[{"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-380":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},1218666,1604,"Chapter 380 380: Alice Holloway~2","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-380",380,"\u003Cp>The atmosphere was frosty and cold, the air thick with the scent of blood and steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thick fog clung to the battlefield, swirling like ghostly tendrils as the remains of the once-pristine white plains lay stained in deep black and crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huff… Huff…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A weary breath escaped from beneath the dented helmet of a White Knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thin wisp of smoke curled into the frozen air, a stark contrast to the warmth of blood seeping into the ground beneath him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His arms trembled as he forced himself up, his gauntlets grinding against the shattered remnants of his fallen comrades' weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And before him stood the very monster responsible for this massacre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hm~ in the end, this is all you amount to?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice that spoke was drenched in mockery and amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can't say I'm too disappointed~ but I'm not too surprised by the outcome either~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pair of luminous, slitted eyes gleamed amidst the mist, filled with an almost childlike mirth as they peered down upon the broken knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight's grip around his sword tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You wretched beast…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My~ my~ thanks for the compliment~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smirk that curled on Cheshire's monstrous face was neither cruel nor kind—it was simply entertained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cat stood there, unscathed, its crimson fur shimmering in the pale, eerie light of the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The creature's long, striped tail flicked lazily as if this entire fight had been nothing more than a game—a mildly amusing diversion that had, by now, grown stale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tristan, one of the very few Primaris of the White Queen, stood his ground despite his body screaming at him to fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sword remained planted in the ruined earth, a symbol of defiance rather than strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His chest rose and fell with every ragged breath, the deep white glow within his helmet flickering as he focused all his remaining willpower on the being before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could still hear their voices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Felix. Gawain. Mordred. Bedivere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His comrades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loyal subjects of their queen. Representatives of her might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, even with the full might of the Primaris Order, they had failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood of his brethren pooled beneath him, soaking into his armor, a reminder of their failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had fought for an entire day, their blades clashing against this monstrous being in an unrelenting storm of steel, magic, and willpower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, what had it amounted to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even a scratch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A part of him couldn't help but wonder—would the outcome have been different if Sir Hatter and the Grand Mage Merlin had been present?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would their combined might have been enough to tip the scales?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or was this battle doomed from the very start?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was a question he would never know the answer to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because now, all that remained was him—the last knight standing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the crimson beast before him, smiling as if this was nothing more than a delightful tale with a predetermined ending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the outcome was disappointing, it had not been unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the very beginning, they had known—deep down—that this mission had a high chance of failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A part of him felt relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, they had managed to complete the second part of their mission—the contingency plan, should things take a turn for the worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they died here, their efforts would not be in vain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, standing before him, towering like a small mountain, was the very reason they had failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monstrous cat was a walking calamity, his very presence distorting the world around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reality twisted and bent in his wake, the sheer density of the red energy surrounding him warping the fabric of space itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With each step, the ground trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air cracked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weight of his power pressed down like an inescapable vice, suffocating all those who dared stand before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, with a simple flick of his clawed paw—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of severed heads began to float, circling the kneeling knight like a macabre halo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tristan froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't need to look to know who they belonged to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Felix. Gawain. Mordred. Bedivere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His comrades. His brothers-in-arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire tilted his head, watching Tristan with an amused, mocking smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Any last words?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight's grip on his sword tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He forced himself to breathe, to remain composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Soon… all realms shall bend to our Majesty's will… Bend the knee, oh Guardian of Red, and perhaps your Queen may yet be spared…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was steady. Unwavering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A declaration, not a plea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Cheshire only chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tsk~ I guess fighting in my realm made you lose all your brain cells?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cat's crimson eyes gleamed with sharp amusement as his striped tail lazily flicked behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well then~ I suppose I should make it clear… I don't think you guys ever had a chance to begin with~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tristan ignored the taunts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he gathered the last vestiges of his strength—the remnants of his very essence, the final embers of his soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Queen's blessing ignited within him, and for the first time since the battle began, he stood tall once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingers tightened around the hilt of his blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His white armor, once pristine, now shattered and soaked in blood, gleamed with a final, desperate light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he was to fall, he would fall fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a roar that shook the battlefield, Tristan swung his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"HAAAGHH!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surge of unfathomable power erupted from his blade, a final, defiant act—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOSHHH!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A giant crimson paw came crashing down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air split apart, his power scattered like dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in that instant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His entire body crumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like ash swept away by the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His strength. His will. His very existence—reduced to nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire sighed, his grin never faltering, though his eyes held the faintest flicker of something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something almost… wistful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know… I actually quite liked you, before she turned you into one of her little toys, Tristan~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cat's massive form shrunk, taking a step back as he observed the last remnants of the knight's being dissolving into the void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tail flicked once, then twice, before he softly muttered—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I hope you're free in your next life~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smirk. A whisper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well… if there even is one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that, the last flicker of white faded into red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire's sharp crimson eyes narrowed as he watched the last embers of a being he had once called a friend fade into nothingness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tristan was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, even in death, Cheshire refused to offer him any courtesy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To show mercy would have been an insult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to Tristan—but to the respect he had for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If their positions had been reversed, he knew Tristan would have done the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was just how things were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smirk lingering on Cheshire's lips slowly faded, his gigantic form shrinking as his overwhelming presence receded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In mere moments, the towering guardian of red was gone—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in his place stood the lovable, deceptively harmless-looking cat he was known for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire rolled his shoulders, stretching his limbs lazily before letting out a low chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although everything went well… they really got me, huh~?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice, light and playful as ever, barely masked the exhaustion creeping into his tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a flick of his tongue, he licked his wounds—ones that weren't visible to the naked eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to those who could see beyond the physical—those attuned to the deeper layers of reality—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must have looked like a dead man walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His once limitless authority was now dwindling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy within him, the power that had once warped space itself, was now slowly bleeding away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blocking the leakage wasn't the issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fixing his broken essence—his very soul—was another matter entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...It was probably Mr. Hatter who devised this plan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exhaled, ears twitching as he gazed into the empty, bloodstained battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slow, knowing grin returned to his face, though this time, it carried a sharp edge of bitterness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How cruel~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice, usually laced with amusement, now held a tinge of something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just for some old cat, they really went this far…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed a paw over his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he did—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep, cold resonance echoed through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, in a flash of unnatural light, a sword began to take shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The [Vorpal Sword].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blade that should have long been lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A weapon that had once belonged to his former master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sword designed for one sole purpose—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To kill beings like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His red pupils contracted; the glow of the sword reflected in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...How nostalgic.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And despite the pain, despite the damage, despite the wound still lodged deep in his soul—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire couldn't help but laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he was a crazy cat who could bend reality itself, this was one of those realities he couldn't change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword's poison would soon reach his soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when it did—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, Cheshire's body drifted downward, his once-commanding presence fading with each passing moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his paws finally touched the ground, the very fabric of his domain—[Wonderland]—began to unravel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red-stained, warped landscape—an illusion shaped by his will—dissipated into thin air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in its place, the pristine white of this realm returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Queen's domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyelids grew heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nauseous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't just the kind of pain that seeped into flesh and bones—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was deeper than that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like something was rotting inside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt every uncomfortable sensation in the world at once, pressing against him like an unrelenting tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A part of him wondered if he was hallucinating—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because standing just a few steps away…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was Alice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the Alice of today—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the young, wide-eyed Alice from long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Tch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire let out a breathy chuckle, his tail lazily flicking behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was just a trick of the mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe he was just thinking about his master too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh~ Even now, I can't get you out of my head, huh…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was hoarse, his grin weaker than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, even as his body threatened to give out, his mind remained sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His thoughts drifted to the sword still lodged in his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The [Vorpal Sword].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A weapon not just anyone could lay their hands on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that it was here, in the hands of the White Queen's forces, meant only two things—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One, they had killed the Jabberwocky and stolen it from its corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two, the dragon had allied with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And between the two…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire prayed it was the former.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because if it was the latter—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that bloody dragon had switched sides—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then things were far worse than he thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tch… That would be a pain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze flickered upward, his ever-changing pupils dimming slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if it was the first option—if they had actually fought and killed the Jabberwocky—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the White Queen must have personally taken that risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must have thrown herself into battle against that ancient, bloodthirsty monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wouldn't have won without sacrifice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wouldn't have walked away unscathed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she had done it alone, then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must have lost at least half of her mana in the process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That, at least, was the best-case scenario.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire smirked, ignoring the searing pain in his core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They really got us...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire's voice carried a mix of amusement and irritation, a wry grin pulling at the corners of his mouth before fading just as quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had always known this war was coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had always known the enemy was on the move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even with all his foresight, even with all his preparations—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn't expected them to be this ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't as if he had been neglectful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, he had spent years anticipating this inevitable clash with the White Queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even now, he couldn't quite understand what had triggered this sudden shift in events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it had changed too fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By all logic, the White Queen still shouldn't have regained most of her divinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shouldn't have been ready to make her move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet here they were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that alone told him that something unexpected had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A disturbance, an anomaly—something that had forced her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tch.\" Cheshire clicked his tongue and shook his head, ears twitching in irritation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pointless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no use trying to think like an uncultured white mug.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That woman's mind was a labyrinth, and he had no interest in playing her games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it... I really can't move now, can I?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice dripped with annoyance as he plopped onto the ground, limbs sprawled out like a lazy house cat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this wasn't the time to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed to get out of here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he needed to do it fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that he had been ambushed like this—trapped in a carefully laid-out scheme—meant only one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alice was their real target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His red eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was in grave danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alice was strong—incredibly strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He trusted her with his entire being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But right now—she was far too unstable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown she wore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crimson Heart inside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither had fully awakened yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And without him there to balance her mana and divinity levels—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without his presence stabilizing her—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wouldn't just lose control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She might die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His injuries didn't matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His exhaustion didn't matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because if Alice fell to her own strength—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she lost herself to the very power that was meant to save her—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then none of this would matter in the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The likelihood of Alice being ambushed like him wasn't low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, it was extremely high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant she could already be inside the White Realm, just like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if she wasn't—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would definitely be on her way here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire knew his master far too well to think otherwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tch. That stubborn fool...\" He muttered under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alice never knew when to back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she thought for even a second that he was in danger, she wouldn't hesitate—she'd charge straight into the enemy's domain without a second thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It would be great if she brought Riley along...\" Cheshire mused, his ears flicking in irritation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, his sharp crimson eyes darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But knowing her selfishness, knowing how she refuses to burden others... I doubt she'd put him in danger.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sigh escaped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Riley was with her, Cheshire's worries would have been significantly lessened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But of course, that was too good to be true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alice had a bad habit of shouldering everything alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That girl—that reckless, stubborn girl—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would rather risk her own life than let anyone else suffer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire clenched his jaw, shaking his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, he had no time to dwell on what-ifs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't know why the White Queen hadn't bothered finishing him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had every opportunity to kill him in this weakened state—so why didn't she?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was she toying with him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was she saving him for something worse?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he simply not worth her time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, it didn't matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his only chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to move now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gathering the remaining mana he could safely use, Cheshire lifted himself off the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It surged through every fiber of his being, burning, tearing, threatening to rip his very essence apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he ignored it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His crimson eyes snapped open—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, establishing contact with Alice was the top priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could just open a portal—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could just create a shortcut—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would take an irreversible toll on him, but he was already dying anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, he might as well risk it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His claws gleamed in the dim light as he raised his paws, the very fabric of space and time warping at his will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a little more—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cheshire....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fur stood on end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His ears twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly—hesitantly— he turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His breath caught in his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sharp crimson eyes widened—so wide they nearly popped out of his eyelids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"R-Riley?!?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"H-How...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So many questions crashed into Cheshire's mind at once, but one stood out above all the rest—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How was Riley here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His ears twitched, his tail stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Alice brought Riley here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would've immediately noticed if she had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His master wasn't anywhere in sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn't Alice's doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that realization sent a strange chill down his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Cheshire could fully process the situation, Riley stepped forward, closing the distance between them with his usual, infuriatingly calm demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, without hesitation, he grabbed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"—?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, Cheshire tensed, but then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blinding golden light spread from Riley's hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gentle, overwhelming warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire's body, which had been on the brink of total collapse, suddenly felt... lighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The agony that had been crushing him—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, his strength returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the cursed Vorpal Sword, still embedded in his chest, began to spark and flicker—as if it were fighting for its own survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire's crimson eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is... Divinity?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze snapped to Riley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was almost a whisper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Riley, you—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know you have a lot of questions, but those can wait.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley's grip tightened, and his blue eyes turned sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For now—where is Alice?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His ears twitched in irritation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Riley was worried about Alice before anything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed, flicking his tail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I'd like to know that myself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sharp teeth bared in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those white bastards ambushed me before I could even react—took me straight to this damned place yesterday.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tilted his head slightly, glancing at the bodies of the White Knights scattered behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley followed his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was calm—too calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before Cheshire could call him out on it, the energy behind Riley's hands suddenly shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It became denser.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire's fur bristled as he felt something unfamiliar wash over him—something pure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wounds—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pain—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was barely even registering anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire's crimson eyes trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This warmth...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Felt anything like it before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like being embraced by something far beyond his understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley reached for the Vorpal Sword in Cheshire's chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It resisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fought back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But against Riley's building Divine Power—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was utterly powerless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire watched in stunned silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time in a long time, he felt something strange bubbling in his chest—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire suddenly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finally understood why all those girls—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alice. Seo. Rose. Snow. And more…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why they all fell for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley was too damn cool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his body heated up, a thick puff of grey smoke exploded around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Poof!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small, floating cat with reality-bending powers was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in his place—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A breathtakingly beautiful young woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long, silky black hair cascaded over her shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dangerously sharp smirk played at her lips, her red eyes glinting with mischief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice, now smooth and sultry, purred—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Riley, do you want to fuc—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-SHINK!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheshire's entire body jerked as Riley suddenly—without a word—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shoved the sword right back into her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-WAIT—!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face contorted in pain, her eyes tearing up instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-What are you d-d— OW! OW!! STOP—!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"OKAY, OKAY—!! I'M SORRY—!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"IT WAS A JOKE, ALRIGHT?! A JOKE—!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",3235,"2026-06-03T14:40:38.925Z",1,"novelbin.me","47780173d8cc09ba594d251c1e4ad62196043c0bcf90d1d79089e57f282e5bee","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-45","how-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-chapter-44",727,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-in-the-romance-fantasy-game-cover.jpg"]