A Monster Who Levels Up

Description

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This is a story of a man named Kim Sae-Jin, who one day, inexplicably wakes up as a Monster. Follow him and his perilous journey to get his life back as a Human, all the while growing even more versatile as a Monster in the process. This should be… complicated, somewhat.

Associated Names
One entry per line
Monster
레벨업하는 몬스터
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Seoul Station’s Necromancer (8)
The Second Coming of Gluttony (7)
Lv1 Skeleton (7)
Everyone Else is a Returnee (7)
Infinite Competitive Dungeon Society (5)
Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken (WN) (4)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Gates/Dungeons/Monsters/etc on Earth
  2. Novels I have read
  3. Not masterpieces, but enjoyable enough.
  4. Enjoyable read
  5. Favorite

Latest Release

Date Group Release
05/04/18 Novel Life c174 (end)
05/03/18 Novel Life c173
05/02/18 Novel Life c172
05/01/18 Novel Life c171
04/30/18 Novel Life c170
04/29/18 Novel Life c169
04/28/18 Novel Life c168
04/27/18 Novel Life c167
04/26/18 Novel Life c166
04/25/18 Novel Life c165
04/23/18 Novel Life c164
04/21/18 Novel Life c163
04/20/18 Novel Life c162
04/18/18 Novel Life c161
04/16/18 Novel Life c160
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173 Reviews sorted by


Chourou
Chourou rated it
November 21, 2017
Status: --
It is an ok novel, I am enjoying this novel so to say. Not gonna write an elaborated review of this novel. The other reviewers has already pointed out some of the flaws I noticed aswell. I am staying at 3 star. This is a fun novel but a few too many annoying traits. Good thing there is an end to this novel if you can handle it to the end.

Ehm. As I wrote I am staying at 3 stars. Not gonna elaborate it why, others already pointed some out,... more>> others things are just preferences. So I'm just gonna point out one thing, there are missing background story and information of a few things that makes this novel feels "whole". Put it this way, there are missing pieces in this 1000 puzzle work. Either those pieces were thrown out the window or eaten by your pet dog.

Edit: Holy moly... this novel ended bad... My god... this is what happens when a writer loses interest and inspiration I suppose... I am now 2 star.

The translation is awesome and good quality. <<less
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xuduxucii
xuduxucii
January 14, 2024
Status: --
For those veteran readers I suggest that you don't read this. See the reviews below and you'll easily understand why. However I recommend this to those newbies who are new to web novel or just their first time reading something.

Almost 5 years probably when I first started reading novels. I remembered being bored of anime, manga, manhua, and manhwas at that time. I think I just finished season 1 of Solo Leveling and was really curious about the continuation but at that time my brain did not really like reading... more>> through just words so I just passed my time reading other incomplete manhwas that has the same theme. It was not until I somehow discovered this novel.

That time the theme of being monster instead of hunter is a noble one for me that's why I searched if this novel has been adapted to manwha or not but sadly I didn't found any. I was really curious about the plot so it did not take long for me to give in and started reading it. And before I know it I am already invested and closing on the final chapter.

I did not remember much as it's been years and I did not reread it nor I planned to but one thing that left an impact with me is it's ending. I don't know the ending will satisfy my current standards right now but I still vividly remember how much I was mind blown in the ending that happened.

This book has a special place in my heart as this is my first ever finished book and it is what taught me that my imagination is greater than any animation.

Sorry for the long rant. Hope you try reading the book. Bye~ <<less
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Shadow1406
Shadow1406 rated it
December 31, 2022
Status: Completed
I liked the story most of the time, it was kind of enjoyable and constantly held my interest, even though some characters were a bit annoying I still liked everything except for the last two chapters.
Spoiler

The build-up of the ending was so somber and the mood was sad for the last few chapters, then MC goes back to past and lives a lonely life for 600 years only in the hope of finally meeting his friends and live happily with them, he endures for so long and finally the heartfelt moment of him meeting his mom happens *I was crying continuously*, then when it was finally time for him to meet them, he gets mortally wounded and mother earth takes back his powers and even his memories under the pretext of him living happily as a normal person?!!!! Him losing his memories and always feeling empty inside is happy? His friends and lover living in misery due to his disappearance is happy? Why did ta perfectly normal and easygoing story end in such heart wrenching manner? I didn't even liked the character of his lover before the last chapter but even then I felt so much pity for her, so much pity for MC and so empty inside after the last chapter, the only consoling point was that the poor girl atleast found the man she loved and waited for and showed the determination to bring his memories back and if they didn't come back then making new happy memories, and forget all those years of loneliness spent waiting for him, I also wanted atleast some closure for poor Hazeline and Kim Yu-Rin, but alas no such thing happened. This ending did to me something that even the ending of Game of Thrones couldn't do, it made me love and feel sad for a character I disliked/hated till the end

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vccbt
vccbt rated it
November 13, 2022
Status: Completed
i really enjoyed this novel but after the last chapters I feel so fu***ing sh*t I feel just empty idk if anyone feels the same as I do but yeah I recommend to not read the last 2 chapter and just image ur own ending like: before everyone is about to go (gathering of the monster guild) he enters the like... idk something like that or like after yu sae-jung went home and starts crying she sudenly noticed someone in the dark coner and HERE he is like a mf... more>> sitting the with big a** grin on his face and sying "I AM BACK" xD <<less
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Calsifer
Calsifer
August 11, 2022
Status: Completed
I read this whole light novel and I like it. The story kept me engaged, interested, and craving for more. The ending shocked me to the point where I thought about this book for months after finishing it. Now I want to buy a copy so I can support the author. Please sell it on Amazon or something. I want to support you.
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shelwyn
shelwyn rated it
July 29, 2022
Status: Completed
The last two chapters are absolute dog sh*t but it was a nice story up to the author now knowing how to end a story lol.

Spoiler

There was the loud sound of the Fissure vibrating.

My entire body shuddered in unbridled joy.

Strange, unknown creatures began invading the ocean.

I opened my eyes and laughed out loudly.

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I think its hilarious how delighted MC is when the world is about to end.
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LehmD
LehmD rated it
November 18, 2021
Status: Completed
Tbh at first I really enjoyed it. I have read similar novels where the MC is a monster and I like the idea but man...

I dont mind if an MC doesn't want to help the world fight the Monsters. But this MC says he does but then he doesn't put in any effort?

... more>>
Spoiler

he produces 2 weapons a month. Why???? Either commit to it if it helps fight the Monsters or keep growing yourself and don't do any blacksmithing other than for your friends. He can just use his spit in water Form to make potions so why not dump thousands of litres on the Market and help people?

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For some reason he doesn't even try to get stronger? Apparently he makes a lot of $$$ so why not buy monster cores? He does it once it works really well and then never does it again?

Spoiler

also he eats a leviathan scale and unlocks a new Form and hw never tries that again??? Who knows which other forms he could unlock by eating stuff but he doesn't even try to get some.

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The ending is just horrible. Final fight is like 3 sentences and after that the ending is just super unsatisfying. <<less
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shimar
shimar rated it
October 8, 2021
Status: Completed
Too many inconsistencies especially the names. The story is a little of everything from drama, action, romance, sort-of-harem, comedy and tragedy. But that's just it. LITTLE. The concept was definitely good but the delivery is lacking. The author should have made up his mind to stick in one or two genres and not all! Still, I endured reading it.

I can't believe he's the author of the other novel I've been reading!! So I 'm giving it a 3 instead of a 1 because some said it was his one of... more>> his early works. <<less
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WondLa
WondLa rated it
August 4, 2021
Status: c60
I'm not usually one to write a review but this novel was just disappointing and lackluster.

My first and biggest problem with the story is the complete lack of world building. The author gives no explanation in the beginning as to why earth has monsters or how the supernatural races came to earth or even how the hunter/knight system worked. I have reached chapter 60 and it's only through context clues and plot convenience that the bare minimum of world building has been reached.
Spoiler

It's only until the MC gets to the forging arc that the ranking system of hunters/knights and weapons is really explained and it's only through the bad guy's explanation that we find out the all the supernatural people are from another world and left for earth because their's ended.

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Secondly, I have a soft spot for MC who level up and are monsters or are treated as such hence why I read this. However, not only does the MC seem to completely forget that every human he runs into while in monster form will try to kill him and monsters are the bane of human existence! He runs around saving everyone despite them threatening his survival, he shows none of the anger or hatred one would expect from an orphan who has been treated like sh*t by human society.

Thirdly, his trait makes no f*cking sense!!! Like the title states it levels up but there's no logical reason to the way he evolves his monster forms. Normally, leveling up or attacking stronger enemies would be the most obvious logical way to evolve but that's not how it works.
Spoiler

In two instance he evolved because his renown increased (he exposed himself to reporters), WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING???!!!

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I had hopes for it to get better but it has not. The only thing that made this all worse was the author neglecting to focus on other monster forms and
Spoiler

his freaking mercenary job, like the author builds up the vampires as his most hated enemy and alludes that he has a personal vendetta but then almost immediately never mentions it again except when the MC watches the news

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making you almost forget about them. I usually don't mind if a novel is bad because I can enjoy the unique world setting or twisted main character, but this was just abysmal.
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abcas2
abcas2 rated it
February 14, 2021
Status: c63
I picked up this novel expecting an MC monster and his circumstances to deal with it and fit in. Sadly it is....

Spoiler

Instead I got novel about harem, crafting and none of the Monster problems and trying to fit in. You can even change the power and still have the same on where the novel is going.

It all went down to hell when changing back to human was a cheap skill. It defeat the purpose of the the whole monster thing if you can just change back to human easily.

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PolitikZ
PolitikZ
December 22, 2020
Status: Completed
So I started this novel after reading the comments talking about the terrible ending thinking, "It can't be THAT bad". Well, it is, "THAT bad". I would be more upset with the ending if the novel was better, but it's pretty sub-par through and through. It was good for the first half but at some point things just started to fall apart. It's nothing big, more like a bunch of little things that added up and gave a sloppy impression.
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Josuto
Josuto
September 24, 2020
Status: Completed
Read only if you have nothing else to read.

Romance was kinda iffy, as alot of others have already said, the main girl choice was frustrating.

Plot started good, got draggy as hell and left unsatisfying.

The ending was very rushed, it felt like 164 ch for 2 arcs and 10 ch for the ending which felt like a summary.
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Bachingchung
Bachingchung rated it
September 22, 2020
Status: --
I like the novel, the idea is refreshing. However, the MC achieved his goals quite early on the novel that the latter half of the novel is such a drag.

The author is also a bit forgetful and like to contradict his earlier words most of the time. Even the translator got pissed and couldn't help himself to leave some snarky comments. XD

Story: meh. As I said it was a drag

... more>> Romance: annoying.

Comic relief: it's a hit or miss, but mostly miss.

It was regretful but his alter ego is my favorite part, Jin Seh Han. His ending is better than the real one. <<less
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KA2094
KA2094
August 30, 2020
Status: Completed
If a story has my actively complete it I usually rate it 5 stars.

This story fits neatly enough with certain plot holes mostly being fixable since they are just the author forgetting times/dates/names (Sometimes even in the same chapter XD)

The main character... seems like a normal person...

... more>>
Spoiler

Maybe for the demographic, but it also helps with making the monster egos more prominent.

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But it isn't that bad and there is surprisingly little race bashing against Japan/China that most Korean novels of this type seem to have.

Also unlike most Korean novels this novel has a somewhat complete ending with one nitpick.

Spoiler

I would rather it end with confirmation that the MC with amnesia gets back with his gf instead of ending when they start to get closer. Even 1 paragraph would of been fine. In fact -personally (this is probably not a good idea) - I wouldn't mind some plot armor that has his amnesia lessen so the MC can properly fulfil his promise to give "the rest of his life" to his gf. I liked this couple more than some romance novels... so it was kind of annoying.

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His monster forms are fine. Obviously overpowered and obviously underused because of it but there is a "balance" to them.... except the goblin.

Spoiler

It has dexterity (which is mostly used on other forms) and alchemy which is usually background related after the first 2 potions.

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On the forms:

Spoiler
  • Wolf: Obviously the main form and most powerful form. Until its ego becomes to prevalent and he has to evolve the orc form which becomes his main for a while which then loses to leviathan... which trumps it on both fronts. The ego is probably a good move to stop overabundance but after evolving the orc form its actually used too little in my opinion
  • Goblin: This literally has dexterity, alchemy, and witchcraft. Only alchemy is limited to the form and isn't developed after... but I guess this would be the hardest to right meaningfully.
  • Orc: Ignored for wolf until the ego thing happens. The scenes with this form and Kim Yu-Rin are sometimes cute sometimes horrible. Sometimes rude for no apparent reason. But otherwise pretty cool. It seems to be more "powerful" than the lycan form but never feels like it since the MC often switches to lycan form in important battles without allies.
  • Human (lol) : The author mentions the human form should evolve and... doesn't really do it? The form just uses the traits of the monster's and doesn't evolve itself which with the way it is mentioned feels weird when reading.
  • Leviathan: Did they ever correct the public that it isn't the Azure Dragon? Anyway. Obvious the most op form and the mc's plot armor after the fenrir form (Underwhelming as that was.) I.... dont like this form. Maybe because it has direct relation with how the ending just annoys me. The author does surprisingly well to give reason to it but once again the end reward is ultimately lowered because of it (At least it ends up feeling like it which is also important to a review)
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The supporting cast are nice mainly focusing on the mc's gf. Wizard Elf. And Female Knight. While the orc loving Female Knight (lol) is meh. The other 2 are fine. With obvious attention to the mc's gf fleshing out the character more than the other 2. Then again this isn't a romance novel and so not by... much.

Surprisingly few male supporting casts.... Like 4? Always felt off.

One major complaint would be the villains. They.... aren't very good at what they do. Feels like the MC should of beaten them alot easier. <<less
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eddyirfan97
eddyirfan97 rated it
May 3, 2020
Status: Completed
I really really liked this novel. It was everything I wanted, the romance/action/story, except the ending.

The final 2 chapters was horrendous. I really do not know why the author wrote it in such a way. Why did he ruin a perfect novel?

Yeah he did explain why it ended like that but to me it was just s*upid. Instead of feeling satisfied and happy, now I’m left with an empty and bitter taste at the end of the novel.

I actually did saw the warning from @PotatoKing but I just had to... more>> read the final 2 chapters to know the ending and get some closure.

Thanks to this novel, I would have to take a break from novels for a while to calm my heart and soul.

For those who are trying to get over the bitterness, I will recommend you a novel to save your souls. Unfortunately for me, I have already read it. It’s called “Solo Leveling” or “Only I level up”. One of the, if not the best, Korean novel/Novel I’ve read. <<less
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blank1134
blank1134 rated it
April 21, 2020
Status: Completed
Its quite a mellow phased novel its not great but it still a good read in my opinion. Not a harem novel, has leveling system, has quite some focus on vampires, MC changing in different types of monster is really interesting, I also enjoyed the crafting stories of the MC.

Story: The author did quite a good job portraying what he wants to tell in his/her story, not that complicated and you will really enjoy every scenario taking part in this novel. Its a comforting and light read kind of a... more>> novel.

Character: The interaction between characters is quite synchronized. The MC and the SC are quite likable. I feel like the author could've done more detailed job on the villains but that's just my preference how the author portrayed his/her villains is still good.

Leveling System: The novel has a leveling system called "traits" for a simple read its actually good and will not complicate the readers that much about it, but I feel like it would've been better if the author added a little bit more details in this area.

Places: The stories are mostly focused inside Korea. There are times the author go out of Korea but its just too little a scenario. He/She did say countries or other names of countries and name of places around the world but really only focused in telling his/her story mostly inside Korea. It would've been nice if he/she Ventured his/her MC in other places more. But it still good though. It also shows how the author loves his/her country.

To be honest I feel like its quite rushed coming from the end (around 2/3), it feels like it has more potential to continue more chapters but still all in all its still a good read. I enjoyed reading it. <<less
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Alztec24
Alztec24 rated it
March 23, 2020
Status: Completed
Even though the story is filled with Cliches, it is still a fun read. The author definitely grew with this story, and the ending was FAR better than the start.

... more>>
Spoiler

One of the ln's which does time travel correctly, and one of the best examples of a correct wrap up. Wish they had not included chapter 174 though, Sae-Jung is an annoying bit*h and does not deserve him.

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In the end, this is a good story to read slowly, it completes all of it's own storylines and concludes well. Don't force yourself to read this if you don't like the first 20 chapters. <<less
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Bourne91
Bourne91 rated it
March 6, 2020
Status: c174
Came in with some expectation but got utterly disappointed. Here are the pro and cons of this novel:

Pros:

  • World setting is decent
  • Level sistem (Traits) is original
Cons:

  • The whole world and story is just an excuse to show how great the MC is.
  • Author more then once changes the name of a character for no reason or changes their personality only so it could be more convinient for the plot.
  • Naming sense is really bad: in the first 20/30 chapters there are about 5 Kim's characters that are important, making the already hard to follow story even more hard to follow (and yes I know that is probably just a problem for us westerner)
  • Translation of the first 50/60 chap isn't the best but at least it get better in time (still good job translators, I appreciate your hard work)
  • All the characters are one dimensional with zero depth. All female characters are basically in love with him for no reason and all male characters either worship him or hate him and try to kill him
All in all I give 2.5 to this novel. Not worth, but OK if you don't have other things to read.
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tacobringer
tacobringer rated it
March 1, 2020
Status: c174
To start off, this is my first ever review on novelupdates. I literally made an account just to leave a review for this novel. This is how strongly I feel about this.

The first thing I can say is the premise had me fully convinced I was in for a good read. The first few chapters were a bit hard to read but then you understand the main character and feel much better about the chapters previous and you start to genuinely care for the MC. The story goes onto so... more>> well for itself, the MC getting stronger as he should and not too much in a ridiculous way. He still makes horrible choices to the characters around him that we care about but there's the hope that things might get better, with a clear example of the author choosing to let the MC acknowledge the love interest towards him. But then everything falls apart around chapter 50.

The MC gets dumb power ups, plays with the feelings of those who like him, etc. Then things totally fall apart when he r*peS THE MAIN LOVE INTEREST. AND FACES NO NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES. Naturally the author spins it to make it seem like it wasn't r*pe. But he clearly puts a young girl whos so obsessed with the MC and other factors like mind altering traits that just try to play down the fact that the first s*x scene is just r*pe. Then he just moves on.

Sure there's some cool parts later on, but the quality of his work plummets. Then the ending. The ending is everything you don't do if you truly care for your readers. Or you make clear it's that kind of story. Which I certainly did not get the memo for.

Tldr

Author had a great idea but messed it up and instead of trying to fix it, asked himself how many mistakes he could get away with. And snuck in r*pe <<less
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SwagB055Man
SwagB055Man rated it
August 30, 2019
Status: c174
I loved the premise for this novel, and I think the execution is somewhat well done, but the novel is so short that it's just a fun read. Except the ending. I recommend you just don't read the ending. The author hints at and builds up to what would have been an amazing, original, satisfying ending, maybe one of the best endings I've ever read. But instead he completely subverts my expectations and ruins the ending. Its awful and completely unnecessary. Might've given this story a 4 or 5 if... more>> it wasn't for what could be called the worst ending I've ever read, which somehow came from a wonderful buildup. <<less
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