Popularity Reigns Supreme: I Play a Super Genius
Author: Guiyue Aotang
Synopsis:
After transmigrating into an anime world tied to livestreaming and games, Qiji bound the Popularity System.
As long as he gained enough popularity, he could have anything he wanted.
"So you want me to compete for popularity on the same stage as those mechanics monsters with ridiculously overpowered stats and those character-model monsters with unbeatable personas?"
What more was there to say?
"System, exchange it for me!"
Stats, mechanics, character model, plot-he wanted them all!
He had come to this world to do just three things: steal the spotlight, steal the spotlight, and steal the damn spotlight again!
In an anime world where popularity reigned supreme, he would steal the title of "genius" through acting and sheer effort!
And so, an invincible, wildly popular character made his grand entrance!
Main story
Chapter 1: Reaching the Pinnacle of Popularity
Year 91 of the Echo Era, the City of Kindling.
The academy rooftop.
Sunlight slanted down as Qiji lay on his back, one arm tucked behind his head.
Before his eyes was a line of small, glowing text that only he could see-
[Personal channel online. Livestream function activated.]
Ten years.
He had waited ten years for this day.
Ten years ago, Qiji had transmigrated to this world.
Unlike most transmigrators, however, he had come in his own body.
When he arrived, his body had inexplicably reverted to how it had looked when he was five.
In his second year, he awakened the Popularity Points System and learned the truth about this world.
He had transmigrated into an anime world.
What's more, it was a massive IP world deeply integrated with livestreaming and games.
The main characters in the anime all had their own dedicated "personal channels."
On those channels, viewers could watch the corresponding characters' livestreams, official edits, highlight reels, and even snippets of their daily lives from the past.
More importantly, a second season of the anime had already been greenlit and would be deeply integrated with the game. But precisely because of that-
Only characters selected as "five-star cards" in the first season could participate in the next season's main storyline.
Work on the five-star cards had begun before the show aired, and by now, only two cards remained "unfinished."
"Unfinished" meant-
The character had yet to be determined, but the framework was set.
To put it simply, the character tags, ability roles, and weight in the storyline had all been reserved and designed by the game system.
All that remained was to put a name on them.
[Warning, warning, warning!] [Host, you are an outsider who does not belong to this world. Once your identity is exposed, you will be corrected by the world.] [Therefore, please become a five-star character and anchor yourself!]
That was the message he had received when he awakened the system.
Qiji had no other choice.
Of the two "unfinished" five-star cards, one was a female character, so it was out of his reach.
He could only choose the other one-
[Ding!] [You have chosen-"Thousand Faces"!] [A wise choice!]
The card information unfolded:
"Thousand Faces"
Tags: mysterious, masked, all-rounder, immeasurable, super genius.
Card description: "None know the face beneath the mask, and none can gauge the limits of their power. A byword for genius and the embodiment of miracles. When the mask comes off, the truth will be revealed, and the lie will begin."
Choosing "Thousand Faces" meant that Qiji would have to play a flawless genius in the upcoming anime.
Unfortunately, as someone who did not belong to this world, he could not awaken its supernatural powers.
Fortunately, he had the Popularity System. By spending popularity points, he could grow stronger!
And so, a huge gamble began.
To play the genius well and seize the audience's attention as soon as the anime began airing, Qiji spent nine years laying the groundwork.
The first thing he did was put up collateral.
He pledged everything he had to the system, cashing in his full potential!
It was worth mentioning that when Qiji pledged all of himself at once, he could only cash it in for a measly one million popularity points.
But when he broke himself down-
His left hand, pledged for 220,000.
His right hand, pledged for 190,000.
Then came his feet, torso, head, organs, eyesight, hearing, memories, emotions, future, life...
He broke himself down into twenty-seven parts and priced them one by one.
His potential value instantly increased fivefold!
It sold for a full five million!
Cashing in his potential also meant that Qiji had shouldered a massive debt of five million before the anime even began airing.
If he could not repay it in the future, he would lose everything.
It was undoubtedly a huge gamble.
But Qiji believed that people were gamblers by nature.
Not gambling was betting on your own loss.
And Qiji had never believed he would lose.
From beginning to end, he had held to just one principle-
Cowardice was a gambler's greatest taboo!
Five million popularity points were credited to his account.
Qiji spent one million of them on the [Potential Overdraft Potion] and the [Life-Spending Card].
Here, Qiji employed a little ingenuity.
He exploited an obvious loophole in the system.
His potential and lifespan had already been pledged to the system in full. Using outside items to "overdraft his potential" and "spend his life" now would only consume "things that no longer belonged to him."
What more was there to say?
Go all out!
When it wasn't his own, he could use it without the slightest bit of regret.
And so, thanks to his day-in, day-out effort and sweat, plus a tiny, insignificant bit of help from the "Potential Overdraft Potion" and the "Life-Spending Card"...
Qiji's personal attribute panel had become exceedingly impressive before the anime had even officially begun.
All three of his basic attributes-strength, speed, and constitution-were at "Max," the limit of the human body!
Although he had yet to awaken "supernatural powers," that incredible physique alone was enough for him to handle the first season's storyline with ease.
He budgeted the remaining four million carefully.
He spent over a million on a synopsis of the first season's plot, as well as some practical performance props on sale at a discount.
These included Camera Cards, Spotlight Cards, Sound Effect Cards, Lucky Bag Cards, and Betting Cards.
With the remaining popularity points, he was lucky enough to find a piece of mythical equipment on sale for 90% off:
[Mask of Miracles] Appearance: A pure white base. Flowing patterns appear when worn, changing as "miracles" accumulate. Basic effects: "Attention +30" (can be toggled): When activated, subtly increases the wearer's presence, making them more likely to become the focus of attention. Chance of being captured on camera +30%. "Miracle Accumulation" (passive): Automatically accumulates 1 unit of "basic miracle" for every year worn. Currently accumulated: 9.0 (maximum: 9.1) "Miracle Release": Remove the mask to consume all accumulated miracles at once and grant a wish (affects the wearer only). After Miracle Release, the physical mask shatters and transforms into "illusion." "Lie Bearing" (passive): Bears the lie: "I will become my perfect self." While worn, the wearer's appearance and bearing gradually and imperceptibly change toward their "ideal perfect self." Maximum duration: 9.1 years. Interruption mechanism: Revealing one's true face = admitting "this is the real me." The lie ends, and the changes stop. Changes already made are permanently retained. "Blurring of Illusion and Reality" (active): For 3 seconds, places the wearer in a superposition of "existing and not existing," allowing them to evade the vast majority of attacks. Limited to 3 uses per day.
The mask covered his face now, its cool, smooth surface resting against his skin.
Qiji reached up and touched it gently. Silver light flowed across it, and a line of small text slowly appeared at the edge of his vision:
["Attention +30" activated.] ["Personal channel" connected.] [Countdown to livestream: 00:00:59]