Chapter 300 - A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

Chapter 300 Another reason is that the quality of the alternates can hardly compare to the main team. The third-year students generally possess the best physical conditions, making them slightly superior in objective terms compared to the other two grades. Therefore, the main team is usually selected from third-year students. Within a grade, finding five top-tier excellent students whose superpowers are suitable for competition is already challenging. The rest will inevitably be of a lesser caliber. At the "Infinite Superpower Academy," the presence of the protagonist team makes this year's talent pool more formidable. In comparison, other schools would only be in a worse state. So, most of the remaining alternates are not as strong as Qi Huang; many are individuals with single-target attacks or support-type powers. They might hold out for a while, but ultimately, resolving the crisis would fall on Qi Huang. [The Doctor clearly understands this. If Qi Huang's mental power isn't restored, and she truly collapses, that would be everyone's nightmare. At this time, a person dressed rather opulently, looking like a hotel manager, stepped forward, "The others can hold up for a while. Qi Huang, would you come with me for a moment? I'll take you to rest." As they attempted to leave, the Gourd Nightmare Beast did not stop them. Mainly because Qi Huang's damage was truly high, the Nightmare Beasts were dying in droves, and the Gourd Nightmare Beast was concerned. If all these lower and mid-level Nightmare Beasts died, it would be left defenseless. Qi Huang was taken on a winding path by the manager to a chamber. As he opened the door, he introduced, "Here, I have a treasure called 'Untitled,' painted by a superpower master of the 'Artist' ability from a hundred years ago, and it's a family heirloom. Observing the artwork not only restores mental power but also has a slim chance of breaking through power limits. Though the probability is minuscule, one of my ancestors experienced a breakout after admiring it, soaring to new heights. You have ten minutes to use it. How much you grasp depends on you. I will knock to call you when the time is up."] Watching Qi Huang in the manga, who was increasingly tense with a keen sense of vigilance, her hands behind her igniting with phoenix flames, Su Bei couldn't help but chuckle softly. It was clear Qi Huang was deeply suspicious of the manager's intentions for bringing her there. Had the manager been a second slower in explaining, he might have been reduced to ashes by Qi Huang. Unexpectedly, the manager offered "Untitled" for Qi Huang's "level up," which Su Bei did not anticipate. However, considering the manager's position in the Cespia world championship designated hotel, it was not surprising. Though not immensely powerful in superpowers, a person like that would undoubtedly have some treasures. Such is the privilege of the protagonist team. If it were him, Su Bei was certain that unless he maxed out his luck, encounters like these would never present themselves. The 'Untitled' painting appeared at first glance to be a blank piece of yellowed sheepskin paper, but in Qi Huang's eyes, it transformed into a grand depiction of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix. As expected, her superpower was purified. From the original phoenix flame, it evolved into a true Unquenchable Fire. No method could extinguish this fire. Once it clung, it burned eternally. [Qi Huang's powers surged, and just as the Gourd Nightmare Beast was about to target the unconscious, defenseless Mu Yunfan and others, Qi Huang promptly returned. Returning fearlessly, she directly confronted the Gourd Nightmare Beast, intending to capture the king first. Defeating it meant the other beasts posed no threat. The Gourd Nightmare Beast did not know that in just ten short minutes, Qi Huang had not only restored her mental power but achieved a qualitative leap in her ability. As before, when Qi Huang launched an attack, the beast absorbed the attack into its belly. However, the effect was entirely different this time. The Unquenchable Fire continuously grew, and the Gourd Nightmare Beast felt its body growing hotter, the internal heat rapidly increasing. Sensing imminent danger, it frantically expelled the flames from its belly. But it was futile, never-ending flames burned within, its belly growing ever fuller. Finally, with a loud "bang," the Gourd Nightmare Beast exploded. Everything settled.] The manga ended here, precisely at the climax. Su Bei felt a sense of awe. This time, Qi Huang had made substantial gains. In the future, even without any special skills, simply releasing her flames would be akin to a massive area attack. As long as a Nightmare Beast bore flames on its body, they could spread to others. Much like Ling You’s power, "Plague," which autonomously spread outwards. Beyond its contagious nature, the feature of the Unquenchable Fire – its inability to be extinguished – was truly remarkable. This meant it discarded all the common vulnerabilities of traditional flames. Unless Qi Huang retracted it, or everything it clung to was burned away, the flames would not extinguish. Though certainly not without a countermeasure, it was clear Qi Huang had made significant progress compared to before. "Awesome!" "Qi Huang truly turned a disaster into a blessing, amazing." "Such a powerful evolution in ability." "I bet Jiang and the others will be completely bewildered by Qi Huang's transformation." "Finally, evolution favors our Qi Huang." "Could this attack help Qi Huang run for the student council secretary?" "So envious, I wish I had such a superpower." The word 'envy' had worn thin for Su Bei, he sighed and continued reading. The manga returned to the illusion. Armed with accurate information from a clown, Jiang Tianming and his group began forming strategies. Now, spreading the intelligence wasn't the priority; letting the clown, as a native of the illusion, handle it was the best method. Their interference might only breed mistrust. Jiang Tianming and the others’ primary task was contemplating their escape from this environment. The academy's prescribed method of escape was no longer viable. They lacked the confidence for a forceful breach. Alternative methods had to be sought. By sheer coincidence, Su Bei’s decision to have the clown spread the message sparked inspiration in them, making them realize the clown might hold more secrets. Why else would they spread intelligence if not directed by the task? Could they autonomously assist competitors as well? Before delving into these questions, it was crucial to inform the uninformed Su Bei in the team. The manga dedicated a panel to the chat interface on Su Bei’s watch, documenting this conversation. Here, Su Bei revealed his prior knowledge of the murderous nature of the illusions, orchestrating the clown's role to impart this truth. For comprehensive understanding, the manga next showcased exactly how Su Bei discovered these issues and recruited the clown, replayed through detailed flashbacks. "Oh my God! Su Bei, is there anything you don't know?" "Su Bei was aware of this all along? Why wasn’t everyone warned earlier?" "Kudos to Su Bei for orchestrating the clown's truth reveal, and boos to the author for the malicious plot!" "So this was found out, advanced mental power, indeed beneficial." "I'm relieved it wasn’t discovered before entering the illusion." "Su Bei truly is an intelligence broker." "Turns out the clowns are playing good guys? I always thought they seemed eerie." "Lol, Brother Bei, how come you're still talking about your own points?" "I suspect Su Bei must've really hit the jackpot by now." Su Bei was surprised to find that when validating his hypotheses, the scene where he casually cut a small wound on his arm sparked quite a bit of discussion. Among them, some felt his pain, others speculated wildly that he might have masochistic tendencies. Although Su Bei felt this unnecessary, it was understandable. Readers sometimes like to add a touch of tragedy to their beloved characters, driving their protective instincts. But what’s with that subset of readers going "hiss ha hiss ha"? The manga transitioned back from the flashbacks, focusing on the supporting characters. The clowns' message reached not only the protagonists but many supporting characters who had bought the intel with points. Realizing they had genuinely killed many, several characters broke down. As students sheltered in the academic ivory tower, despite their formidable superpowers, many had never taken a life. Most, even when killing enemies for the first time, couldn’t avoid the inevitable guilt that followed. Furthermore, the first time they killed, their targets were those who were merely temporary opponents and their own kind. The overwhelming guilt immediately crushed those students whose psychological maturity hadn't fully developed. This situation highlighted the protagonist team's maturity and composure. Despite being two years younger, they quickly accepted this heavy news and began devising strategies. As members of the protagonist team, while they enjoyed many opportunities, they also faced numerous dangers. Gains and losses always go hand in hand. The scene then shifted to Elvis and Huangfu Mingzhe. Their response was fairly swift, recovering quickly from their psychological turmoil and attempting breakthroughs through their respective methods. Huangfu Mingzhe tried to forcefully break through the illusion, while Elvis opted to seek the array's core. After detailing the others' situations, the story returned to Jiang Tianming's group. Their plan to find a breakthrough through the clowns led them to the amusement park where they sought to contact the clowns. After several conversations, everyone vaguely realized there was something off about the clowns, as if they were always guiding something, making them wary. Finally, Jiang Tianming saw through the truth, realizing the clowns were guiding them to lie. But if they lied to the clowns, something bad might happen. Unfortunately, his realization came too late, or perhaps it wouldn't have mattered if noticed earlier. With the condition of ten liars fulfilled, the clowns activated a purge mode. Their method of killing was straightforward: chasing someone to physically attack with a saw. If anyone dared retaliate, they would trigger a rage mode, increasing their speed by 200%. Once they caught up with their target, they would self-destruct. The clowns' self-destruction was immensely powerful and instantaneous. Once a student was judged to be within the blast radius, an explosion would occur, impossible to evade. Only a few superpowers could defend against the explosion, and the top-tier ability "Word Spirit" was among them. Lan Subing, exceedingly clever, used "Word Spirit" to sever the clowns from their purge mode, resolving the threat efficiently. It dawned on Su Bei then why that particular clown could answer their questions honestly instead of lurking like other clowns, ready to detonate. It was because it had been "restored." The clown, detached from its purge mode, dutifully answered their questions, revealing that their purge mode was added a second before the competition began. No wonder the Cespia organizers found nothing wrong before. If all clowns could be released from purge mode, he could transport everyone out of the illusion. Lan Subing's mental power wasn't enough to change all the clowns, prompting them to think of Su Bei. After Su Bei mentioned Elvis, they sought Elvis again. Finding Elvis, Elvis raised his issues, and they turned back to Su Bei. Su Bei, already aware of subsequent events, rapidly flipped to the last page after hearing the summarized highlights. In the end, the group managed to deactivate the clowns' purge mode. In the next moment, a massive black hole appeared in the illusion's sky, pulling everyone in. And thus, the manga concluded. Having read through both chapters and understood all preceding events, Su Bei exhaled deeply. The plot seemed fine, with nothing unknown to him—a reassuring outcome. Still, Su Bei couldn't shake the feeling of something being a bit off, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly. Nonetheless, any unattended issues likely pertained to Jiang Tianming's affairs. Safely in his hotel room, there was no chance of a nightmare beast’s ambush. Opening the forum, the top thread discussed the storyline. "The nightmare beasts orchestrated this; Jiang Jiang and the others should be transported to the nightmare beast world, right?" [84 Laundry Detergent No.0: Upon reflection, the nightmare beast world remains the most perilous for superpower users since it's their domain, making it easy to transport them there without effort, offering much to gain and little to lose.] [No.1: Who says there’s nothing to lose? Jiang Jiang and his friends will surely cause a huge ruckus there, making them regret their choice in no time.] [No.2 replies to No.1: Hahahaha] [No.3 replies to No.2: Laughing to death] [No.4: I also think it’s the nightmare beast world—it’s hard to get out and tougher to receive help.] [...] [No.21: This conclusion is too obvious. I doubt they'd hide them in such a well-known place. It must be somewhere unexpected.] [No.22 replies to No.21: That's sensible, but can you share a deduction?] [No.23 replies to No.21: Let me throw out a wild guess—they’ve been teleported to the hotel.] [No.24 replies to No.23: Hahaha, that’s absurd!] [No.25: In that case, I guess they've been sent to 'Infinite Superpower Academy.'] [No.26 replies to No.25: A bold guess!] [...] [No.57: Does anyone think this move of transporting people to their domain feels familiar?] [No.58 replies to No.57: I don't get it, are you referring to 'King of Superpowers' where such tactics are common, or something else?] [No.59 replies to No.57: 'King of Superpowers.'] [No.60: I think 57 is hinting at the 'Black Lightning' organization's tactics? They like to trap people and use teleportation arrays.] [No.61 replies to No.60: Makes sense!] [No.62: So, is 57 implying that the latter teleportation might not be part of the nightmare beast’s plan, but the 'Black Lightning' organization's interference?] [No.63: 'Black Lightning' hasn't appeared for a while now.] [No.64: I recall they're holed up, researching ways to exterminate nightmare beasts completely. If they've finally come out, I’m curious about their findings.] [No.65: I always wondered since we're in the illusion—if the beasts could transport them to their world, why not do it immediately for maximum effect? If 'Black Lightning' orchestrated the latter teleportation, it makes sense.] [No.66 replies to No.65: I disagree; the nightmare beasts might have wanted to see them tear each other apart first. Destroying their morale is far more interesting to them than simple killings.] [No.67 replies to No.66: Certainly something the author would devise.] [No.68: I can’t imagine how I’d feel learning the truth midway through—after killing so many classmates, the guilt must be crushing.] [No.69: To be fair, these students show decent psychological resilience. Not many break down; they quickly accept reality without resorting to kill everyone else.] [No.70 replies to No.69: That would be too dark... though.] [...] [No.122: Finally, will the long-absent 'Black Lightning' make an appearance? Villain fans rejoice!] [No.123: Can we have Cyril appear? I adore him!] [No.124: I liked that beautiful lady Gong Yuzhi from last time.] [No.125: I wish to see Ye Lin, Meng Huai, and Lei Ze'en meet. The love-hate tension among the three should be resolved, though it’s mainly Ye Lin’s grudge.] [No.126: When will the author tease the 'Fate' organization again?] [No.127 replies to No.126: Agreed! Our 'Fate' is quite popular too, you know?] [No.128: When will Brother Bei reveal something about 'Fate' to the viewers? I've been curious for ages.] [...] [No.184: Hasn’t anyone considered the possibility of 'Black Lightning' colluding with the nightmare beasts? Why does everyone separate them?] [No.185 replies to No.184: Definitely not.] [No.186 replies to No.184: During the previous nightmare beast crisis, 'Black Lightning' contributed significantly, and their ultimate goal is to eliminate nightmare beasts. How would linking with them benefit 'Black Lightning’?] [No.187: We villains have our standards too, okay?] [No.188: There's a deep-seated animosity between the two sides, isn't there? How could anyone think they'd collaborate? Even if the 'Black Lightning' organization were willing, I doubt the Nightmare Beasts would be.] [No.189: Instead of pondering what might be wrong with the 'Black Lightning' organization, shouldn't we be questioning Cespia? The inept organizers let the Nightmare Beasts cause so much chaos during the competition.] [No.190 replies to No.189: Agreed, maybe they should just step down.] After reading this thread, Su Bei's expression changed subtly. He finally realized what he felt he had overlooked earlier. As the thread suggests, the method of transferring people does resemble the 'Black Lightning' organization's tactics, and they indeed hadn't appeared for a long time. However, unlike the forum readers, Su Bei does not believe that the 'Black Lightning' organization is incapable of collaborating with the Nightmare Beasts. They have the foundations and conditions for cooperation. Firstly, if the 'Black Lightning' organization truly wished to collaborate, the Nightmare Beasts would never refuse. The Nightmare Beasts are devoid of ethics and morals; collaborating with anyone works in their favor because they can immediately turn hostile the moment there are no benefits, with no hesitation whatsoever. On the 'Black Lightning' organization's side, if this were the past when their objectives hadn't changed, Su Bei would also believe they'd never collaborate with the Nightmare Beasts. Specifically, undermining their own strength with such an action benefits them in no way. But things are different now. If the 'Black Lightning' organization truly discovered through their subterranean research that the Nightmare Beasts cannot revert to humans, they would realize their prior efforts were in vain. For others, this might not be a big deal—they are young enough to start over any time. But the organization leader is different; his age no longer permits embarking on new research from scratch. Moreover, his initial aim in researching a means to revert Nightmare Beasts to humans was to restore his wife to human form. This is immensely more important to him than eradicating the Nightmare Beasts entirely. Now faced with shattered hope, Su Bei wouldn’t be surprised by any drastic actions the leader might take in this manga world. Honestly, this isn't the first time the 'Black Lightning' organization has surprised observers with their decisions. Every time Su Bei sees how they utilize their research, he is astonished at their bafflingly unique thought processes. If this incident does involve collaboration between the 'Black Lightning' organization and the Nightmare Beasts, it would only signify that the leader has completely abandoned allegiance to humanity. Otherwise, he would never take such a ruthless stance against so many students. Of course, this only reflects the organization leader's mindset. The other members or Mo Xiaotian may not share his perspective. They could be unknowingly misled into executing this plan or might genuinely align with his views.