I'm looking for a read where the MC doesn't have some power that makes them inherently better than the other characters. I have nothing against strong characters but I want it to feel like they actually earned their power.
Time to pull out one of my big favorite
[Martial arts master] novel (not manhua with same name)
www.novelupdates.com
ITS FROM
SAME AUTHOR AS [LORD OF MYSTERIES]
MC is a nobody.
No super strength. No big family. Nothing particular. Before story.
But here is the thing. And make the series a masterpiece.
He get a "cheat" that seems like a pearl from "cultivation" from unknown times
(no secret cultivation society btw, no cultivation at all existing).
And unlike any other old CNs or especially nowadays novels, MC doesnt get op or get power-ups/lvlsup/SSS-power or become bs cultivator that crush all martial artists
but its just a "stronger training" tool that boost stamina recovery and max stamina, or in fact, simply helped MC to more easily reach the first step of martial arts, which is [meditation]
Then during the novel, you see MC wake up at 4am, train nonstop, sweat a bunch, repeat day after day, nonstop. Never missing a day of training.
And his strengthening is fast but not crazy fast. There is no mindblowing "how the heck did he do it" but like "wow he is a genius, like ton others"
Also FL is DoupoCangqiong masterpiece lvl.
She is realistic.
And lovable. And kind.
(which btw, during this period, every author wrote the bs "cold faced" heroine meta where they disdain MCs)
No faceslap
No assassination
No young master
No saving the world
No big villains
No arrogant people
No villains that covet the heroine
No family-in-law of heroine that disdain the mc
No kidnapping of heroine
No love rivals
--------------------------------
In short, a random dude, having a meh cheat that require efforts, loving a random pretty schoolgirl that isnt a toppling-nation beauty, with a decent normal rich family, in a reasonable nation with normal police and gov.
MC even has a "best friend" that isnt gay, clown, ugly, fat, etc. Best friend is handsome and even a casanova and simply already has a lover. He even help MC charm the heroine with love tips.
Small spoiler, MC invite him and his gf to restaurant, with heroine. Only to discover that the gf is basically a strict bookworm serious type. To which MC finds that kinda funny that his "flirting" best friend would have preference for this and make him settle down, which fit the famous saying that [contraries attract each other]
www.royalroad.com
