Hack: A LitRPG Novel (Tower of Gates Book 1)

by Paul Bellow

  “You didn’t say you had a girlfriend…”

  Sarah laughed nervously.

  “We’re just friends,” I said. “We should go.”

  “Business more important than your family?”

  My NPC mother crossed her arms over her chest.

  A short man with a black vest over a white shirt ran up.

  “The Mayor is requesting your presence right away, Drex,” he said.

  “Does everyone know I made it back to town?” I asked.

  My fake mother smiled and pinched my cheek.

  “You’re a hero, dear,” she said.

  I stepped back, out of her reach.

  “Tell the Mayor he has to wait,” I said.

  My mother’s eyes opened wider.

  “You know how the Mayor gets,” the messenger said.

  “Fine.” I turned to the others. “Anyone want to come?”

  “We should destroy the pendant first,” Sarah said.

  “This’ll only take a minute,” I said.

  A part of me liked all the attention.

  “You’re right,” she said. “What’s another few minutes.”

  Sarcasm?

  We left my mother behind and followed the messenger a block to the west. The Town Hall stood proudly in a center square.

  “How do you know the Mayor, boss?” Benji asked.

  “It’s a small town,” I said as we approached the three-story building. “Don’t tell me you know him too.”

  Benji grinned but shook his head.

  “He’s one of the few I don’t know,” he said.

  The messenger opened the grand front door and held it open. Benji walked in first, then Sarah and I followed him into the building.

  As I glanced around at all the luxurious get up, I wondered if another side quest was brewing. Was the current mayor corrupt?

  The messenger led us to a crude, mechanical elevator. We rode it up a floor. I saw the mayor sitting behind his desk as the door opened.

  I grinned as I stepped out then wiped my feet on his fancy rug.

  The Mayor stood up then walked over with his arms open.

  “Welcome home, Drex the Hero,” he said. “That has a ring to it, doesn’t it? I’m so glad I helped you achieve your current status.”

  “Make this quick,” Sarah whispered.

  “And who do you have with you?” Mayor Griggsby asked.

  He stopped in front of us, still smiling like a slippery politician.

  “They are my traveling companions,” I said.

  “Did you have a good journey?” the mayor asked.

  “Not bad,” I said. “Why did you call us here?”

  “The goblins, of course,” Mayor Griggsby said. “They didn’t follow you, did they? Rumors are they’re getting ready to attack again.”

  “Don’t worry,” I said. “The rumors probably aren’t true.”

  “But they might be,” Benji said. “I’ve heard some myself.”

  The mayor nodded his head solemnly as I gave our priest a nasty look.

  What was he thinking? Had he forgotten our main mission?

  “We need to go,” I said as I turned.

  “Hold on.” Mayor Griggsby stepped forward and grabbed my arm. “I need your help with something, Drex. And your friends too.”

  “We’re busy,” I said. “Maybe we’ll come back after we’re done.”

  I took a step. His porky hand fell away from my arm.

  “Please, Drex…” he wheezed.

  “Let’s go, guys,” I said as I headed for the door.

  “I want to talk to you about Magictology,” Mayor Griggsby called from behind us. “I think it’s good for our town. Do you think it’s a good idea?”

  “Watch yourself,” I said, still walking toward the elevator.

  I smiled, pleased with my character in the game. On the ride down to the first floor with Benji and Sarah, I thought about our quest.

  “That was a complete waste of time,” Sarah said.

  “I agree,” Benji said.

  The elevator reached the first floor.

  Benji opened the door then stepped out, followed by Sarah.

  “Where’s your friend?” she asked. “What’s his name?

  “John,” I said. “He’ll be at his smithy working.”

  We walked out of the town hall without talking. They followed as I took off across the city square. With luck—we’d destroy the pendant.

  According to the game, John Johansen had been my friend since childhood—but I wasn’t sure what to expect when we met him.

  “How do you know this guy?” Sarah asked.

  “A childhood friend,” I said, not wanting to go OOC.

  We stopped outside the only smithy in town. Grey smoke rose from a chimney in a thick column. A tall, well-built man banged a hammer.

  “That’s got to be him,” I said then stepped toward him.

  Benji, Sarah, and I walked into his open air workspace. The blacksmith noticed us and turned. Sweat poured down his face.

  “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing your face here,” he said.

  “What are you talking about?” I asked.

  John, gripping his hammer, walked forward.

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about,” he said.

  What’s going on? I thought we were friends…

  “Are you going to apologize, good for nothing half-goblin?” He stopped. “Or do I need to pound an apology out of you?”

  John smiled as I reached for my sword.

  “Don’t get carried away,” he said.

  I relaxed as he lowered his hammer.

  “Ain’t no woman worth a friendship,” he said.

  “We don’t want trouble,” I said.

  “It’s all good,” John said. “I was just messing around.”

  “Very funny,” I said. “Your jokes still suck.”

  “Who are these fine people?” John asked.

  He stared up and down Sarah’s elvish frame.

  Benji stepped forward and held out a hand.

  “I’m Benji Bigelow,” he said. “While not officially in their adventuring party, I tag along. Nice to meet you.”

  John nodded, ignoring his hand, as he continued appraising Sarah.

  “And who might you be, beauty of the woods?” he asked.

  Sarah smiled.

  “I’m Kali,” she said.

  John stepped forward, took her hand and kissed the back of it.

  “Alright,” I said. “That’s enough. We need your help.”

  The sweaty, muscled blacksmith stepped back a few paces.

  “What do you need help with this time?” he asked.

  Sarah pulled out the Cursed Pendant of Visions.

  “We need to destroy this,” she said as she held it up.

  John stepped forward, staring at it intently.

  “Why would you want to destroy such a beautiful piece of jewelry?” he asked. “That’s gotta be worth more than this whole town.”

  “It’s cursed,” I said. “Bad magic. We tried destroying it with a metal mace, but we couldn’t even scratch the surface.”

  John grabbed it from Sarah’s hand.

  “We’ll throw it in the furnace,” he said. “Then go celebrate your return. It’ll only take a few minutes to melt it down.”

  He turned then walked back into the smith. We crowded around him as he dropped the cursed pendant into a stone bowl. He picked it up with a pair of metal tongs then winked at Sarah.

  “You came to the right man,” he said.

  She smiled as he walked over to a stone furnace.

  “This will melt down the gold and other precious metals,” he said. “It should destroy the gem too. Stand back.”

  Using the tongs, he placed the stone bowl into the furnace.

  He closed the metal door then said, “Give it a few seconds...”

  “Thanks for helping us,” Sarah said.

  “Anything for a cute elf like you,” he said.<
br />
  She smiled at John as he stood with his hands on his hips.

  I heard a popping noise in the furnace.

  “What’s happening?” I asked.

  John opened the door to the furnace with the tongs then grabbed the stone bowl. I walked up as he pulled it out.

  “Nothing melted,” he said. “What kind of magic is this?”

  “Great job,” I said sarcastically.

  “We’ve got a bigger problem,” Benji said.

  I turned and saw several goblins standing in the doorway. All of them were armed to the teeth and ready to fight.

  “How’d they find us?” Benji asked.

  I shrugged.

  “No telling with that mage,” I said. “But we’re not handing over the cursed pendant.”

  One of the goblins stepped forward with his sword drawn.

  “Hand it over, thief,” he yelled in a weaselly voice.

  John stepped forward, holding his massive hammer.

  “You best get out of here,” he said.

  The goblin raised his sword.

  “On my command,” he shouted. “We’re taking it by force.”

  “Time to party,” I said as I drew my sword.

  Critical Hit!

  Your sword goes through the neck of one goblin then continues through the neck of the other.

  The goblin is dead!

  The goblin is dead!

  “The others are running,” Sarah yelled.

  I stepped over the dead goblins and rushed through the doorway. Two goblin fighters had Jak cornered on a porch across the street.

  Hoping Benji and Sarah could handle the others, I sprinted across the street. Though just an NPC, Jak didn’t deserve to be killed.

  “Why don’t you two hassle someone your own size?” I yelled as I reached the steps leading up to the porch.

  Both green goblinoids peered over their shoulder as I swung.

  Critical Hit!

  Your sword goes through the neck of one goblin then continues through the neck of the other.

  The goblin is dead!

  The goblin is dead!

  Finally, some luck, I thought, smiling at the quick victory.

  Jak burst into tears. I turned and saw him covered in blood.

  “Go hide,” I said. “You’ll be okay.”

  I hoped he listened as I surveyed the battle-field.

  Benji and Sarah had taken out six goblins. Two remained.

  “Die!” I shouted as I ran toward them.

  Benji took off toward them too. The goblins threw down their spears and lifted their arms in sheer terror.

  “Don’t kill us,” one said in broken common.

  “We surrender,” the other added.

  I stopped in front of them, sword still raised.

  “Where’s Snargao?” I asked.

  “I’ll tell you if you don’t kill me,” the smaller one said.

  “Shut up, idiot,” his heftier companion shouted.

  “Cut it out,” Sarah yelled as she walked up. “We’re keeping them alive. I want to interrogate them.”

  Combat is over!

  You get 1,620 xp divided by two party members.

  You get +810 xp (-10%) = 729 xp

  You have 10,094 experience points.

  Welcome to level four, Rogue!

  +16 health for [58/58] total

  * * *

  Your Weapon Craft (Blades) skill has increased to Basic Level 6 of 10

  I wanted to look at my stats so bad.

  “Are you paying attention?” Sarah asked.

  “Yeah...” I said in a distracted voice.

  New stats were nice, but we had things to do.

  I turned to our two goblin captives.

  Who had sent them? And how had they found us?

  Could we get answers out of them?

  21

  A Resource Gathering Side Quest

  SARAH

  I held up both arms, palms out.

  “You better talk,” I said. “Or I’m turning you two into dog food.”

  “Don’t hurt us,” the skinner goblin begged.

  Eric turned to Benji.

  “Can you check on Jak?” he asked.

  “Sure thing, boss,” Benji said.

  I kept my eyes on the trembling goblins.

  “Tell us your names,” I said.

  “We ain’t tellin’ you nothin’,” the heftier one said. “Snargao will come to save us. We ain’t afraid of you. Magictology is where it’s at.”

  I recognized him as the alpha and went after him.

  “Do you want to live?” I asked. “Or do you want a long, slow death?”

  “Hey,” Eric interrupted. “I thought we said no torture.”

  “Maybe I changed my mind,” I muttered.

  “Kali, I’m saddened by your actions.”

  “It’s an act, Charlotte. Good cop and bad cop. Watch.”

  Charlotte quit speaking in my mind as I stared at the goblins. They both flinched when I reached forward to tug on one of their ears.

  “Tell me your names,” I said. “Or I’ll yank it off.”

  “Hey, cut it out, you can’t do that,” the goblin said.

  “My name is Krit,” the other said. “That’s Izz. We’re...”

  “Shut up,” Izz interrupted while slapping him.

  I pulled on his ear.

  “Cut it out,” I said. We need answers.”

  “Yeah,” Eric said. “Where’s Snargao? Tell us, and we’ll let you go.”

  I let go of the goblin’s ear and stalked off, doing my best to look upset.

  After half a minute or so, Eric stepped toward me.

  “Snargao is at the ruins of Esterhollow,” he whispered. “He’s meeting Magi Inyontoo there for some reason. Maybe another assault.”

  “Do you mean the pendant that was supposed to be easy to get and destroy?” I asked.

  Eric grinned.

  “Maybe,” he said. “We’ve still got this.”

  “The goblins are getting away!” I shouted.

  The two of them had took off running.

  Benji brandished his mace.

  “They won’t get away,” he said.

  “No wait,” I said. “We’ve got more important things to do.”

  “Yeah,” Eric added. “Like destroying this stupid pendant.”

  We walked back to the smithy. John came out to meet us.

  “Are you okay, Kali?” he asked.

  “No,” I said. “We need to destroy this pendant before someone steals it from us. It’s destructively powerful. Do you know how we can get rid of it?”

  John thoughtfully stroked his beard.

  “You need Dawn Acid,” he said.

  “Dawn Acid?” I asked.

  “It’s rare,” John said. “But Captain Riggard at Castle Casteel will have the list of ingredients. He used Dawn Acid in the Great Wars. It’s more powerful than any magic item. That’s why it was banned.”

  “Will you come with us?” I asked.

  Having a hunky warrior along would be helpful.

  “That’s not a good idea,” Eric said.

  Benji chimed in with his dissatisfaction.

  “You’re letting him join the party before me?” he asked.

  John chuckled.

  “Guess I’m not as well liked as I thought,” he said. “I’m too busy here to go adventuring. With another war looming, we need all the steel I can make. The time is coming when we’ll need it.”

  “Can you help with some horses?” Eric asked. “Maybe you know anyone with a good deal?”

  “I can lend you three horses,” John said. “Sales have been good. Gold isn’t a problem. Besides, we’ve been friends our whole lives.”

  He turned to me. I got lost in his ocean blue eyes.

  “Be right back,” the hunky blacksmith said.

  After he walked away, I went over to Eric.

  “You’re getting mighty close to him,” he said.

  “He’
s just an NPC,” I said. “It’s not like I can fall in love with him for real or anything.”

  OOC Penalty:

  -10% xp on your next encounter

  Tip: At level five and above, you get xp for good role-playing in Tower of Gates.

  That’s new.

  “Why’d you go OOC?” Eric asked.

  “Come here.” I dragged him away from Benji. “We need to talk. This game is getting to me, and you’re getting too into your character.”

  Eric shook his head.

  “You took an xp hit for that?” he asked.

  “I also just got a note about xp bonuses for good role-playing at level five and above,” I said. “Did you see that too? I’d never seen it before.”

  “No,” he said. “I’ve never seen that message. Maybe the game showed it to you because you lost so many experience points going OOC?”

  “Possibly…” I shrugged. “This game is getting on my nerves, and I needed to talk with you. It helps me remember this is just a game.”

  He nodded, not saying anything.

  “We’re going to get out of here, right?”

  “You’ve got my word on it,” he said.

  “And Josh too…we need to find him soon. He was going to take me to pizza after we helped you into this stupid game. I miss pizza so bad.”

  We stared at each other in silence for a moment.

  “Anything else while we’re OOC?” he asked.

  “We still need to let Benji join the party,” I said. “And how did your leveling go? Did you make it? Looked like you did.”

  Eric’s face lit up.

  “Not getting skill or stat points isn’t the greatest,” he said. “But I’ve got more health. You know the drill.”

  “I’ve been thinking about something,” I said. “You told me the game is meant for parties of six. Maybe we’ll do better in the game if we have that big of a party? Letting Benji join us officially would help.”

  He took a deep breath and glanced over at our faithful priest.

  “Maybe,” he said. “But I want to hog the experience points a bit longer. Is that wrong?”

  “No, I guess not.”

  “Quiet,” Eric said. “Benji’s coming over.”

  “…and that’s why I love horses,” I said then turned. “Oh, hi Benji.”

  “What are you two talking about?” he asked. “Am I getting fired?”