https://www.webnovel.com/book/10343178605010205/I-Won't-Kill-Myself-for-the-Second-Time

Give this one a try. It starts with a cliche of waking up in someone's body but there's a lot of mystery at the beginning and it deviates from it around ~5-10 chapter and by 20 chapter fully spreads its wings. What's more, it should be exactly what you want:

Mc personality is bad, but he tries to change slowly.
Mc starts not even close to the word op, more like zero.
The action is set in a slightly alternative modern world.

But remember

There's no cultivation.
Forget about marial arts.
It's a mix of slice of life, action, mystery, fantasy, supernatural

I don't want to spoil too much, but check out some of the reviews if you're not sure if it's worth giving a try.

I wrote this novel exactly due to the reasons you've mentioned because I was bored with super op mc's from the very beginning, flat characters with no development, mc's 'yes man' army following him, and winning every challenge on the way without breaking a sweat.

Also the problem with Mc being too arrogant thinking that they are better then everyone else. OK we get you guys are genius but you don't have to say it in every chapter. Also is just plain narcissistic that Mc consider themselves as genius when they are reincarnated and have all the memories and know better martial arts then some younger generation but as soon as they fight some.older generation they complain about how the seniors are bullying the younger generation. Which is weird considering that they themselves most of the times from an even older generation.
Not to mention about all women who fall for them because they are so talented and handsome that those women lose all reason. Come on, why can't we get a women who turns down the Mc and says screw you self.

    The cliches you mentioned are the characteristics of popular web novels, they have these cliches because that's what many readers ( or at least new readers) like.

    If you are a more seasoned reader, I would recommend the following as they are quite different compared to the norm.

    Thriller Paradise
    Throne of Magical Arcana
    Pivot of the sky (not on Webnovel, you have to search at Novelupdates)

      SRandom yeah i know what ur saying. im just saying the populkar books and in general. but the throne of magical arcana is a very good book. i like it

          bandicoot879 Same with me, but without these tropes its really hard to write one. Also even if someone write one, not many will try it since people are reluctant to try new things lol.

          Some shameless advertisement here haha.
          You can try my novel. It has action and does not fall under these cliches.
          The beginning is slow paced at first but will pick later on and I am a slow writer which is a bad thing at the moment.
          Try it and tell me your opinion. Its called 'Nefarious "EVIL" Affairs.'
          https://www.webnovel.com/book/10332848305006905/Nefarious-%22EVIL%22-Affairs

              i've added urs to my library

              I THINK UR START IS VERY UNIQUE. THERE'S ALOT OF MYSTERY AT THE START BUT I HOPE AFTER THE FIRST CHAP THERE IS GOOD WORLD BUILDING.

              honestly this is a very good sizzling start

                bandicoot879 Mine?
                If it is, Thank you very much.
                Please leave behind a comment about things you like and things you dislike. I am trying to improve from this. At least leaving an 'exp' comment will show me you are reading this. I will pick up the release speed soon.

                Yes, world-building will be something I am debating heavily for now. To use the real world or a parallel Earth. What do you prefer?
                (Not too much world building till I hit 10 chapters.)
                I am not comfortable with the modern world too much so I can't wait to get into the second world which will be after a couple of arcs. I have some amazing world with unique culture planned out hehe.

                    I agree. Most web-novels and even light novels start off with a reincarnated person that's supposed to be some kind of shut-in or social outcast, and the first thing they do is meet a benevolent God who grants them a cheat ability and get overpowered almost immediately.

                    It cuts out a lot of the tension, period, and they never lose a battle. Not only that, but they supposedly get really good relationships with girls and ladies for no reason, despite the fact that they're supposed to be people who were never really capable of having friends.

                    There's seriously a large amount of cliches to be found with those kinds of stories, and I did write my current webnovel as an attempt to divert those common themes, as hard as that is. I'm hoping I'm doing it right at the very least...

                    Sadly those cliches and things are well-received.
                    Novels which have those cliches (or some of them) are very high in the rankings and that is undeniable.

                      It depends on context really. If a cliche is overused, sure it's boring. But there are some authors, that purposely use these, to evoke a change in their character. Spoilers for ISSTH

                      ISSTH made Meng Hao start from the bottom to become strong, which is the originator of cliches to be honest. Then at the later stages, it shows how he feels grief, he becomes a mortal, and finally after reaching the top, becoming indifferent to the changes that occur. After a few years of watching his friends die one by one, he finally achieves enlightenment. It really captures the struggle he goes through, even though he has all that power, he in the end, can't stop his friends from suffering t.

                      So in short. Authors need to be given time, to show people that their MCs can evolve. It just needs time and the audience needs to have the patience to go through the end with them.

                      But just my 2cents.

                      I read novels just for a little entertainment, unless the novel is REALLY GOOD and interesting, giving me motivation to read it with love, I don't want the MC to have any flaws or lose fights (even more so in cultivation novels, where that fight would be insignificant for the future MC).

                      Everyone wants to be their friends, seriously, if they exist, even if they give me the opportunity I would never be willing to be friends of one of those hypocrite and arrogant MCs.

                      KingBiBiK i would wait until ur book has 100 chaps so i can binge it but until then i think u should do a parallel earth with many diferent cultures
                      also since there is dark energy and stuff watch these two videos to find out which kind of magic system u want
                      hard magic system :

                      soft magic system :

                      they're just 10 minute videos

                          One thing to keep in mind about webnovels authors is they never get a chance to write a first draft of an entire book, review it, create a second draft, send it to people to review, then have it edited, etc. Having 2-3 years to ponder over a book before releasing it.

                          They have to release chapter after chapter with no time to stop. Many talented American authors work would be just as shoddy if they were subject to this. Kindle unlimited already has some authors putting out crappy books that pointlessly extends plotlines for word count.

                          There are alot of ways to make MC stronger.....
                          Like having companions dying and MC blames himself/herself for being too weak and then he/she trains like mad
                          Then revenge......
                          And having parents die/captured/mother rped cause too beautiful and GF rped and killed friends killed everyone he knows get killed and he vows to take revenge.....
                          Then he becomes stronger
                          By getting stronger he meets more enemies and friends
                          Then his/her new/old enemies kills new friends then he/she gets more stronger and try to kill his/her enemies
                          just telling the consequences of being weak
                          dont reply :/

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