[Beta][Sneak Peak] Pete's Inferno [A LitRPG Tower Climber] | Book 1: The Frozen Trial

Author's Note: Hello Patrons! Today I bring you a sneak peak of my second side project, one that I will probably start posting parallel to What Will Be once I have a sufficient backlog. Much like my untitled Urban Fantasy, this is something I am working on between chapters of What Will Be, when I need to let ideas stew and whatnot before/between putting pen to paper. Being able to jump between fictions has been great for my ADHD now that I have the time to just write - overall, my time has been much more productive since I get to 'chase the idea dragon'.

While I have some high-octane moments planned for What Will Be, there is a reason I didn't give it the 'Action' tag - that stuff was never the focus. Pete's Inferno, however, is my take on an Action LitRPG. For you, my wonderful Patrons, you get a sneak peak at a version of Chapter 1. It will almost certainly get at least one more coat of polish in the future, but for now, I would love to hear your thoughts on the vibe. Here is the working blurb:

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Some shit is going down. The extent of it remains unknown to Pete, despite being armed with The Guide and its trickle-fed explanation of The Trial. Only one thing is clear: failure is not an option, and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. Plunged into an icy wasteland alongside his Trial Partner, Ned, the pair must struggle to survive using all the tools at their disposal. Pete just happens to choose one of humanity's oldest. Will they be able to triumph over The Frozen Trial? 

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And here is the chapter. Enjoy!

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Sleeping in the nude was, by and large, a matter of personal preference. There was no real weight to the choice, no risk beyond the vague possibility of an intruder catching a gander of more than they bargained for. When Pete suddenly snapped back into consciousness, it became immediately clear that such thinking would, forever more, be outdated. 

The bed Pete fell asleep in was gone, replaced by the uneven, stone floor he was inelegantly mushed up against. A shiver racked his body, accompanied by an exhale that grew misty in the air. Pete scrambled to pick himself off the ground, springing to his feet with surprising ease and barely a scrape for his trouble. 

“Hey look, Sleeping Beauty is awake,” a gruff voice sounded before Pete could properly get his bearings. It was hard to see, the space barely illuminated by a pale blue that seemed to be emanating from the cave’s ceiling. The cave’s… Evidently, Pete was in a cave. Alarming, perhaps, but of more immediate concern was the other occupant. Pete pivoted to face his possible assailant, fists raised with the uncertainty of a man who had never fought a day in his life. 

“Easy there, boss.” The voice belonged to a bearded man who couldn’t have been a day over thirty, dressed in clothes that seemed much too small given his physique. “Best put those down before you hurt someone.” He chuckled. 

Pete was in no rush to obey.
“What the fuck is going on here!?” he snapped, full of false bravado and only just realizing that there was something wrong with his forearms. “And where are my tattoos?”  

The other man whistled, low and impressed. 
“You really slept through it, huh? Can’t say I’m not envious - hurt more than I’d care to remember.” He was leaning up against one side of the wall and took a moment to shake his head, as if banishing a memory, accidentally conjured. He slipped off his jacket and held it in an outstretched arm. “Here, cover yourself up, even if you are one of those nudist folks best not to freeze.”  

“What are you talking about?” Pete lowered his arms before quickly closing the distance and grabbing the offered item of clothing. The stranger waited a few moments while Pete wrapped it around his waist, covering his front more than anything else, but it was better than nothing. 

“The short of it? We’re probably fucked.” 

Pete frowned.
“And the long of it?”

“That is for me to explain, as was written in the treaties and thrice signed by those who signed them.” The voice was rich of timbre and deep of tone, resonating through the section of cave the pair found themselves in. Pete snapped his neck from side to side, looking for its origin. 

“Don’t bother,” the gruff man said. “Just listen. It’s important.” 

“You are one of The Representatives, chosen by chance, as was written. Representatives will attempt The Trial, as was written. Failure or death of all Representatives will result in-” The sounds that followed were reminiscent of static and nails on a chalkboard, such that Pete winced and moved to cover his ears, but it was over just as quickly as it began. “- as was written. Failure or death of all Representatives will result in the extinction of their species, as was written.” 

“What in the actual-” 

“Just keep listening.” The bearded man cut him off. 

“Representatives are to be modified to universal standards for their species, as was written. All representatives will be granted access to The Guide, as was written.” There was a beat of silence. “All Representatives of Trial-Variant-” the static returned, lasting longer the second time. “- are conscious. Shortly, Representatives will begin their Trial and gain access to The Guide, as was written.”  

“Oh, so you were the last one,” the man commented off-handedly. “That doesn't really tell us much.” The disembodied voice had grown quiet. 

“Hey!” Pete called out to the ceiling. “What do you mean Trial?! What is happening!?” 

“I already tried that,” the gruff man said with a shrug. “Whatever that voice is, it don’t respond. Name’s Ned, by the way.”

Pete gestured at himself.
“Pete. Not a nudist, for the record. Were you able to make any sense of all that?”     

“Only a little. I think I know what they meant by the universal standard thing.” 

“Oh yeah?” 

“Yeah. My ass is sixty-seven years old.” 

Pete looked the man up and down. 
“Fuck off you’re sixty-seven.” 

“That's why I am taking this seriously. Whatever mystical mumbo-jumbo is going on is the real deal. You lost your tattoos, and unless you were always in such good shape you got the-” he waggled his fingers “-too.” 

Pete finally took the time to take stock of himself, as best he could without a mirror, at least. Ned was right, he was different. His stomach was flatter than it had been in years; evenings spent preparing lesson plans for third-graders didn’t leave much time to hit gym. Lean muscle lurked in each of Pete’s limbs and he was, overall, brimming with energy despite the cold. 

It was more than that, though. Pete wasn’t wearing his glasses, but he could see just fine. The ache in his knee from that old highschool football injury was completely gone. 
“This is insane,” he breathed.  

“Maybe. Could be one or both of us went absolutely nuts, but I’m going to act as if I’m still right in the head until proven otherwise. Now-”   

You have been granted access to The Guide. 

Welcome, Trial Representative.

The feminine voice sounded in Pete’s head, notably different from the earlier disembodied voice. Based on Ned’s inability to finish his sentence, he assumed the older-but-not-older man was experiencing something similar. 

Communications from The Guide are private. They cannot be overheard. Requests for visual summaries will be imperceptible to others. 

Communications to The Guide may be vocalized or directed with mental intent. Be warned, communications to The Guide are not afforded the same protections as the inverse. 

Do you understand, Trial Representative? 

Pete nodded, which garnered no response. 
Shit, just pull on the push door why don’t you? Pete scolded himself before trying to aim a thought at the strange presence in his mind. I UNDERSTAND. Thoughts didn’t have volume, per say, but Pete tried to shout his all the same. Just in case. 

Acknowledged. The Trial Representative will now be guided through Class Selection. Are you ready, Trial Representative? 

“Wait!” Ned’s call drew Pete’s attention. 

“What is it?” 

“I used to play Dungeons and Dragons back in the eighties,” he said. “This Class selection thing, it’s going to be an important choice.” 

It was Pete’s turn to give an impressed whistle. 
“You’re a bit of a nerd, hey grandpa? To be fair, I’m not much better. I lost way too many hours to MMOs back when I was a kid.” 

Relief crossed Ned’s features. 
“Good, then I won’t have to explain too much. Follow me.” Ned walked to a bend in the cave and, curious, Pete followed him. They were not walking for long before the entrance of the cave loomed before them. A transparent field of what could only be described as shimmering energy covered it. Beyond, a frozen pine forest awaited. A breeze they could neither feel nor hear made itself known by buffeting loose snow around. 

“You didn’t think to mention the energy shield? How long was I out, anyway?” Pete pinched the bridge of his nose as the absurdity of the situation continued to pile on. 

“Not too long, I just didn’t waste any time,” Ned answered before gesturing to the cave entrance. “As to that I knew you’d see it eventually. My guess? Once we start our Trial that-” he waggled his fingers again- “comes down and we freeze to death.” 

Understanding dawned on Pete. 
“You think we need to choose Classes that can help us survive. Makes sense. If we’d rushed our choices then no matter what The Guide gave us it wouldn’t be worth much to us dead ”    

“Exactly.” Ned studied Pete for a long moment. “You military?” 

“What? No. Are you? Why do you ask?” 

“I was, a lifetime ago; barely made it out of basic before a stray bullet sent me home. You’re just handling this rather well - I thought you might have training in that ballpark. Emergency services, maybe?” 

Huh… Um, I was a teacher.” There hadn’t been much time to stop and think, but objectively Pete was in a messed up situation. Wrangling school children eight hours a day did a lot for one’s mental resilience, but it didn’t explain his composure in the face of the last several minutes.  

Ned just shrugged. “Well, maybe you’re just made of something stern. I’m not going to complain - better than either of us sobbing in the corner. We have bigger shit to worry about.” 

“Yeah… right.” There was truth to Ned’s words, so Pete pushed the matter to the back of his mind. That, too, felt surprisingly easy. “The Guide said ‘Class Selection’ so that implies options,” Pete mused, back to the matter at hand. 

“Right, but will they all be the same or different for each of us?” Ned picked up the train of thought. 

“Only one way to find out.” 

The pair nodded at each other before Pete focused his attention inward again. 
I AM READY FOR- Pete cut himself off. That would get exhausting, and there was no harm in trying an alternative. I am ready for Class Selection, he thought towards The Guide. Thankfully, it was enough. 

Acknowledged. Beginning Class Selection. 

The air in front of Pete warped, taking the appearance of a semi-transparent, amber window.
A screen, Pete clarified to himself.  

The Guide will provide the Trial Representative with visual representation. 

As The Guide spoke, its words repeated and organized themselves on the screen in plain English. Pete looked towards Ned, who seemed to be studying something in front of him. Presumably, he was seeing something similar. 

The Guide will provide the Trial Representative with an overview of their Attributes as measured against the Universal Standard of their species. 

POWER: 1.00

• Of Body: 1.00

• Of Spirit: 1.00

FINESSE: 1.00

• Of Body: 1.00

• Of Spirit: 1.00

RESILIENCE: 1.00

• Of Body: 1.00

• Of Spirit: 1.00

Hold up, Pete thought. I can infer some things, but I’d rather not guess more than I have to. What do these Attributes actually mean? 

Discovering the value of Attributes is a component of the Trial Representative’s Trial. The Guide will now continue Class Selection. 

Of course. Not ideal, but it wasn’t like Pete could complain to anyone. 

Trial parameters require each Trial Representative be offered three Origin Classes, each with a different Primary Attribute. Each Origin Class will provide the Trial Representative with three Skills, one to foster the growth of each Attribute. 

Does the Trial Representative understand? 

“Are you getting this whole ‘three for three’ thing as well?” Pete called out. 

Ned shot him a thumbs up.
“Sure am. I’m about to see my choices - give me a second.” 

Pete nodded. 
Yes, I understand. It was hard not to feel nervous. Whatever choice he made, it might end up being crucial to the survival of the species… Pete frowned. He was definitely handling the situation with more poise than he should have been. It was as if the stakes of the situation were unable to nag at him unless he went out of his way to focus on them. 

The Guide will now present the Trial Representative with their choices. 

PYROMANCER

Primary Attribute: Power

Starting Skills 

Produce Flame [Power]

Fire-Attuned Mana Manipulation [Finesse]

Temperature Resistance [Resilience]

FOOTPAD

Primary Attribute: Finesse

Starting Skills 

Sneak Attack [Power]

Light Steps [Finesse]

Muffled Presence [Resilience]

PUGILIST

Primary Attribute: Resilience

Starting Skills 

Iron Fists [Power]

Body Control [Finesse]

Impact Resistance [Resilience]

Pete looked at the classes arrayed before him, then at the frozen world beyond the cave, then back to the classes again.
“Not really much of a choice, is it?” 

Would the Trial Representative like an overview of their options? 

Ned seemed to be intently staring at something, still, no doubt having more to consider than Pete did. 
“Sure,” he said. “Humour me.” The Guide obliged.