Tower of Avarice: A LitRPG story

Chapter 3 – Floor 0: Part 3

Mathew returned to his apartment after the television screen resumed its typical broadcast. The news report had been in chaos due to the interruption, and everyone in the pub could see the book resting on the news anchor’s desk.

Rather than watch the endless debate, Mathew had taken his phone and went home. Ignoring the messages and phone calls from family and work colleagues, he set it on ‘silent’ and sat on the large leather couch in the center of his living room.

Mathew couldn’t see Central Park from his apartment window, but it did face in that direction. Rising above the buildings opposite to his own, the tower rose into the sky like a black monolith. Helicopters circled it endlessly, and multiple spotlights shone on its surface, lighting it in the night.

Leaning back on the couch, Mathew took a deep breath to settle his nerves. He felt a sense of anticipation and nervousness at what he was about to do. It was as if he were standing on the edge of a cliff, about to plunge down into the unknown.

Rubbing his sweaty palms on his pants leg, he held both hands outward, palms upright and spoke in a clear voice.

“Rules.”

A large, heavy book floated in the air above his coffee table before settling into his grip. He was surprised by the weight of the object. It felt like it was bound in leather. The gold writing caught the dim light of his apartment.

Turning it over in his hands, Mathew was reminded of the old ‘tomes’ that he had seen in history documentaries. Things like the bibles that monks would transcribe in a monastery during the middle ages. The paper was yellowish, and as he opened it to the first page, he noticed the writing had a beautiful, flowing script.

The page contained a preamble, a simple passage that was reminiscent of a legal document to Mathew. It spoke of all those who entered the Tower will be bound to these rules. To his surprise, the ‘Gods’ that the strange man had spoken of would also abide by the rulebook.

‘Looks like there won’t be any cheating on either side.’ Mathew thought as he skimmed the section. There wasn’t much information here, and after reading it, he flipped to the next page where the actual ‘rules’ began.

Rule # 1: There is only one exit to the Tower.

The rule and a beautifully drawn picture were the only text on this page. Rather than ink or modern paint, it seemed to have been made with crushed minerals. Mathew ran his finger across the picture, feeling the material.

It depicted a tower in black that Mathew suspected had been made from charcoal, although it didn’t come off onto his finger. The building had a gold door at the bottom and another at the top. A small figure was shown entering the lower door and another exiting from the top.

“So, once you go in, you can only leave from the highest floor.” Mathew muttered.

Turning the page, he read the following rule.

Rule #2: There are dangers inside. The Gods will offer assistance to the worthy.

The following picture showed a collection of monsters. Mathew recognized a little green creature, something that looked like a saber-tooth tiger and a…zombie? A person was facing the monsters with a sword in one hand and a small flame held above the other.

Floating in the sky behind the person, vaguely humanoid shapes with golden halos around their heads hovered. They were stretching their hands toward the person below them, and Mathew could only assume they were giving it some of their ‘assistance.’

“So it's dangerous. But we’re going to be able to get powers or the means to fight them? Are they going to turn us into superheroes or give us training? What does it mean to be worthy?” Mathew said, studying the picture. Did the flame mean that they would actually be able to control fire, or was it to symbolize something else?

Eager to see more, he turned to another page.

Rule #3: Everything is possible, but nothing is free.

This picture depicted those same three creatures from the previous image, although this time, they were clearly dead. The person from before stood victorious, their sword raised into the air. Some kind of blue energy or mist was coming off the deceased monsters and flowing toward the person.

This page had multiple images. The second showed the same person kneeling in front of the ‘Gods’, its arms raised as if it were offering the blue mist to them. In exchange, one of the ‘Gods’ was giving the person a shield.

“Huh.” Mathew was confused by this one. If it were a game, he would think that by killing monsters, they would gain ‘Experience’ or something and use it to exchange with the gods for power or items.

“The guy did say he was an Apostle of the God of Games. Did they base this Tower on a video game?” Mathew said.

He turned to the next page.

Rule #4: Each floor contains a challenge to be overcome. You may not progress until you accomplish your task.

This picture showed three levels of the tower. On the bottom, a person was fighting a group of little green creatures in front of a door that contained a set of steps to the next floor.

On the next, the person with the sword and flame seemed to be conversing with a group of other people, all dressed in different clothing styles. Behind them, a shadowy figure held a knife in one hand and a key in the other. The door to the next level had a large keyhole depicted on it.

The third level had dozens of doors, with question marks on each. There was obviously a puzzle or riddle to this floor.

“So it's not just killing and fighting. There’s going to be mysteries and problems to solve.” Mathew reasoned.

Rule #5: Risk for Reward.

This picture had the flame and sword-holding figure lying on the ground with a large pool of ruby-red blood around it. The person’s eyes were ‘X’s,’ and it was clear to Mathew that they had died.

Just out of their reach, a treasure chest sat unopened. Golden rays of light had been painted around the chest, giving the impression that there was something coveted inside.

Further down the page, a pile of hundreds of sword and flame-wielding figures were heaped on top of each other. At the very top of the mound of corpses, several living people each had their own treasure chest, and they were raising them high into the air in victory.

“I don’t need an arts degree to interpret this one. It’s dangerous, and many people will die, but the reward is worth the risk.” Mathew explained.

Rule #6: Cooperation is encouraged but not required.

Three figures with wildly different outfits and equipment were shaking hands while three different planets hovered above them. Mathew could recognize North America on the center planet, but the others were foreign to him.

“Wait…what? Aliens…no, they’re all human. Different Earths? That Apostle did say something about this being offered to every version of Earth. How many people are going to be in this Tower at the same time?” Mathew wondered.

Rule #7: Time’s effects are diminished in the Tower. Age and Illness will not be a burden within.

This was the strangest image yet.

The tower’s walls were holding back a figure with black robes and a large scythe. An elderly person was growing younger over a series of three scenes. Another person, their body covered in sores, was healed.

“You won’t grow older when you’re inside the Tower, and you can even get younger?” Mathew was amazed. But he had to remember Rule 3: nothing was free. There was obviously some kind of cost for such a blessing.

Still, he could imagine the clamour to enter the tower now that it was promising youth and cures for disease.

Mathew had come to the last page and the final rule.

Rule #8: No items from outside can help you within the Tower of Avarice.

The last picture was of a heavily burdened person with a bulging backpack and carrying even more things in their arms. On the other side of the entrance, they wore simple clothing and all their items were gone.

“Alright. That’s self-explanatory.” Mathew said, closing the book and leaning back on the couch.

There was only a single question left now. Would he enter the Tower or not?