How a failed magician became a god-like sage 400 years later
In short: In his first life, Ephtal was a magician who could never master the arts. After dying of old age, he was reincarnated into a world where magic had grown weaker, suddenly finding himself among the most powerful magic users to ever exist.
The story follows Ephtal, a magician who spent his entire first life unsuccessfully attempting to improve his magical skills. In this new era, magic has become significantly weaker, granting the reincarnated Ephtal a level of power that makes him one of the strongest magic users in existence. This journey allows him to finally achieve the goals he missed during his previous lifetime. He now seeks to live out his second chance with newfound strength.
Originally appearing as a web novel on the platform Shōsetsuka ni Narō in 2018, the series was written by Arata Shiraishi and illustrated by Uodenim. Following a positive reception, it was acquired by Kadokawa Shoten and published under the Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint. This transition saw eight volumes released between October 1, 2019, and March 1, 2022. The original web novel was eventually removed from the website following its acquisition. This successful series has since reached a wide audience through various adaptations.
The franchise has expanded through multiple media formats. Kentarō provided the illustrations for a manga that started appearing on Square Enix's Manga Up! on 26 September 2019. This adaptation has seen nine volumes released as of July 7, 2026. Additionally, an anime television series produced by EMT Squared aired from July 2 to September 17, 2026, under the English title The Failed Sage's Academy Domination. The anime's musical score was composed by Takaaki Nakahashi. The production also featured character designs by Hideki Furukawa and script supervision by Deko Akao.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: From Overshadowed to Overpowered
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-from-overshadowed-to-overpowered.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Festivals & celebrations · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
