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Like Clockwork

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A city under siege, a hero overwhelmed—the mysterious game governing the world is only getting wilder in the second book of this thrilling LitRPG adventure.Nate Mercer—better known as Loophole—has ...
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  • 25 August 2026
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A city under siege, a hero overwhelmed—the mysterious game governing the world is only getting wilder in the second book of this thrilling LitRPG adventure.

Nate Mercer—better known as Loophole—has outlived the chaos of Infinite Ascension’s Phase One, becoming something greater than a mere street-level fighter. Armed with a complex skill set and pure luck, he’s now diving deeper into the game to expose and destroy one of the insidious developers trying to control it.

But reality has never been so fractured. Superpowers abound, dictated by an insane AI and a megalomaniacal tech Augment who calls himself the Clockwork Tyrant. Not only has he laid siege to New York with a robotic army; he’s also imprisoned hundreds of thousands of hostages in bunkers throughout the city. And with the stronger, more experienced Augments already eliminated, it’s up to Loophole and his new team to stop him.

Setting up a base in Central Park, they form Fortune’s Cadence, an invaluable alliance including a brilliant technician; a ferocious brawler; and Loophole’s calming healer, Swansong. But as they train their otherworldly abilities and devise an attack strategy, a far more personal threat shadows Loophole: An unexpected avenger from his past is back, and he’s willing to burn down the entire game to take Loophole down with it.

Now, to defeat these supervillains and restore peace to his devastated home, Loophole will need to keep his friends alive amidst the coming onslaught—or risk being forever changed by the true cost of playing hero . . .

The second volume of the hit LitRPG adventure series—with more than a million views on Royal Road—now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook!

Tropes include: wrong place, wrong time; secret identity; and reluctant hero.

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Price: $29.99
Pages: 430
Publisher: Podium Publishing
Imprint: Podium Publishing
Publication Date: 25 August 2026
Trim Size: 9.00 X 6.00 in
ISBN: 9798347016242
Format: Paperback
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Zane Emerson is the author of the Augment’s Code series, originally released on Royal Road. With far too many comics and collectibles in his collection (and going so far as to name his son after his favorite hero), Emerson combined his love for superheroes with a passion for writing. He resides in DeBary, Florida, with his son, Wally.