How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 260: Calm down my ladies..

The skies had turned a foreboding shade of red, a haunting hue that stretched endlessly above.

The luminous ground below shimmered with unnatural colors, teeming with towering mushrooms and unrecognizable plants.

Each was frozen in intricate, crystalline layers of ice, forming an ever-expanding canvas of otherworldly beauty and eerie stillness.

Alice hovered high above, her broom steady beneath her as her iconic wide-brimmed hat cast a shadow over her golden eyes.

She surveyed the frozen battlefield with an air of quiet intrigue, her gaze shifting to the figure below.

Her expression softened, a mix of concern and faint triumph settling on her features. ”Had enough?” Alice called out, her voice steady but tinged with compassion as she observed her junior.

Snow stood amidst the chaos; her figure small yet defiant against the surreal backdrop.

Her breath came in shallow gasps, her hands trembling as she gripped her wand. Frustration gnawed at her like a persistent flame, threatening to consume the pride she always carried.

She looked up at Alice, her icy blue eyes shimmering with a mix of exhaustion and determination. ”This is... unfair...” Snow mumbled, her voice cracking slightly.

She raised her wand, though the once-dense and overwhelming mana that coursed through her now felt pitifully thin.

Her grip tightened as if willing more power to surface, but it was no use.

Ever since stepping into this strange domain, the mana had felt boundless, an endless ocean to draw from.

Yet, the moment Alice had summoned her Four Red Knights, everything changed.

Those crimson-armored figures moved with an oppressive presence, suppressing Snowʼs abilities and severing her connection to the vast reservoir of energy sheʼd been tapping into. Her mind replayed the moment the knights appeared-silent, steadfast, and devastatingly efficient.

They cut through her spells and isolated her powers as if they were drawn from some ancient, unfathomable force. ʼThose knights...ʼ

Snow clenched her teeth, frustration boiling over.

Their oppressive aura made her feel both strong and utterly vulnerable. It wasnʼt just the knights, though.

Aliceʼs overwhelming army of red-armored soldiers moved in perfect unison, corralling Snow like a trapped animal.

Every attempt she made to push forward was met with a calculated response, her movements restricted, her spells countered with ease.

Aliceʼs strategy left no room for mistakes, her summons forming an unyielding wall that chipped away at Snowʼs resolve with every passing moment.

Snowʼs hands tightened around her wand, her knuckles turning white.

No matter how many of the red soldiers she managed to cut down, more would appear.

They werenʼt just numerous-they were relentless, overwhelming her defenses and keeping her from even touching Alice.

Alice was more than a prodigy-she was a symbol of unparalleled brilliance in the magical world.

Her reputation extended far beyond the walls of the academy, hailed as a genius destined to ascend to the rank of archmage, if not surpass it entirely.

Snow had always known of Aliceʼs prowess.

Even without witnessing her in combat, stories of her extraordinary skill and talent were hard to ignore.

Yet seeing her in action now, Snow realized the gap between them was far greater than sheʼd ever imagined.

Alice didnʼt just radiate the power of a prodigious mage.

No, this was something more-something that transcended the ordinary boundaries of what even the most gifted archmages could achieve.

Her every movement, every spell, carried a weight that felt unshakable, an aura that was almost oppressive.

Snowʼs gaze lingered on Alice as she hovered effortlessly above, her golden eyes shining with calm intensity. ʼThis isnʼt normal...ʼ Snow thought, her grip tightening on her wand.

Was it the domain they were trapped in? That had to be it.

This surreal, fantastical realm was no ordinary battlefield-it was a creation of Aliceʼs familiar, Cheshire.

It made sense that the domain would inherently favor its caster, granting Alice a distinct advantage.

But Snowʼs analytical mind quickly identified something deeper at play.

She had felt it from the moment they began their battle.

The rules of this world were different.

Mana flowed freely, as though the limits imposed by reality had been stripped away.

Snowʼs most powerful spells, [Frost Domain] and [Frozen Heart], which typically required immense focus, mana and exacting control, had taken on an entirely new dimension here.

The usual constraints-mana depletion, coordinate calculations, physical exhaustion, and even mental strain-seemed nonexistent. ʼNo upper limits... no repercussions...ʼ Snow mused, her mind racing.

She had capitalized on this anomaly, pushing her magic to levels she hadnʼt dared to imagine before.

Her ice constructs had become more intricate, her mana reserves seemingly infinite.

For a time, it felt as though she was fighting on even footing with Alice.

But now, as she stood amidst the frozen battlefield, drained and vulnerable, Snow understood the harsh truth: this domain wasnʼt just a boon for her.

It was a double-edged sword.

While she had marveled at her newfound strength, Alice had been doing far more. She wasnʼt just using the domain-she was mastering it.

Every spell Alice cast, every move she made, felt perfectly attuned to the world around them.

Her army of red knights moved with a precision that bordered on omnipotence, cutting off Snowʼs every attempt to push forward.

The crimson-armored soldiers werenʼt just a manifestation of Aliceʼs power; they were an extension of her will, wielding the domain itself as a weapon.

In a world where rules seemed to dissolve, bending effortlessly to Aliceʼs will, it was clear that this domain was as much her ally as her weapon.

From the moment the battle began, the outcome had been all but decided. Snow had fought valiantly, but even she could not deny the inevitable conclusion.

Letting out a long, reluctant sigh, Snow inhaled deeply, steadying herself as she lowered her wand.

The tension in the frozen landscape seemed to dissipate as she finally spoke, her voice carrying a begrudging edge. ”You win...” she admitted, her brow twitching with annoyance. She watched as Alice descended gracefully, the red knights and army that had dominated Snowʼs frozen terrain kneeling in reverence as their queen landed.

Aliceʼs boots touched the icy ground with an air of triumph, her golden eyes glinting mischievously. ”Hm~ and here I thought youʼd be a bit more hardheaded, Princess~,” she teased, her voice lilting with amusement.

Snowʼs expression remained stoic, though her annoyance was evident in the subtle tightening of her grip on her wand. ”I know my limits. And besides, thereʼs no merit in continuing this pointless fight.”

Alice tilted her head, feigning surprise as a playful smirk spread across her lips. ”Thatʼs true~ but... you were the one who started it, you know that, right?”

Snowʼs cold gaze flicked toward Alice, her irritation briefly breaking through her composed demeanor. ”If I recall correctly, you were the one spouting nonsense about fate and destiny, already claiming Riley as yours.” ”Oh my, but it is the honest truth~” Alice replied with an almost theatrical tone, placing a hand on her chest as if reciting a grand proclamation. ”Whether you like it or not, Your Highness, our dear Junior is bound to be together with me~.”

Snowʼs eyes narrowed, her usual icy demeanor hardening further.

Though she refused to let her emotions cloud her judgment this time, the sheer confidence radiating from Alice was difficult to ignore.

Snow couldnʼt comprehend where this unshakable certainty came from-nor could she deny the unnerving truth laced within Aliceʼs words. ”So, since you lost, youʼll keep your promise, right~?” Alice asked with unmistakable triumph, puffing out her chest like a victorious queen.

Snowʼs brows twitched in visible irritation.

Every fiber of her being bristled against the agreement-especially since it involved Riley.

Yet, a deal was a deal. ”Fine...” she replied begrudgingly, her voice strained as if she were forcing the words out against her will. ”Hehe~,” Alice giggled mischievously, clearly reveling in her win. ”But only for an hour...” ”Donʼt worry~,” Alice chimed, her grin widening. ”Thatʼs more than enough time to discuss things~.”

Snow couldnʼt help but narrow her eyes at the cryptic statement.

Her curiosity was piqued despite her irritation.

What could Alice possibly want to discuss privately with Riley?

Normally, Snow might have brushed it off-after all, even as Rileyʼs girlfriend, she understood there were parts of his life she couldnʼt and shouldnʼt control.

But this wasnʼt a normal circumstance.

No, this was Alice, who was openly and unapologetically gunning for Riley, whether she realized it or not.

And it was precisely because Snow was Rileyʼs girlfriend that she couldnʼt let her guard down.

If Alice thought she could worm her way into his life unchecked, Snow wasnʼt about to stand idly by. Alice, meanwhile, looked thoroughly satisfied with the outcome.

With an air of finality, she clapped her hands together, signaling that their little bout had reached its conclusion. ”Now then- Cheshire, if you could please-”

BOOM! Before Alice could finish her sentence, a deafening explosion erupted behind them, cutting her words short.

The ground beneath their feet shook violently as a fiery plume of mana-infused energy shot into the air.

Both girls turned instinctively toward the source of the blast, their momentary rivalry forgotten in the face of the unexpected chaos.

BZZT!

GRACKKELL!!

ZZZZTTTT!!!

A cacophony of clanking metal and strange, otherworldly noises reverberated through the air as the ground trembled beneath the aftermath of the explosion.

From the billowing smoke, two enormous, glowing red eyes pierced the haze, glaring menacingly at everything around them.

Emerging from the rubble, a grotesque amalgamation of machinery revealed itself-a creature unlike anything either Alice or Snow had ever seen.

Tentacle-like metallic appendages writhed and flexed, lifting a central orb-like structure that pulsed with an eerie blue light.

Inside the orb, a dense crystal of pure mana radiated power, its glow almost hypnotic.

Though alien in design, the entity bore a striking resemblance to a spider—a massive, metallic spider, its limbs crafted from an intricate lattice of shimmering steel and arcane conduits. ”Geez~ hahaha, this place sure is weird, Papa!”

A voice, high-pitched and eerily cheerful, echoed from within the mechanical monstrosity. ”The mana output here is way too high! Itʼs like magic just bends to imagination!” she exclaimed, her words spilling out in rapid-fire succession. ”Hehe, but itʼs made my rusty edges even sharper. Though, looks like there are certain rules at play before anything meaningful can manifest! Is it because Iʼm not imagining enough? Or is it because I donʼt fully understand the concepts Iʼm trying to bring to life? But I triple-checked my calculations! itʼs because Iʼm just a fragment? Ah, Papa, you need to imagine me as a bit more

Maybe capable if you want to-”

Her rambling echoed ceaselessly from within the metallic spider-like machine, her words as relentless as the movements of the creature itself.

The entity shifted and adjusted, its appendages clawing at the ground as if testing its newfound form.

Alice and Snow, standing side by side in the face of the strange entity, exchanged wary glances. Neither spoke, their breaths held as they tightened their grips on their respective wands. The overwhelming presence of the spider-like construct radiated a mixture of raw power and chaotic energy.