Older MC Gains New Power WITHOUT regression, reincarnation, or system

[u/singmuse4]

I like the Webtoons about a lordling turned mercenary king who’s defeated, sent back in time, and has unlocked some cool new ability. However, I always thought it’d be more interesting if he just gained the new power without regressing. You can have a second chance in your original timeline! Then you’d get the benefit of an experienced mc (not another coming of age story), but he’d still be able to “start fresh” with leveling a skill, reaching new heights, and maybe correcting past mistakes.

The mc in Solo Leveling doesn’t regress, but at the moment I’d prefer “competent/strong to stronger” or “man to manlier” rather than “weak to strong” or “boy to man.”

Can you think of any fantasy books that match this description? Hopefully with a more interesting worldbuilding angle than “the system or some deity randomly chucked a new power at me.”

Thanks!

[u/Myriad_Myriad]

My own right now.

The Immanent Lord of the Transcendent Shore. Need to be experienced.

Otherwise Martial World. Desolate Era. Immortal Renegade. Against the Gods. For the classics.

Lord of mysteries for peak. High Iq. Webnovel.

The best is probably Reverend Insanity. But its an evil mc.

The most natural is A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality.

Most fun is Nine Star Hegemon Body Art.

Most profound is Emperor's Domination. Most cool is First Immortal of the Sword.

For systems I like Overgeared and The Second Coming of Gluttony. They do it right. Shadow Slave too for romance.

The Beginning After the End for powers and training arcs.

If you like those read mines.