Human: A LitRPG Novel (Tower of Gates LitRPG Series Book 2)

by Paul Bellow

  He shook his head as I took a small sip of the beer to calm my nerves.

  "You're something else, bro. Complicated. I see why Sarah likes you."

  I frowned.

  "Settle down, bro. I've got respect for you now. We need to work together to get out of this game."

  "I agree," I said, not believing the words were coming out of my mouth.

  "And like I said upstairs, getting paralyzed made me realize you must've had it tough."

  "Can you help me with something?" I asked, not accustomed to praise from past rivals.

  "Sure, bro. What's up?"

  The Amulet of the Party around my neck allowed me to speak openly.

  "I'm at basic level ten for single bladed weapons. Can you spar with me for practice?"

  He grinned, nodding his head.

  "Sure, bro. Not a problem."

  Is this a trick? Why can't I trust anyone?

  "Great," I said, standing. "We can go out around back. It shouldn't take long."

  He drained the rest of his pitcher then got to his feet.

  "What happens when you go past level ten of ten? That doesn't even make sense."

  "There's ten basic levels. After that, it goes to advanced levels."

  Josh grinned, his long, frightening teeth doing their job.

  We left the tavern and walked around back of the building.

  "Can you use your sword and not the club?" I asked.

  "Sure, bro, but hold on. Come here."

  He ducked further behind the tavern building. I walked over and joined him on a small tuft of grass. The smell of manure filled the air.

  Sword gripped in his right hand, he put his left on my shoulder. The half-orc hewn barbarian towered over me. Did he know his own strength? I wondered as he squeezed tightly.

  "I was going to kill you," he said in a low voice.

  Our eyes met. Neither of us looked away.

  "Yeah? But you're not now?" I asked.

  "No, bro." The smile returned to his face. "We're in this together. I realized so much today with the time to sit back and think."

  "What are the odds the mage would have a wand of paralysis?" I asked then grinned.

  "I don't know," he said. "Does that Magi Inyontoo dude know you?"

  "What do you mean?" I asked, my left eyebrow raised.

  "I mean does he know you're paralyzed in the real world."

  "Oh..." I stepped back. His hand dropped away. "Probably not?"

  "Seems like too big of a coincidence. Maybe he's a programmer or something and he has special powers? Our brains are hooked up to the computer."

  Anger flashed over his face.

  "Maybe I should kill you once to let you feel what it's like."

  I drew my sword, not about to let a newbie barbarian take me down.

  They were the easiest class to play, but I could take him without a problem.

  "We're gonna have fun, are we?" I asked, getting into my offensive stance.

  He laughed as he stretched his arms and legs. I watched him closely as he motioned for me to come forward with one hand while holding the sword in his other

  "Come and get some, cripple."

  Rage filled my entire being.

  I raised my sword to attack. Before I brought it down, a bell rang in the distance. Screams of men and women filled the air. We both stopped then turned and walked around to the side of the building.

  People were running toward the center of the city with panicked faces.

  "What's going on?" I asked.

  "Let's go find out," Josh said, walking toward the front of the tavern.

  "We should check on Sarah and the others," I said.

  He ignored me and walked into the street, grabbing a poor gnomish farmer.

  "What's going on?" he asked in a thunderous tone.

  "The hill giants are attacking because the stone giant is dead, you big, ugly moron. You killing the stone giant will get us all killed. We hate you!"

  As Josh raised his club in anger, I dashed over.

  "Stop," I said. "Sarah needs us."

  The gnome broke away and ran around Josh.

  "Get in here," Axelrod yelled from the door to the tavern.

  I walked over, followed by Josh. People continued streaming by, screaming with high, shrill voices.

  "What's going on?" Axelrod asked, battle-axe gripped by both his hands.

  "The hill giants," I said. "They must've heard about the stone giant's death."

  "Hill giants?" Axelrod snorted. "A hill giant or two ain't no problem for our party."

  Sarah, Ryu, Sheldon, Ewen and Evan walked out of the empty tavern.

  "I don't think a couple hill giants would cause this much panic," Sarah said.

  "Yeah," I agreed. "We should get out of the city and head back to the mines."

  "We're staying," Axelrod said. "If we run away now, we'll never be able to show our faces in Westwood again. Our names will go down in history and affect us on other levels."

  Before anyone complained, a dozen scraggly looking hill giants at least eight-feet tall sauntered down the street toward us.

  Four wolves as big as small horses walked with them, sniffing the air. One howled and turned its snout toward our group in front of the tavern.

  "That's them," the tallest hill-giant yelled, pointing a massive finger in our direction. "Get them!"

  "Battle positions," Axelrod yelled then ran forward with his battle-axe at the ready.

  Josh, Bernard and Ewen took off after him, ready to meet the band of hill giants head-on.

  "Come on," I said, grabbing Evan's arm as I ran across the road and into the shop on the other side.

  "Get out here," a hill giant bellowed then kicked in the door.

  I heard screams outside as Evan and I ran past a confused shopkeeper and up a set of stairs in the back. On the second floor, I scanned the ceiling for access to the roof.

  "There," Evan said, pointing to a door at the end of a hallway.

  After running over, I opened it and saw a ladder inside.

  "Brilliant," I said, looking down at Evan.

  As always, he smiled back at me.

  The yells and explosions continued outside as I climbed the ladder.

  "What's the plan?" Evan asked from below me.

  "Plan? We don't need a plan," I said.

  Emerging on the flat roof, I saw three thick plumes of black smoke rising in the air. Evan followed as I ran to the edge and peered over.

  Six of the hill giants had fallen, along with two wolves, but the others weren't looking well. I watched as Ryu ran to Axelrod and laid his hands on him, sparking life back into the dwarf.

  Sarah and Sheldon were standing near the tavern entrance, hitting the hill giants with golden bolts, lava discs, and a few things I'd never seen before. She was about to become powerful.

  "We need to take out the leader," I said. "The others can worry about the rest."

  "The super big one?" Evan asked, a hint of fear in voice.

  "Yup. The bigger they are, the harder they fall."

  "I don't know if I believe that," Evan said.

  "Here's the plan, little man. You throw your dagger at him from down below to get his attention. When he comes over here, I'll leap up on the wall then pounce on him with my sword.

  "That sounds dangerous," Evan said. "For both of us."

  "It will be, but we've got no choice. Are you up for it?"

  "Anything for Sarah," he said then ran toward the hole in the roof and the ladder leading down.

  While waiting for him to distract the hill giant and get him close enough for me to back stab him from above, I took deep breaths to ready myself. One false move, and I might end up dead myself.

  "Over here, big bozo," Evan called from below.

  I peered over the wall running around the roof and saw the hill giant leader peer in our direction. The sunlight hit the blade of Evan's new magic dagger as it sailed through the air.

  When it landed in one of
the hill giant's eyes, my own eyes opened wider in shock. The hill giant cursed as he pulled the dagger out. One hand over the wound, he bellowed, "You're dead, brownie."

  Thanks to the new ring of spider climbing I'd claimed from the stone giant's treasure hoard, I easily slipped over the wall and climbed down to the side of the building.

  I hoped Evan had been smart enough to run back inside as I walked around the corner. The hill giant was on his knees in front of the shop, reaching his hand in the door as he screamed.

  "Come out now, stupid brownie. You'll make a good snack before dinner."

  As he occupied himself like a cat clawing for the tiny mouse in a hole, I crept forward with my sword drawn. Just a bit further. My heat beat faster as I neared the hill giant.

  The battle raged on in middle of the street as I reached the leader and plunged my sword into the back of its neck. Blood spurted out, raining down like red raindrops.

  Your back stab DECIMATES the hill giant leader for 35 damage.

  The hill giant leader is feeling the pain.

  I stepped back, my sword red with giant-blood.

  "You little..."

  The hill giant roared as it stood and turned. I swung again.

  You slash WOUNDS the hill giant leader for 17 damage.

  The hill giant leader has noticed you!

  He staggered, almost collapsing, before pulling a giant dagger and thrusting it toward me.

  I dodged to the left then stabbed again, aiming for his already bleeding neck.

  Your pierce INJURES the hill giant leader for 12 damage.

  The hill giant leader is dead!

  I didn't have time to congratulate myself before a dire wolf ran up behind me.

  The dire wolf's bite HITS you for 9 damage.

  You have 95/104 health remaining.

  You have lost your balance.

  The dire wolf looks ready to rumble.

  I fell backward, the panting wolf standing with its front paws on my chest.

  This is gonna hurt, I thought as the wolf bit my neck.

  The dire wolf's bite INJURES you for 12 damage.

  You have 83/104 health remaining.

  I struggled to bring my sword up and attack. Evan screamed and ran out of the shop holding two large slabs of meat. He threw them over me and the wolf. They landed a few feet away.

  The dire wolf glanced from me to the meat then backed off. I had enough time to leap to my feet and bring my sword down in a graceful arc.

  Your pierce INJURES the dire wolf for 12 damage.

  The fur-covered creature yelped then turned, its eyes gleaming fiercely.

  A half-dozen golden bolts shot into the wolf's body, causing it to drop to the ground.

  I turned and saw Sarah and Sheldon on the other side of the road in front of the tavern. He smiled and waved. Sarah tapped him on the arm and pointed to the two remaining hill giants.

  Where's Bernard? I thought as I scanned the road.

  His body sat motionless on top of one dead hill giants.

  Axelrod and Josh were both still standing, but they had seen better days.

  "Evan, go protect Sarah," I said then ran into the road. "Over here, beasts."

  The two hill giants turned their attention from Axelrod and Josh to me.

  I screamed bloody murder and ran forward, not missing a beat.

  Your slash INJURES the hill giant for 14 damage.

  As the hill giants concentrated on me, Ryu rushed over to heal Axelrod and Josh.

  "Get Bernard," I yelled as two giant clubs hit me.

  The hill giant's bash WOUNDS you for 17 damage.

  The hill giant's bash MAULS you for 21 damage.

  You have 45/104 health remaining.

  Ouch. I fought through the pain and pierced the same hill giant I'd hit before.

  Your slash WOUNDS the hill giant for 16 damage.

  "Over here, oafs," Axelrod called out from behind them.

  Josh yelled and ran forward, bringing his club down on the one who had taken no damage.

  "We got this," I yelled, striking again.

  Your slash INJURES the hill giant for 12 damage.

  The hill giants glanced around at their fallen companions then took off running toward the edge of the city. Axelrod and Josh rushed after them.

  Combat is Over!

  You get 37,000 xp divided by 9 party members.

  You get 4,111 xp

  You have 49,414 xp

  You need 1,586 xp for Level 8 Rogue -> Bounty Hunter

  I took a deep breath, feeling lightheaded and about to pass out. And pleased I was about to level at the rate we were going with encounters and experience points.

  "Everyone okay?" I yelled.

  Sarah and Sheldon walked over.

  "I'm tapped out, but we're fine," she said. "Are you okay?"

  "I'm down more than half my health, but I'll be okay. What happened to Bernard?"

  "He got hit hard," she said. "I thought Sheldon was protecting him with golden bolts."

  She turned to the attorney turned mage. He frowned and lowered his head.

  "Ryu, what's going on with Bernard?" I asked.

  Our new cleric wandered over.

  "Who?"

  "Bernard, our original cleric," I said, pointing to his body on the chest of one of the hill giants.

  "Oh, him," Ryu said. "He was a cleric?"

  "It's a long story," I said. "Why aren't you helping him?"

  "Um, I'm tapped out," he said, shrugging. "Sorry."

  I pushed him out of the way and ran over to Bernard.

  "Can you use his wand?" I asked as Sarah walked up.

  "Yeah," she said, taking it from his belt. "If it's charged up."

  "There's gnome guards coming," Ewen said.

  I turned and saw a couple dozen gnomes in full battle-armor marching toward us.

  "What's all this about?" I asked.

  Axelrod and Josh walked up as the gnomes reached the site of the battle.

  "Did you get them?" I asked, not taking my eyes off the gnomes.

  "They got away," Axelrod said.

  A gnome in glowing, golden plate armor stepped forward.

  "You're the ones, aren't you?" he asked.

  "The ones that defeated nearly a dozen hill giants?" Axelrod rested his hands on his axe handle. "You here to thank us?"

  "You're the reason the hill giants attacked Westwood," the gnome said in a steady tone. "Defeating the stone giant has disrupted the balance of power in the area."

  "We did good," Josh said. "They're almost all dead."

  The gnome leader shook his head.

  "We killed a few dozen here today in Westwood, but more will be coming, not to mention their other relatives."

  "Other relatives?" I asked naively.

  "The other giants," the gnome leader hissed. "Your party is hereby banished from Westwood. If you cause trouble or refuse to leave, we'll be forced to imprison you as a bargaining chip when the giants return."

  "You're crazy," Axelrod said, lips pressed tightly together as he shook his head.

  "No," the gnome said. "You're the crazy ones for wanting to open the Mines of Oriam."

  Axelrod lifted his battle-axe and held it with both hands.

  "We're not far off, you and I," he said.

  "I have nothing against dwarves," the golden gnome leader said. "But your party must go."

  "He's alive," Sarah said behind me.

  I turned and saw Bernard sitting up.

  "Give us two hours to rest up and gather our belongings," Axelrod said.

  "You have until morning."

  The gnome leader turned and walked away.

  Ryu snorted, "You're going to let a gnome get away with that insolence?"

  "We don't need to start a war," Axelrod said. "Our business in Westwood is done anyway. It's time to hunt down the black dragon and kill it."

  "Maybe the dragon will kill you," Ryu said.

  I shook my head then walked over to Sarah and
Bernard. What a pessimist.

  "You doing okay, buddy?" I asked.

  He took a deep breath.

  "Barely. Ryu kept running past, not healing me."

  I glanced over at our new party member.

  Did we have another mole in our midst?

  "Pack up the wagon," Axelrod yelled. "We're leaving tonight."

  Instead of asking why we didn't take the night to rest in the city before leaving, I helped the others load the wagon and kept my thoughts to myself.

  They'd wanted Axelrod in charge. When things went horribly wrong, it would be on his head, not mine. Somehow, that fact didn't make me feel better.

  ()xxxx[:::: Chapter 14 ::::>

  A Giant by Any Other Name

  ERIC

  We ended up buying a second wagon before heading south. Our eventual destination would be the mountains to the east. With so many hill giants running around, we'd decided to take the long way.

  Sarah, Bernard, Evan and I were in one wagon. I sat next to her on the front bench, holding the reins as she gazed out at the setting sun. Brilliant streaks of colors washed together poetically.

  "It's so beautiful here," she said. "In the game."

  "Yeah," I said, not knowing what to add.

  The two horses in front of our wagon trotted down the dusty dirt road in the middle of two fields.

  "Eventually this'll be the Four Wizards' land," I said to make conversation.

  She glanced over at me, blinking rapidly.

  "You okay?" I asked.

  "I'm fine," she said then sighed.

  As I looked down the road, she turned to take in the natural wonder in the sky to our left. The wagon hit a ditch in the road. She scooted over, her body pressed against mine.

  "Sorry," she said then moved away.

  "You're fine."

  Anytime, I thought.

  "Do you think we have a chance of finishing this quest?" she asked.

  "Yeah. Don't you?"

  "I'm tired of this game, Eric."

  "Try being here for twenty-plus years," Bernard called from the back.

  "We'll find our way out," I said. "Maybe you'll create a magic item that can eject us from the game."

  "Yeah, maybe..."

  Her voice didn't sound convincing.