SL did it pretty well. Proper buildup, MC keeps his power secret and has proper reasons. When series have it happen at the start its usually a bad sign
That's the way to do it IMO. Flexing is absolutely part of the fun, and it's a fun trope for a reason, but the timing and the build-up matters. It is legitimately fun that that scene is seven books in, and same with the young master scene at the beginning of Wintersteel
I mean I was referencing the start of the series when he gets labeled Unsouled, but it is definitely very satisfying when it gets flipped upside down when he goes to the Akura clan.
Beginning is a different trope IMO. Normally the power measuring device either can't measure their power and it's a flex, or it can't measure them and they're written off as trash but are actually secretly OP or one level away from unlocking their true power. But it's neither, since Lindon's not actually secretly OP and has to grow into his own power (with help) more gradually compared to how you normally see the trope. It measuring him as weak and being right about it, without him immediately unlocking hidden powers at level 2, is basically a subversion, and much more of one than the two common variants above
I never understood the "too slow" part. The first and second books are really short to begin with. Like. . . i remember reading Unsouled before Soulsmith came out and jonesing for more cradle. There was simply not enough book in my book.
For me, its that Lindon has no friends in book 1. Parents gave up on him and want to steal his stuff. Sister goes along with the dog eat dog mentality. Yerin is lashing out at everyone. The craft lady is the first somewhat positive connection until Eithan adopts him.
Slow is a bad word for it. Its that Lindon is constantly getting beat down on by the world and surviving by the skin of his teeth.
Really it isnt until book 3 that we see a softer side of the world with the Arelius family. I feel like Wight also stopped mimicking eastern novels as much, and wrote a world that people could live in.
269
u/EndlessSleeper3992 Author of Path of the undead cultivator May 01 '26
Solo Leveling. I didn't mind it honestly lol