[{"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-199":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},1218341,1604,"Chapter 199: Heart of Chronos","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-199",199,"\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving back at the dorms, I wasted no time heading straight into my private training room. My mind was already focused on one thing: restoring the Heart of Chronos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The item's degradation was happening faster than I'd anticipated, and I needed to act now if I didn't want to lose its full potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I walked over to the far side of the room, where I kept my most valuable tools, and grabbed the one thing that could help me: the Cauldron of the Skies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Item: Cauldron of the Skies]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Rank: Unique] → [Potential Rank: Legendary (Sealed)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been a long time since I'd last used this item.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because I didn't want to, but because I rarely had the chance to gather enough materials to make it worth the effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cauldron of the Skies wasn't just some basic item upgrader; it had the ability to enhance even the most broken or rare items, pushing them to their true potential-if I had the right ingredients.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although I occasionally used it to upgrade simple mana stones into high-quality ones whenever I was short on money, today would be different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, I'd be putting it to a real test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I placed the cauldron carefully on the dining table, its ancient runes glowing faintly as it adjusted to the mana in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, for the second part of the equation. Reaching into my storage, I pulled out the next item.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Item: Dark Steel Dagger]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Material: Dark Steel]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark steel was rare-extremely rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ore itself was something only royalty and the highest-ranking nobles had access to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't even available on the market, and the chances of coming across more were slim to\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>none.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, I would've preserved it, maybe even used it for something grander in the future, but I couldn't afford to be stingy now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had the Heart of Chronos in my possession, and this dagger, while valuable on its own, was nothing compared to what I stood to gain by fixing the necklace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Time to get to work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I placed the dagger into the cauldron alongside the Heart of Chronos, watching as the celestial runes engraved on both items began to react to the cauldron's magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a delicate process, one that would require patience and precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't rush this, but I also couldn't afford to take too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The item's condition was deteriorating, and I needed to stabilize it before it became unusable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cauldron began to hum, faint mana trails swirling up from its surface as it initiated the restoration process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This would take a while, but I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the Heart of Chronos was fully restored, it would be one of the most powerful items in my arsenal-an advantage I desperately needed\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the holographic screen lit up before me, the familiar prompts appeared, asking for my choice of items to begin the synthesis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: Please choose items for synthesis]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Unique Item: Heart of Chronos]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Rare Item: Dark Steel]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I dragged the icons of the Heart of Chronos and the Dark Steel across the screen, aligning them with their designated spots-left for the item I wanted to upgrade and right for the material I was willing to sacrifice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Sacrifice: Rare Item: Dark Steel]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Confirm: Yes\u002FNo]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, I clicked Yes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Attempting Synthetization:]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cauldron reacted immediately, scattering brilliant white lights into the room, a mesmerizing display that I'd seen countless times before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, it felt different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weight of the items being combined-the ancient Heart of Chronos and the rare Dark Steel-added a certain gravity to the moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the cauldron hummed with power, I watched the familiar progress bar fill up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Synthesis: 26% 47% 79%-100%]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the items were a perfect match in terms of synchronization and compatibility, the process took barely 10 seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The synergy between them was flawless, as if they were always meant to be combined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Item Synthesis complete!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Transformation Result:]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Item: Heart of Chronos (Unique) has been acquired!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: Item quality has now been restored!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Item Status: 100%]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: Item Dark Steel (Rare) has now been deleted from user and cauldron inventory]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Item: Heart of Chronos (Unique)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Description: Crafted from the essence of a legendary celestial mage and imbued with the master's celestial prowess, this artifact is filled with hundreds of enchantments designed to overlay at its unparalleled core.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Effects: Return (24 hours)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Description:] When the user is subjected to substantial or fatal damage, the item's \"Return\" effect will activate, causing the user's status to revert to its state from exactly 24\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>hours prior.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: Effect activates automatically.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: User stamina will not be restored upon usage of Return.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: The skill will not negate S-rank skills, Unique skills, or higher.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note: Unique Item: Heart of Chronos and Unique Item: Tears of Chronos]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Synergy Available!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Would you like to Synergize the items?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes\u002FNo]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Item effects synergizing!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Synergy successful!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Congratulations!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The synergy process completed, and notifications quickly filled my vision:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Item: Heart of Chronos (Unique)] and [Item: Tears of Chronos (Unique)] will now have their\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>intended effects increased by 20%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Mana consumption for both items will now be reduced.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Note:]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Item: Heart of Chronos (Unique) Effects:] Return (24 hours), stamina recovery (20%)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Item: Tears of Chronos (Unique) Effects:] Time dilation (Movement slow: 70%)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Sweet....'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the necklace, now pulsing with newfound energy, and thinking about the enhanced synergy between the two powerful relics, I couldn't help but smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking out the window, I exhaled slowly, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weight of time hung heavy on my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a few months were left, and the looming vacation felt closer than ever. After this semester's grand festival, it would be time to return to the county.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liyana must be waiting...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought of her stirred a mix of emotions within me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was no point in dwelling on the future just yet. Worries about what awaited back\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>home could come later. For now, I had more immediate concerns: exams, the grand festival,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and the events that still lay ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking a deep breath, I slapped my cheeks lightly, trying to shake off the mental fog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Focus on the present,\" I whispered to myself. \"There's no use worrying about things you\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>can't control.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With renewed resolve, I grabbed a stack of books from the nearby shelf and sat down at my\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cauldron, now hidden back in my private training room, was out of sight, but the weight\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>of my responsibilities wasn't.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I skimmed through the books, each one full of materials I needed to review for the now delayed final written exams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After I finished reviewing the necessary materials, I knew what came next-training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way around it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the grand festival approaching, I couldn't afford to slack off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not now. I'd honed my skills, but I had been too focused on fighting opponents with similar\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>traits to mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to broaden my horizons, challenge myself against different kinds of foes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My usual opponents, like Lucas, no longer held the same sense of necessity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't need to keep testing Lucas's potential as well. I already knew what he was capable of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Denying his duels every time we met would be a nuisance, but it was time to move on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No more wasting energy on predictable matchups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although it was customary to fight opponents a year ahead from the same department, it wasn't strictly necessary-especially once the challenge was accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at my notes, my thoughts drifting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rose...\" I muttered, her name filling the silence of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was the perfect opponent for the coming grand festival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her intricate mana control, her ability to manipulate her seven mana circles-it was a\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>challenge I needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fighting her would be like facing a storm, unpredictable and dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it would certainly sharpen me and prepare me for the upcoming scenarios next\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>semester....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Rose and I spent most of our time together working in the student council, I had always believed that we were close enough to call each other friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had shared countless moments, discussions, and even the occasional late-night\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>paperwork session.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially with the recent incident with Dorothy.... Our relationship had slightly grown to an\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>extent even I couldn't quite comprehend....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her composed exterior, I could tell she had taken an unusual liking to me, though I\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>never quite understood why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's why I had assumed she would be the type to agree to just about anything I asked-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>whether it was a small favor or something bigger, much like Seo had done for me in the past. But now, standing in front of her, that assumption was proving to be wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No...\" she said, her voice firm, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity I hadn't seen\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her response was so unexpected, it left me momentarily speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rose wasn't someone who often denied my requests, and certainly not with such a sharp edge\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>to her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She readjusted the wand she had been holding, which had been aimed at me a moment ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mana flared subtly, causing the air around us to hum with tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But rather than releasing the spell she had half-cast toward me, she pointed it upward, firing\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the magic harmlessly into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't want to fight you, Riley,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze was unwavering, and in her eyes, there was a hint of anger, maybe even\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>disappointment. It was unlike her usual calm demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looks like convincing her to accept a duel against me was going to take more time than I had\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>originally thought.\u003C\u002Fp>",1606,"2026-06-03T14:40:38.925Z",1,"novelbin.me","8625d152abc333ac8f1cd5de7f605c2058c933d8fc958b29c2e7cca2dc1d7c01","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-200","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-198",727,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-cover.jpg"]