A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

He suspected that the hidden hand possessed some ability or item that prevented students from coming this way, thus avoiding any early exposure of their scheme. Thankfully, there was no immediate danger, but if someone had an ability with such a wide range, it would be quite terrifying, even if it served no other purpose.

When his mental energy sensed a small house ahead, Su Bei crouched down and halted. In a place like this, a house had to be man-made; the school wouldn’t prepare such a thing for them, so it must have been set up by the hidden hand.

He carefully inched forward until the wooden house came into view. His mental energy could gauge the general shape of the object ahead, but details were beyond its reach; he would have to rely on his eyes.

Around the small house, several figures in uniforms moved about. Those heading out carried small boxes, while those entering mostly clutched a pile of watches. Clearly, the watches taken by the task monument had been retrieved by them.

What puzzled him was what those small boxes contained. Su Bei suspected it might be related to the increasing number of nightmare beasts.

He was still too far away to see clearly, even the fate compass above his head was indistinct. Yet he couldn’t get any closer; doing so would risk detection, and he couldn’t underestimate these people.

Even from a distance, he could tell that although they wore uniforms, they were definitely not students from his school.

He had made a point to recognize everyone for the sake of the individual combat exam. He knew all the students from classes C, D, and F, and it was impossible to overlook class A. Though he hadn’t scrutinized class B in detail, he could still recognize familiar faces.

Clearly, these individuals donned their uniforms to avoid awkward explanations should they encounter a student. For now, they had no intention of revealing their true motives.

But tonight marked the second evening, and surely by tomorrow, the conspiracy would rise to the surface. Before it revealed itself, he needed to glean some information to navigate the unfolding chaos.

How could he uncover the secrets he sought?

He was uncertain of these people’s strength, but they must possess some prowess to infiltrate the academy’s stronghold. Besides, even if they were weak, he couldn’t afford to knock one out. If one person vanished, wouldn’t the others grow suspicious?

A spark ignited!

Suddenly, Su Bei’s eyes brightened, and he slowly turned to leave, dragging his feet.

If memory served, he had passed a Nightmarish Rabbit on his way here. This creature was known for its speed, and it was not particularly strong—likely a native of this strange realm.

If he could catch this rabbit, perhaps he could make use of it.

“Finally caught you!” Gripping the black rabbit by its ears, Su Bei let out a long sigh of relief.

It was fortunate that this Nightmarish Rabbit was weak; aside from its swiftness, it possessed little else. When threatened by his gears, it quickly settled down, sensing the danger to its life.

He had to thank the swift Nightmarish Beasts he had faced before; without their training, he might not have been able to catch this rabbit. From this perspective, the academy’s training had indeed proven effective.

Returning to his previous spot with the rabbit in hand, Su Bei deliberately stirred up some noise in the nearby bushes with his gears.

“What was that sound?” With keen ears, one of them perked up, instantly alert. In a flash, three or four armed figures rushed out from a small building, cautiously making their way toward the source of the disturbance.

As they drew near, Su Bei released his hold on the Nightmarish Rabbit, allowing it to leap into view.

Upon seeing the rabbit, the group let out a collective sigh of relief. “Ah, just a Nightmarish Rabbit. Let’s take it for a snack.”

They harbored no suspicion that the rabbit had been deliberately released; after all, a group of first-year newcomers wielding powers could hardly capture a Nightmarish Rabbit in the blink of an eye to serve as a cover.

One of them activated their ability, swiftly conjuring a rope to bind the rabbit tightly. Then, he tugged at its ears, turning to join the others as they slung their arms around each other and headed back.

In that moment of their turning away, Su Bei squinted, observing closely, and finally spotted the black lightning emblem on the back of their necks.

Indeed, they were members of that organization!

Without a doubt, this was good news. After all, the conspiracy had taken shape, and rather than being embroiled with an unfamiliar group, it was better to confront one he recognized. At least for now, this was the only major antagonist organization in this twisted tale.

Regarding this organization, he knew only two things. One was his own discovery: Mo Xiaotian was a secret member of this group. The other was something he had gleaned from a comic—this organization had been scheming a plan.

The latter was useless to mention; unless he could guess what that plan was, it was merely idle gossip. Who didn’t know that an organization had its own schemes?

But the former could be put to good use. If he played his cards right, he might even infiltrate this organization directly.

Yet, he needed a strategy; after all, the real world was not as easily deceived as readers. Without the protective filter of a dimensional wall, they wouldn’t just believe whatever was said.

After some thought, Su Bei left a few trigger gears hidden in the grass not far from the house.

These were his latest inventions. If they came into contact with the fate aura of someone he had already predicted, there would be no issue. But if they encountered the fate aura of a stranger, they would simply vanish.

In other words, when Jiang Tianming and the others approached, they would lie there obediently. But when anyone else came near, they would automatically disappear.

This wasn’t too difficult; he just needed to leave a thread of mental energy on them. He had just tested the fate of Jiang Tianming and his companions; otherwise, creating them wouldn’t have been so easy.

Su Bei was merely taking a gamble. The main characters would surely come here; if they happened to discover his gears and then saw them in the comic, he could naturally lead the readers to suspect his identity.

If they didn’t find them, it was no matter; he still had other plans to consider.

After a moment of contemplation, Su Bei cautiously sent his mental energy into the houses, wanting to sense what lay within.

This action was quite dangerous; if there were any other ability users with advanced mental powers inside, they would immediately detect his presence.

Unlike him, who had gained advanced mental powers through luck, others had earned theirs through hard work, making them significantly stronger. If they discovered his mental energy at such close range, Su Bei had no chance of escape.

However, with a watch that allowed him to exit the alternate space at any time, he felt somewhat reassured. After all, he had already laid the groundwork; retreating early wouldn’t be a major issue.

His mental energy slowly seeped into the house, and fortunately, he went unnoticed. Aside from the few who had left earlier, three men in black remained in the room.

If nothing unexpected occurred, the one with the highest status among them was a man wearing a flat cap. Compared to the other two, he exuded the most danger—a sense of oppression that a powerful ability user held over a novice.

From his general movements, it seemed he was speaking into a walkie-talkie. The other two were fixated on something, likely a display screen or the like.

In the corner, another man was bound; if all went as expected, Su Bei guessed this person was Feng Lan.

If it truly was him, then Feng Lan was indeed a pitiful soul. Coming to take the monthly exam, only to be kidnapped right off the bat. A kidnapping lasting two or three days—just the thought of it was enough to drive one to despair.

Yet there was some good news: Feng Lan was, after all, unharmed. Though bound, Su Bei sensed no wounds on him through his mental energy. This indicated two things: first, the enemy had not tortured him; second, Feng Lan had not yielded.

He must have some protective talismans on him, right? Otherwise, Su Bei found it hard to comprehend why the Black Lightning Organization would refrain from harming him, or even from exerting mental control over him.

One must understand, if they could whisk Feng Lan away the moment they entered the alternate space, they must have made extensive preparations beforehand. Given that, it was only logical that they wouldn’t simply prevent Feng Lan from acting; if they could turn him to their advantage, that would be ideal.

If the lack of torture was to avoid provoking Feng Lan and the enmity of the Feng family behind him, then the absence of mental control was puzzling. After all, while such abilities were rare, Su Bei had no doubt that a villainous organization would possess at least one of this kind.

Aside from that, there was nothing particularly special in the room.

After gathering the specific intel, Su Bei decided to retreat for the time being. The sky had grown dark, and while the cover of night made it easier to stir up trouble, the enemy was clearly no fool and would surely bolster their defenses. As a rookie ability user, it was best not to challenge their lines at this moment.

As for rescuing Feng Lan—that was a thought best left unconsidered. That was a task for the main cast; he hadn’t yet reached the point of self-destruction.

After walking for another two hours, Su Bei sensed that the nightmarish beasts in the area had thinned out, and only then did he start a fire to rest.

Lying on a bed of leaves, Su Bei closed his eyes, yet his mind was busy contemplating the events at hand. The Black Lightning Organization was causing chaos in the alternate space, and sooner or later, the academy would catch wind of it.

After all, the frequency of student eliminations had suddenly dropped by more than half; unless one was particularly oblivious, they should be able to recognize the problem. Moreover, he had already informed someone to tell the teachers about Feng Lan’s disappearance, and they would surely begin an investigation.

Though Su Bei was well aware that in this comic world, the school would struggle to be of any real help during such critical times, at least once they learned of the situation, they could provide some assistance to the students trapped within.

Lost in thought, drowsiness washed over him, and he gradually drifted into sleep.

The next day, just as dawn began to break, his biological clock naturally roused him. Rubbing his eyes, Su Bei instinctively glanced at his watch.

However, as soon as his gaze fell upon it, he couldn’t help but twitch his lips. The familiar interface was gone, replaced by a glaring red warning box, boldly inscribed with a message in crimson.

—“Under no circumstances should you surrender your watch! Please check the latest tasks immediately!”

Just yesterday, he had been pondering when the school would realize the issue, and here they were responding today. With that thought, he opened the task bar and indeed saw several new tasks highlighted in red at the top.

“Special Task 1: Find students you know who do not have watches, without harming any classmates, and gather them in a safe place while protecting them.

Reward: 500 points per person.”

“Special Task 2: Students with watches, please pay close attention to the unfamiliar faces that have emerged in the forest. If possible, gather your classmates to collaborate and subdue them as best as you can. (The enemy is formidable; if you cannot handle them, shatter the glass dome and leave immediately.)

Task Reward: 2000 points per person.”

“Welfare Task 1: The free item shop is now open. If you need anything, please redeem it as soon as possible.

Task Reward: None.”

As Su Bei’s eyes caught the glimmer of the welfare task, a spark ignited within him. The academy was indeed beginning to take action; it was clear they could not forcibly breach this alternate space for the time being, resorting instead to this method to aid the students.

But any help was welcome, and Su Bei quickly returned to the main interface, where he found a new icon gleaming with the words “Item Shop.”

Upon entering, he discovered a mere ten items, yet each held significant utility:

“10-Minute Invisibility Talisman (Limit 1)”

“Walkie-Talkies (One Pair)”

“Jammer (Disrupts abilities and electronic signals)”

“Fireball Talisman (Limit 5)”

“Mini Bomb (Limit 1, Stock 37)”

“Odor Powder that Nightmares Detest”

“10 Cubic Meter Storage Bag (Limit 1)”

“Healing Potion”

“…”

*(Items obtained must be returned after leaving the alternate space.)*

In addition, there were ordinary items like ropes and daggers, which could be redeemed infinitely.

Seeing such a trove of useful goods, Su Bei wasted no time, his fingers flying over the screen as he redeemed several items. The invisibility talisman was essential, the jammer would prove useful, five fireball talismans were a must, one bomb for good measure, and he couldn’t forget the storage bag… After all, they were free, and he felt no regret in claiming them.

With each item he redeemed, a small spatial wormhole materialized before him, delivering the recently acquired goods directly from its depths.

() Before long, a heap of props piled up before him.

Gazing at the mountain of items, Su Bei first picked up the disruptor. He had never seen such a thing before; it required careful study before use.

It was a black square box, about the size of a human head, resembling a miniature telegraph machine, complete with an antenna.

Understanding that the students likely had no prior experience with such devices, a user manual was thoughtfully affixed to its surface.

Su Bei read it attentively, quickly grasping the operation of this contraption. In simple terms, by rotating the button on top, it could indiscriminately disrupt signals within a 100-meter radius, including both supernatural and electronic signals.

If it was to interfere with supernatural signals, it would cause all abilities within the disruption zone to malfunction randomly. Some would sputter like a dry pen, while others would misinterpret reality, conjuring visions that were entirely different from what was intended.

But one had to pay close attention to the dashboard on the display; if it neared the boundary, the machine had to be stopped immediately, or else the disruptor would crack and fail. The progress of the needle depended on the total strength of the abilities in play.

If the goal was merely to disrupt electronic signals, it was much simpler. This device was a product of supernatural forces, making it a breeze to handle electronic items.

Next, he examined the bomb, which was also a small black box, but only the size of a palm. When it was delivered, it came with a manual as well.

The manual stated that this bomb could be set as either a trigger bomb or a timed bomb, with a small blast radius but sufficient power to kill. It even included illustrations, making it clearer for students to understand how to use the bomb.

It was evident that the school wanted students to use bombs to eliminate their enemies; this manual was far more vivid and comprehensive than the one for the disruptor.

As for the talismans, they were simple to use—just tear them open, and they would take effect.

The spatial storage pouch resembled a small, ancient-looking bag, about the size of half a palm. It was tied with an elastic band, allowing it to be fastened to the waist.

There was no doubt about the space inside; Su Bei was merely curious if such a small opening could truly accommodate larger items. Tentatively, he pulled at the pouch’s opening, and it was like a magic trick—the small mouth expanded endlessly, until even Su Bei, stretching his arm, could not reach the end.

“Truly the power of the supernatural,” he marveled, quickly stuffing the larger props he had just acquired inside. As for the talismans, they could simply be kept in his pocket for convenience.

It was still early, just six o’clock; surely, the others had not yet awakened. Soon, the main group would likely set off toward the villain’s stronghold, and he needed to make the most of this last bit of time to see if he could do anything more.

Retracing his steps to the small cabin, he had been there yesterday, and this time, Su Bei felt quite at ease. Perhaps due to the new mission released by the school, the cabin was bustling with people—at least ten of them.

Yesterday, he had sensed that the man in the cap, presumably the leader, was speaking. Before long, with a grand gesture, everyone filed out in an orderly fashion.

This time, they carried nothing in their hands, yet their presence radiated a strong aura. Even from a distance, Su Bei could feel their excitement.

What were they up to? It was certainly not a repeat of yesterday’s mission to retrieve watches; their energy was entirely different from before.

—

In Su Bei’s heart, a suspicion began to form; it was likely that the academy’s news had raised these people’s vigilance— they were about to take a hard stance!

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The mental energy sensed the man in the duckbill cap, left alone in the small cabin, starting to fiddle with something again. Su Bei hurriedly adjusted the jammer and then activated it.

When not causing disturbances, the jammer’s electronic mode could merely detect the other party’s electronic activities.

Thus, Su Bei quickly heard the conversation between the man in the duckbill cap and his superior through the jammer’s built-in miniature earpiece.

“Yes, the Holy Son has not contacted me yet,” the man in the duckbill cap said humbly, a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor when he had been commanding his subordinates with bravado, his tone now filled with respect.

The Holy Son?

Su Bei raised an eyebrow. If all went as expected, this Holy Son should be Mo Xiaotian. He had been with Su Bei all along, which was why he hadn’t reached out to them.

But how could it be that Mo Xiaotian had become the Holy Son? The thought struck him as rather amusing.

On the other end of the line was a very deep, somewhat androgynous voice: “This matter has nothing to do with the Holy Son; avoiding contact with you to prevent exposure is only prudent.”

“You are right; the Holy Son only needs to focus on his studies for now,” the man in the duckbill cap agreed. Though he was unclear about what the Holy Son was doing at the Ability Academy, he knew it must involve significant tasks, far beyond his petty skirmishes.

“The Ability Academy has already begun to respond; I plan to capture those students ahead of time.”

“Well done. They will break through the dimensional blockade at the latest by the day after tomorrow. Before that, I want you to capture as many students as you have watches!” The androgynous leader issued the command.

“Understood!” The man in the duckbill cap replied decisively, then continued, “I noticed that the organization sent over some gadgets prepared for the students at the Ability Academy, including jammers that might interfere with electronic signals. Therefore, I will no longer be able to maintain contact with you.”

This was a cautious approach, and the leader naturally had no objections: “That’s fine; the purpose of sending you this equipment was to ensure you were prepared. Being careful is good; I have nothing else to instruct you on…”

At the moment he uttered those words, Su Bei decisively activated the jammer, connecting the call to himself.

He lowered his voice, attempting to mimic the androgynous tone as best as he could: “Oh, and there’s one more thing.”

“What is it?” The man in the duckbill cap showed no suspicion; he certainly wouldn’t think that someone could use a jammer to interfere with his call at this moment.

Moreover, although Su Bei’s imitated voice differed slightly from the true leader’s, the distinction was minimal. The phone was already somewhat distorted, diminishing the impact of such changes.

Hearing that the other party seemed to harbor no doubts, Su Bei couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. In his youth, he had been quite interested in this voice-changing ability and had specifically learned it from his father, though he hadn’t used it much after his voice changed.

—

Unexpectedly, it was now of use; indeed, skills should be abundant.

He continued in a steady voice, “Besides the Holy Son, there is also a dark line within the Academy of Abilities. If needed, you can seek his help.”

“Dark line?” The man in the duckbill cap was taken aback. “Is he one of us?”

Su Bei had no intention of joining the Black Lightning organization, so he decisively denied it. “No, he is a collaborator.”

After a moment’s thought, he added, “Signal a flare into the sky, and he will come to find you. But the cost of his assistance is steep; it’s best not to use it.”

He didn’t reveal his identity over the phone, after all, Wind Lan was still in the room. Who knew if the other party was awake or in a stupor? It was better to be cautious.

After hearing Su Bei’s words, the man in the duckbill cap felt that this collaborator seemed somewhat unreliable. But since his superior said it was possible to pay the price for help, it should be fine.

In this world, all are driven by profit; interests are the strongest bonds. From Su Bei’s few words, the man had already formed a preliminary impression of this collaborator: a capable merchant.

After hanging up, Su Bei patiently waited a while longer. Only after confirming that the man in the duckbill cap had indeed turned off all electronic devices did he feel at ease to leave.

“Shall we rest here for now?” Su Bei leisurely lay on a thick branch of a tree, five meters above the ground. Surrounding him were dense leaves, effectively concealing his figure.

As he had said before, given his persona, he would likely be the first to vanish when the protagonist group encountered danger.

Wasn’t this the perfect opportunity to disappear?

Having already buried his dark line, Su Bei truly did not intend to involve himself in this incident. Unlike the protagonist group, who could always turn peril into safety, he was genuinely at risk of death.

As a newcomer with abilities, if it weren’t for the fear that there might be a genuine need for him to step in later, he would have shattered the glass dome and exited the alternate space long ago.

From noble mtl dot com

However, Su Bei speculated that the school must have some confidence; they likely had measures in place to ensure that the vast majority of students would be safe.

Otherwise, when suddenly faced with an invasion by such a villainous organization, they would have to first allow those who could exit to leave, and then ponder how to rescue the others.

After all, they were just a group of newly enrolled ability users, not yet at the point of handling missions. The school probably also intended to use this incident to train the students, which is why they arranged for them to save themselves.