Summary
Adventure manhwa, especiallythose series with splatters of high fantasy, tend to portray overpowered characters as more than human. And the truth is that most of them are likely becoming something else entirely, so there’s not a single human hero left in play.
But what happens when the main characters of the stories stick to their humanity at all costs? And what about the villains who play a fundamental role in the story? These are some of the best adventure manhwa with powerful human characters,from dragon slayers to legendary heroes who have surpassed all human limits, but remained faithful to their true nature.
1Karsearin
Though The Main Character Is A Dragon, The Most Powerful Humans Are Hellbent On Hunting Him Down
The story ofKarsearinis a funny one. A dragon hatchling (he’s 300 years old, so still a minor by dragon standards) decides to run away from home, and his actions become the spark of a continental war that ravages the lands and threatens to destroy every single human kingdom.
Amid all the chaos, there are four villains (or main antagonists) who are called the Dragon Hunters, and they represent the pinnacle of human power. They’re so unstoppable that even Karsearin runs away from them several times. The truth is, these villains are still human but overpowered, and this gives them the edge to keep threatening the world with a senseless war. A great story to read, filled with heartwarming moments, comedy, and tragedy hand in hand.
2Star-Embracing Swordmaster
A war orphan, raised by a fallen knight in a brothel, becomes a knight apprentice of the prestigious House of Bayezid. As Vlad grows in power, influence, and fame, it becomes notorious that his skills and ideals are no joke: he is the perfect Knight candidate, and every noble starts to covet his tutelage.
But Vlad’s convictions and his humble origins prove to be ironclad, making him not only one of the most powerful characters but also, one of the most human. This adds up to the impeccable worldbuilding that surrounds the main plot, turningStar-Embracing Swordmasterintoan epic tale of adventure and medieval fantasy.
3The Knight King Who Returned With A God
All The Knights Of The King Of Kings Belong To The Human Faction
This story is about the strongest hero of mankind, chosen by the gods to be the King of the Grail, a human champion empowered by holy virtue capable of vanquishing all evil. And religious as this might sound, the truth is that this story is not all about the King of Kings descending on Earth to cleanse it from evil: It is about all the human knights fighting tooth and nail to defend Earth from a demonic invasion.
This series is about the adventure of growing into a powerful warrior, following the path of knighthood despite living in modern times, which is quite a good combination. With incredible fighting scenes, and some doses of humorto lighten up the dark fantasy mood, this story is quite a good read.
4Transcension Academy
The Main Character Is So Human That Debts Are His Main Enemy
Trascension Academyis another great adventure manhwa that focuses on the power of humanity above all else, where collaboration, teamwork, and solid moral ideals are the engine that makes the plot run. Though its main charactermight be a little “money-crazed"the rest of the Dream Team has some great character development, both in power and motivation.
The story is overall fun to read, with lots of comedy, lots of heartwarming moments, and lots of sad and heartbreaking scenes as well. One might say it’s an emotional rollercoaster, but one entertaining ride indeed.
5Aire
A Runaway Princess And His Faithful Slave Go On An Adventure
Aireis one of those manhwa series that is both intriguing and appealing for those who seek the thrill of adventure. It has some incredible character designs, interesting motivations, and mainly, it is all about the power of human beings forcing their way through a world of monsters.
Seeking the lost heritage of a fallen Queen, a member of the royalty forcefully recruits a Gladiator slave and escapes an arranged marriage by offering herself to perform a rite of passage of the royal family. Then, they both end up entangling in one of the greatest conspirations ever described in an adventure manhwa. It is worth a read, but sadly, it has been on hiatus for a few months.
6Latna Saga
A Huge Chunk Of Human Muscle With A Big Sword
Ryu Hanbin is one of those characters whosehumanity is his only saving grace. Everything else is either a chunk of muscles moving a body or a pile of flaws arranged like a house of cards, waiting for the slightest shift in the story to be toppled. But unstable as this barbaric warrior might be, he is one of the most well-written and greatest isekai characters ever devised.
His character development is unique, and the relationship he constructs with his trustworthy friends is both heartwarming and admirable. The story has its low moments, and also its glorious fighting scenes that overtake the spotlight for endless chapters. Just a regular adventure manhwa, with a high dose of grimdark fantasy and a sprinkle of comedy.
7Overpowered Sword
A Chosen Hero Of Humanity With The Humblest Of Origins
What a great adventure manhwaOverpowered Swordis! And to top things off, it comes with some great romancewith no clear signs of becoming a harem. But perhaps what draws more attention to this story, is the determination of the main character to overcome his weakness and turn it into unbridled power.
Leon is both human and super-human and though that might sound contradictory, he is most definitely humble of origins. Not chosen by a prophecy, nor fate, but as a successor for the hero who knew his humble origins and weakness were nothing but mud covering a raw and precious gemstone, waiting to be polished.
8The Ember Knight
The Ultimate Power Belongs To The Smartest Of Mankind
It’s strange to find a manhwa where the main character is the weakest, in a world with incredible superhumans that break the rules of reason and perform incredible martial feats. Combining Wuxia and the old Knighthood stories,The Ember Knightpresents a world beautifully constructed, and a plot knitted carefully around the figure of Nagyun, a man who has lost everything, but his desire for revenge and his intellect.
Needless to say, this story has awesome fighting scenes and lots of adventure that are added to the mix. As the story progresses, and the mystery of Najin’s murder is revealed, the author re-defines what it means to craft a powerful and appealing revenge plot, and delves into the terrain ofthe absolute drama moved by tragedy.
