[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game":3,"chapter-how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-187":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1218329,1604,"Chapter 187: Light and Darkness 7","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-187",187,"\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: Conditions have been met!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Skill: Monarch's Will (Unique)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Unlocked!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Effects Applying]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Effects: Absolute Command] [Active]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Effects: 90% Stat Reduction] [Active]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: All enemies in the user's presence will now have their stats reduced!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: All enemies in the user's presence will now have their wills subjugated!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment that surges of power coursed through me, everything seemed to shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body, still weary and drained from the constant struggle, didn't suddenly gain newfound strength. Yet, somehow, everything around me felt different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The suffocating pressure that had gripped me moments ago was gone, and the shackles that had bound my movements-both mental and physical-were loosening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clarity of mind it brought was unparalleled, sharper than any blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it didn't restore the vast reserves of mana I had lost while trapped by those cursed chains, it gave me something even more valuable-freedom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The oppressive weight that had been bearing down on me, the suffocating force of Oz's [Skill: Abyssal Chains], was lifted just enough for me to exploit the opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Escaping from that enclosed space, which had seemed like an insurmountable prison just moments ago, suddenly became an easy feat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oz's Abyssal Chains-as overpowered as the skill sounded on paper-had its weaknesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it drained mana and attempted to crush the very spirit of its victims, it relied heavily on a battle of wills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stronger Oz's ego was in comparison to his target's, the more devastating his skill became, slowly siphoning away both power and free will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the game, it was one of those notoriously difficult magic skills, near impossible to dodge since it emerged from the shadows without warning, constricting its target like an unseen predator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was a critical flaw in the design of his ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once you knew how it worked, the secret lay not in dodging it, but in resisting it-through sheer willpower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You had to confront the chains, not flee from them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And fortunately for me, the conditions were perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hidden away, deep within myself, I had the one skill that could turn the tides: [Monarch's Will].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment it activated, I felt its effects course through my surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as your ego, mindset, and willpower were stronger than his, you could resist Oz's Abyssal Chains, and perhaps even become immune to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why it was crucial early in the game to invest some points into your Power stat, even if it didn't seem necessary at the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In situations like this, where your spirit and resolve were tested, having a solid Power stat was the key to survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I remembered correctly, you needed at least an A rank in the Power stat to properly resist the chains' effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't just about raw power anymore-my will was absolute, and that alone was enough to offset the debilitating effects of the chains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, as I stood under the oppressive force of the chains, all I felt was a deep disgust, a sneering disdain for their pathetic attempts to bind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monarch's Will was slowly tearing down the hold they had over me, inch by inch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the chains didn't just disintegrate immediately-there was still resistance, especially when Susan suddenly lunged at me with a knife, aiming straight for my neck. The cold glint of the blade caught my eye just in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body moved on instinct, shifting to avoid the attack, but what struck me more was the clarity the chains' weakening had provided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that brief moment of freedom, I began to understand the broader picture, piecing together the situation from the cracks in the mental prison Oz had built around me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Oz is currently weakened...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just a fleeting realization, but it spoke volumes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chains, which had been almost unbearable when I was first captured, now faltered with every passing second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever Oz and Dorothy were fighting at this very moment was giving them enough of a challenge to weaken even a familiar like Oz.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't focused entirely on me anymore; his energy was divided, and that was the opportunity I needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment of weakness in the chains was like a glimpse of light breaking through the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn't make me invincible, but it provided enough leeway to start turning the tide in my favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever Oz was battling right now was pushing him to his limits, forcing him to spread his strength too thin. I\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The likelihood that it was Lucas who had forced Oz into such a defensive position was high, but there was also a solid chance it could have been one of the main heroines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Dorothy had chosen me as her insurance, so it wasn't impossible that someone like Rose or Snow could be involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both were top students, capable of standing toe-to-toe with Dorothy in a one-on-one battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Granted, it would still be an incredibly hard fight, especially with Oz's overwhelming presence in the mix, but I wouldn't rule them out just yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was even a chance that Seo could be responsible, though that seemed a bit less likely given the nature of the fight. Still, I couldn't discount her entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I scanned the dusty crater we had emerged from, it became clearer that Dorothy had locked us deep underground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surroundings were ominous, the ground below scorched and uneven from what I'd done to break free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you really need to use lightning in such a tight space?!\" Theo complained, coughing as he puffed away at the dust clinging to his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes darted around, trying to assess the situation without making direct eye contact with\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was avoiding looking at me, as if acknowledging my actions would make things more awkward between us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't blame him for being unsettled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking off the chains was one thing, but getting out of that suffocating, box-like space was\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had been forced to use up far more mana than I'd wanted to. Still, it had been the only viable way to escape the vault Dorothy had trapped us in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced down at the enormous crater we had just climbed out of, realizing that Dorothy had deliberately sealed us in a large, hidden vault deep underground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The edges of the hole were jagged, a testament to the force I'd unleashed to free us. Though Theo didn't have much time to complain, both he and Susan's eyes widened in shock\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>as they stared at the veil of darkness creeping across the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deep, murky shadows beneath us moved like living creatures, spreading out as chaos unfolded in every direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screams echoed through the district, the sounds of battle clashing against the eerie, unnatural cries of the dark monsters that seemed to flood the streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is...\" Theo muttered, his voice barely a whisper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did the boss do all this?\" Susan added, disbelief thick in her tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could tell neither of them fully understood what they were looking at. But I did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dorothy's plan was playing out exactly as it had in the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gigantic black veil was swallowing the entire commercial district, the clock tower\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>looming over it like a stage set for the final act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city square was crawling with shadow monsters, and hostages-innocent civilians-were\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>caught up in the chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything was eerily familiar, though the execution seemed a bit different this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground shook violently beneath us, and a massive explosion of light flared in the\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes snapped toward it just in time to see a swell of power-two distinct mana signatures clashing against each other in a fight for dominance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure of their battle weighed heavily on the air, making it clear that the main event\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>had already begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could feel it-Rose was fighting Dorothy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Part of me wanted to jump in immediately, to join the fray, but as I looked at Theo and Susan,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>their faces pale with shock, I realized they needed to be part of this battle more than I did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you two doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My voice came out cold, yet calm, cutting through the tension in the air as I stared at Theo and\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Susan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They both looked at me, bewildered, their eyes wide with uncertainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their hesitation, I sighed inwardly, feeling a mix of impatience and understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My gaze drifted toward the distant battle between Rose and Dorothy, the flare of clashing mana illuminating the dark sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aren't you going to save her?\" I asked again, this time more seriously, my voice sharpening\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>with purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my words, a flicker of clarity returned to their eyes, replacing the confusion with a nervous realization. Theo swallowed hard, and Susan shifted uncomfortably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them stood there, frozen, torn between action and fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't know much about them, just bits and pieces, but it was clear that Dorothy held a\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>significant place in their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a connection between them, something deep, something that had likely shaped who they were. Whatever their history with her was, it ran far deeper than mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could tell they wanted to save her more than I did. Their desire wasn't out of duty or some\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>sense of obligation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was genuine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They truly wanted Dorothy to live.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go...\" Susan finally spoke, her voice trembling but filled with resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theo followed immediately, his steps quick as he trailed behind her, both of them heading\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>toward the heart of the chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as Susan moved forward, she noticed that I hadn't followed. She stopped, turning\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>back to look at me, her brows furrowed in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What about you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice cut through the chaos, filled with confusion and a hint of desperation. I could feel\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>her eyes searching mine, waiting for an answer. \"...You two go ahead,\" I said, my tone steady but distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked at me like I had just said something insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, I was the one who had just urged them to save her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who pushed them to take action, to not waste time. But now... now, if I went, she\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>would truly die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weight of that truth hung heavy in the air, and I knew I couldn't afford to make a single\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>wrong move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without explaining further, I turned on my heel, walking in the opposite direction, heading\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>east.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar aura had caught my attention, one that tugged at the back of my mind like a long-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>forgotten memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could sense it, even through the thick, oppressive mana swirling around us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theo and Susan watched me go, clearly baffled by my sudden change in direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, I felt their hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could practically hear the questions forming in their minds-wondering if I had abandoned\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the mission, if I was betraying my own words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they didn't ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, they remained rooted where they stood, unsure of how to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, almost reluctantly, they started to follow me, but stopped in their tracks when they felt\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the sudden surge of mana in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"T-That's...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"High-Grade magic?\" Theo stammered, his voice tight with disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes widened as they looked toward the sky, where a massive orb of light hovered, its\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>radiance swallowing everything in its path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buildings crumbled beneath its force, reduced to dust, while the very air around it seemed to\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>burn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The destruction was absolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no time to ponder the situation any longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theo and Susan, snapping out of their shock, turned and ran toward where they knew they had\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>to be-toward the source of all this madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toward Dorothy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Susan... she kept glancing back at me, her eyes pleading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn't need to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression said it all-\"You have to keep your promise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I met her gaze, nodding silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn't about to break my word, but there were other pieces to this puzzle that needed to fall\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>into place first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: Evil entities are detected under user's presence!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: Passive effects of [Skill: Hero's Will (Unique)] will now be automatically activated\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>upon user instability]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: [Skill: Hero's Will (Unique)] and [Skill: Hero's Aura(Unique)] requirements met!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Would you like to activate skill?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes\u002FNo]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: Once Hero's will is activated all evil entity under user's presence shall be eliminated]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: Command absolute and cannot be changed under user's Soul history....]\u003C\u002Fp>",2063,"2026-06-03T14:40:38.925Z",1,"novelbin.me","4859ccdf633f6913e224695891f09c8b63725ce5e73a183aa0edb2ec2f77ad05","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-188","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-186",727,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-cover.jpg"]