After I, the Comic's Protagonist, Became a Cannon Fodder

In a city of supernatural powers, demons and monsters run rampant.

Xie Zhao was once one of the strongest ability users, a heaven-blessed prodigy worthy of his name and someone everyone looked up to.

Then an unexpected incident caused his powers to vanish and his cultivation to plummet.

One day, a plot-correction System suddenly bound itself to him and told him he was actually the protagonist of a comic.

Originally, he was supposed to be spirited and confident, accompanied by his closest friends as he charged through one thrilling adventure after another to protect the world.

But because the plot had been maliciously rewritten and his moments in the spotlight stolen, he had become a disposable nobody in the comic.

The System said excitedly, "Host, your three-year deadline is up. It's time to show everyone what you can do."

"Go on, save the world in a blaze of glory and take back everything that belongs to you."

Xie Zhao: "..."

That sounds so awesome.

The only problem was, how could an ordinary person who'd already retired return to the extraordinary world?

The System: "Don't panic, friend. You'll get your bread, and your powers will come back, too."

"Go find the people who were supposed to become your closest friends. They're still popular characters in this comic. Win them over, heal them, and get back by their side. It's not like you won't get some screen time that way."

Xie Zhao understood.

But there was just one little problem.

"...System, you showed up late. You might not know the whole story."

"The people you listed either keep everyone at arm's length and never let anyone close, or hate me to the bone and would never work with me."

But that was no big deal.

Who said he could only get screen time by winning them over?

Hate lasts longer than love.

Being someone's most troublesome rival is just as unforgettable as being their closest friend.

So he just had to make life hell for the lot of them.

The System: "..."

The System was tearing its hair out. What kind of ridiculous story had the male lead turn evil on the spot and become a great villain!

Could this plot really still be salvaged?

Reader forum:

[What a shame about Xie Zhao. He made such a stunning first appearance. I thought he was going to be part of the protagonist's team.]

[Right? A proud genius falls from the peak, becomes just another face in the crowd, then turns evil because he can't handle the fall and goes up against the protagonist's team. What a cruel fate!]

[So this is what really happened... Brother Zhao was the protagonist whose fortune was stolen. He was the one who saved people and protected everything, and he's still the one everyone is searching for.]

[What a missed chance, what a mistake. Sigh.]

[Brother Zhao, you wanted them to hate you so they wouldn't suffer when they lost you. But what will you do if they discover the truth one day?]

Xie Zhao said nothing, only nodded with quiet satisfaction.

If even readers with an all-knowing perspective had misunderstood things this badly, how could those people not get the wrong idea?

Plan successfully executed. √

This is part of a series with How an Ordinary Person Can Turn the Tide and Save the World in a Superpower Comic, but the plots are unrelated and each can be read on its own.

A parallel world with a somewhat different history, so the characters' personalities may vary a little.

There are clues throughout, a cryptic male lead, unconventional angst, and all sorts of ways to mislead the others.

Guaranteed happy ending.

Theme: Never bow your head or accept your fate.