Chapter 17: The World Where Only the Protagonist Is a Waste

In the real world, the release of the first two episodes of Stellar Prequel: Embers had sparked a significant buzz across 13 sites. Thanks to its exceptionally high production quality and a massive promotional budget, the series quickly became a topic of conversation.

Thanks to Tian Dao’s years of meticulous groundwork—and his flawless performance in the first two episodes—many 13-site fans had fallen hard for him. He successfully transformed a portion of the general website followers into dedicated character fans.

Fandom buzz surged with phrases like “Tian Dao Siming: The Beautiful, Strong, and Tragic”, “Sweetness Can Heal Everything”, and “Stellar Prequel: The True Protagonist”—all trending across platforms. His popularity skyrocketed visibly.

This momentum drew in even more casual viewers who had been unaware of the series before. Caught in the wave of hype, they investigated further and joined the ranks of dedicated watchers—expanding Stellar Prequel: Embers’ fanbase even more.

And when episodes 3 and 4 aired on Sunday, the phenomenon only intensified.

The third episode opened with Tian Dao and the others arriving at Central Arena, preparing for the Final Evaluation.

To emphasize just how grueling this trial would be, the production team delivered a chilling close-up of the second-tier Stellar Beast, the Earth Lizard. Each of its rocky scales gleamed with a cold metallic sheen. When its claws struck the arena floor, the entire screen trembled—sending a visceral jolt through viewers, even from behind their screens.

Even without direct confrontation, the sheer presence of the beast was overwhelming.

And unlike the confusion many felt after the first two episodes, viewers now had a clearer grasp of the world’s lore.

They knew: though Tian Dao and his companions were special, they were still mere half-stars—lacking a Stellar Source entirely. Compared to the first-tier Stellar Envoys, who possessed such power, the group was hopelessly outmatched.

And now, they were expected to face a second-tier Stellar Beast—one even a first-tier Envoy would struggle against.

The difficulty of this Final Evaluation was obvious.

“Whoa… what even is this Final Evaluation? Is it some kind of hell mode right off the bat?”

“Stats designer, please take a hit for me! How the hell are we supposed to beat this boss?”

“Hey, maybe rename this series: ‘How a Newbie Got Lost in a Level-99 Dungeon’”

The audience watched with growing curiosity. After all, in any typical anime, the more overwhelming the enemy, the more epic the protagonist’s rise.

With that expectation in mind, viewers leaned in—fully engaged.

But what they saw next was far from what they’d imagined.

When confronted with the colossal Earth Lizard, the protagonist, Chen Kong, didn’t analyze, strategize, or even try to find a way forward.

Instead, he panicked—and immediately tried to latch onto Tian Dao’s leg.

“T-Tian Dao… older brother…”

“I don’t know what to do, Xiao Kong. This test is tough. Even with you, I can’t guarantee we’ll survive.”

“And besides…” Tian Dao glanced toward Chen Xing, smiling, “you’re better off with someone else, aren’t you?”

“Useless. Don’t slow me down.”

“O-Okay… s-sister…”

The scene played out with Chen Kong shrinking under Tian Dao’s rejection and Chen Xing’s cold dismissal.

The chat exploded.

> “Tian Dao: ‘Xiao Kong, this test is tough… (This game’s too high-level for you, I can’t carry you.)’”

> “Honestly, if it weren’t for Tian Dao and Kalolin, who’d even watch a protagonist this pathetic?”

> “Chen Xing: ‘Only because you’re my brother. Otherwise, I wouldn’t carry a walking load in a ranked match.’”

While many viewers were frustrated with Chen Kong’s cowardice, they didn’t dwell on it for long.

Because Chen Xing’s sharp, contradictory attitude—cold on the surface, but clearly worried beneath—won over even the harshest critics.

And suddenly, the conversation shifted.

> “So the ‘ruthless’ attitude? Just her way of yelling at her brother for being useless, not actual hatred.”

> “Yeah, I thought she was too cold at first… but now I see—she’s just icy on the outside, warm on the inside.”

> “Tsundere Queen x Dark Prince? Tian Xing pairing locked in!”

> “Wait—what? Why Tian Xing? It’s clearly Tian & Kalolin! They’ve been together since the start!”

> “No way, the AI catgirl is the true queen!”

> “Tian & Kalolin are canon! They live together!”

As the shipping wars ignited, the chat’s focus leaped from character analysis to who should be paired with whom.

And one thing became clear: no matter how hard the CP fans argued, Chen Kong was never included.

His lackluster performance, plain looks, and timid personality made him utterly unappealing in the world of visual storytelling.

And just as the chat descended into chaos, Tian Dao—apparently tuned into the audience’s thoughts—spoke directly to them.

“Hey, Kalolin,” he said, eyeing the sleeping Jing Ruli, “do you think Chen Xing has some hidden trait?”

“Why else would she care so much about Xiao Kong… yet act like she wants him dead every time they meet?”

But Kalolin, fully immersed in analyzing the Earth Lizard’s data, didn’t even glance up.

She simply ignored him.

The silence was icy.

The chat burst into laughter.

> “The story of my boyfriend being less interesting than a dataset.”

> “Catgirl’s cold stare.jpg”

> “Turns out, emotional coldness is still a form of violence.”

> “Tian Dao: I’m the third wheel in my own story.”

Amid the playful banter, the scene shifted to Tian Dao approaching Jing Ruli—sitting in the crowd, already asleep, seemingly unconcerned.

Her quirky, dreamy personality instantly clicked with viewers.

A character who looked adorable, acted drowsy, and had zero interest in the stakes? She was instantly endearing.

When Tian Dao used Chen Xing as a weapon to wake her—shoving her awake with a sharp jab—audiences accepted her presence without hesitation.

To help viewers understand her importance, the production team displayed her stats the moment she appeared.

> Name: Jing Ruli

> Student Rank: NO. 003

> Stellar Core: Eternal Night Butterfly

The chat froze.

Third-ranked? Behind only Tian Dao and Chen Xing?

But Jing Ruli looked… nothing like a powerhouse.

Then came the moment she woke up—groggy, annoyed—and scribbled with a marker on her Treasured Pillow:

“Liars Tian Dao and Dogs Prohibited from Approaching.”

The moment was pure gold.

She was instantly seen as the team’s lovable mascot—whimsical, harmless, and utterly beloved.

And yet…

She wasn’t weak.

She wasn’t a joke.

She was real.

Because in this world…

Only the protagonist—Chen Kong—was truly a waste.

End of Chapter

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end