A Popular Character Who Won't Turn the Blade on Himself Isn't a Good Character

The Death-Replacing Bracelet was a rather special item in Tiandao's System shop.

As its name implied, it could take a fatal attack in Tiandao's place.

Yet unlike its powerful effect, its purchase price was absurdly low—only a mere 100,000 Popularity Points.

Clearly, this was one of the benefits the system granted Tiandao.

From the moment he learned of this item, Tiandao had been thinking about how to maximize its usefulness.

And the reason he had chosen to exchange for it only now—

Was because only in the second major arc after the Final Assessment ended—

Could this precious Death-Replacing Bracelet serve its greatest purpose.

Ever since he had transmigrated to the Stellaris World and learned of the Popularity System's existence—

Tiandao had been thinking about what true high popularity really meant.

If one was merely strong, merely handsome—

Such a character could certainly gain immense popularity in a short period of time.

But that kind of popularity was nothing more than a castle in the air, liable to collapse at any moment.

Because as long as someone stronger and more handsome appeared—

The viewers who had liked him for those two qualities would likewise like other characters for those same two qualities.

Therefore, a truly qualified high-popularity character needed to satisfy those first two points, but preferably also possess another trait: exceptional personal charm.

Only when a character possessed enough personal charm could they truly become three-dimensional.

That was why Tiandao had little habits such as wearing sunglasses all year round and liking sweets.

The purpose of these small habits was to narrow the distance between himself and the viewers to a certain extent.

But at most, such small habits could only count as shining points in Tiandao's personality.

They could not fully be considered a manifestation of his "personal charm."

Because true personal charm needed the plot to set it off.

Why did Stellaris fans now basically acknowledge Tiandao as the strongest in Stellaris?

Was it because Tiandao kept the words "strongest" on his lips every day?

No. It was because Tiandao had not only displayed strength worthy of that title.

At the same time, the first three episodes of "Stellaris Prequel: Embers" had repeatedly included plotlines that substantiated that strength.

For example, Tiandao's memory fragments.

Or how he had genuinely injured the Earth Dragon Lizard during the Final Assessment.

It was precisely because of these plotlines that Tiandao's "Natural Strongman" character setting gained a three-dimensional portrayal, becoming real and making people feel that it was only natural.

At the same time, upon that foundation, Tiandao further displayed contrasting traits such as being a "severe sweet tooth," a "sunglasses-wearing show-off," and a "sharp-tongued spokesperson."

This deepened the viewers' sense that Tiandao was real as a character and made them fall for him.

But if Tiandao had only these little plotlines and little designs, he could indeed maintain high popularity for a while.

But as the intensity of the later story rose—

Having only those things would not necessarily allow him to crush other characters in popularity.

Therefore, on the foundation of being "beautiful" and "strong," he had to place further emphasis on his own "misery."

And in Tiandao's understanding, so-called "misery" was actually "the knife."

As everyone knew, compared to so-called "beauty" and "strength," the knife of "misery" was the true password to traffic.

"Pure strength and handsomeness are like fireworks in the night sky—seemingly dazzling and brilliant, yet gone in the blink of an eye."

"But if you change the angle and blend the splendor of those fireworks into the lovers embracing beneath them, that originally fleeting beauty will become eternal art that strikes straight at the heart. Therefore—"

Tiandao lightly tapped the item list in the Popularity Mall, finally stopping on the purchase button for the "Death-Replacing Necklace."

You consumed 100,000 Popularity Points and purchased the special item: Death-Replacing Bracelet.

Looking at the utterly ordinary Death-Replacing Bracelet in his hand—nothing more than two rough red cords woven together, with an inconspicuous transparent crystal strung in the middle—Tiandao murmured softly, "...If I want fleeting popularity to become eternal support, how could I possibly not pay a price?"

"After all, there has never been such a thing as a free lunch in this world."

Turning the blade on himself was not a whim of Tiandao's. It had been part of his plan from the very beginning.

In fact, in a sense, the "memory fragments" that the production team had suddenly added to the main story earlier were a small, not particularly sharp knife.

But even such a painless little knife had still expanded Tiandao's personal charm in the first three episodes to a certain extent.

Otherwise, with "Stellaris Prequel: Embers" limited to its tiny bit of fame on Station 13—

Tiandao would have had no way to accumulate a full 100,000 Popularity Points in such a short time.

And after witnessing firsthand the enormous popularity boost that "the knife" brought him—

Tiandao not only became more determined to carry out his original plan, but also decided to make it bolder and more aggressive.

For example, he would turn the Death-Replacing Bracelet, originally meant only as a life-saving talisman, into part of the entire "Blade Plan," allowing himself to experience a true "death."

Though this would inevitably expose Tiandao to the enormous risk of "dying a second time"—

Considering the dramatic tension it would bring, as well as the immense and plainly visible Popularity Point gains—

Tiandao felt it was worth trying.

"As the saying goes, a popular character who won't turn the blade on himself isn't a good popular character."

"If I want to keep walking the road toward dominating the pinnacle of Stellaris popularity, then taking risks is a necessity."

With that thought, Tiandao immediately put the Death-Replacing Bracelet on his right wrist and got up to head for the cafeteria.

It was mealtime. He was going to have a proper meal in the cafeteria and, incidentally, lay some groundwork for his future "knife plotline" for the viewers.

"Yo, Caroline, you're so considerate. You even got my meal for me ahead of time."

Looking at Caroline, who had just gotten her food and was preparing to sit down—

Tiandao not only unreasonably shoved her aside with his butt—

He then directly sat in the seat that had originally been hers and began eating without a care in the world.

Seeing the dinner she had just gotten snatched away by this shameless fellow, Tiandao—

Caroline's pair of green cat ears stood straight up, and even the fists beneath her sleeves clenched tight.

Tiandao acted as if he had not seen any of it, eating while making exaggerated cries of surprise.

"Wow, the cafeteria aunties really outdid themselves with dinner today. Looks like the organization knows the Final Assessment wore us out, so they specially gave us a proper upgrade."

"Huh? Caroline, why are you still standing there? Why haven't you gone to get food? Aren't you hungry?"

Hearing Tiandao's words, Caroline shot him an irritated glare.

"Tiandao, when are you going to stop being so childish? You're already this old, yet you still steal someone else's dinner after they've gotten it. Are you really so lazy that you can't even walk a few steps?"

Facing Caroline's "scolding," Tiandao stuffed food into his mouth and said indistinctly, "Caroline, how can you call this stealing? Didn't you thoughtfully get it for me ahead of time?"

"Besides, Caroline, if you get my food today, then tomorrow I can take bullets for you."

"Want to bully you? Then they... will have to step over my dead body first."

Looking at Tiandao with cheeks puffed up like a hamster's, Caroline clearly did not take his words seriously.

She only thought Tiandao was once again spouting nonsense with a straight face.

A moment later, Caroline sighed helplessly. "Forget it. I won't lower myself to the level of a childish brat like you. Now you're even talking about taking bullets for me. You're getting more and more outrageous."

"Do you need me to get you some more desserts? The cafeteria seems to have introduced quite a few new ones today."

"Absolutely!"

"Alright, then wait a moment."

Caroline nodded, then turned and headed toward the cafeteria counter.

What she did not notice was that behind her, Tiandao had slowly put away the carefree, cynical look on his face.

A trace of complicated guilt flashed through his azure eyes beneath his sunglasses, as though Tiandao were about to do something that would wrong Caroline.

Sorry, Caroline. There are some things that even I can only say as a joke.

Because only when someone fulfills what others see as an offhand joke with their life will that fulfillment become especially unforgettable.

Besides, who says heroes can cry?

And since I have decided to become that hero—

Then the one who cries can only be you.

So, Caroline, I'm sorry. This brilliant fireworks display led by me must be witnessed by you with your own eyes.

Though it may be a little cruel to you, as long as I apologize properly afterward, you'll still forgive me, right?

After all, you've always tolerated my childishness and willfulness, haven't you?

PS: I originally promised three chapters today to make up for the one I owed yesterday, but Pang Hu checked the time and realized that if he forced himself to write this third chapter within an hour and a half, it might turn out badly. So he decided to play it safe. Tomorrow—tomorrow, he'll definitely release three chapters to make up for it!