How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

[Heaven's Passage]

This thing…

Although it was clearly just a system message on the surface, the lack of a detailed description gave it an air of mystery.

It wasn't like the usual rewards or notifications I had encountered before.

The fact that it provided no context or explanation strongly suggested that it could only be fully understood—or activated—after reaching the end of the trials.

Based on the accompanying system notification regarding the Evil God, it seemed less like a traditional reward and more like an invitation.

And if my hunch was correct, the likelihood of it being an invitation from the Goddess of Light herself was high.

For what purpose? To what end? That remained unclear.

The possibilities raced through my mind.

If the Goddess of Light truly had a hand in this, accepting the invitation might lead me closer to the answers I'd been seeking—answers to the mysteries surrounding my existence in this world, the abnormalities in my journey, and the strange divergence from the game's original script.

Still, the sheer vagueness of it all was enough to make me pause.

Would this invitation help me unravel the truth, or would it throw me into an even deeper abyss of uncertainty?

For now, all I could do was prepare myself mentally.

If it truly was an invitation, I'd likely need to face it eventually, and when the time came, I would accept it.

Ignoring such a significant event—one that could potentially change everything—wasn't an option.

I scrolled through the remaining system messages, briefly skimming over them. Some were important, while others were as trivial as I expected.

None of them demanded my immediate attention, but the steady flow of notifications served as a reminder of just how far I had come.

Looking back at the long road I'd traveled to get here, it felt as though my journey was far from over.

If anything, the path ahead seemed even more uncertain, the challenges even greater.

And yet, amidst the constant forward momentum, the idea of taking a small break didn't seem so unreasonable.

A moment of rest wouldn't hurt—but that didn't mean I could afford to slack off entirely.

Ever since I'd started pushing myself, training my body had become second nature, a habit deeply ingrained in my mind and muscle.

The lack of proper gym equipment wasn't an excuse to stop.

"A simple jog and some calisthenics will have to do for now," I murmured, rising to my feet.

The cool air brushed against my skin as I stepped outside, stretching lightly before beginning a slow, steady jog.

The rhythmic sound of my footsteps on the ground, the steady beat of my heart, and the feeling of my muscles working reminded me of the importance of keeping myself physically prepared.

An hour or two of exercise was enough to clear my mind and shake off the weight of lingering thoughts. By the time I finished, exhaustion crept over me, but it wasn't unwelcome.

…..

The next day—or at least what I assumed was the next day, based on my calculations—started much the same as the days before.

Walking, running, resting. Then walking and running again, followed by more resting.

The monotonous alternation between these activities, stretched across the seemingly endless, barren roads, wasn't exactly pleasant.

The atmosphere, while warm and somewhat comforting, did little to stave off the creeping boredom that began to gnaw at my resolve.

The worst part?

With my increased stats, my body was brimming with restless energy, desperate for an outlet.

The constant repetition of this dull routine only made that feeling stronger, an itch I couldn't scratch.

It would've been nice to divert my path—to take one of the branching roads I occasionally spotted in the distance.

I had no doubt those paths led to other trials, ones that might offer new challenges or at least break the tedium.

But the system's warnings were crystal clear:

[Note: Do not attempt another trial. Your current physical and mental state is not suited for further challenges.]

The message had been blunt, leaving little room for argument.

Wel in the first place.

I doubted any actual legend of old would have the audacity to place me in another trial without good reason.

And, the possibility of encountering another trial like the one I had last time, that might dredge up another vivid image of my past, the memories I'd been desperately trying to bury—was a risk I wasn't willing to take.

For now, all I could do was keep moving forward.

That was the plan, at least.

But as the days dragged on, what should've been a relatively straightforward journey began to stretch beyond my expectations.

I'd been counting the days, keeping careful track of my progress.

By my calculations, I should've reached the end of this road by now.

And yet, the barren path stretched on endlessly before me.

"Hey, system, you're not messing with me, are you?"

The translucent interface flickered briefly in response.

[Note: …..]

I sighed, kicking a small rock off the road. It skittered across the ground, vanishing into the horizon. "Thanks for nothing."

And so, I kept going.

Step after step, day after day, the same repetitive cycle continued until my sense of time began to blur. I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep this up before my patience wore thin.

Then, finally—after what felt like an eternity—the barren landscape began to shift.

A faint glow appeared in the distance, growing brighter with each step I took.

My heart quickened as the system chimed, breaking the long silence.

[Congratulations! You have reached the end of your road!]

I stopped, staring ahead as the glow intensified, illuminating a massive archway carved from gleaming stone.

"So, this is it,"

The end of the road.

Just like in the game, the end of the road led to what appeared to be an abandoned church—or perhaps a temple-like sanctuary.

It radiated an ancient reverence, a sacred air untouched by time, clearly dedicated to the Goddess above by the civilizations of old.

This was no ordinary place of worship. It was said to have been built by her first followers, the pioneers of faith in this world, and the very first apostles of her divine will.

The structure itself was as extravagant as it was grand yet bore a simplicity that hinted at its ancient origins.

Towering white stone pillars lined the sanctuary, their surfaces glowing faintly with golden, ethereal energy, like veins of divinity running through their core.

They shimmered gently, casting a serene, almost dreamlike atmosphere over the entire area.

And there, standing in the heart of it all, was the Goddess's statue.

A colossal, awe-inspiring figure carved with such precision that it was said to be the most accurate depiction of her in existence.

Her serene gaze and graceful posture conveyed both power and compassion, radiating an undeniable presence that could humble even the most stubborn nonbeliever.

In the game, this was a place where legends came to life. A sanctuary embodying the grandeur and mystique of an era long past.

Under any other circumstances, I might've allowed myself to take it all in. To admire the breathtaking sight of this holy site and revel in the feeling of standing amidst a piece of living legend.

But I couldn't afford to do so…

"So, you're finally here," a familiar voice echoed through the sanctuary, calm yet tinged with faint amusement. "Took you long enough."

I froze, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end as I turned toward the voice.

"You…"

Seated casually at the base of the Goddess's massive statue, as if it were a throne, was someone I never thought I'd ever see except behind my mind and dreams….

Golden blonde hair, clear deep-blue eyes, and a face that mirrored my own in nearly every way.

There were subtle differences, just enough to remind me that he wasn't me—not exactly.

His expression carried a maturity that came with age and what seemd to be proper wisdom, and though he had the same intense gaze I often saw when I looked in the mirror, there was an edge to it.

A weight that hinted at experiences I couldn't yet comprehend.

It was like staring into an aged, perfected copy of myself.

It was him.

Or rather, it was me.

The other Riley.

In full flesh and blood, sitting nonchalantly before me as if he got tired with waiting…

Crossing his legs with an air of nonchalance, the other Riley casually raised a hand and snapped his fingers.

SNAP!

The sharp sound echoed through the sanctuary, reverberating off the ancient pillars.

In an instant, a glowing system notification window materialized in front of me, the translucent interface filled with cryptic text.

"Now then, let's end this tutorial, shall we?" he said, his tone calm yet dripping with an infuriating confidence.

My eyes darted to the glowing messages.

[System Notification]

[Note: Tutorial breakthrough attempting progress…]

[Note: Trial interference detected…]

[Fixing problems…]

[Trial maintenance appl—]

[Note: Trial interference granted permission…]

[Note: Trial rewards will now be temporarily delayed.]

[Note: Tutorial breakthrough will now be in progress.]

[Do you wish to proceed?]

[Yes/No]

I frowned.

The notifications weren't unusual in themselves, but the content—specifically the ominous undertones—left me uneasy.

[Note: Tutorial will only end after user life presence is confirmed to be ZERO.]

I froze, the words glaring back at me like a death sentence.

"Wha—"

"Clench your stomach, Riley,"

Before the meaning of his words could register, he was already moving.

BOOM!

A fist drove into my gut with unrelenting force, knocking the wind out of me in an instant.

"UGH!!"

The sheer impact made me stumble back several steps, nearly losing my balance as pain exploded through my core. My vision blurred for a moment, and I had to fight to stay conscious.

The force behind his punch was monstrous.

It felt like my insides had been rearranged, and despite my A-rank in Strength, it didn't seem to matter.

"Get up, Riley Hell,"

There was no malice in his tone—at least, not overtly—but the sheer disdain, as if I were nothing more than a weak imitation, was palpable.

Gritting my teeth against the pain as I struggled to steady myself.

'Fuck… '

Even with my stats maxed, that still hurt like hell…