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

by Paul Bellow

  A barely-clothed female wizard wore a glowing amulet.

  He’s not that dumb.

  I walked over and found a hidden switch.

  I pressed it. A portion of the stone wall popped out and slid upward. I saw a gold chain with a deep black stone embedded on it—the same one in the painting.

  Maybe this is it.

  I grabbed it and slipped it on.

  A jolt of energy shot through my body as every muscle clenched simultaneously.

  I saw a vision.

  The mage in black stood over Sarah’s body. She wasn’t moving. I yanked it away from my neck.

  My head suddenly throbbed.

  What was that?

  I stared at the strange necklace pendant.

  This must be the Cursed Pendant of Visions. Now I know how it got its name.

  I stuffed it into a smaller pouch tied to my belt.

  Does he have anything else worth stealing?

  I shut the compartment door then turned around.

  What’s that on the desk?

  I stepped over and saw a metal quill and a pot of ink.

  Maybe I should leave this punk a message to leave us alone.

  I grabbed the quill, dipped it into the ink, then walked to the nearest painting. Snickering, I added a mustache to the half-clothed woman. When I finished defacing the five paintings in his secret room, I grabbed my backpack then walked through the hidden doorway.

  Anything else I can do to get him upset and not think right?

  I glanced around the room. The gnome painting already had a mustache, so I dropped the quill on the floor. Its sharp tip stuck into the wood.

  An idea popped in my head.

  I smiled and pulled out a piece of flint. A fire will destroy some of his magic books and cause a distraction for us to escape—I reasoned.

  I settled on a bookshelf with loose scrolls stacked high on the shelves. As I walked toward it, I heard voices below me.

  I bolted toward the window, putting away the dagger and flint. The hatch on the floor opened just as I slipped outside to the window ledge.

  “Why is this window open?” the mage yelled.

  I scurried down the side of the tower, hoping I’d make it to the bottom before he saw me.

  Every few feet of my descent, I glanced up.

  The third time checking, I saw him leaning out the window.

  “You’re a dirty thief,” he screamed.

  Rogue, I corrected in my mind as I kept scurrying down; pushing my skills and the Ring of Spider Climbing to their limits.

  “Lightning bolt, lightning bolt, lightning bolt...” the mage yelled.

  Uh oh...

  Three electricity bolts whizzed toward me.

  I lost my grip and slipped.

  Your Climbing skill has increased!

  You are now Advanced Level 1 of 5.

  By making a mistake, you’ve increased your climbing skill.

  Ugh. I sighed as I fell.

  What a way to go.

  Here lies Drex—crushed to death on level one.

  19

  Let’s Destroy the Pendant Now

  SARAH

  After Eric crept up the stairs, getting way into his character, I turned to look at the piles of ear wax covering the floor of the cavern.

  “We should start working on this.”

  Benji bent down and poked the tip of his index finger into one of the piles.

  “I wonder why they said not to eat it. Do you think it could give us magical powers?”

  “Don’t you dare try it,” I said. “Follow me. We’re not cleaning this up.”

  Benji straightened, a goofy goblin smile on his face.

  “Where are we going?” he asked.

  “To save Drex,” I said. “He’ll probably need it.”

  “Be careful, Kali. I’m here for you.”

  “Thanks, Charlotte.”

  I walked toward the stone stairs leading up.

  “Let’s go, Benji…” I said over my shoulder.

  He paused then asked, “Should I...you know...maybe stay back here and guard our rear? I can. Not a problem for me.”

  I stopped and turned.

  “No,” I said. “We need to stick together.”

  “Okay,” he replied in an unconvincing tone.

  “We’ll be fine,” I said. “Charlotte will scout ahead for us.”

  I stopped and crouched down at the stairs.

  “Let me know what you see, Charlotte.”

  “Yes, Kali. I’ll be more careful this time. Can you put me down?”

  I stretched out my arm. She crawled off then headed up the stairs.

  As she climbed, I checked my mana.

  Ugh. Still low.

  I turned to Benji.

  “Give me the Potion of the Magi from Snargao’s lair,” I said.

  He reached into his bag. After pulling it out, he handed it to me.

  I uncorked it and put the thick, glass bottle to my parched lips.

  The mixture tasted like licorice with a hint of red pepper.

  Yuck.

  You feel energized.

  You have [64/64] mana remaining.

  “Feel better?” Benji asked.

  I nodded and held up my index finger.

  “Anything, Charlotte?”

  “I’m nearly at the top, Kali. There’s a room with wooden doors and a spiral staircase leading up. They’re massive. I see the mage who attacked you. They’re going back up the stairs.”

  “Okay, we’re coming up. Wait for me.”

  I turned to Benji and motioned with a nod of my head.

  “Let’s go.”

  He followed me over to the stone stairs. As I climbed, I got a little more lost in my character. The tiny details made all the difference.

  I stopped at the top of the stairs and let Charlotte crawl back up my arm to my shoulder. Benji spun around, taking in the round room.

  Everything looked as my familiar-scout had described.

  Where would Eric go? Upstairs was to too risky.

  Maybe there’s a door outside?

  I walked over to the first of the two wooden doors.

  “Hold on,” Benji said. “Let me check for traps.”

  “You have a priest spell to check for traps?” I asked.

  “No, no…” He smiled. “Just a skill I picked up in my ministry work.”

  I narrowed my eyes as I studied his face.

  “Okay,” I said, not noticing any deception. “Good idea.”

  Still smiling, he walked past me and ran his fingers around the door frame. I turned to watch the spiral staircase leading up.

  “No traps,” Benji said. “Should I open it?”

  “Go for it,” I said. “But be careful.”

  He opened the door. We both saw the inside of a closet.

  “Ooh, a sword,” he said, ducking in and grabbing it. “I can’t use it, but maybe Drex will want it.”

  “Take it,” I said. “You’re acting more like a rogue every day.”

  His smile faded for a moment but quickly returned.

  “Let me check the next door,” he said. “Maybe we’ll find something for us to keep. Nothing like a little extra treasure.”

  He checked the second door as thoroughly as he had the first. I nodded my head after he finished.

  He opened another. I saw a ledge and sky on the other side.

  “Nothing,” he said, closing the door.

  “Wait,” I said, stepping toward him. “We should see if there’s another route of escape.”

  “I don’t think we’re getting down the side of the mountain,” Benji said.

  “No, but we can check,” I said. “You never know. Maybe there’s an elevator or something. Who knows?”

  I opened the door then stepped through. He followed, closing it behind him. We both walked toward the edge of the cliff.

  The City of Mednia appeared in the distance.

  “We’re high up,” Benji said. “I don’t see a
way down.”

  “Kali,” Charlotte said. “I see something.”

  “What is it?”

  “Turn around,”she said.

  I slowly turned, but saw nothing.

  “What is it? I don’t have time for games.”

  “Look up,” Charlotte said.

  I tilted my head and saw someone climbing down the tower.

  “That’s Eric,” I said, nudging Benji. “He’s nuts.”

  “Where?” Benji turned and looked up. “Oh…wow. That’s high.”

  “It’s not low,” I said. “He’s climbing fast, but he should be okay.”

  “Not with Magi Inyontoo about to cast a spell,” Benji said.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “That mage in black. His name is Magi Inyontoo, and he’s a bad dude. We should’ve never messed with him.”

  I looked up higher. “Oh, no…”

  “Yeah,” Benji said.

  I watched in horror as Magi Inyontoo shot three lightning bolts at Eric. They missed my favorite rogue, but he slipped and fell down.

  Time to save him again.

  I took two steps forward then cast Ladder of Dwarven Earth with enough mana to build a decent sized ramp.

  Can I help manage his fall with my magic?

  You cast Ladder of Dwarven Earth for 36 mana points!

  You have [28/64] mana remaining.

  With a bit of luck, he’d hit the ramp and slide down instead of going splat on the stone ledge.

  This better work.

  I kept staring.

  Eric hit the ramp perfectly, rolling and tumbling as he slowed his descent. I rushed over to the end of the ramp.

  Was he going to slide over the edge of the cliff?

  Benji followed me. We both stopped as Eric laid on his back—not moving.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  Eric sat up and burst into laughter.

  “That was intense,” he said. “Can I ride again?”

  I smiled, glad he was okay.

  “Did you find the pendant?” I asked.

  “I need you to check it,” he said. “But I think so. Got a few others too.”

  “Good job,” I said. “We need to go.”

  “Already ahead of you,” Benji said from the door of the tower.

  “Thanks for the save,” Eric said.

  “You’ll do the same for me if I need it,” I replied.

  We both ran toward the door.

  “That ramp ate up a lot of mana,” I said.

  “I think I might’ve ticked off that mage,” Eric said.

  “Benji told me his name is Magi Inyontoo,” I said.

  We stopped in front of the door. Eric grinned.

  “Oh, I might’ve left a bit of graffiti in his secret room,” he said. “It was pretty hilarious, actually. He has these…”

  “We don’t have time,” I said. “They’re coming back down. We need to get into the basement and escape back to Snargao’s lair. It’s the only way down the mountain.”

  “Only safe way down,” Benji corrected as he held the door.

  Eric went through. I followed with Benji close behind. We left the door to the outside open, hoping it confused Magi Inyontoo.

  None of us spoke as we can across the stone floor inside the tower. At the stairs, I grabbed the wooden rail and rushed down.

  Benji and Eric kept up with me. When I hit the cavern at the bottom of the stairs, I ran toward the tunnel we’d come through originally.

  Eric glanced over his shoulder.

  “I don’t see them,” he said. “But they can’t be far behind. I almost started a fire in his secret room, but I didn’t have the time.”

  Benji ran to the left of Eric and me.

  “Over here,” he shouted. “That’s not the right tunnel.”

  I slowed down to a jog, pretty sure about my judgement.

  “Don’t’ think so,” I said. “We came in through this one.”

  “I counted them,” Benji said. “This is the right one.”

  He stopped, pointing at a tunnel leading away from the cavern.

  “We don’t have time for this,” Eric said as he stopped.

  “Benji is correct,” Charlotte said.

  “Are you sure? This is a big deal.”

  “I’m sure, Kali. You can trust me.”

  “Benji’s right,” I said. “Follow him.”

  We ran into the side tunnel. I remembered the narrow width as we struggled toward Snargao’s lair in a single file line. The maze of twisty passages didn’t give us as much trouble on the way back.

  Eric led the way with me behind him.

  “I don’t hear anyone,” Benji said behind me.

  “Keep moving,” Eric said. “We’ve got the pendant.”

  I smiled at the thought of completing our quest. Once we finished it, we could go back to the Tower of Gates. And maybe out of the game.

  Well, after we found Josh. He flashed through my mind as I saw the end of the tunnel approaching. Eric stopped in Snargao’s room.

  “I hate tunnels,” Benji said.

  We both entered Snargao’s secret workspace.

  “Let’s block the entrance to the tunnel,” Eric said. “Maybe it’ll slow them down.”

  “Good idea, boss,” Benji said.

  He walked up to the stone altar in the center of the room.

  “This isn’t bolted to the ground,” he said.

  Eric moved behind the big block of stone. As he and Benji pushed it toward the tunnel entrance, I glanced around.

  “Burn the rest of it,” Eric said.

  “What if there’s magic?” I asked.

  He grunted as he continued moving the altar.

  “Too bad,” he said. “We don’t have time.”

  “He’s right, Kali,”Charlotte added.

  I sighed then pulled out my flint.

  “They want a fire,” I mumbled. “They’re gonna get a fire.”

  I flicked the flint and sparks flew into a pile of scrolls. They burst into flames as if they’d been written with flammable ink.

  “Hold on,” Eric shouted.

  “Let’s go,” I said then walked out of the room.

  The other two followed me for once. We entered another maze of twisty passages as we worked our way to the entrance.

  “I don’t see any sign of Leroy or Thrukad,” Benji said as we walked.

  “Good,” Eric said. “We never should’ve hired those two.”

  I kept walking, wondering if we’d gotten away.

  Could we destroy the cursed pendant?

  “You got this,”Charlotte said.

  I smiled, spurred on by my familiar.

  When we emerged from the maze, the smell of flowers hit my nose.

  “Hold on, a minute,” Eric said. “Maybe we should destroy the pendant now. Why wait and give him a chance to get it back?”

  “Good idea,” I said, holding out my hand. “Where is it?”

  Eric pulled a marvelous gold chain out of a pouch at his side. I lusted after the beauty as he handed it to me. A burst of energy shot through me when I touched the magic item.

  “Maybe I should try it out myself.”

  “Do not put that on, Kali.”

  “Why not?”I asked.

  “It will destroy your mind,”Charlotte answered.

  “You didn’t put this on, did you, Drex?” I asked.

  Eric nodded then said, “Yeah, why? For just a minute.”

  “Ugh,” I sighed. “Don’t worry about it. We’re about to clear this level.”

  OOC Penalty

  -10% xp on your next encounter.

  “Think I care?” I yelled as I set the pendant down on the stone floor. “Give me your mace, Benji.”

  He handed it to me then stepped back. I dropped the pendant on the stone floor. When I slammed the mace onto it, the weapon ricocheted off.

  “Need help?” Eric asked.

  I turned, not liking his smug expression.

>   “Just so you know,” Benji said. “That’s my only mace, and I can’t afford a new one on my current salary.”

  I handed the mace to Eric.

  “You try, big guy,” I said.

  He lifted the weapon in the air then brought it down.

  Once again, the mace bounced off harmlessly.

  “Maybe we need a magic weapon,” Eric said.

  “That reminds me,” Benji said. “We found a new sword for you. I don’t think it’s magic, but it’s better than your dull one.”

  “Sweet,” Eric said as Benji took it out. “Thanks, man.”

  Benji beamed and handed him the sword; Eric weighed it in his hand.

  I picked up the pendant.

  “We should keep going,” I said. “They’re probably forming a posse to come get us. I bet he has magic to find us wherever we go. We can figure out how to destroy it later after we’re safe.”

  “I say we go to Harrisburg,” Eric said. “I know a blacksmith who can melt it down for us. Shouldn’t cost a lot of gold.”

  “That’s fine with me.” I tucked the pendant into my sack. “Lead the way, master tracker.”

  Eric smiled then walked out of the cave. Benji and I followed.

  “At least we smell good,” our priest said.

  I chuckled, loving how he always looked at the bright side.

  We quieted down as we approached the steep cliff. Our cart and mule on the bottom held all our supplies. I stopped at the edge.

  Benji whistled and shook his head.

  “Long way down,” he said.

  I glanced behind us.

  “Still nobody chasing us,” I said. “Maybe I should cancel the illusion spell. He might not even know it was us who stole the pendant.”

  “Good thinking,” Eric said.

  I dispelled the illusion.

  “Would’ve been useful to have that permanently in my spell book,” I said. “But that scroll sure came in handy.”

  “Can you cast that Dwarven Earth spell?” Benji asked.

  “Not enough mana,” I said, staring over the side.

  “Don’t worry,” Eric said. “I’ll climb down then toss up my ring. Just promise you’ll give it back when you get down to the bottom.”

  “Settle down, Smeagol.” I grinned. “You’ll get your precious back.”