Summary
The Isekai manga and anime trope is quite known by now, but there are cases where harsh, cold reality sips deep between the seams of that fantasy world many people would love to travel to. When things get dark and complicated, protagonists of those tales must decide between morals or survival, and that’s where breathtaking events happen.
These anime and manga protagonistsdon’t usually take the safest route and the consequences of their actions change the course of the story for better or worse. But all things are permitted when survival is at stake and when the worlds where they got Isekai’d to gave them lemons, they didn’t hesitate to squeeze them dry. This list contains anime and manga characters who went through hell and back and had to deal with the outcome of their choices.
After being reincarnated and granted a second chance,the Teleportation Incident shattered RudeusGreyrat’s seemingly perfect life into a million pieces. Beaten by the loss of his family, a near-death experience, and the woman he loved leaving him behind, he got deeply traumatized causing him several personal issues.
His original dreams, and his need to find his missing family members and beloved had to be forsaken, as he enrolled in the academy to look for a way to heal his body and his broken heart.
Naofumi is one of those cool and collected characters in anime that every fan has learned to admire. Even after being betrayed by his fellow Isekai drifters and a whole kingdom branding him as a “monster,” he was able to forgive and be better than those who victimized him.
This meant a tremendously difficult choice, as he was being slowly consumed by his rage and grief. Thankfully he had the support andlove of the swordmaiden Raphtaliato help him let go and rise again.
8William Discovers True Courage In The Faraway Paladin
William G. Maryblood was meant to be a hero from the start:Reincarnated in a dangerous fantasy world, without any knowledge of his past life, and adopted by a family of Undead Heroes, he was raised to be an exemplar to his peers.
He had to let his parents transcend to the afterlife, as he battled against the avatar of the God of Undeath, Stagnate. During this ordeal, William proved that he had true courage and the tools of the trade to be a Paladin.
Ken Usato, transported alongside his friends to a war-riddled world, has to learnHealing Magic to protect themfrom the war against the forces of the Demon King.
Sacrificing his body, his mind, and constantly on the verge of fainting, he was able to come up as a powerful member of the Healing Squad. He protected his friends from certain death, even at the cost of putting his life on the line, proving that the wrong way to Use Healing Magic is the best way.
Makoto Misumi, after being tossed away by a selfish goddess, decides to survive even despite being cursed by her. Adopting the moniker of Makoto Kuzunoha, this protagonist decides to leave peacefully as a merchant.
However, discrimination is an intrinsic part of the corrupted society of the world he was Isekai’d to, and tired of dealing withthe abuse of ruthless people, he decides to mercilessly wipe out whoever tries to hurt him or his friends. A total shift from his originally naive and peaceful nature.
5Zenjiro Becomes A Hard-working Guy In The Ideal Sponger Life
Zenjiro Yamai was transported to another world, summoned by a beautiful and mysterious queen named Aura, who offered him to be her spouse and live a relaxed “sponger” life with no worries at all.
As the story progresses, Zenjiro, now married to the queen, steadily becomes a reliable person, advisor for Aura, and the loving father of her kids. Then, he decides to throw aside comfort toenter a dangerous contest for powerand become a capable monarch worthy of the love of Queen Aura.
4Irushia Throws Away His Humanity In Reincarnated As A Dragon Hatchling
The unnamed hero gets reincarnated into another world as a Dragon Hatchling, where he learns soon that he was been sent to a merciless and terrible place.
For the sake of survival, he will constantly toss away tiny bits of his humanity, always fearing to become a monster. When his only human friend who gave him the name Irushia is in danger, he decides to become a fearsome and monstrous Plague Dragon, only to gain the necessary strength to save his beloved friend from death.
Satou’s love for his childhood sweetheart, Hime, is the true moral compass of this story about Wedding Rings, where the protagonist faces an impossible choice between the woman he loves, and the duty to protect her land by becoming the Ring King.
In the face of danger, the cowardly Satou soon becomes a force to be reckoned with but manages to stay true to his ideals as he puts his total trust in the Ring Princesses and his allies, despite all odds pinned against them.
Haruhiro and his friends are thrown into the ruthless world of Grimgar, wherewar and death are the bread of every day. After constantly struggling for survival, his best friend and leader of the group, Manato, dies protecting them all.
The protagonist feels the weight of Manato’s death more than anyone in the Isekai party group and vows to protect them all from certain doom. Haruhiro’s leadership proves that in the face of total annihilation, the power of friendship is the best way to survive.
Seiya, theCautious Heroalways has a backup plan: Being overly cautious, and training to the max before even trying to face an opponent. For Seiya, being overpowered was never enough, and defeat was never an option.
Buta heartbreaking truth lies behindSeiya’s reason for being like this, which was his tragic death as he failed to protect the woman he loved in his past life. Ultimately, he decides to sacrifice himself once more, for love, as he reveals his true self to Ria.
