A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

Chapter 297

Perched in the tree for a full half-hour, Su Bei’s ears caught the chime of Manga Consciousness: the manga had updated.

Updating at this moment… Su Bei lowered his eyes thoughtfully. It seemed the author planned to split the competition into two chapters, each distinct. If the first was the standard match, the second was obvious—the Nightmare Beasts’ plot would fully erupt.

Su Bei knew the amusement park would soon become far less dangerous. Competitors would gradually learn that killing here meant real death. Once aware, they’d stop, as continuing would be deliberate murder, excusable only in ignorance.

Most Nightmare Beasts were likely outside, confronting teachers when they noticed something amiss. The beast army in the Nightmare Beast world would probably swarm then too.

In the Illusion, Su Bei wasn’t sure how many real Nightmare Beasts were present, but they’d surely planned for the truth being uncovered.

From the tree, he put himself in their shoes. If he were a Nightmare Beast, what would he do when Ability Users realized death here was real?

He’d tamper with the escape methods.

Since winning by killing everyone was off the table, other ways out were needed. Most kids wouldn’t wait passively for teachers to save them.

As noted, there were three ways to clear an Illusion. Though one was seemingly lost, all three remained.

Su Bei didn’t believe the author wouldn’t include another plot-based escape, especially with the clowns’ evident hidden story. He just couldn’t trigger it.

Forcibly breaking the Illusion was impossible, leaving plot-based or array eye methods. Plot-based was easiest for traps—midway twists could hide detours.

His array eye method could also be rigged, like fake eyes in similar spots, where a clown stepping in triggered a deadly vortex.

He was sure his was real because his luck was good then, not fake-trap material, and the haunted house was the protagonist group’s spawn point—a prime manga spot for an array eye.

Having found a true exit, he didn’t need the plot. With competitors no longer targeting him, he’d be safer.

But that didn’t mean he could roam freely. With clowns likely compromised, who knew if they’d attack indiscriminately? Clowns, ranked with High-Level Nightmare Beasts, had significant attack power.

As a frail bystander, Su Bei didn’t want to face them head-on.

Jumping down, he sought another hideout. The park’s trees weren’t dense—mostly decorative, not for hiding.

Both haunted houses were off-limits. After the Illusion’s flaw was exposed, others would also think to break array eyes, making them exploration hotspots.

Though competitors wouldn’t eliminate him now, their presence meant danger.

Where else could he hide? Scanning around, he settled on the park’s circling train. It seemed exposed, but when he’d toured with the clown, he’d asked about it. The train, staff-free, had five stops, pausing two minutes each, looping endlessly.

On it, Su Bei would be airborne most of the time, avoiding clowns and odd looks for a constantly moving train. Normally, no student would check it in a crisis—its speed was slower than walking.

He boarded quickly. The aerial sightseeing car was novel, especially in this setting.

From the window, he saw competitors and beasts clearly—some fighting beasts, some rivals, some heading to his clue’s haunted house.

Reminded by one’s path, he checked his watch. His points broke 2000—several bought his intel.

The clown was efficient, netting many clients in an hour. He hadn’t barred buyers from sharing, so with five teams—twenty-five people—spreading it, soon all students would know.

His task done, Su Bei lounged in the cabin, resting. He wasn’t sure what’d happen next. It seemed he was out of it, but with protagonists around, vigilance was key.

No phone or notebook in the match left him idle. Sleeping wasn’t an option—this wasn’t as safe as the Saint Spirit Sky Banyan. He could only recall Illusion knowledge.

Illusion collapse didn’t harm those inside, but accompanying phenomena like eruptions, earthquakes, or tsunamis could, crafted by strong Illusionists to deal real damage.

Su Bei feared a Vixi Island repeat—everyone in the park suffering. Unlike Vixi, he couldn’t find the park’s “Destiny” here.

But he’d prepared an escape. If the park collapsed, he could leave first.

“Ding ding!”

His watch’s call alert sounded, tuned low by Su Bei. Normally, it’d be silent, but his spot was safe enough for some noise.

It was Jiang Tianming.

[Jiang Tianming: Su Bei, send us 500 points. We got an intel task.]

Su Bei: “…”

Was their intel task his?

Definitely. He chuckled, sending 500 points. Left hand to right—no issue.

Half an hour later, Jiang Tianming shared the 500-point intel.

[Si Zhaohua: Our guess was right—the Illusion’s flawed.]

[Lan Subing: How many have died already…]

[Wu Mingbai: Plenty left, I bet.]

[Jiang Tianming: Su Bei, let’s meet up? It’s a Nightmare Beast plot—together’s safer.]

[Su Bei: You genuinely think it’s safer with you?]

[Jiang Tianming: …]

[Lan Subing: …]

[Wu Mingbai: …]

[Si Zhaohua: …]

[Si Zhaohua: You knew already?]

He guessed? Su Bei raised an eyebrow.

[Su Bei: Hmm?]

[Si Zhaohua: I knew it. Why didn’t you tell us?]

[Jiang Tianming: The clown’s intel—was that you?]

[Su Bei: Wow, I’m impressed by your smarts.]

[Lan Subing: …Seriously? You didn’t tell us earlier, fine, but we just mentioned buying from the clown, and you didn’t say it was yours?]

[Si Zhaohua: Too much.]

[Wu Mingbai: Su Bei, think the teachers can see this?]

If earlier questions were jokes, Wu Mingbai’s hit hard, making Su Bei sweat. He grimaced, realizing he’d forgotten.

The match was live-streamed. Even if Jiram, under Nightmare Beast control, hid some parts, recordings could be recovered. His actions would be exposed.

His moves—finding an exit and spreading intel—were reasonable. Selling intel could be justified as more trustworthy than free info.

But would outsiders, or Meng Huai, buy it? He could already foresee the iron fists and lectures awaiting.

Wearing a pained mask, he replied stubbornly, “So what? I did good,” then closed the watch, sulking.

The situation shifted two hours later. His points hit 7750, no longer rising by 500s. The Illusion’s flaw was widespread—no more buyers.

This triggered the Nightmare Beasts’ backup plan. Su Bei heard chaos below—clowns chasing people with chainsaws. Once comical, they were now terrifying, the park eerie.

But he wasn’t too concerned, wondering why no one fought back.

These elite competitors shouldn’t just flee from clowns, even strong ones.

Soon, he saw why. As the train passed, a clown exploded after being attacked. The blast was massive—Su Bei felt heat from his cabin ten meters up, let alone those facing it.

The attacker, a Fire Ability User, miscalculated. The explosion wasn’t fire but energy-based. Heat-resistant, he couldn’t block real damage.

Seeing the charred, possibly dead boy, Su Bei sighed silently, hoping the damage wasn’t fully real.

The second chapter was indeed far riskier, but he’d secured an escape.

He didn’t leave yet—outside dangers persisted. Leaving now was trading one peril for another. Only when the crisis here neared its end would outside be safer.

Below, people fled, dodging clowns. Lacking mobility skills, clowns were fast but outmaneuverable by some Ability Users.

Flying Ability Users were safest, many taking to the skies.

Si Zhaohua, with his [Angel] Ability, was among them, his white wings glowing faintly.

Teacher Li’s warning was apt—normally, flying like a target would get him shot down in a minute.

Perhaps sensing Su Bei’s gaze, Si Zhaohua locked eyes with him.

Su Bei: “…”

Si Zhaohua: “…”

Not quite a hometown reunion, but close. Si Zhaohua flew over, amazed: “You’re here?”

“Hiding, obviously,” Su Bei opened the cabin door. Si Zhaohua slipped in, folding his wings.

Seeing Su Bei vacation-like, Si Zhaohua grumbled inwardly but was thrilled to meet a teammate. The joy lasted a second—his gaze fell on the charred body below, his expression heavy.

“When did you know the Illusion was off?” he asked, sighing.

He trusted Su Bei didn’t know beforehand—otherwise, why enter willingly? Even with outside dangers, teachers made it safer.

“Not long after entering,” Su Bei said truthfully.

To avoid questions, he shifted: “Weren’t you together? Why split?”

Si Zhaohua sighed: “Clowns chased us. Five’s too big a target—hard to hide or run—so we split.”

On the clown chase, Su Bei had questions. With an insider here, he asked: “Why are they hunting you?”

“You’re asking the right guy—we were there,” Si Zhaohua said, explaining. “Someone lied to a clown, who said it was the tenth liar. Too many bad kids in the park, so it started purge mode. You know the rest.”

As expected—lying to clowns was trouble. Su Bei nodded, suspecting their lie-baiting had a catch, but not a collective one.

Answering, Si Zhaohua asked urgently: “Know how to leave?”

The longer they stayed, the more died. After confirming the Illusion’s flaw, they’d sought escape methods. Teachers hadn’t pulled them out, meaning outside issues—self-rescue was needed.

Self-rescue wasn’t too risky before—competitor conflicts were the main threat, with Nightmare Beasts less so. Only High-Level ones posed danger, and they were few.

But trying to get escape methods from clowns backfired, triggering purge mode, turning easy mode into hard.

Now, they sought escape under clown pursuit, exponentially harder. Seeing Su Bei, he hoped for a solution.

Sadly, though Su Bei had a way, he wouldn’t share: “There’s only a few ways—you learned them.”

Normally, breaking array eyes or killing beasts worked, but in a manga, telling others would prompt the author to block it for plot progression, dooming Su Bei.

Seeing no direct answer, Si Zhaohua guessed he had a way but wouldn’t share. Shaking his head, he prepared to leave. Safe here, he wasn’t one to hide—he wanted to solve the issue.

As he spread his wings, he turned back, blue eyes curious: “How many points do we have?”

Su Bei’s 500-point intel meant even one or two buyers added up. Knowing it was him, they were curious.

Su Bei gestured “seven”: “7700.”

Si Zhaohua gasped. Nearly 8000—they’d given him 2000. Elvis’ mid-upper team had 4000; Su Bei nearly carried them to first alone.

“Pity…” His excitement faded. With this situation, the competition might not continue, or they’d restart, wasting the points.

Su Bei knew what he meant, scoffing: “Forgot how I earned them?”

Without this, he wouldn’t have so many. Blessings and curses intertwined. As Si Zhaohua said, it was a pity—busy all day, back to square one.

Su Bei had accepted it, treating it as a personal achievement.

After his friend left, he prepared to leave the train. It was nice but too far from the haunted house. To avoid missing the window, he needed to move closer.

Luck was great—maintaining max luck with Mental Energy, he reached the haunted house unimpeded.

He discovered a clown pattern: a chasing clown wouldn’t switch targets unless it lost them, then wandered until finding an un-chased person.

In the enclosed space, he heard running and chainsaws. Knowing clowns wouldn’t switch to him, he strolled confidently to the center.

Other chased competitors stared at him like he was a ghost, some resentful—why wasn’t he chased?

Ignoring them, he hid in a skull-decorated treasure chest in the center, ready to escape via the array eye if the Illusion went haywire.

But plans didn’t match reality—things didn’t go as expected.

“Ding ding!”

His watch pinged.

Checking, the latest message was from Jiang Tianming.

[Jiang Tianming: We want to change the clowns’ Destiny. Can you help?]