: Break My Mind

"Can you people move any faster?" Grimmjack whined.

"Yeah! Do you people have any other gear besides wander?" Heruseus wailed.

"Do you?" Flare grumbled.

"I've got one speed, one gear: GO!" Heruseus returned.

"Are you insane?" Terriblelizard muttered.

"Quite possibly," Heruseus stared off at the horizon. "Just kidding!" He stuck his tongue out.

"This proves it: The evidence shows Theo has gone insane!" Gaia laughed.

Heruseus gave him a big noogie. "You know it!"

Gaia struggled in Heruseus grasp. "Hey! Stop it!" He laughed.

Heruseus laughed and let him go. The two of them slapped a high five and resumed the long walk to floor 3. They had received news 10 days after the floor opened it had been cleared. Everyone was up to level 14, Heruseus remained at 16. "You know Heruseus, this walk was your idea, I mean we could of teleported, but no, you wanted to walk up the stairs," Diane smiled.

"It's more authentic this way!" Heruseus wailed.

"He makes a point there," Gaia pointed out.

"Are most walks with you people this entertaining?" laughed Ezdeath.

"Nah, we're more like 30% more interesting today," Titanus laughed.

After a close call a few days earlier, the two of them were inseparable. The two of them together reminded everyone it was still possibly to find happiness in the game. They don't make me happy. Living here does, Heruseus thought, getting a serious face.

"What's wrong?" Gaia said with concern.

"Well…" Heruseus sighed.

"You can tell us," Dragonstar said.

"…The more floors we beat gets us closer to reality right?" Heruseus sighed.

"Well yeah," Gaia said, quizzically, "Why?"

Heruseus stopped. Everyone else halted as well. "I… Don't…Want… To…Go…" struggled Heruseus.

Dragonstar said, quite shocked, "What?! Why not?! Don't you want to go home?"

"No," Heruseus said. It was just barely audible. "I want to stay here, where I'll be a hero. Where I'm actually needed for something rather than going through the boring process of life,"

"We need you man," Gaia spoke softly. "And we need to be free,"

Heruseus got his old grin back. "Whatever, the 100th floor is a long way from here anyway!"

I'm now suddenly very worried about Theo's mental health, thought Dragonstar.

The team continued the walk up to the 3rd floor. What was I thinking!? I wasn't supposed to tell them! Heruseus screamed at himself.

As Heruseus thought to himself Gaia halted. "We're here. Heruseus, you first,"

Heruseus shook his thoughts clear and he walked out into the vast forest of floor 3. The team followed and the walked along the path until they came to a fork in the road. "Ok, which way do you guys want to go? The right goes to the town, but the left leads deeper into the, where we'll find a really long campaign quest that ends on floor 9," Heruseus pointed down each path.

"Town sounds interesting but so does the campaign. But you said floor 9? Hmmm… How about we start the campaign on floor 8 so we can finish it fast," Gaia shrugged.

"My thoughts exactly. I did that in the beta, and I beat the 3-8 quests in 12 days and the floor 9 quests in 3 days," Heruseus pointed out.

"Holy crap! It took you 15 days to beat the campaign?!" Flare said, shocked.

"Yeah. It's long," Heruseus sighed.

"Hey guys? I've noticed that we need a second-in-command in case something happens with Heruseus," Grimmjack sighed from the back of the team.

Everyone turned to face him. "I agree, because…well…" Heruseus began.

"What?" Dragonstar worried.

"I plan to resign as leader after the 10th floor," Heruseus finished painfully.

"What?! Why?!" asked a shocked Diana.

"Well, my beta knowledge gets us to the tenth floor and then I'm useless," Heruseus said throwing up his hands.

"So, we need to assign someone else to be leader. Gaia?" Diana offered.

"Nope. That ship sailed long ago," Gaia shrugged.

"Can I nominate someone?" Heruseus asked.

"Yes," Gaia said.

"I nominate Grimmjack," Heruseus said.

"What!?" Grimmjack wailed. "Why not Flare?!"

"Nope, I don't want to lead," Flare shrugged.

"Why me?" Grimmjack asked.

"I trust you the most right now since Flare and Gaia don't want to lead," Heruseus shrugged.

"Fine…" muttered Grimmjack.

"So, we're gonna head to town and prepare to take on the labyrinth," Heruseus walked down the right hand path.

Everyone else followed and no sooner than they did came out a twisted tree with a face and twisted limbs. It was a Treant Sapling Heruseus drew his Balanced Steel (+4S4Q). The shield users (tanks), Aris, Azerath, Flare, Lance, Gaia and Terriblelizard drew their weapons. Aris drew his Anneal Blade (+4H2S), Azerath drew his Anneal Blade (+4S3D), Flare drew hiss Anneal Blade (+4S4D), Lance drew his Anneal Blade (+4A2S) and Terriblelizard drew her Anneal Blade (+5S2D). The 5 of them formed a wall in the front of the team. Heruseus got in the middle with Diana and her (+4S3A) Wind Fleuret, Grimmjack and his Iron Greatsword (+4H4S) and Titanus with his Silver Lance (+3A3S). Dragonstar got in the back with her Ranger's Bow (+4A4S). "Guys, where's Roy, Algernon, Ezdeath and Firestone?" Lance asked.

"We'll find them when we're done here. Dark Theorem: Formation Alpha! Tanks: Turtle! Midline: Advance! Backline: Poke!" Heruseus commanded.

The tanks held up their shields into a powerful wall like formation known as the Turtle. Titanus, Diana and Grimmjack advanced on the monster as soon as it was stunned by the shields. Dragonstar let her arrows fly and Heruseus stood behind her, not interfering.

After a few minutes of Formation Alpha, the mob screamed and died. "Ok," Heruseus panted, "Let's go find the others,"

While the others were off fighting, Algernon lead Roy, Ezdeath and Firestone down the left path, towards the forest. "Ok guys-" Algernon began but was cut off by, "Algernon! Behind you!" screamed Firestone.

Algernon turned and immediately was smacked by an Elder Treant. Algernon went flying down the path. He got up and ran back the way he came. He could only hear the screams.

Firestone was the first to fall to the Treant. Roy threw many knives, but none of them did too much damage. The Treant locked Roy in its roots and just before Roy shattered and died he screamed, "I don't wanna die!"

Roy shattered and Ezdeath let out a small scream. The Treant didn't miss her paralysis and hit her square in the back. She lay down, unmoving on the path and looked down it. Running down the cobblestone path was Heruseus and the others. But they were too late. Ezdeath smiled and let a single tears drop. She shattered.

Diana screamed as her best friend shattered. Titanus screamed as well. Heruseus growled and let loose an animal like howl. He jumped directly at the Elder Treant. He charged Sonic Leap midair and struck the Treant. His blade was caught in the rough wood. He began to kick the Treant. He charged a Martial Arts skill and slammed his fist into the rough wood and freed his sword. He had unlocked the extra skill back on floor two. Grimmjack, Gaia, Dragonstar and Flare had learned it as well. He charged a new sword skill, Sharp Nails, which left three claw-like marks on his target. Heruseus swung his sword one last time and the Treant shattered.

He shakily sheathed his sword. He turned around and Dragonstar groaned in mortal terror at the horrifying gaze Heruseus had. He looked like a starving, cornered animal. He saw the look of terror on his friend's eyes and his gaze softened. "Heruseus…" Gaia whispered.

Heruseus began to walk down the hard path towards the town. Everyone else followed suit. They reached town after an hour and bought three inn rooms.

"I-I can't believe it! We still lost more! Even after Josh and Amber and Beth I still let more die! I'm a failure!" screamed Heruseus.

"No! Theo, they went off without us! It's not your fault!" Dragonstar pleaded.

"Steph…It is my fault…I can't do this anymore. I can't be responsible for all of you," Heruseus felt tears welling up. "I failed! I swore no one else would die, but I lied! I swore I'd never lie again unless for the greater good!"

"Hold on, did you just say you would lie?" Terriblelizard chuckled.

"Jamie! This is serious!" Dragonstar whispered harshly. "Theo… You swore you'd protect us, not them. You have protected us!"

Heruseus looked like he was slapped. "Are you saying that our other friends are less important than you? Was Amber less important than you? Was Josh less important than you? No! Josh was better than you are! I should've sworn to protect him, not you! I'm done protecting you!" Heruseus could now feel the tears falling down his face. "I don't need any of you!" He pointed his shaking finger at Dragonstar.

"Theo, let's think rationally he-" Diana began.

"Shut up! I am thinking rationally! You think that you are all more important than them! More important than Josh! You'll never be more important than him!" Heruseus screamed.

"Theo calm down! You know that's not how we think! Steph was just trying to help you ease the pain!" Gaia screamed.

Heruseus howled in maniacal laughter. "

"Theo calm down! You know that's not how we think! Steph was just trying to help you ease the pain!" Gaia screamed.

Heruseus howled in maniacal laughter. "You help me ease my pain? Don't make me laugh! Nothing can ever heal my pain! Get over it!"

"Theo, this isn't you! Just go back to being the fun nerd we know and love!" Aris yelled.

"Stop! You don't love me! Not half as much as Josh did!" Heruseus screamed.

Dragonstar began to weep. "But we do care about you!"

"Lies from the queen herself!" Heruseus taunted.

"What's going on?" Flare began to back away.

"I think its official, Theo lost his mind," whispered Grimmjack.

"Wrong!" Heruseus pointed a finger at Grimmjack. "I'm not insane: You just break my mind!"

Gaia screamed back, "No Theo! You drive yourself to the point in which your mind breaks!"

"Shut up perfect boy!" Heruseus growled.

"What?" Gaia screamed.

"Why? Why are you her favorite? All I asked for was a chance, but instead I got a slap to the face! How does it feel?! How does it feel to be loved?! Does it feel good?! I wouldn't know!" Heruseus screamed.

"I'm loved because I don't do this and-" Gaia began but was interrupted.

Heruseus had charged a Skull Crusher. Because they were in town, Gaia was not harmed, but was still knocked back by the powerful blow. "Shut it! You think I actually care about why!? Nope! I just needed to get that off my chest. Have fun surviving n00bs!" Heruseus growled.

Heruseus opened his menu, and to the horror of Flare, Heruseus left the party. "No! Theo come back, we need you!"

Heruseus began to walk off, but stopped. Flare got a hopeful smile, but Heruseus just put on a new coat: It had a long hem that reached past Heruseus' knees. He gave a devilish smile and walked off.

Dragonstar continued to weep as Heruseus walked off. Gaia came over to her, "Is everything ok?"

"Oh yeah Evan, one of my friends just up and left us to die in the wilderness with no experience! I'm obviously doing great! No! What do you think? I'm freaking out here!" Dragonstar shouted.

Her words cut Gaia like a knife. "Steph, I'm sorry-"

"Why didn't you try and stop him? Instead you made it worse 'I'm loved hahhaha'. Gaia, this is your fault! You made him really feel bad! Do you understand how much that hurt him? He just lost 4 close friends, and you bring up that I love you? The hell is wrong with you?!" Dragonstar screamed.

"Oh it's my fault?! At least I'm not the one who called the dead ones unimportant!" Gaia screamed back.

"I was trying to console him! Unlike you who made it even worse!" Dragonstar screamed back.

"SHUT UP!" Diana screamed. "Look at you, trying to pin the blame on each other! We just lost a good friend. 5 in fact. 4 died, and one walked off because both of you couldn't keep your mouths shut! Do either of you know how much it hurts him to see you two all lovey-dovey? It freaking sucks! He told me himself! Both of you did this! Steph, how could you? You made it sound like his big brother, whom he loved more than life, was unimportant! And Evan, you made it just as bad by saying that you're more loved than he is! Do you know that Theo felt like Josh was the only one who loved him? Somedays he felt like his family didn't love him! And now, you rub it in, and worse Steph you brought up the fact that Josh was dead; the two of you double-teamed him! And then," Diana began to cry at this point, "Did you know that Josh died a hero? Nope! Because you two didn't care! Josh died saving the four of them! That consoled Theo just a bit, but now, that the four Josh gave his life to save are dead, Theo feels like he failed his treasured big brother!"

Dragonstar and Gaia stood in absolute silence. Then a small cry ripped from Flare's throat, "Theo's gone! He's really gone! And it's your entire fault!" He pointed at Dragonstar and Gaia.

"This is not-" Gaia began.

"Yes it is! What did I just say to you guys?! Don't try an take off the blame! It's both of your faults! Get over it!" Diana screamed.

"So, by liking Evan, Heruseus went psycho?" Dragonstar screamed, "No, what happened was yes, partially my fault, but he didn't run off because we like each other. Besides, he doesn't like me that much,"

Everyone but Gaia and Dragonstar burst into laughter. "He doesn't like you that much… HAHAHAHAH!" Titanus laughed.

"Are you crazy Steph? You're all he ever talks about," Terriblelizard wiped her eyes from laughing to hard.

"Yeah, with him it's like, 'man, Steph is so cool', and 'Steph is so hot!'" Flare laughed.

"Yeah, Steph, back in 7th grade after that little prank we made him do, he was devastated until you apologized. He was like, no fun! That dude loves you!" Grimmjack remembered.

"Wait, seriously? He likes me that much?" Dragonstar stared dumbfounded.

Everyone nodded. "Well, maybe not that much anymore, after what you said to him. I'm surprised he had the guts to say all that to you! I mean, he really wants you to like him," Flare laughed.

"Oh my god! Theo likes me that much!?" Dragonstar gasped.

"Yeah, all he ever talks about, like I said and you're the only reason he hangs out with us at lunch. I mean, if he didn't like you that much, he'd probably have just have lunch with his guy friends," Terriblelizard laughed.

"Yeah, Steph, when he just stopped showing up, I went to investigate and found him with you guys, and I was like 'I knew it!'" Grimmjack sighed.

Off in the forest training, Heruseus sneezed. "They must be talking about me," He grunted under his breath as he went for another sword skill.

The mob before him shattered like glass and he moved on through the forest. He had mapping out the whole forest up until the dungeon, then he planned to head back to an inn for the night, and then take on the dungeon. According to his map compared to the sky, where he could see the enormous pillar, he was about a mile from the pillar. He continued his walk and another mob spawned: a Dryad Swordsman. The Dryad was a forest sprite with light cloth over his "sensitive" parts. He wielded, as the name suggested, a sword. Heruseus went for a lunge.