In my humble opinion, the character that stands out among these formidable figures is none other than Cheon Yeon-Woo, the illegitimate child of a Demonic cult leader father, who abandoned him and his mother. This antihero’s life is as complex as the line between good and evil, much like the Nano Machine he wields this bond, Yeon-Woo must navigate the murim world with a moral ambiguity and achieve his ambition of history, all while balancing on the thin line between righteousness and villainy.
Instead of the usual manhwa characters embodying moral duty and heroic ideals, antiheroes opt for an unusual portrayal by disregarding traditional expectations. They abandon the common “good versus evil” narrative and instead choose a more complex moral landscape.
These main characters often find themselves propelled by motivations that can be equally self-centered and altruistic. They don’t fit neatly into the categories of hero or villain. Often less than charming, these characters have a unique ability to captivate readers, pulling them into their struggles and compelling them to ponder the gray areas of morality. For those who enjoy such complex protagonists, here are some top picks.
13 Fang Yuan
Reverend Insanity (Master of Gu)
- Status: Abandoned
- Chapters: 96
Drawing inspiration from one of the top xianxia novels, “Reverend Insanity,” the novel “Master of Gu” narrates the tale of Fang Yuan, a remarkably potent demonic cultivator. In an attempt to evade death and commence his cultivation anew, he rewinds 500 years into the body of his infant self. His alignment is neutral evil, indifferent towards anything and everyone other than his relentless pursuit to ascend to the pinnacle of cultivation.
Readers acquainted with the typical themes of xianxia literature will find themselves comfortable here. The narrative unfolds across multiple cultivation stages, leading ultimately to the pinnacle. One encounters ancient beasts in seclusion, headstrong young masters seeking a challenge, and vulnerable individuals testing fate at every turn. Yet, these overused elements prove effective due to the MC, Fang Yuan, who is remarkably well-crafted as an antihero within manhwa. He exhibits charm when desired, displays harshness when required, and consistently outsmarts others with his strategic thinking.
12 Seth Kang
Boss In School
- Status: Completed
- Chapters: 199
Seth Kang, a naturally gifted fighter with an unusual enjoyment for causing pain, had once left another student severely injured. Due to his mother’s concern about his sadistic inclinations, she asked him to never engage in combat again after he left home. However, due to this vow, he was now seen as weak and began to be bullied by fellow students.
After getting a message from his terminally ill father who leads a Yakuza group in Korea, Seth’s anger resurfaces. Breaking free from his mother’s pledge and following his father’s letter, Seth becomes the ruthless figure he’s always been, with no one to stand against him this time.
11 Seonghoon
How To Live As A Villain
- Status: Ongoing
- Chapters: 168
In a scenario reminiscent of a game-based contest, Seonghoon finds himself mysteriously transferred to a different realm, joining fellow competitors with the ultimate goal of ascending as a ‘God’. This otherworldly battlefield permits any strategy for victory, making the competition thrilling yet troubling.
Yet it’s here that Seonghoon truly flourishes. Often misunderstood as talentless, Seonghoon proves himself to be as sly and manipulative as one could be. With no trace of emotion or vulnerability, he employs and discards anyone who no longer benefits him, disregarding the nature of their previous bond. Untouchable and unapologetic, Seonghoon ascends to higher positions by leveraging anyone within his reach.
10 Kiyoung
Regressor Instruction Manual
- Status: Ongoing
- Chapters: 106
In this new, game-like world, Kiyoung, our protagonist, finds himself unexpectedly transported alongside others, given a mission to prevent its impending doom. Despite being assigned the weakest role and having the lowest possible level, Kiyoung’s intelligence outshines his perceived capabilities.
Kiyoung is shrewdly planning to endure, intending to leverage as many individuals as necessary for self-preservation. He runs into a warrior whom he suspects is a regressor, acting as an excellent buffer. By subtly influencing the regressor, making him believe they’re teaming up to safeguard the survivors, Kiyoung discovers the perfect pawn to conceal his true ambitions of establishing a dominion built on tyranny.
9 Cassian Lee
Villain To Kill
- Status: Ongoing
- Chapters: 162
One day, Cassian was hailed as the world’s greatest Psyker (a heroic title), but the next, he found himself falsely accused of murdering his mentor and sentenced to death. However, fate offers him a second chance: he wakes up in the body of a notorious young villain instead.
Currently, Cassian is bent on solving the enigma behind his own execution and the demise of his tutor. To achieve this, he finds it necessary to descend into becoming the most malevolent antagonist possible.
8 Diablo Volpir
66666 Years: Advent of the Dark Mage
- Status: Abandoned
- Chapters: 132
Title Options: “Six Tens of Thousands of Years: The Arrival of the Dark Mage” or “The Dark Magician Returns After 66666 Years”, narrates the tale of Diablo Volpir, an immensely potent sorcerer who is imprisoned for 66666 years by a collective of twelve divine beings. Upon his release, he is reborn as Jamie Welton, a distinguished member of the Welton family.
In a drastically altered condition following a rebirth, Diablo (now known as Jamie) must feign naivety in public while covertly devising strategies to regain his sinister powers. His ultimate goal is to destroy the twelve divine beings who imprisoned him long ago.
7 Jaha Lee
Return Of The Mad Demon
- Status: Ongoing
- Chapters: 121
Jaha Lee embodies the characteristics more closely associated with a villain than an antihero. Driven by limitless ambition, he is often referred to as the “mad demon.” His desire to be recognized as the strongest martial artist alive propelled him to seize the ‘Jade of Heaven,’ a revered artifact belonging to the demonic cult. This act ultimately led to his demise.
Without a moment’s surprise, he finds himself back in the past, this time as his younger self, carrying over the expertise and muscle memory of his martial arts abilities from his prior life. Given another opportunity to fulfill his ambitions, he will act decisively, disregarding any moral constraints if necessary.
6 Se-young
Rooftop Sword Master
- Status: Completed
- Chapters: 102
Rooftop Avenger
After awakening from my coma, I found myself residing atop an apartment building, a solitary existence that lasted two years within the confines of my rooftop room. Emotionally scarred yet powerless to act, life had become a bleak monotony. However, one fateful day, an extraordinary supernatural incident took place, and a colossal, flaming two-handed sword descended from the heavens, embedding itself onto the rooftop. As I reached out to touch this enigmatic weapon, visions and knowledge on how to master it unfolded before my eyes, marking the start of my quest for vengeance.
5 Ihwa
Hero Killer
- Status: Completed
- Chapters: 188
In her world filled with antiheroes, Ihwa is driven by a thirst for vengeance against the flawed system and the corrupt figures it supports, who embody the polar opposite of true heroism.
With extraordinary powers at her disposal, she’s relentless in her mission to eliminate any hero that hinders her path to vengeance, even if it means using questionable means or targeting those she once considered allies. As she progresses on this journey, she starts to see herself reflected in her adversaries, hinting at a shared darkness between them and their oppressors.
4 Zhuo Yifan
Magic Emperor
- Status: Ongoing
- Chapters: 625
In his past existence, Zhuo Yifan, famously referred to as the Demon Emperor, holds an invaluable artifact known as the Book of Nine Secrets – a treasure trove of wisdom and might. Greedy for this power, Yifan finds himself deceived and slain by his solitary apprentice. Yet, fate grants him another opportunity; his spirit inhabits the body of a servant who happens to pass away at the same time as Yifan does.
As a servant now, Yifan plans to reclaim his power and seeks revenge. However, complications arise as the body he occupies is enchanted by dark magic, tethering him to the mistress he serves. Despite this bond, he cannot break free or leave behind the family and mistress he’s loyal to. Instead, Yifan is resolute on guiding them to the highest echelons of the continent.
3 Gagn Jinha
Descent Of The Demonic Master
- Status: Ongoing
- Chapters: 161
Much like a cat that’s been given a fresh start on eight occasions, Gagn Jinha has experienced several different lives. Tragically, in his initial life, a family tragedy claimed the lives of everyone he loved, leading him to take his own life. In his subsequent existence, he was infamously recognized as the Red Demonic master, a figure both revered and feared. Currently, in his third life, Jinha yearns for a more ordinary existence.
Even though old patterns may seem outdated, they can prove surprisingly resilient. Jinha, deeply rooted in the habits and reflexes from his former life as a Demonic master, struggles immensely to adapt to everyday societal norms.
2 Jung-Woo
Reverse Villain
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- Status: Ongoing
- Chapters: 110
Jung-Woo yearns to rule over the realm of murim, but a single figure stands as an obstacle – Shin-Ryong, his longstanding adversary. Across countless lifetimes, they’ve been reborn, and Shin-Ryong has consistently thwarted Jung-Woo’s attempts at supremacy.
Over centuries, they’ve been unable to stay apart due to their ongoing rivalry. In a contemporary setting where the concept of ‘murim’ is no longer relevant, Jung-Woo’s ambition has transformed – he now seeks global domination; whether this ambition will prove too grand remains a question.
1 Cheon Yeon-Woo
Nano Machine
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- Status: Ongoing
- Chapters: 234
Cheon Yeon-Woo is often considered an antihero because he navigates the moral landscape in a way that’s not clearly on either the side of right or wrong. Instead, he treads carefully along the thin divide between good and evil, choosing allegiances based on what benefits him most at any given moment.
Born into a life marked by vulnerability and persistent peril due to being an illegitimate offspring of a Demonic cult leader, his fortunes take a dramatic shift when a relative from the future mysteriously pays him a visit, bestowing upon him a technological artifact known as the Nano Machine. With this newfound power, Yeon-Woo embarks on an extraordinary quest to alter history’s trajectory and forge a stronger destiny.
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2024-11-23 14:56