Everyone is asking the same question after finishing the first arc of To Be Hero X. Will the scrawny, overworked marketing guy Lin Ling actually become the top-ranked Hero X?
Honestly, it's the biggest theory floating around the fandom right now. You’ve probably seen the Reddit threads. The "Nice" white hair, the Roman numeral ten ($X$), the mysterious time-traveling theories—it’s a lot to process. But if you look closely at how Li Haolin writes these characters, the answer isn't as simple as a power-up.
The Theory: Why People Think Lin Ling is X
Basically, the "Lin Ling is Hero X" camp has some pretty solid evidence. First, let’s talk about the hair. In the world of To Be Hero X, physical appearance is literally dictated by public perception and Trust Value. When Lin Ling was forced to replace the original Nice (who, let's not forget, jumped off a roof in episode one), his hair turned pure white.
After he shed that fake persona and became The Commoner, he kept a single white streak. Fast forward to the glimpses we get of Hero X: a man in a suit with white hair and a signature finger snap.
The Roman Numeral Connection
Then there's the math. In the hero ranking system:
- Lin Ling (as The Commoner) holds Rank 10.
- The Roman numeral for 10 is X.
- The top hero is named Hero X.
It feels almost too perfect to be a coincidence. Some fans argue that Lin Ling is actually a younger version of X, or that X is a future version of Lin Ling who traveled back in time via that weird "alien spacecraft" (which might just be a futuristic time machine).
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Why He Might NOT Be Hero X (And Why That's Better)
Here is where it gets tricky. If Lin Ling becomes Hero X, does that ruin his entire character arc?
Lin Ling’s whole deal is being The Commoner. He’s the guy who proved that you don’t need corporate backing or a "perfect" image to be a hero. He defeated God Eye (the Enlighter) not because he was the strongest, but because his intentions were pure. He chose to save Moon over keeping his Rank 10 status.
The Identity Crisis
The series has already shown us what happens when Lin Ling tries to be someone else. It nearly destroyed him. He developed severe OCD—literally scrubbing his skin raw—because the public's "Trust" forced him to be a perfect, germ-free idol.
If he becomes Hero X, a man "known to all and known by none," he’s basically stepping back into a mask.
"Even an ordinary person can become a hero."
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That’s the core message Lin Ling’s boss tried to beat out of him. If he ends up as the most powerful, enigmatic figure in the world, he isn’t really a "commoner" anymore, is he?
What We Know About the Real Hero X
As of the 2025 season, Hero X (voiced by the legendary Mamoru Miyano) is still a total enigma. He doesn't belong to Treeman Corp or DOS. He just appeared, took the Rank 1 spot, and stayed there.
We’ve seen him move in the "blink of an eye." We’ve seen him do that signature quarter-roll snap. Most importantly, we've seen him exist at the same time as Lin Ling. Episode 1 literally shows an advertisement for X while Lin Ling is still just a miserable salaryman.
Unless there is some serious timeline-hopping involved—which, let's be real, this is the studio behind Link Click, so it’s possible—Lin Ling and X are two very different people.
The Rivalry: Lin Ling vs. E-Soul
If you want to understand where Lin Ling is going, you have to look at his foil: Yang Chen (the new E-Soul).
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| Character | Approach to Identity | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Lin Ling | Tore off the "Nice" mask to be himself. | Lost powers but kept his soul. |
| Yang Chen | Kept the "E-Soul" name even after hating it. | Gained power but became a "puppet." |
Lin Ling is the only one who truly broke the system. Everyone else is playing by the rules of Trust and Fear. If the final battle is Lin Ling vs. Hero X, it won't be about who has the higher Trust Value. It’ll be about whether a "commoner" can take down a "god."
Practical Takeaways for Fans
If you're following the series and trying to predict the ending, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the hair: The white streak in Lin Ling's hair is the visual tracker of his "Hero X" potential. If it grows, he’s getting closer to that power level.
- Follow the suit: Hero X wears a suit. Lin Ling was a salaryman who wore a suit. The series emphasizes the "corporate" nature of heroes. Watch for Lin Ling to put the suit back on, but on his own terms.
- Trust Value isn't everything: The show is setting up a conflict where sincerity beats perception. Lin Ling is the only character whose power doesn't seem to rely entirely on what people think of him.
Ultimately, whether Lin Ling becomes Hero X or simply replaces the idea of Hero X is the real mystery. He doesn't need to be the #1 hero to be the protagonist. He just needs to stay "The Commoner."
To stay ahead of the curve, re-watch the Episode 20 credits. Pay attention to the older man in the suit picking up the newspaper. That finger snap isn't just a cool animation quirk—it's the key to the entire timeline. Focus on the transition between the "reality" where the tournament is pending and the world Lin Ling currently inhabits.