A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

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“Infinite Abilities Academy”

On his first day at Infinite Abilities Academy, Class F freshman Su Bei awakened a new ability. It was only then that he realized their world was actually a manga. And the protagonist of this manga was his classmate Jiang Tianming.

But that’s not the main point. The main point is that in the next chapter of the manga, he, Su Bei, is destined to die tragically in the restroom! This event would kick off the protagonist’s first challenge at the ability academy.

Su Bei: …

The only good news is that this chapter of the manga hasn’t been published yet. He can alter the course of the story and save himself from a cannon fodder’s fate through his actions.

As everyone knows, becoming friends with the protagonist doesn’t guarantee escape from plot-induced death, but becoming the protagonist’s enemy will certainly result in defeat at the protagonist’s hands.

Under the blazing sunlight, the golden-haired boy smiled recklessly, yet there was a hint of solemnity in his purple eyes: “Saluting you on behalf of fate, the unluckiest of the unlucky in this generation~”

Associated Names
One entry per line
漫画路人自救指南
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Role Playing the Dark Horse Character (5)
Surviving a Shounen Manga (3)
Ex Rank Supporting Role’s Replay in a Prestigious School (1)
Creator’s Favoritism (1)
The Novel’s Extra (1)
If You Don’t Become the Main Character, You’ll Die (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Male Protag (nonromance/subplot)
  2. Left for now
  3. My all time fav the hidden gem[Little to No romanc...
  4. Peak...in multiple ways
  5. Books That Will Stay With Me Forever

Latest Release

Date Group Release
07/13/25 Fenrir Realm c118
07/12/25 Fenrir Realm c117
07/12/25 Fenrir Realm c116
07/11/25 Fenrir Realm c115
07/10/25 Fenrir Realm c114
07/09/25 Fenrir Realm c113
07/08/25 Fenrir Realm c112
07/06/25 Fenrir Realm c111
07/05/25 Fenrir Realm c110
07/05/25 Fenrir Realm c109
07/04/25 Fenrir Realm c108
07/03/25 Fenrir Realm c107
07/02/25 Fenrir Realm c106
07/02/25 Fenrir Realm c105
07/02/25 Fenrir Realm c104
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33 Reviews sorted by


AmbreaTaddy
New AmbreaTaddy rated it
July 22, 2025
Status: c132
Absolutely my favorite novel so far.

I was unsure at first, I'm not really into action-packed stories, but I tried it since it was high in the rankings. And oh my lord, it didn't even take 5 chapters for me to be hooked !

The MC is clever, cunning, funny, and is never portrayed as OP. He is always struggling not to die, doing his best despite everything thrown at him. I love that.

The main storyline is intriguing and full of tension, and the diverse plots are always very fun ! Each... more>> different 'arc' takes approximately 10 to 20 chapters, so you don't get bored, it's always engaging.

I recommend ! <<less
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Modsan
New Modsan
July 20, 2025
Status: c127
I usually dont use this account but I have to admit this novel is hitting all my nice spots.

Superpowers, a bit cliche but can be really fun

Genre savy MC is always a plus for me, in addition it has very meta elements to it which I love.

Love the origin of his powers, really unique, I think ive seen something like this only a handful of times before.

Main character is a joy to read as well, a relatively normal character who has to act
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Peuleya
Peuleya rated it
November 28, 2024
Status: c336
Everyone who reviewed basically gave the general positives of this story and why I like it, so I'll just detail the cons so there's more variety so you can decide whether or not you want to read this story.

I was able to deal with the story because I was very interested in the climax. In the summary of the original publishers site adds on to the summary in this site. Basically, it says that the popular mysterious character that Su Bei is acting as will sacrifice himself for the protagonist... more>> and the forums were mourning. I don't consider this a spoiler because even if it's not on this site, that's the missing part of the summary.

The idea was refreshing and I was excited to see the reactions of the forums and characters (even if--- as a protagonist --- he might not die for real.) of such a person who was a tease to everyone around him. Playful protagonists are too cool!

The author created a unique plot with a variety of characters that you grow to care about. It was very interesting and even if it has many flaws, I will still continue to read solely for the plot and characters. These flaws are related to the original work, not the translator. I appreciate the work the translator is doing.

Why I took off 2 stars: extremely spoiler heavy. Don't read if you don't want spoilers! I repeat! If read, will be spoiled!

Spoiler

There are some parts that the author left untouched. A large portion of chapters turn into "plot points" that are unexplored. This makes the author look like they are filling pointless sentences on the screen to just get higher word counts. For example, the students had the desire to join the student council, but after over 200 chapters, I did not notice it being mentioned again. There was only a small cameo or two of the president (who was given an entire pages exploring how strong he is and how much his ability can work with Zhao Xiaoyu's buffed ability of making people happy) of the council pretty much towards the end of a major battle.

Speaking of Zhao Xiaoyu, I'm so disappointed in how she stagnated after her buff. The author said that she could even be able to instant death nightmare beasts because they were basically embodiment of negative emotions, but was never further mentioned. She should be in a training arc expanding her mental energy so she could actually be able to do something like that. She could literally be doing anything else than what she is doing and she could be better. You know why? Because she isn't doing anything!!! She has been constantly pushed to the side after her arc! Pls author! She, Si Zhaohua, and Su Bei shared laughter after such and unfortunate situation! You can't sideline her like this! I thought you'd give her more interactions with Su Bei!!! Not only her, Mu Tieren too! Sorry, I'll cut it short but I'm sad for him for the same reasons.

The characterization in the sacred land of Weixi arc was a weird. How can the protagonist group not have the slightest guilt or reaction to that cruel death of the rebel? Even if Jiang Tianming and his group are less "goody-two-shoes" than traditional shonen protagonists, they should have gotten a slight dialogue of sadness. Even pity would have been okay with me. But they were so indifferent, they became no better than Black Flash! It was like only the lives of people who are useful matter to them? That driver during village cult arc was saved but not this guy? Has the definition of righteousness changed? It felt so out of character that I got whiplash... Their only worry at that time was that Su Bei didn't get the slightest bit of blood on him because he stepped back?? Like, excuse me... He just exploded into gore. Then Su Bei... Just treated it all like a joke? Even if he was characterized as indifferent, he wasn't that indifferent. He's still a teenage boy. The author really messed up...

I was slightly uncomfortable at the use of "Destiny" the intelligence organization as a plot device. It came suddenly and was used just so Su Bei had a better explanation for why he knew so much (actually it wasn't used often in the full story, the organization never appears and fades into the back, only showing up when Su Bei needs something. Why is such a "big" organization so useless...). It felt given, not earned. Something interesting happened while this occured and also not explored, again. He was able to go back to his past and change his background to create the Destiny organization, but he only did it once and it was to give the principal of the Endless school abilities which tied that guy to Su Bei's organization.

That's it??? That's all it took to create an organization that has near unlimited information and resources? If the author cut off all the parts where he wrote something that he would never mention again, he'd be able to complete an entire arc showing Su Bei cultivating his past. That's a big deal being able to alter his past!

Though, it's true that readers may get annoyed at that because it'd be filler, but at least that could tie back to the main plot by creating a stronger backstory he could reveal to the protagonist group and readers. I don't even think it showed the founding of the organization. Just went straight to buddying up with the principal. Hopefully I accidentally skipped over it or something similar. I'd happily admit my mistake if it meant I got ANSWERS!!! I will go back to read and change this part of I see I am wrong.

Su Bei himself has gotten quite boring. Such a sly and cute guy, yet he keeps doing the same thing every time that I was able to predict the plot on my own so easily. Should I become a prophet? What I mean is, it's a simple pattern that the author keeps following. Start of something new---> Su Bei leaves and slacks off---> Main cast deals with problem---> if not completely solved Su Bei sweeps in with solution---> end. Even if he has an image to maintain, his goal is also to preserve mankind. Can't he do more things in the shadows instead of always slacking off? Hehe I do actually enjoy it though. Sometimes, too much is no good.

Ahhhh then the recent chapter got so screwed! He died with no foreshadowing. It was so sudden. More importantly, it was bland and boring! The reactions LACKED reaction! He's a popular character why are the forum users not RIOTING?!?! I endured so much for this moment so why are the emotions so lackluster?! Then he got resed just like when he snaps his fingers.

Ok, to keep things brief, I'm going to end off with saying that the original author (not the translator) really fell off with grammar in chinese. There were so many typos and mistakes he did not fix. That was manageable, though because I liked the characters interacting and plot. With mtl, you might not notice, but in Chinese, it was a bit awkward to read. Anyways if the translator is reading this, I hope you don't get discouraged by this! You're doing amazing. If you get to chapter 300, it's great that you could even make those parts readable because it means you even fixed all those typos and mistakes.

P.s. Qi Huang deserves more wins!! She keeps taking all the Ls and she keeps being done dirty. She, Li Shu and Ai Baozhu need their own arcs to compensate for lack of screen time! They need redemption!

[collapse]

Thank you for your time if you read everything.

Honestly, it's because I love the characters and story ideas so much that I only took off 2 points.

This is only my personal opinion and if you read the story and like it much better than I, that's great! I hope you enjoy!

Edit: I'm sorry. After the ending... I can't even bear to go higher than a 3... I could stand the typos (of the original work), the waning characterization, the lack of logic, the sloppy plot points that will never continue... But that ending is too much. Really? Two chapter finisher??

I followed along to the end for Su Bei but no one can fix that complete disaster of an ending.
Spoiler

The writing of Su Bei's death and resurrection was so hasty that it's horrendous. Complete in only 2 chapters.

[collapse]

Is this really the end? You really can't end it like this. You dragged it on and on and freaking forever only to abruptly end everything. You laid out an entire foundation of Su Bei's character to drag out our emotions for no reason. Then there's everything else. Forget about the plot holes. It's a plot trench. Black flash is never resolved. Foreshadowing of countless nonsense is used to stretch this novel to over 300 chapters for nothing.
Spoiler

Not to mention how his parents were mentioned over and over a soldier and a police officer as a reason why he is so strong and now it's never mentioned again

[collapse]

And what the actual hell?
Spoiler

It was good that the (author of the manga) didn't know that the entire world was real because it justified him trying to kill Su Bei off, but now you're telling me he knew it all along? He knew he was leading a world full of living beings to destruction? I can't even define my confusion and rage at this strange turn of events. This is not a satisfying plot twist. The setting was interesting. I could not blame the author of the manga, black flash who are not enemies of humanity, or even the nightmare beasts for existing. Now you tell me it's all falling apart so what was the point of reading?

[collapse]

What was writing 300 chapters for, if you did not allow Su Bei to leave with the grace you promised! In the end the character was betrayed by his own author! You might as well have trampled all over this efforts throughout the 300+ chapters! Ugh.

I have to say that the characters carried the novel but they weren't even done justice in the end...

I can admit, I am the clown for having such high expectations. But instead of at least a punch line, I was literally punched! <<less
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ahumbleshopkeeper
ahumbleshopkeeper rated it
July 12, 2024
Status: c190
PicturesqueS said everything, honestly. Just wanted to second their review. I genuinely don't understand the poor ratings. I'm so excited this novel is being translated, so I wanted to give a big thank you to the translators as well! I would love for my boi Su Bei to get more attention.

In terms of quality of plot, writing, characters, and sheer vibes, this novel comes very close to Ex Rank Supporting Role's Replay in a Prestigious School in my opinion. That's not to say you should compare them. They are very... more>> different! But - purely as a reading experience! - I believe that if you enjoy one, you'll enjoy the other. Please give it a try if you are at all interested! You won't regret it!

I should also note that this is marked as No CP (i.e. No main couple/pairing/romance) on jjwxc, which is a major pro for me personally. <<less
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PicturesqueSeeker
PicturesqueSeeker rated it
July 7, 2024
Status: c187
You don't know how fricking excited I was to have found such an amazing gem 💎

The MC, Su Bei, is a complete BREATH OF FRESH AIRRRR AHHHHH, he's so cunning and smart, playing riddles and trying his best to act mysterious towards both the protagonist and the readers, more specifically the readers since he needs their help XD MC is also constantly trying to find ways to get himself stronger and understand and explore his own powers, which he creates btw (not a spoiler).

MC and the world consciousness' relationship is... more>> pretty cute I'd say. MC is fairly smart and I love that for him.

The side characters are also soooooo refreshing. None of them are annoying at all, and all of them get their moments to shine which is what I LOVE THE MOST.

When the reveals happen, the suspense from waiting is sooo satisfying honestly.

There are no annoying girls either or annoying tropes surrounding them, all the characters are fairly good looking when described. The ratio is more boys than girls but hey, when I've been craving a good academy novel for AGES, and I finally get something as sweet as this, which even hits my good spots like c'mon, Su Bei ain't no reincarnated/regressed or transmigrated individual (to which thank god honestly!!!!), he is a literal 15 year old both physically and mentally so there's no problems getting along with his peers. And, since he's none of the above, both Su Bei and us, as the readers, learn with him about their powers in general, such as how mental power works.

Honestly, all the academy novels have been annoying the hell out of me (especially when they're so rare and mainly Korean authors only write them and get translated, which a majority suck!) and the oversexualisation of literal teenage girls in those novels disgusts me but here, that's not the case at all so I'm in love. Okay, imma stop ranting about my issues with most of the academy novels on this site.

Back to this story, I won't say anything to spoil the fun but it's got the action, the adventure, the comedy, the mystery and suspense. It's definitely worth the read and idk what's going on with the poor ratings but it's a lie!!!

Thank you to the translator for their hard work and for spreading more awareness of this great novel!!! <<less
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leeuhna
leeuhna rated it
March 15, 2025
Status: Completed
Is it worth reading?

For the first 100+ chapters, yes, but it became dragging and repetitive midway. By the time I was in the 300s, I was basically speed reading cause it became predictable and boring to me. The only thing that kept me going was my curiosity about Su Bei's ending.

Ultimately, I still finished reading the novel, including the extra chapters. Personally, I'm satisfied with the ending of the main story. The extras also showed what happened after the main story, the future (6 years later with season 3 already... more>> ended), and a different fate where Su Bei had his original Gears ability & there was no 'Manga Awareness' bothering him.

The reason why the status of the novel is still ongoing is most likely because the author plans to release more bonus chapters (based on the author's note at the end of the last extra chapter). But the novel is basically completed.

What to expect?

POSITIVES:

  • A REAL clever, cunning, strategic, and sly MC. Su Bei has quickly become one of my most favorite MCs. He's a jester, a sly fox, a slacker, likes to be behind the scenes & watch the show, and deserves an Oscar for his acting skills 😆
  • Not only is the MC clever, but most of the supporting characters are as well! They can hold their own weight, devise plans, be cunning, and are observant & perceptive. Well, except for Mo Xiaotian. But that adds to his own charm hahaha
  • The perk given to Su Bei is quite unique.
    Spoiler

    He can have any ability, have a power-up, or have a huge intelligent organization back him up (which was originally nonexistent, of course). The catch is that the majority of the readers in the real world must believe that he has that ability, that he's already in that power level, or that he has outside resources. Basically, he has to scam the readers hahaha 😂 The ways he cunningly acts and portrays himself as a mysterious character to achieve his goals and deceive both the characters in the manga & the readers are so smart 👏🏻 The ability that Su Bei made the readers believe he has is rare and unique as well.

    [collapse]
  • There's a plot point that I rarely see being used in other novels with the same premise.
    Spoiler

    Su Bei can read the manga every time it updates. He can also check the forums, interact with the readers, and even post threads himself. He uses this to his advantage to stir the readers into believing this and that. He's so clever and cunning in doing so.

    [collapse]
  • Decent story execution. The story arcs are varied and quite creative... at least in the first 100 or so chapters.
  • The pacing is good. It's not too fast yet not too slow either. It has occasional breaks in between major events.
  • Strategies are incorporated in most battle scenes. Battles are not where important characters simply bulldoze their way into the enemy ranks with brute force.
  • The supporting characters are fleshed-out. Although there are a lot of characters, each of them has their own unique personality and quirks that make them memorable in the minds of readers.
  • There's a diverse mix of genders in supporting roles, which adds balance and variety to the dynamics of characters.
  • Supporting characters are given enough spotlight and screen time about their struggles, character development, and power growth.
  • Not all supporting characters are brimming with a sense of justice, which I appreciate. Some, like Su Bei, are selfish and aren't always willing to save others. I think of this as a positive because it makes them more 3D.
  • Character relationships are slowly marinated throughout the story. It's satisfying when some characters who were at odds at first eventually got along with each other and help one another whenever they're in a pinch. I particularly like that the Class S students are considerate of each other.
  • Unlike some novels, the teachers, school & supernatural officials in this novel are not completely useless.
FALLBACKS:

  • Narration is more about telling than showing.
  • There are occasional mistakes in character names and pronouns.
  • There are a few plot holes that I spotted.
  • The part of the novel where Su Bei gets to read the manga updates and the posts & comments on the forum gets repetitive.
  • Although the author writes events for the other supporting characters to level up, after they do, their "powered-up" selves aren't really used much. It's like once they've leveled up, they're completely forgotten. They didn't have much spotlight where they could show off their power growth.
  • There are some plot points that the author introduced but was scrapped midway haphazardly... like the Student Council plot point.
  • Although the battles have strategies, most fighting scenes are not thrilling, and quite a lot of them are boring.
  • Since Su Bei is a slacker and avoids dangers & fights as much as possible, there are only a few battles where he participated. Honestly, I think the only battle where he seriously fought and used everything in his arsenal was when he fought with Si Zhaohua. While I understand that there are inevitably fewer fights because of his type of character, the author could've shown the fighting scenes of the other supporting characters in real time rather than showing their battles when Su Bei reads the manga update. Cause when he reads the manga, he often skips a lot of pages, and it felt too fast. Also, the scenes and battles are summarized. There's no thrill at all. Eventually, when I read past c200, the story became a bit boring cause there are almost no fighting scenes because there's a lack of POV from other supporting characters' battles.
  • The author could have included more POVs from other supporting characters, in addition to Su Bei's, to better develop them and make them more memorable for readers. This would also help readers form a stronger connection with these characters, especially when the MC and supporting cast are separated across different locations, battles, and story arcs.
  • While the story arcs are varied and the pacing is decent, it felt like the author was unnecessarily dragging the story too much. The pattern of events became repetitive—a major crisis will occur > Su Bei runs away before it occurs > the OG protagonists fight & solve the crisis > they get kidnapped or transported to the enemy's base > they get rescued or find a way to return themselves > manga updates and Su Bei reads it as well as checks the forum > repeat the cycle.
  • The views of most supporting characters in the original protagonist group on death seem skewed. Their reactions to death are often too nonchalant or indifferent. Although the author explains that they had experienced killing people or had seen dead bodies multiple times before, it doesn't change the fact that they are still teenagers. The author presents them as mentally mature and stable, but their reactions contradict this portrayal. Their lack of guilt or emotional response raises questions about the maturity and stability the author claims they possess. Whenever this happens, the characters feel more one-dimensional.
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Leayayay
Leayayay rated it
September 5, 2024
Status: c26
It's interesting. The characters doesn't feel flat and the story is intriguing, MC actually struggles and nobody is suddenly get s*upid syndrome, recommend as a fun reading.

I'm here to complain about something else, a minor thing, but it's bugging me. The author doesn't know process in making a manga

Which isn't a big deal, seeing they're making a novel and not making a manga, but for someone who draw, even just a bit, there's lot of details I can't ignore thats bugging me in the novel. So in the novel, the... more>> chara is in a typical Shonen manga, The narration said that its a colored manga, and the artist skills is supposedly so godly. Till this part, nothing too unusual. But then they said that while the real world update is once a week, the in novel world update isn't definitive. MC then muses that the update probably won't happen till the manga protagonist group solved the mu*der mystery, which it did.

You might be wondering what's the problem. The problem is, the MC said this after FIRST CHAPTER UPDATE. You gonna say to me they went an entire mu*der mystery arc in ONE CHAPTER??? Kindaichi needs 7 chap for one mu*der, HELL, EVEN CONAN needs 3 chapter minimum for solving that thing. AND in the manga, it's also just in beginning of season 2 and new school arc. There's plenty of character being introduced, They even specifically said there's 2 new chara joining manga protagonist group at that arc, and it's not counting appearances character like MC and others who's set to be important in future. AND YOURE TELLING ME THEY CRAM EVERYTHING FROM INTRODUCING 2 NEW ALLY, GET INVOLVED WITH mu*der MYSTERY, INVESTIGATING THE mu*der, AND CATCHING THE CULPRIT, ALL IN SAME ONE CHAPTER?!?! HOW LONG THAT sh*t IS??!! THINK OF THE PACING BRO!!!

And its supposed to be weekly update too, really good art, interesting story, LONGASS sh*t STORY, and WEEKLY UPDATE?!?!?!. If I am the artist of said story, i'll prefer to jump off a cliff. That sh*t just scream overwork 24/7.

sorry it seems like silly rant, but like, for someone who's making a novel about character in manga, the author sure doesnt know how manga work at all.

Edit: reading next chapter, turns out its bc of an 'event' for the manga author. Kinda weird its not mentioned in the manga story before tho (like manga reader in the comments praising author for the super big chapter bc damn, if no reader even noticing your effort for a longass 3chapter worth work why are you still working for them). I guess one of actual novel reader pointed out this content problem to the novel author so he added explanation <<less
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Buskervile
Buskervile
June 23, 2025
Status: c30
How is this so highly rated? After 30 chapters I can already tell whats wrong with this novel. It lacks depth. Everything is surface level. No foreshadowing, no world building, emotions and actions are disconnected (this is the biggest one). If you are a reader like me who tends to place himself in the perspective of the characters to understand their emotions and actions, then this novel is not for you.

if you read for the sake of having fun, then perhaps you would love this.

honestly I was expecting more because... more>> of the high ratings, thats probably why im extremely disappointed. <<less
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Red-like-to-read-novel
Red-like-to-read-novel rated it
October 8, 2024
Status: --
My review for this novel was JUST EXCELLENT. It's my first time I read a character like Su Bei himself! His cunningness, and slyness are just top notch! And the fact he likes slack off are just to funny hahahaha. Well, there are some plot holes but it was very satisfying story and I want everyone to enjoy our precious Su Bei in action.

... more>>
Spoiler

Alright, for spoilers. I just read all the raw chapters until chapter 269. One thing I must say THAT I ABSOLUTELY DESPISE THE MANGA AUTHOR! Just a rant from a novel reader, because the manga author really wants to kill our precious Su Bei because he had a hard time to develop him!!!! And try multiple times to trap him in a "Villain Character".

Also, I truly love that he IS THE CURRENT CHIEF of Destiny Organization!! An organization that provide info and task for points exchange and the fact he built the organization with the help of the manga awareness at the date death of his father two years ago. Literally he built such a big organization at a young age (that's mean when he was 13-14 years old)

The most important part I love the reaction of his S-class classmates hahahaha, everytime he runs away or wants to be alone there is no doubt something bad gonna happen hahahaha. They truly traumatized and want to prevent him from escaping at all cost! But they actually don't dare to prevent him from "slacking" because they knew his superpowers are just too OP. I must say they are extremely patient with him hahahaha.

There are few chapters that highlights his power, one of my favorites moments is when he defeated low-mid nightmare monsters with just a snap of his fingers but it was actually he change their fate from live to death. Although it consumes a lot of mental power and potentially also his life forces, so he must calculate in advance.

[collapse]
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Elki Acigra
Elki Acigra rated it
June 23, 2025
Status: c95
A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga seems to be your typical battle academy story but has a twist where the MC (Su Bei) finds out he's in a manga. This already makes it stand out from other stories with similar premises, which I like because those stories can often get stale when played straight (i.e no subversions).

Despite having a sort of "fourth wall break" scenario going on though, the story takes itself very seriously. No extra fourth wall breaks from the story to us, no allusions... more>> to other media or any other sort of things that might take you out of a story like this which benefits the story a lot and helps the irl readers take the story seriously.

Due to Su Bei's situation, we end up seeing the reactions of the 'readers' of the manga. I like these sections a lot because in an action-packed story such as this (and the manga of the story), there can be a lack of natural resting points for the story to slow down without having to write about the boring daily lives of the characters. This allows for the pace to be slowed down between action scenes while skimming over the parts where the plot isn't being moved forward.

Besides that, I've always loved seeing the reactions of viewers in other stories like "Genius Archer's Streaming" or "The Emperor of Solo Play" and I look forward to the points where Su Bei reacts to the readers to see his reaction to him (reactionception).

The characters, despite really being manga characters, feel alive. They all have ways of standing out and none of them feel like 2D cutouts of tropes.

Su Bei is very cunning and uses his special perks in clever ways to gain strength and keep up with the manga plot. I like the authors choice of having Su Bei be handsome despite initially being an extra that dies early. I usually see MC of other stories get labeled "average-looking" only for them to somehow get a harem, so having a MC that is just straight up handsome is a nice change of scenery for once. If there's one thing to nitpick about Su Bei it's that he seems unnaturally intelligent for a 15 year old in his first life, but I can suspend my belief since he's the MC.

The rest of the cast are cool too but I'm too lazy to make to review any longer than it already is, but trust me they're cool. <<less
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Coolerx2x
Coolerx2x rated it
March 3, 2025
Status: c93
I don't normally write reviews for series, but dang, this is a good one.

The MC is smart, but not in the lazy way where everyone else is dumb, rather the MC is very good at asking the right questions, saying the right words and at utilizing both information and people.

Yet, several other characters still come off as smart, even when up against the MC.

Most characters here are also pretty well written, and the abilities everyone uses (an how they work) is well thought out.

All in all, story's really good.
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thatoneperson0000
thatoneperson0000 rated it
August 15, 2024
Status: c171
I really enjoy this so far, glad it's being translated.

I think the main perk of this story is that the MC is particularly cunning and smart. I enjoy reading about his thought process and his inductions, especially in regards to comic tropes and cliches.

Another good thing is that the MC is also learning alongside the readers. He didn't time travel, he didn't read any volumes about the future, he doesn't start off absurdly strong. He does everything with his own ability and knowledge, which is a breath of fresh air... more>> to read after so many regressor or I-read-the-novel-and-transmigrated-in type stories.... not that I dislike those stories by any means. I really enjoy them, but I also enjoyed this story too because it's different.

Edit: Now that I've made it to c171, I've dropped it, because

Spoiler

It got a little slow for me, and it was just school vs school competition or just exam competitions for like 70 chapters.. I'm a little tired of it and it didn't seem like it was going to end soon, so I dropped it.

Also, there was an exchange program between the two schools for one arc, and I wasn't too big of a fan of that arc because they go to another country basically and one thing after another happens and the MC then the other original protagonists challenge the top student at the other school, who has a time ability. The top student, whose name is literally Elvis lol, has a draw in a one on one fight with Su Bei and Lan Subing and Si Zhaohua and gets defeated by the original protagonist I remember. I was a little put off by how... disappointing the author portrayed Alpha supernatural school (which is the other school), because you're telling me that the MC's school is so good that the top student of another school couldn't even beat some of the MC's school people? I feel like the author made the MC's school look way too good, and I'm not a huge fan of that at all, especially since it seems nationalistic. I also frankly prefer it if there's actual decent competition in stories, for instance, the Naruto Chuunin exams were done extremely well and most competitors were incredible.... unlike what is shown here, where it seems as though only the MC's school gets to be super powerful. So it got a little lame and disappointing to me tbh.

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NightSky_
NightSky_ rated it
June 21, 2025
Status: Completed
My Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 - Flawed but still Fundamentally Enjoyable)

The Core Hook is Brilliant:

Su Bei starts his first day at Infinite Abilities Academy like any other student, only to make a horrifying discovery: his world is a manga, and he's slated for a meaningless death in the very next chapter – cannon fodder to kickstart the protagonist's journey. His desperate scramble to rewrite his fate using this meta-knowledge is the novel's strong, original foundation. It takes the familiar superpowered academy setting and gives it a genuinely clever twist.

... more>> What Worked Really Well for Me:

1. Good Premise, Enjoyable Execution: The core idea isn't just interesting; it's used well. Watching Su Bei constantly analyze tropes and scheme to avoid his doom was consistently engaging. It felt refreshingly different without being overly complicated.

2. Su Bei: Clever and Self-Preserving (in a Good Way) : Su Bei is a great protagonist because he wins with his brain. He's cunning, resourceful, and always thinking steps ahead. Crucially, he doesn't just hide from the protagonist, Jiang Tianming; he strategically interacts with him when needed. His laser focus on survival and personal comfort above typical heroic ideals is central to his character and a major source of the novel's unique flavor.

3. Strong, Believable Characters: This is where the novel truly shines for me. The supporting cast, including Jiang Tianming, feel like real people with distinct personalities, motivations, and well-developed backstories explored in their own arcs. The focus on genuine camaraderie and brotherhood felt authentic and rewarding. The female characters, while not the focus, were handled well – they had their own agency and goals, weren't sexualized, and weren't defined by romance.

4. Effective, Character-Driven Humor: The comedy landed for me. A lot of it stemmed naturally from Su Bei's meta-awareness and his often hilariously self-centered strategies for survival. It was particularly funny seeing how other characters
Spoiler

(and the in-universe manga forums!)

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reacted to his blatant prioritization of his own safety and comfort over grand heroics or their expectations. And the humor came naturally from the absurd situation, Su Bei freaking out about tropes, and poking fun at shounen manga logic. The bits with the in-universe manga forums felt like sharing an inside joke with the story. This added a relatable and amusing layer.

5. "Brain-On" Relaxation: I appreciated that it was an intelligent read without being stressful. You could relax and enjoy the clever premise and character dynamics without needing to turn your brain off. It offered satisfying escapism grounded in its unique concept.

6. Solid Arc Structure: Most individual storylines felt well-contained and satisfying, with clear beginnings, middles, and ends. This made the journey enjoyable step-by-step.

Where It Fell Short (Frankly) :

1. Pacing & Structure Issues: This was noticeable. The middle section often dragged, feeling slow and meandering despite individual arcs having their own internal structure and conclusions. This made the contrast with the ending even starker.

2. The Ending (A Major Letdown) : Sadly, the conclusion is frustratingly abrupt. Resolving the core survival arc and major plot points in roughly
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two chapters

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felt rushed and unearned. It lacked the necessary development and payoff for the journey, leaving a sour note.

3. Missed Opportunities & Underdeveloped Threads: Several intriguing elements introduced with promise weren't fully realized:

Spoiler

Su Bei's Organization: The group he forms had significant potential as a tool for survival and meta-narrative manipulation, but its role and impact felt undercooked.

The Black Organization: Their ultimate fate, ending remained frustratingly vague, more of a looming threat that never fully materialized or resolved satisfactorily.

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Overall, Why I Still Recommend It:

Despite the significant flaws, especially the poor ending, I genuinely enjoyed my time with this novel. Why? The core concept is fantastic and executed with enough cleverness to carry it. Su Bei is a compelling lead precisely because of his pragmatic, self-preserving cunning. The supporting cast is genuinely well-developed and likable, and the focus on real friendship over romance was a major plus. The humor, often coming from solid meta-humor poking at shounen tropes, Su Bei's survivalist antics and others' reactions to them, worked well.

It's the strength of the characters, the unique premise, and the clever meta-humor that made me look past the structural wobbles and the disappointing finale. The novel sparked my imagination with its world and possibilities, even if it didn't fully explore them. If you appreciate smart protagonists, strong platonic dynamics, a unique twist on academy tropes, and can tolerate some narrative stumbles and a weak ending for the sake of an otherwise engaging journey, this is worth reading. I found myself genuinely enjoying Su Bei's fight against the script, even if the final chapter didn't stick the landing. <<less
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mifuyi
mifuyi rated it
February 5, 2025
Status: c100
As someone who is a very picky reader, this honestly might be one of my favourite novels ever. I even think it might be one of the best academy novels to exist. It's just so refreshing and the concept is so interesting! If you like the concept of misunderstandings (mostly created by MC) becoming reality then you'll enjoy this. Also the MC is just SO COOL and his personality is the best. He's so cunning and smart. His persona reminds me of this certain character in a video game, and... more>> I absolutely love it. His abilities are so interesting and cool as well. Everything he does is satisfying and whatever he does is very exciting and enjoyable. I love his interactions with other characters as well. Nobody is annoying at all and every character is so interesting! The plot is very enjoyable to read and every chapter just makes you want to keep reading. I binge read this novel so fast and enjoyed it quite a lot. In fact, I need more..

Definitely recommended! <<less
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Sendalf
Sendalf rated it
August 31, 2024
Status: c23
Previous comments give a good idea on what the novel is like. The only thing I don't agree with is that if you enjoy "Ex Rank Supporting Role's Replay in a Prestigious School" - you'll enjoy this novel and vice versa. I didn't like the "Ex Rank", and for that minority like me I would say that this novel so far is vastly different. Premise of this novel is that at the beginning protagonist has no knowledge of the plot nor useful superpowers and has to strategize to acquire both... more>> and manipulate the plot, whilst "Ex Rank" in my opinion looks just like abilities application show. <<less
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Conceptualized
Conceptualized rated it
June 11, 2025
Status: c81
Very fun to read. It's so funny to think about how Su Bei's whole gimmick is just aura farming, and when it works he just gets to keep said aura and whatnot. Lmao. Acting mysterious and allat. The other characters are pretty nice, too.

The novel has a fun premise as the other reviewers would agree. Finding out he is in a manga world, and he has to convince readers he's a mysterious guy that has a hidden past and cool powers, tricking his enemies.. Nothing I can complain about.

Just.. Read... more>> the novel. It's peak. <<less
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LIght Novel San
LIght Novel San rated it
March 2, 2025
Status: c65
Been trying to find some good novels with somewhat OP MC, with Misunderstandings and no Harem and finding one was enough to trigger my anger management. Thankfully, I saw this one.

I was pretty skeptical in reading this cuz I thought what if it's tr*shy, cringe, or generic?I'll probably go feral in madness. I looked through the comments and saw rather fairly good to better reviews so I read a few chapters which made me hooked. Like HOOKED!
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mrews
mrews
January 20, 2025
Status: c336
The first 100 chapters where the MC still tried not to die and building up his persona are the best part of the novel, but somewhere in the middle the writing quality gets worse and the ending which should be the grand achievement of the MC was written more so casually that there are no emotional impact whatsoever. In fact, the last 100 chapter feel more like a summary of the plot than a novel itself.

At first, I really like the characters, the MC is really fun and the other... more>> protags are also intriguing, but at the end they felt like a caricature of themselves from the first part and sidelined some of the characters after their arcs. For example the original MC, their gray morality isn't really touched upon in the end, and their OP power barely used.

Another big part of the novel is the forum where MC gets to interact with the 'real world.' YMMV about this part of the story but at least in the first part, the forums are crucial for MC to build up his characters and gain information, and it was fun to read the struggles of MC to steer the whole community to sees him in a specific way. But in the end, MC just skimmed the forum and it felt just another plot device.

It had potential, and it is a whole lot of fun for the first half of the novel, but unfortunately it fell apart at the second half. 3/5 stars <<less
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Mira Ozan
Mira Ozan rated it
January 16, 2025
Status: c60
I find the plot really refreshing and really enjoy the unique ways the MC uses things to his advantage (My Favourite parts has to be the irl reader shiping him with other dudes-)

I wish the chapters were released more frequent/consistently since I really do enjoy it and it is translated very well so I can immerse myself easily. My only hope is that the Translators dont drop this so that I may be able to continue to read this TvT <3

08 May 2025 : I think it has... more>> been dropped by the translator... Its been 2 months 😭 <<less
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amesical
amesical rated it
October 30, 2024
Status: c336
I'm quite fond of our fox-like MC here! The cast also grows on you quickly and its a nice casual read if you dont mind the slow pacing at times. The progression of mc's powers with both him and us (readers) learning about the world/plot is fun

No harem/romance (so far) too as an FYI for some people who look at that when it comes to these series

Edit - the ending felt incredibly rushed... there were so many plot holes left untouched that it practically induces trypophobia. I feel demotivated to... more>> even read the extras : ( <<less
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Sleepy Dreamzzz rated it
June 30, 2025
Status: c103
As of writing this review I have not finished the novel yet.

I was genuinely surprised by how much I liked these characters. Even with a big cast, the characters really do grow on you. The author also managed to give them distinct personalities, which shows through their thoughts and actions throughout the story.

From what I've read, the plot and worldbuilding seems quite good, with every little detail being addressed by both the author and the readers of the canon manga. As someone who has not read many Chinese novels, the... more>> story beat was refreshing and seems like a ne take on the "isekaied with a system" trope.

I would recommend reading it. There really isn't any egregious flaw that jumped out at me after reading the first 100 chapters. The translators do a good job as well. <<less
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Lihua
Lihua rated it
June 16, 2025
Status: c86
4 words: I absolutely love it.

I love the characters, I love the friendship between everyone and their antics, and most importantly I love Su Bei.

I love reading the irl comments after the manga updates, also love Su Bei getting more powerful.

Also, thanks to the translator for the frequent updates! I love it!
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