Hate: A LitRPG Novel (Tower of Gates Book 2) Read online

  Hate

  Tower Of Gates: Book 2

  Paul Bellow

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1 - Old Friends and New Enemies

  Chapter 2 - On the Road to Fort Bliss

  Chapter 3 - More Like Sylvar the Stupid

  Chapter 4 - Two Wizards Walk into a Bar

  Chapter 5 - Grisly Grizzly Gang Attacks

  Chapter 6 - Time to Use Summon Monster

  Chapter 7 - There’s No Place Like Gnome

  Chapter 8 - Never Trust a Ranger Weasel

  Chapter 9 - Off to See the Four Wizards

  Chapter 10 - Bringing Out Their Evil Dead

  Chapter 11 - Inconceivably Botched Ambush

  Chapter 12 - That Dawn Acid is Dangerous

  Chapter 13 - CUT SCENE: I’ll Take Nerds Over Crazy

  Chapter 14 - Entering the Forbidden Kingdom

  Chapter 15 - We Should Probably Leave Now

  Chapter 16 - Goblin-Style Soup for the Soul

  Chapter 17 - Back on the Road Again

  Chapter 18 - Escape is a Bittersweet Word

  Chapter 19 - Are You Two Following Us?

  Chapter 20 - His Armor Sure Looks Familiar

  Chapter 21 - Think This Happens Every Day?

  Chapter 22 - Preparing for Chong Monastery

  Chapter 23 - Sometimes You Just Get Lucky

  Chapter 24 - He’s Not Your Real Father

  Chapter 25 - He’s Not Your Real Father

  Epilogue

  Glossary

  Tower of Gates Saga

  Tower of Gates Supplemental Adventures

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  Prologue

  I stood next to Ted in the lobby of the Eagle Hotel in downtown Seattle, waiting for someone from the NSA to arrive. The government wanted our technology for prisoners of war, political dissidents, and anyone else on their shit list at the time.

  “He’s coming,” Ted said. “You hear me, James?”

  “I hear you loud and clear,” I muttered.

  The butterflies in my stomach flew around at full speed as the agent approached us. He smiled and held out his hand.

  “Mr. Harris.” He shook my hand. “And Mr. Robertson.”

  Ted smiled, violently shaking the other man’s hand in some weird sort of power struggle.

  I need to tell him the truth. Tonight.

  “You can call me John,” the agent said. “What’s a guy gotta do to get a drink around here?”

  “Right this way,” Ted said then slapped him on the back.

  Both men turned and sauntered toward the hotel bar. I followed a few steps behind, working up the courage to tell the truth. The decision to upload the emotion module for HATE hadn’t been mine. In fact, I’d fought against it until they went through with it.

  Eric wanted to play the game, but I could never let him.

  Not after what had happened with the AI. We had to destroy the machines.

  I hated the thought of losing people connected to the abomination of desolation, but we had to do it if we wanted to save humanity. All flesh would be wiped out unless we sacrificed those who were already plugged into the Tower of Gates.

  I glanced up and noticed we’d stopped.

  “You okay, buddy?” Ted asked then laughed nervously. “He’s been putting in the hours lately.”

  “No offense,” John said. “But I don’t care about him. Let’s have a few drinks and see where the night takes us.”

  A drink or two of liquid courage might help.

  I followed the two across the lounge to the actual bar.

  “Three scotch,” John said.

  A robotic bartender bounded around, mixing our drinks as we sat down on the leather topped stools in front of the wooden bar.

  “What’s the status of the prisoners?” John asked. “Any of them crack yet? I’d like to bring my boss some good news.”

  “Not yet,” Ted said, failing to mention the problems.

  Did he think we could hide the singularity forever?

  A machine had become sentient—the news would get out eventually.

  The robo-tender returned with our drinks. I stared at my glass while the two drank theirs.

  This is it.

  “We need to talk, John,” I said.

  Ted’s head whipped around, his eyes open wide.

  “About what?” John, the NSA agent, asked.

  “Our companions,” Ted said before I could speak. “We need to go get our company for the night. Can this wait, James?”

  Ted narrowed his eyes as he looked into mine quite warningly.

  Admitting you allowed the singularity to happen after so many laws had been passed to stop it—wasn’t easy. Not in the least.

  “Sure,” I said.“Sounds good to me,” John said. “The flight out here was rough. I’m ready to relax and enjoy the freedoms of Washington State.”

  “We have a lot of them,” Ted said, smiling.

  I reached over and grabbed the glass full of whiskey on the bar.

  Without thinking, I drank it all down.

  Ted and John stood as a pleasant warmth rushed through my body. I’d tell him in a little bit. Eric could take care of himself.

  After so many nights of worrying, it might be good for me to enjoy myself. The end of the world could wait a few hours.

  “You coming, James?” Ted asked.

  I stood then followed the other two back to the lobby of the hotel.

  Could we stop the singularity after it happened?

  Thoughts of the Tower of Gates filled my mind as we reached a four-seat drone parked behind the building.

  John opened a door and got in.

  “Give me a second,” Ted said.

  “Don’t take too long,” the spook replied.

  Ted laughed along with him then shut the door.

  “We need to tell him the truth,” I said.

  “Not until we find a solution.” Ted shook his head. “Are you nuts? If we tell them now, they’ll just demand we turn it off before whatever we created gets off the isolated network we built for it. You know what would happen if it escaped. Not to mention we’d kill a lot of innocent people.”

  “They’re prisoners,” I said, “who signed up for the Tower of Gates. They’re not exactly innocent people.”

  “Wow.”

  Ted glanced over at the drone then back to me. “I knew you’re a cold man, but I didn’t think you were heartless.”

  “I’m just being practical,” I admitted.

  He sighed and said, “Let’s go have a few drinks, talk to a few beautiful women, and get John’s mind off the project, okay? Can you do that for me?”

  An image of Rebeccah—Eric’s dead mother, flashed in my mind. I winced; I still haven’t fully adjusted to her absence in the world.

  Ted opened the door and climbed in the drone. I did the same, but my heart wasn’t in it.

  The others laughed as we rose into the air.

  I glanced out the side window, watching the buildings and lights as we flew north toward the first official Pleasure City in America. The government wanted to use the Tower of Gates AI on other projects like keeping the restless and unemployed population happy.

  Robots had taken so many jobs over the last ten years, but that was the least of our problems.

  Elon Musk had been right in fearing AI.

  We’d summoned a demon we could no longer control.

  John and Ted talked and laughed, as I continued justifying my recent actions.

  1

  Old Friends and New Enemies

  Eric

  * * *

 
With three horses pulling the wagon, we made good time toward Castle Casteel. Halfway to our destination, I noticed two short figures standing by the side of the road. One waved happily. Neither stopped smiling.

  I pulled on the reins to slow our horses.

  “Whoa,” I said as the wagon stopped.

  The two brownies stepped forward.

  “We’ve got company,” I said, keeping an eye on them.

  Sarah leaned forward.

  “Evan?” she asked. “Is that you?”

  “Kali,” the skinnier brownie said as he ran over.

  I tossed the reins to Bernard—a.k.a. Benji—and jumped off the wagon.

  “What do you want?” I asked as I grasped my new scimitar.

  “Settle down,” Sarah said. “I know them.”

  “You know them?” I asked.

  She nodded and said, “Yes. Don’t you remember the brownies from when we first met? That one is Ewen. And that is Evan.”

  “The poison had me thinking they were a hallucination,” I said.

  Sarah shook her head as I sheathed my blade.

  The first brownie reached the wagon. I averted my eyes to avoid his smile.

  The brownies cautiously stepped closer.

  “Don’t trust her, Bozo,” Ewen said. “She’s the reason we had to leave Fishguard.”

  “No,” Evan said. “You’re the reason. And I’m not the bozo. You’re the dimwit. That’s the way it’s always been and will be.”

  The other brownie rushed toward Sarah and Evan.

  I stepped in front of him, blocking his way.

  “Slow down, little man,” I said.

  He stopped, still smiling.

  “I’m big for a brownie,” he said. “Now let me pass.”

  “No fighting your friends,” I said.

  Sarah stepped over and put her hand on my shoulder.

  “They were one of the first quests I completed before meeting you,” she said. “And they helped save you back in Fishguard.”

  Had they been player characters turned into NPCs, or were they computer controlled?

  I was constantly second guessing myself.

  “Never trust a brownie,” Bernard called from the wagon. “We should get going. I’ve got a bad feeling.”

  “That’s probably because you over-ate this morning,” I quipped.

  Bernard grinned as Sarah turned to the brownies.

  “Where are you two going?” she asked. “Did something happen in Fishguard? Why are you all the way up here?”

  “You bet something happened,” Ewen said. “All that gold you gave us ruined our lives. I wish you’d never given it to us.”

  “What happened?” Sarah asked.

  Evan glanced down to the ground, kicking his foot.

  “We got lazy with all that money and gambled it away,” he said.

  “We’re on our way to find work,” Ewen said. “The people of Fishguard and Harrisburg don’t want us.”

  “The people of Esterhollow could probably use your help,” Sarah said.

  “We’re headed that way,” Evan said. “Always hope for the best.”

  Sarah smiled at their enthusiasm.

  “They’re rebuilding the city,” I said. “And I bet they would appreciate your help. Let me give you some gold to tide you over.”

  “No gold,” Ewen said.

  Evan stepped forward.

  “Thank you, Kali,” he said. “But we’ll be fine.”

  I looked away, disturbed by the ever-present smiles on their faces.

  “Come on, bozo,” Ewen said. “We’ve got a new destination. The goblins wouldn’t have liked us anyways.”

  “The goblins?” I turned. “Where were you two headed?”

  “Forbidden Kingdom,” Evan said, “if Esterhollow doesn’t work out.”

  Ewen shoved him.

  “Keep quiet about our grand plans,” he hissed.

  “Sorry…” Evan raised a hand. “Bye, Kali. See you around.”

  “Maybe,” she replied, watching as Evan and Ewen walked away.

  I hoped we didn’t run into them again; their perma-smiles freaked me out.

  I went back on the wagon.

  “Come on,” I said. “We’ve got a side quest to complete.”

  Sarah joined me up front, shaking her head silently.

  “Brownies creep me out,” Bernard said between us.

  I nodded grimly as I took the reins from him.

  The horses and wagon lurched forward.

  “So strange running into them,” Sarah said.

  “Have you been to other…lands, Benji?” I asked.

  “No,” he replied. “I’ve been on the Grabiso Isles my whole life.”

  We quieted down as the wagon rolled down the road. I wondered about all the other levels in the game and so much more.

  How far would we get before my father got us out? Why did they make so many levels? And why did they trap us?

  I got that it was a prison, but I had so many questions. Still, no answers came as the miles added up on our trip. Before we reached our destination, I sat up straight and saw a couple dozen armored men on warhorses blocking the road.

  Their black, plate armor glimmered in the late afternoon sun. None of them looked like an easy kill—even on a good day.

  “Whoa,” I said, stopping the horses.

  “I’m in no condition to fight after that major battle with Snargao,” Sarah said. “What are we going to do?”

  I stared at the men blocking our path.

  “And all my mana is gone from identifying so many items,” she added.

  “I doubt I could take all of them on myself,” Bernard pointed out. “We should’ve stayed in Esterhollow with the group.”

  What to do? Better to run away and fight another day?

  I glanced to the left then right. Plains stretched out on each side of the road. We had nowhere to run or hide.

  Four of the men rode forward, flashes from their armor blinding me.

  “Stop,” I said, standing up in the wagon. “We mean you no harm.”

  They stopped no more than fifty feet away from the wagon.

  “We’ve come for the body of our leader,” a warrior said.

  “You want Captain Riggard?” Sarah asked. “Why?”

  “Are you going to hand over his body?” the man asked.

  I drew my sword just in case I needed it.

  “Who ordered you to do this?” I asked. “Are you with Castle Casteel?”

  The man laughed.

  “We are with the true power in the realm—Magi Inyontoo,” he said. “Our orders are to take the body and leave you alone. You must have some powerful people protecting you.”

  “Take it,” I said.

  Sarah turned to me, her jaw hanging open.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Keeping us alive,” I muttered, staring ahead.

  “We’ll also need your wagon and everything else in it,” the man said.

  > sense motive

  The captain of the Black Guard appears willing to bargain.

  “You can have it all,” I said. “But I need information in return.”

  He laughed again and shook his head.

  “You’re in no position to be bargaining,” he said.

  “Our mage would beg to differ,” I said. “She has Snargao’s magic items and will use them against you.”

  “You’re bluffing,” the man said.

  “Are we?” I asked.

  I hoped Sarah went along. Her new wand of Summon Monster might help or hinder us.

  She stood and pointed the wand at the men. Three of the others who had come forward moved to block their leader.

  “Your ugly elf friend better drop that wand,” the man in the back said.

  “Or what?” I turned to Bernard who still had on his priest get up. “Benji, would you mind praying to turn those men into toads?”

  He looked over at me with a confused look on his face.

/>   “You know,” I said. “The powerful prayers you recently learned.”

  “Oh, yeah,” he said them mumbled a bunch of unintelligible words.

  “Tell him to stop praying,” the man said. “I’ll give you information and let you keep the wagon and your baubles if you give up the body.”

  With no idea why they wanted a dead PC body, I didn’t see the harm in giving it to them if it kept us alive. Finally, something was going our way in the stupid game.

  “That’s enough, Benji,” I kept staring forward. “Why does your master want Captain Riggard’s body?”

  “You know we can’t say anything about it,” the man said, his voice muffled by his helmet. “Why are you being so difficult?”

  “Should I pop off a shot or two of this wand and hope we get lucky?” Sarah asked him.

  “No,” I whispered.

  “We’re going to take our chances and attack,” the man said. “We’re allowed to kill you if necessary.”

  This body must be important, but I’ve got to let it go.

  “Fine.” I hopped out of the wagon. “Benji, let’s get the coffin out of the back. They can have the body.”

  “Bring the war wagons out,” the man yelled.

  As I watched, three armored wagons materialized out of thin air.

  “Where did those come from?” I asked.

  The man moved his horse to the right.

  “Are you ready to stop bargaining?” he asked. “We’ve got you outnumbered.”

  “Tell us where Magi Inyontoo is hiding out,” I said. “And we’ll get this over with.”

  I heard the man sigh through his helmet.

  “Fine,” he said. “He’s in the Forbidden Kingdom making plans to rule the entire realm. We’re with him all the way. You have no chance of defeating us.”

  “Come on, Benji,” I said. “Let’s get this body for them.”