Chapter 315 - A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

### Chapter 315 Although the crisis in Afri-Nation was resolved once the Guardian Spirit lost its energy, it took a considerable amount of time to quell the aftermath of the incident completely. It's not just about resolving the sudden appearance of Nightmare Beasts; the subsequent rehabilitation work demands time and effort. The author has surprisingly not updated this chapter of the manga immediately after the event concluded. Su Bei reckoned that the reconstruction would be part of the ongoing storyline, and the manga probably won't update until Jiang Tianming and the others return to their home country. During this period, Su Bei continuously gathered news about Afri-Nation from his class group, the official website, and the "Fate" organization's database. From the class group, he learned about Jiang Tianming and the others' activities. As superhumans, their primary task was to eliminate the Nightmare Beasts, a job that ordinary people could handle in other respects. For the past two days, Jiang Tianming and the team were busy clearing the Nightmare Beasts that suddenly appeared in Afri-Nation. They also collaborated with superhumans sent by the academy to investigate the origin of these beasts. Typically, it's quite challenging for Nightmare Beasts to conceal themselves on a large scale in the human world. Wherever an entry point to the alternate space appears in a country, it's usually heavily guarded. Even invisible Nightmare Beasts find it hard to escape. So far, the only method humans have found for wild Nightmare Beasts to enter the human world is through an alternate space entry point. Hence, they suspected the existence of an undiscovered entrance causing the continuous influx of these beasts. Su Bei had the same suspicion. The "Black Lightning" organization certainly controls several entry points. If they decided to cooperate with the Nightmare Beasts and let them emerge from these entry points, it would indeed be quite terrifying. Notably, among those sent for support was Meng Huai, which almost confirmed to Su Bei that there was still some plot left in Afri-Nation. If there weren't, there would be no need to send Teacher Meng there. As the teacher of the protagonist group, he should have some significance. As expected, after two days of battling Nightmare Beasts, the protagonist group encountered a small problem. Jiang Tianming mentioned in the group chat that someone seemed to be targeting them. Recently, they often encountered Advanced Nightmare Beasts when venturing out alone to eliminate these creatures. Even though numerous Nightmare Beasts appeared in Afri-Nation this time, Advanced Nightmare Beasts were still a rarity. To encounter so many at once could only indicate that someone was indeed targeting them. But why target them? Ai Baozhu found this deeply puzzling. While she always held herself in high regard, she wasn't so conceited as to think that the Nightmare Beasts would bypass all the powerful superhumans to specifically target a few minors. True, minors are indeed the flowers of the nation, and they are the most vibrant and beautiful among them. But compared to the already matured fruits, these flowers are still less practical. Such targeting inevitably raises questions about whether slaying a chicken with a butcher’s knife is worth it—as they say, although this particular butcher’s knife hasn’t managed to kill the chicken yet. Clearly, they were too involved to see the forest for the trees. As an observer, Su Bei saw clearly that the Nightmare Beasts were evidently targeting Wu Mingbai! You see, their collective presence in Afri-Nation must be for Gaodi Anzhuo. Whether to turn him fully into a Nightmare Beast or to obtain the earth-element energy on him, either outcome would be beneficial for the Nightmare Beasts. But the eventual outcome was that Wu Mingbai reaped all the benefits due to his bloodline, while they gained nothing, suffering heavy losses in the process. These Nightmare Beasts from the Nightmare World couldn’t return now, as the "Black Lightning" organization couldn’t expose their possession of alternate space entry points just to accommodate them. And crucially, even if they didn’t obtain any energy after eliminating the Guardian Spirit, it was still a win for the Nightmare Beasts because the Guardian Spirit supported humanity and was exceptionally powerful. Once He was dead, the balance between humans and Nightmare Beasts would undeniably shift. Thus, certain sacrifices were deemed worthwhile. However, Wu Mingbai absorbed all the Guardian Spirit’s energy, which significantly altered the situation. Even if he couldn’t fully absorb and utilize the energy for a long while, it was still a colossal loss for the Nightmare Beasts. There was no reason for the Nightmare Beasts not to target Wu Mingbai, the biggest beneficiary of circumstances. But Su Bei also understood that they hadn't thought of this because they weren't aware that the Nightmare Beasts knew about it. At that time, only the people from Class S and the king's guards were present. There was no way a Nightmare Beast could enter the castle. Logically speaking, the Nightmare Beasts shouldn't know about this. Except for them, nobody should be aware of Wu Mingbai’s absorption of the earth elements if they kept it secret. Unfortunately, this is the manga world. If no one knew about Wu Mingbai absorbing the earth element, wouldn’t it eliminate a lot of trouble? The author wouldn’t abandon such a storyline, so Su Bei knew from the start that this couldn't stay hidden. The difference was whether it got exposed first to the "Black Lightning" organization or to the Nightmare Beasts. Wu Mingbai hadn't fully absorbed the earth element energy and was merely storing it within his body. Absorbing it entirely would be a long process. Thus, he was constantly battling the Nightmare Beasts, using his superpower and mental power to speed up absorption. From the frequency of their chats, it was clear that Wu Mingbai was much busier than the others, hardly speaking these days. What could be seen from the official website was naturally various disaster relief information. Historically, no country has ever done good deeds anonymously; the countries that sent support were all boasting on their own official websites. Afri-Nation, as the recipient, graciously helped in the publicity. Additionally, the Guardian Spirit of Afri-Nation had become history. The Afri-Nation’s official website announced His death but did not disclose anything about Wu Mingbai. As a prince, even if Wu Mingbai didn't plan to stay in Afri-Nation, the king wouldn't publicize this matter, risking his safety. It’s curious how Wu Mingbai convinced the king to let him leave. Su Bei had assumed that upon return, he could learn about this part of the plot through the manga; however, intriguingly, the manga hadn't updated. Lastly, the information obtained from the "Fate" organization was mainly about the "Black Lightning" organization. To others, the "Black Lightning" organization’s activities in Afri-Nation were secret. But to the "Fate" organization, despite strict news prohibitions from "Black Lightning," numerous leaks emerged after the incident. For instance, there were reports of "Black Lightning" operatives near the castle, a superpower device from a leader's research being activated, a rumor that "Black Lightning" dispatched two teams for operations in Afri-Nation, and a portion of their organization went missing... All intelligence hinted at Afri-Nation's turmoil being closely tied to the "Black Lightning" organization, yet it was unclear what exactly they had done. However, considering the occurrences in Afri-Nation, their actions likely pointed to two possibilities. One, they intended to study the Guardian Spirit, having done something to Him. Or two, they wanted to destroy the Guardian Spirit and had teamed up with the Nightmare Beasts. If it was the former, nothing much could be said. The "Black Lightning" organization habitually utilized the guise of research to commit atrocities, disregarding public safety for the study of the Guardian Spirit was quite plausible. Inevitably, the astute ones perceived that the "Black Lightning" organization and the Nightmare Beasts’ plans had too much overlap lately. Previously, "Black Lightning" mainly targeted superhumans, with their dealings with Nightmare Beasts rarely emerging publicly. Apart from participating in a few battles to help humans eliminate Nightmare Beasts, news of their association with Nightmare Beasts was scarce. Yet recently, there had been successive incidents where "Black Lightning" members appeared in the same scenarios as the Nightmare Beasts. Although each incident had a logical explanation, the general feeling was off. Su Bei noticed someone offering bounty points to ask whether the “Black Lightning” organization was collaborating with Nightmare Beasts, within their knowledge network. Frankly, he really wanted to provide a definitive answer since the “Fate” organization’s confidentiality measures were robust enough that even the leader wouldn’t be able to track down who answered. But clearly, he couldn’t. Firstly, such an answer required evidence. A mere “yes” wouldn’t suffice, not even for the “Fate” organization to ascertain the truth, let alone reassure the questioner. Moreover, unveiling the "Black Lightning" conspiracy prematurely might disrupt the author’s plans, which could lead to unforeseen issues. Given that the author holds absolute interpretative power over the manga, Su Bei tended to change some plot details adaptively at the moment, like saving the king this time. Although the king’s survival might deprive the author of some preset plotlines, the scene of him saving the king could fill in the missing parts, mitigating potential issues. As for planting foreshadowing, Su Bei would like to, but considering he is just a manga character trying to lay seeds that disrupt the storyline, it would be shortsighted. The earlier he stirred things up, the more time the author had to react; he’d risk being sidelined by his own plans rather than embedding any plot devices. The impending storyline requiring Su Bei's involvement seemed distant, which led to a comforting thought: he might have a leisurely summer vacation free of any other issues. Despite this, the break isn't genuinely for relaxation. As every teacher has claimed, it's a golden opportunity to accelerate ahead. Since he didn't plan to immerse himself in the storyline to advance, he decided to bolster his knowledge reserves instead. Compared to the grind outside, laying back in bed while memorizing knowledge points seemed much more pleasant. After a comfortable week back home, Su Bei awoke to find not a single message in the group chat. Considering how talkative this bunch usually was, often staying up late and rising early due to their duties, the sheer absence of messages was peculiar. Furrowing his brows, he sensed something plot-related brewing on that end. Sure enough, that evening, Su Bei heard the "Manga Awareness" chime: "King of Superpowers has been updated, please check it out." Upon opening his phone to read the manga, the previous plot had progressed to their late-night gathering post-family reunion banquet, where some information was hinted at for upcoming storylines. During breakfast, Lan Subing quietly complained about the intel Ling You had mentioned the previous day. Ling You listened silently, occasionally nodding in agreement at the absurdity of it all. Next came a cheerful celebration. Although there weren't any particularly interesting programs at the festivities, such peaceful daily scenes are genuinely delightful in a shonen manga. But those brief moments of daily life swiftly passed—Su Bei's disappearance, the earthquake, and the subsequent disaster relief—all happened so unexpectedly that it left no time for reaction, merely pushing everyone into action. These days, readers were not surprised by his sudden vanishing act. Su Bei even noticed a comment thread saying, "It's touching that Su Bei at least says something before running off." What image he currently held in people's minds was anyone's guess, but it certainly suited his purposes. Satisfied, Su Bei nodded and continued reading. The earlier plot was unrelated to him, and thanks to Li Shu's live stream, he was aware of most of its content. He selectively skimmed through, searching for parts he was unfamiliar with. First was Mo Xiaotian's actions. In the manga, he carefully merged into the air, clumsily entering the castle. He accidentally bumped into a vase, nearly tripped down a staircase, as if performing a silent comedy. Yet, Su Bei couldn't find any laughter. Was this invisibility seamless? Su Bei had known that Mo Xiaotian hadn't appeared recently due to significant progress, but he hadn't expected such a drastic improvement. Invisibility itself was a divine skill, particularly his type that blends into the air, rendering it almost undetectable. Su Bei even noticed in the manga how Mo Xiaotian airified half his body to avoid colliding with two maids descending the staircase. His defensive capabilities were maxed out. Though clearly this ability couldn't be maintained indefinitely, sparing usage during extreme attacks could yield significant advantages. Readers were just as astonished. "Xiaotian, did you secretly undergo hyper-evolution?" "Such a powerful skill! I knew the [Air] superpower must be strong!" "Everyone's making progress, huh?" "I really want this skill for urban jungle survival, folks!" "Invisibility achievement unlocked." "What's he doing at the castle? Smells like conspiracy." Apart from this segment, there was another plot point that occurred before his appearance, something he didn't know. Li Shu received a call, and upon recognizing the caller ID, his demeanor immediately darkened. Although Li Shu had always exuded the deranged brilliance of a pink-haired character initially, aside from his early interactions with Jiang Tianming, he'd been relatively normal thereafter. But judging from this frame alone, Su Bei had no doubt that Li Shu could immediately snap into a maniacal villain hellbent on world destruction. Whose call would trigger such an intense reaction? Su Bei couldn't help but feel curious. The author didn’t withhold the answer. The next page revealed "Father" displayed on the phone screen. Ah, it’s the trope of a negative family figure. Su Bei, well-versed in manga tropes, showed an understanding expression immediately. Many manga characters possess such relatives—some malevolent, others domineering, some skilled in manipulation, or possessing overwhelming control... In any event, their existence often leads to the character's psychological issues. Though an old trope, it's remained timeless. Li Shu apparently fell into this category. The protagonist group in "King of Superpowers" had numerous familial plotlines, yet each uniquely different. Jiang Tianming's parents’ demise held deep ties to his initial two superpowers. Wu Mingbai, whose storyline just concluded, found his royal family from a foreign nation. Mu Tieren’s tale also intertwined with relatives: an uncle trying to control him and a father whose main aim was research, despite having helped him. Zhou Renjie’s family brought him negative impacts, although more significant troubles lay with his entire conniving family, which hardly nurtures good people. Feng Lan’s situation involved an uncle colluding with the "Black Lightning" organization, causing a tragedy seemingly worse than Zhou Renjie's since Zhou volunteered as a mole, while Feng Lan was dragged into conflict. Wu Jin’s father being headmaster of the "Infinite Superpower Academy" alone warranted inclusion in storylines. Mo Xiaotian unsurprisingly had a grandfather as the "Black Lightning" leader, ranking him alongside Wu Jin as one of "King's" major influential connections. As for the rest, their families seemed unrelated to the plot: Zhao Xiaoyu’s relatives were thoroughly ordinary, Lan Subing and Qi Huang had loving parents, Ling You was closely bonded to her mother, while Ai Baozhu and Si Zhaohua hailed from prominent families, leaving no plot opportunities. Li Shu had never mentioned his parents, with family visiting once during the academy’s open day. Reflecting back, Li Shu scarcely left a presence the entire day. This father seemed to follow a different style from other relatives, eliciting curiosity about specific storylines ahead. Truthfully, Su Bei wasn't fond of such narratives, especially knowing this as a manga world, where preset narrative structures weren't warmly welcomed. For him, as a proper throwaway character, the author likely wouldn't intricately design a family background, probably opting for orphanhood status. Parental death served as his precondition for being a throwaway, an effect not a cause, naturally occurring outside the author's design. It ensured no puppeteer pulling the strings for his parents' demise. In contrast, the protagonist group's family backgrounds, particularly those woven into plots, were clearly authored. Choices of life could still fall under their personal principles but family backgrounds were purely designed, leading to a sense of helplessness. If he was conceived with such background, or if his parents died at the author's whim for added hardships, Su Bei would entirely consider crossing dimensions to revenge the author. Redirecting his imagination, he resumed reading the manga. Li Shu's face darkened enough while contemplating before answering the call. The other side casually commanded, "It's time to return, Li Shu." Li Shu’s pink eyes trembled slightly before respectfully complying, "Yes, Father, I understand." By now, Su Bei understood this father’s character type—a domineering figure with absolute control, likely a smiling tiger with façade. What kind of plots would such a man introduce? Readers, equally curious, swarmed the comment section. "This father doesn't seem to be a decent person." "I'm still wondering about Li Shu's family background." "Li Shu looks so gloomy!" "I can sniff a side story coming." "That’s the real yandere expression—announce a plan for world destruction and I’d believe it." "Is it finally Li Shu’s story arc?" "Gut feeling Li Shu’s family is no good (why did I say ‘again’?)" Flipping quickly, Su Bei soon reached the storyline where Wu Mingbai infiltrated the castle. He had witnessed the entire scene through his tablet, except for how Wu Mingbai communicated with Gaodi Anzhuo. This was clarified in the manga. Stimulated by the threat of death, Wu Mingbai successfully achieved mental resonance through the earth elements permeating the air, connecting with Gaodi Anzhuo’s buried rational side. The manga depicted these scenes perilously, which was indeed true in reality. Due to Wu Mingbai's prior instructions, Ai Baozhu had activated her powers barely a moment before the light sphere’s impact—a second slower, and Wu Mingbai would likely be a corpse now. However, compared with those brief moments of danger in reality, the manga’s depiction of peril was far more vivid, resonating deeply with readers. [In the pitch-black abyss, Gaodi Anzhuo briefly explained his current predicament and origins, then posed a question to Wu Mingbai: "If you were me, what choice would you make now?" He asked with great sincerity, yet there was an indescribable sense of danger, as if a wrong answer could lead to complete catastrophe. Wu Mingbai dropped his false smile, contemplated seriously, and responded, "Without rationality, I'd rather die. But before that, I'd do my utmost to take down those who caused this." It was unclear if Gaodi Anzhuo found satisfaction with this answer; he sighed deeply and said, "I’m incapable of avenging myself. Would you be willing to find the one who altered the faith energy and avenge me?" Unquestionably, this was a troublesome task, possibly spanning years, if it could even be completed at all. Nevertheless, Wu Mingbai agreed: "I’m willing." "Why?" Gaodi Anzhuo, taken aback, briefly suspected perfunctory motives behind the willingness, and his aura grew menacing. Unfazed, Wu Mingbai retained his typically naive grin. "Well, after all, you're my ancestor, aren't you?" Gaodi Anzhuo fell silent for a moment, then emerged from his aggressive, near-uncontrollable mindset with a chuckle: "In that case, let me, as your ancestor, offer you one last protection."] This exchange revealed how Wu Mingbai came to inherit Gaodi Anzhuo’s immense power. What seemed like a mundane dialogue was fraught with danger. Gaodi Anzhuo asked three questions in total—and judging by the dark, ominous aura enveloping him while posing these questions—it was clear that a single misstep would have left Wu Mingbai far from unharmed, let alone granting him any substantial benefits. For someone not naturally gifted to avoid all pitfalls and even unlock a hidden bonus under such pressure speaks volumes—justice indeed prevails. As for Wu Mingbai's sincerity in his responses, Su Bei estimated there was a genuine element to them, at least eighty to ninety percent. Whether driven by gratitude as a human or a natural inclination to stir up chaos, Wu Mingbai truly wanted to seek vengeance for Gaodi Anzhuo. His final answer was simply a clever play on words.