Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended [Part Two]

CHAPTER 227: Eleonore Winterhart

Daisuke, Lumielle, and Lyndoria stepped into the tower, cautious yet resolute, as the massive door closed behind them. Instantly, they were greeted by an atmosphere that felt both ancient and otherworldly.

The grand foyer stretched before them, a vast circular room filled with concentric shelves stacked high with ancient tomes, magical artifacts, and strange devices. Intricate carvings adorned the walls—depictions of celestial beings, forgotten gods, and arcane symbols that seemed to shift when viewed from different angles.

As soon as they crossed the threshold, a soft hum of magic surrounded them. Standing before a peculiar platform, Daisuke quickly discerned it as an elevator—its design medieval, yet far more complex.

Absent were the wooden pulleys and iron cables. Instead, an intricate magic circle spread beneath their feet, glowing with shifting symbols as it activated. The air around them shimmered as they rose, as if reality itself bent in response to the tower's will.

Daisuke's eyes widened in amazement. The scene before him was nothing like he'd ever seen before. Each floor they passed exhibited beautiful spectacles—mountains rising from lush green plains, rivers flowing through dense forests, waterfalls cascading over cliffs. The concentric designs were mesmerizing, each floor holding an entire world of its own.

Daisuke had to admit, it reminded him of Sinister Granny's pocket dimension. But the sheer scale of this place was staggering in comparison. It was as if each floor was an encapsulation of a different geographical marvel, contained in the confines of a massive building.

"...Unbelievable," Lyndoria breathed, leaning over the edge to get a better look at a floor featuring a vast desert with lofty dunes.

"Is this... magic?" Lumielle whispered, eyes wide as she gazed out at the ever-changing landscapes, a magnificent ocean reflected in her eyes.

"...It has to be," Daisuke shook his head in awe. "The inside of the tower is much larger than what is perceived from the outside—there's absolutely no comparison."

Zephyr's eyes sparkled like stars.

The elevator ascended rapidly, floors flashing by in a blur. When it finally stopped at the uppermost floor, the transparent barrier dissolved.

Before them was now a narrow bridge extending out toward a large, imposing door seemingly untouched by time. The stone bridge felt precarious, stretching out over a dizzying drop with nothing but thin air below them.

Daisuke glanced at the others. "Whatever you do, don't look down."

"I'm not sure that's helping," Lyndoria muttered.

Lumielle nodded nervously, keeping her focus ahead as they crossed. The bridge felt like it was testing their resolve, the abyss beneath them pressing in like a heavy weight.

Finally, they arrived at the door which opened with a soft creak. The room was grand but kept in a serene, minimalist style. Bookshelves lined the walls, crammed with tomes and scrolls that stretched from floor to ceiling.

A large desk sat at the center, cluttered with artifacts and open grimoires. Sitting around it was a wizened woman with pale purple hair and ice-blue eyes that seemed to hold centuries of knowledge and secrets. She looked up as they entered, her expression stoic and unreadable, but Daisuke felt no ill intent—only a sense of mystique.

"I assume you're here to see me," the archmage said, her voice calm and measured. "Princess Lumielle, Lyndoria Hallowryn, the Divine Beast, Zephyr, and Sophia Everwinter... or should I say, Haxks Starfrost. Welcome," she greeted. "I am Eleonore Winterhart."

She's even managed to see through my disguise?

Daisuke heaved a nervous grin. "Impressive. Your reputation precedes you."