Bullied Protagonists Find Strength in Isekai Worlds

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Summary

  • Bullying transcends worlds: protagonists who were bullied in their original world face similar issues in isekai settings.
  • Second chances: from weak and bullied to strong and capable through tragedy, trauma, and transformation in new worlds.
  • Redemption and reinvention: Characters use newfound strength in isekai settings to seek revenge, build self-esteem, and find acceptance.

Sometimes, the most extraordinary characters emerge from life’s most profound wounds. In the captivating realm of isekai stories, ordinary individuals are transported into extraordinary realms teeming with adventure, power, and a fresh purpose. For some, this voyage doesn’t start with exhilaration; it begins with hurt. These are the characters who experienced bullying, rejection, confusion, or neglect in their former lives. In certain tales, they encounter similar challenges in their new world.

Regardless, venturing into a fresh environment presents a chance for alteration, since vulnerabilities can transform into strengths, past wounds spark metamorphosis, and their subsequent existence serves as a route towards atonement, retribution, or redefinition.

8. So I’m A Spider, So What?

Kumoko Is A High School Girl From Japan Who Her Classmates Bullied

In the story titled “So I’m a Spider, So What?“, the character Kumoko shares some similarities with Hajime. They both discover themselves in a fantastical realm where they endure bullying and possess less strength than their opponents. Unlike Hajime who was reborn as a human, Kumoko is reborn as an arachnid, specifically a spider, dwelling in a treacherous dungeon. While her mates were reincarnated as royalty like princesses or nobles, she started life as a lowly spider.

In a nutshell, Kumoko can’t dwell on her past misfortunes or the unjust circumstances of her current life. Instead, she must focus on staying alive by outsmarting and avoiding monsters that might eat her. She doesn’t possess any special abilities or allies, so she depends entirely on her intelligence, strategic thinking, and role-playing game (RPG) style skill development to grow and endure.

7. The Fruit Of Evolution

Seiichi Was Bullied For Being Overweight

In an exciting turn of events, I find myself transplanted into a captivating realm alongside my former tormentors, as detailed in “The Fruit of Evolution.” My past struggles with weight made me a target for bullying, and it seems history has a way of repeating itself, as my initial stats in this new world are significantly lower than those of my companions. However, I’m hopeful that the unique abilities this fantasy world offers might help me turn the tables!

In solitude amidst the untamed wilderness, Seiichi discovers a peculiar “Fruit of Evolution,” which triggers a transformation within him. Consuming this fruit resulted in an immediate weight loss, a chiseled physique, and a striking handsomeness, but even more significantly, it bestowed upon him extraordinary power. This magical fruit granted Seiichi the life he’d always dreamed of, surrounded by loyal companions who cherish, venerate, and adore him.

6. I Got A Cheat Skill In Another World And Became Unrivaled In The Real World, Too

Yuya Was Bullied For Being Kind In His Previous World

Despite enduring constant bullying from his peers, rejection by his family, and being forced to live on his own in his late grandfather’s house, Yuya continued to maintain a compassionate demeanor. One day, as he was cleaning the old house, he stumbled upon a peculiar door that transported him to another world. In this new realm, he vanquished a fearsome beast, acquired extraordinary abilities resembling cheats, and underwent an impressive physical transformation, making him both athletic and handsome. This transformation ultimately rendered him the powerful hero of the captivating tale, I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World, Too.

The constant bullying significantly affected Yuya’s self-assurance and self-worth. But as his fortunes improved, Yuya slowly started regaining his trust in himself, making authentic friendships, and living a life that he had previously missed out on.

5. Didn’t I Say To Make My Abilities Average In The Next Life?!

Adele Was Bullied In Her Previous Life Because She Was Smart

In the story “Didn’t I Say to Make my Abilities Average in the Next Life?!”, Adele, now in her new world, perceived intelligence as a crime due to constant bullying and rejection by others. After sacrificing her life to save a child, she was given an opportunity for rebirth in another realm, under the condition that she would no longer possess her former intelligence, instead becoming average.

Yet, Adele’s plea for ordinary status is misconstrued, leading the deities to grant her excess power. Struggling to conceal her strength and live an unassuming life, Adele persistently finds herself under the spotlight. Nevertheless, she encounters individuals who accept her, flaws and all, including her extraordinary abilities, which gradually alleviates her apprehension towards rejection.

4. Failure Frame: I Became The Strongest And Annihilated Everything With Low-Level Spells

Touka Was Bullied For Being Kind And Timid

In the Failure Frame, Touka was once a meek and benevolent high school student, often subjected to bullying and neglect in his past life. Now, he’s been transported to a magical realm, where he’s tasked with being a hero alongside his peers. Unfortunately, his abilities are relatively weak, and the goddess who summoned him cruelly casts him into a perilous dungeon, seemingly to meet his end.

In the depths of despair, Touka uncovers that the power of his supposedly feeble “Abnormal State Skill” is immense instead. He harnesses this newfound strength, fueled by his anger over the betrayal he experienced, to endure and dominate the dungeon. This sets him on a path of vengeance, a journey darkened by his desire to punish those who caused him pain and isolation.

3. Arifureta: From Commonplace To World’s Strongest

Hajime Was Bullied By His Classmates In Japan And Was Then Betrayed By Them In His New World

Initially, poor Hajime ended up in a magical realm, accompanied by his tormentors who just happened to be his schoolmates. To add insult to injury, he received less potent powers compared to them, putting him at their mercy yet again. As if this wasn’t enough, they abandoned him to perish after he fell into a chasm.

In the two realms where Hajime experienced relentless bullying, especially after being abandoned to die, his will to live was ignited by a burning desire for vengeance. This motivation led him to dwell within the abyss, surviving by consuming monsters that reshaped his physical and mental state into a ruthlessly determined, overpowered warrior. Transforming from an oppressed underdog, Hajime rose to become one of the most feared and powerful figures in the world of Arifureta.

2. The Rising Of The Shield Hero

Naofumi Was Bullied, Framed, And Hated In His New World For A Crime He Did Not Commit

In the realm of the story The Rising of the Shield Hero, the protagonist Naofumi initially experiences harsh treatment. He is wrongly accused of a crime he didn’t commit, exiled, and deprived of the resources essential for his success as the Shield Hero. Even prior to the false accusation, he was looked down upon by others and shunned by them, as they considered him inferior to the other cardinal heroes.

Initially, Naofumi was subjected to such harsh treatment that he yearned for Japan, where he hadn’t voluntarily been transported. Once he departed the kingdom, he encountered a demi-human slave named Raphtalia, whom he nurtured with kindness and concern. As they trekked together, Naofumi amassed allies, strength, and respect, and step by step, he restored his belief in justice and optimism.

1. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

Rudeus Was A Shut-In Who Was Bullied And Rejected By His Family

In the story “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation,” the main character was a solitary 34-year-old who spent his days confined within four walls before his untimely demise. Prior to his rebirth as Rudeaus Grayrat in a realm where both swords and sorcery thrive, he had endured a wretched existence marked by loneliness, torment, and remorse. Following this unfortunate turn of events, he metamorphosed into a new life in a magical realm.

The painful experiences of being bullied, hated, mocked, and feeling guilty about not living a fulfilling life in Japan propel him to seek a better existence in his new realm. Unlike many isekai protagonists, Rudeus’ growth stems from emotional hardship and personal shortcomings, giving his tale an authentic and gritty feel.

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2025-05-04 11:34