by Paul Bellow
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Newsletter
LitRPG Reads
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Eight
Epilogue
Tower of Gates
LitRPG Forum
Newsletter
Tower of Gates
CORE PUNK
A LitRPG Novel
By Paul Bellow
Copyright © 2019 Paul Bellow
All rights reserved.
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Prologue
I kept my eyes closed against the intense virtual sun as I lounged in a bathing suit on the hotel rooftop. I’d made valedictorian, and that had earned me this mini-vacation logged into the Core. It wasn’t the cheapest virtual platform, but my grades had come with a tidy stipend, and if I needed anything, I needed a break.
A shadow fell over me, dramatically dimming the sunlight. “Someone sitting here?” A man’s voice.
I glanced up, shielding the sun from my eyes with my hand. The man appeared benign, though I couldn’t tell you what it was, specifically, that gave me that impression.
“No, have a seat.” I smiled as the stranger sat in the lounge next to mine. “This place is amazing.”
Please be interesting, I silently begged. I’d met far too many boring men in my life. His bright yellow trunks and ultra-muscular body told me nothing about the real him.
“First visit, I’m guessing?” he asked.
“How did you know?”
He smiled and gestured at my hand. “You’re clutching your cube.”
I glanced down at the black square of plastic in my palm.
“Yeah, a nifty device.” I wished he would stop talking or leave.
“I’m new here too,” he droned on. “It’s been a lot of fun so far.”
He held up his own cube—his personal version of the little Core Cubes that controlled everything around us in the virtual world. Would he leave me alone if I kept quiet? His awkward stare put me on edge. With so many virtual options available why was he talking with me?
“Maybe I’ll see you later tonight,” I said.
Would he get the hint? He nodded and stood.
“Looking forward to it,” he said then wandered away.
As he left, I shifted my weight on the cushion. The pool had been calling me all afternoon, and a quick dip might wash away the residue of that awkward conversation. Or should I meet the others first? I smiled. Why not indulge my whimsical side? Modern life was so boring compared with the endless opportunities of virtual reality, but it was easy to get addicted.
I stood and stretched, still unsure of my plans for the rest of the evening when a flash in the corner of my eye signaled a change in the world around me. The virtual utopia that had surrounded me disappeared, replaced by a frozen wasteland. I pressed my Core Cube to exit the simulation, but the ‘quit command’ button had disappeared. Why was this happening? It’s so cold!
Though the cold couldn’t kill me like it could in real life, the simulated cold was just as compelling as the warmth of the sun on my face I’d experienced only moments earlier. I grabbed my thick, cotton robe next to the rusty deck chair. As I sprinted toward the nearby door, seeking warmth, I put the robe on. While thick, it did little to block the cold. The door leading into the building had been torn off its hinges. I gave it little thought as I rushed through the doorway, seeking warmth.
Where is everyone else?
I bounded downstairs in search of a help desk or someone to explain what had happened. There were no porters, receptionists, or bellhops on the first floor. Instead, a ragged crowd of people wearing furs huddled in a trashed lobby that hadn’t been cleaned in years. A few hard faces looked up from around a fire burning in a rusted, metal barrel. I waved a hand as I slowed my pace.
“Stop!” a man with a wicked looking machete stepped forward.
I noticed a familiar pair of yellow swim trunks covering his head. He brandished the long, rusty blade as others huddled behind him, their teeth bared like hyenas stalking prey. A whiff of their foul odor reached my nose, and I stepped back. I’d met my share of roleplaying purists, but these folks were taking it entirely too far. Why do the crazies always find me? I scanned the wide, open room, in search of someone in charge—anyone, really—to fix the quit option on my Core Cube.
The cube! It wasn’t in my hand any longer. Did I leave it on the roof? And how am I still seeing my heads-up display? I dug in both pockets of the robe, looking for my Core Cube as the others warily watched me. What are all these new game menus? My heart beat faster.
"You," I said, pointing at the man in furs wearing grungy yellow swim trunks on his head. "Don't you remember me? Before this happened? You were hitting on me."
“She’s a bloody core punk.” Their leader wore a curious look. “What’cha doing above ground, doll? You must be awfully cold in that silly suit of yours.”
Crowded behind him, the others laughed, egging him on.
“Look, guys, I’m glad you’re having fun, but I’m freezing, and I just want to get out of here. Are you saying you don't remember me?”
“You want out of here?” the man huffed. “The cold’ll take you before you get ten steps outside. Come over here by the fire.”
“Very funny,” I groused. “Just tell me how to—”
A vicious whine filled the air as a viscous bolt of orange fire flew past me and splattered against the wall near the burning barrel.
“Run!” the man in furs shouted, still shaking his machete.
The group scattered in ten different directions, but I ignored them, instead facing the shooters. Maybe they had answers. I raised my hands in surrender and hoped they wouldn’t fire on me.
The gunmen approached, fire-spitting rifles pointed at me. “What’s your name?” one demanded. “Why are you dressed in that jumpsuit? You’ll freeze.”
“My name’s Scout. These are the only clothes I have on me. Please, I need help.” The man’s face was impossible to read behind his helmet. I tried another tack. “How do we end the simulation? This isn’t funny. Where’s Eden, my virtual paradise? I’ll sue this corporation so hard...”
The man pulled off his helmet, shaking free his long, greasy, blond hair.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m Harrison,” he said. “You’re welcome to come back to Shelt
er 12 with us. We’ll find work for you.”
“Sure…” I muttered, lowering my arms. “Nothing about the simulation, huh?”
His eyes narrowed as he studied me.
“Eden, a world in the Core,” I prompted. “You know, this stupid simulation… I want out.”
“Are you lightheaded?” Harrison’s face became concerned. “Has anything bitten you recently?”
“No!” I frantically poked the air around me in several directions. “This is all a simulation. None of this is real.”
“She’s crazy, boss,” another man said, his deep voice somewhat muffled by his helmet.
He kept looking around, weapon raised.
“Are you coming with us or not?” Harrison asked. “I don’t know what the weather’s like in fantasy-land, but it’s warm back at the barracks. I’m not trying to trick you. This is a gracious offer.”
I sighed, defeated by this second group of roleplaying dorks. I was hungry, needed to pee, and the biting cold had numbed my toes. Once I took care of my immediate problems, I could look further into what had happened to Eden and why nobody remembered we were in a realistic simulation. I didn’t expect it to take too long. Boy was I wrong.
Chapter 1
Three Months Later
Warning: Shelter under attack.
Warning: Mutants detected!
Flashing lights and sirens continued to blare despite the notifications in our heads-up-display. I glanced down at Missy clinging to my arm as we ran down a long, gray metallic hall.
A burly man with long blond hair and carrying enough firepower to take out an entire shelter on his own stood up ahead. He turned to us as we approached.
“Why aren’t you in your barracks, Scout?” Harrison barked.
“Missy got scared and ran to hide,” I yelled over the sirens. “How’s it looking? Is this the big one?”
“A dozen mutants got in through the air vents,” he said. “Those damn things will kill us one of these days.”
“Yeah, but we’re dead either way,” I muttered.
“Get to the barracks,” he said, peering over my shoulder. “Now!”
A trio of mutants lumbered down the hallway behind me, leaving a trail of mucus behind them. Missy clutched my arm even tighter. I sighed then hurried down the corridor, back to our bunks. Harrison followed us through, sealing the steel hatch behind him.
The hissing whine of plasma rifles and nightmarish screams followed us as we continued down yet another long, gray hall toward our living quarters.
“Wait!” Harrison shouted, lifting a clenched fist.
I peered past him and saw a three-headed monstrosity heading our way.
“Get behind me,” Harrison said, lifting his rifle.
Without a ranged weapon, I wasn’t about to argue. Harrison fired several rounds, orange plasma bolts piercing the creature’s chest. It screamed then rushed forward at an unholy speed only seen in nightmares. Missy cried out as it slammed into Harrison, all three heads attempting to bite his head. He dropped his plasma rifle as he fought to keep the mutant at bay.
I rushed forward then did a barrel roll, hoping Missy stayed put. When I stopped near the plasma rifle, I grabbed and raised it, leveling the barrel toward the mutant.
“Fire!" Harrison screamed.
I gently pulled the trigger. The recoil pushed me back as the plasma bolt hit him in the thigh.
“Hey! Watch it!”
“Sorry!” I shouted then aimed the weapon again.
The mutant, unable to bite-off Harrison’s head, leaped over him and scurried toward Missy.
“Oh no you don’t,” I muttered as I fired off three rounds in quick succession.
All three orange bolts of pure energy plowed into the mutant’s back, throwing it to the floor. Before I could finish it, Missy screamed like a primal savage and pounced forward, a blade in each of her hands. I ran toward her as she repeatedly buried her blades in the mutant’s body. A notification window popped up before I reached her.
Combat is Over!
You get 100 Life Experience Points
You have 2,050 LXP
You are now Level 2!
+ 15 skill points
+ 5 health
+ 5 stat points
I waved the notifications away as Harrison walked over.
“You two got lucky,” he said, grabbing his rifle from me.
"I know." I glanced at Missy and frowned.
She lowered her head, looking at her feet. Taller than me, her behavior didn't match her appearance. I felt sorry for her and tried to protect her as much as possible, but she made it difficult. She pulled a string from the a seam in her shirt.
"Don't do that," I said, swatting her hand.
"What's her problem, anyway?" Harrison asked.
“Leave her alone. Everyone stuck in this crazy simulation should be helping each other.”
Harrison groaned. “Don’t get started with your crazy talk.”
Missy giggled then cleaned off the blades of her knives.
“I’ll be right back,” Harrison said. “Stay here.”
He raised his plasma rifle and crept down the hallway. As I waited for him to return and escort us to our barracks, I thought about my larger predicament. Over the last few months, ever since the simulation changed and everyone lost their memory, I’d concentrated on making it one day at a time. I needed to change that if I wanted to protect Missy and myself.
Switching from a luxury holiday simulator to a post-apocalyptic frozen wasteland had been bad enough, but few people even remembered what had happened. And nobody believed those of us who remembered the past.
“They’ve overrun the gardens,” Harrison said as he returned. “We’ll take the long way around. Stay close.”
"We can make it on our own," I said. "We'll be fine."
"No, your engineering skills are too important for the shelter. Come on."
He motioned for us to follow with his free hand before marching down the hall, turning left at the first opportunity. Missy clung to my arm as we walked. With everything that had happened to her, I understood her fear. A scouting party had found her wandering the wilderness not long after everything had changed. We’d been close to each other ever since she arrived.
As we walked, I realized I needed to work my way up the chain of command. More power would give me more opportunities to figure out what had happened. I’d spent the last few months trying to adapt to and survive my new surroundings.
“Hold on,” Harrison said, stopping at another closed hatch.
I glanced behind us as he peered through the tiny window.
“Okay, all clear,” he said, opening it.
The hatch opened with a pneumatic whoosh and Missy hugged me tighter.
“Come on,” he said. “No dawdling.”
He didn’t need to tell me twice. Just like Missy looked to me for protection, I sought comfort and protection from Harrison, even if he didn’t realize it. We continued down one long hallway after another, arriving at the cramped barracks where Missy and I stayed. Harrison, plasma rifle still in his hands, stopped and glanced down the hall both ways.
“You two stay locked up,” Harrison said. “We have the mutants confined to the first floor. Everything will be okay by morning.”
“Thanks for getting us here safely,” I said, glancing up at him.
He ignored me, walking back down the hall while holding his weapon. Missy let go as I watched him retreat down the hallway.
“We’re home,” she said, smiling.
I reached out and brushed her hair out of her eyes.
“Home sweet home,” I said sarcastically, then punched in the code to open the hatch.
As it slid open, the smell of twenty-four women living in a space meant for maybe half that number hit me. Missy scampered inside, heading for the bunk we shared in the back. Before she even made it halfway across the room, Becky and her goons blocked the narrow aisle, standing in her way. After three months stuc
k in the stupidest survival game ever devised, I'd had enough. The close call with the mutants meant I needed to work harder at climbing the chain of command in the shelter.
“Move!” Missy demanded.
“You’d better learn some respect,” Becky shot back.
I grabbed Missy’s shoulder and pulled her behind me.
“Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?” I said.
My rival for dominance in the barracks furrowed her brow.
"You two better watch out," she said.
"Or what? Are you going to kill us with your bad breath?"
A few of her followers giggled. Becky’s face flashed red.
“Take that back,” she demanded.
I pulled a thin, silver dagger from my belt. “Or what?”
Becky scowled but backed down and moved out of our way.
“That’s what I thought,” I said. “Clear the aisle!”
Missy stuck her tongue out as we passed the other women. When we reached our bunk, she climbed up the ladder right away, crawling across the bed to check on the stuffed sock she treated like a baby. Becky hadn’t stolen it for weeks. I climbed onto the top bunk after her, sitting with my long legs dangling over the side.
Heidi, our bunk-neighbor, peeked her head out and looked up.
“We heard the sirens,” she said. “Did anyone die?”
I regarded the frizzy haired woman a moment.
“Probably,” I said. “Harrison brought us back.”
"Oooh," Heidi said.