Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything with Low-Level Spells (Japanese: ハズレ枠の【状態異常スキル】で最強になった俺がすべてを蹂躙するまで, Hepburn: Hazure Waku no "Jōtai Ijō Sukiru" de Saikyō ni Natta Ore ga Subete o Jūrin Suru made, lit. "Until I Became the Strongest with the Failure Frame 'Status Abnormal Skill' and Overran Everything") is a Japanese light novel series written by Kaoru Shinozaki. The series originated on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in November 2017, before Overlap acquired and published it in print with illustrations by KWKM in July 2018. A manga adaptation with composition by Keyaki Uchi-Uchi and illustrations by Shō Uyoshi began serialization on the Comic Gardo website in July 2019. An anime television series adaptation produced by Seven Arcs aired from July to September 2024.
Plot
Touka Mimori and his classmates are suddenly summoned to a fantasy world by a goddess to act as heroes. While most of them are shown to have exceptional skills, Mimori has an E-rank. Deeming him useless, the goddess decides to banish Mimori to a monster-filled dungeon where nobody has ever survived, a fate to which almost all of his classmates abandon him without hesitation. However, it turns out that his skills are more abnormal and more powerful than they seem. After escaping from the dungeon, Mimori vows to have his revenge. As he travels throughout this new world, strengthening and increasing his skills, he acquires friends and allies while making sure that the goddess and his former classmates continue to believe him dead.
Known as Class 2C's background character, he is assigned as an E-rank by the goddess Vicius and is banished into a dangerous dungeon where nobody has ever survived. While his unique skills are deemed to be useless, they have proven to have a 100% success rate against his opponents (with the exception of Vicius, who is constantly protected by a barrier). After suffering as a child countless physical and emotional abuse from his own parents, who eventually abandoned him, he was rescued by his uncle and aunt. As a result, he developed two different personas: 1) being the good guy to those who treat him well, and b) a dark and ruthless persona, annihilating those whom he deems deserving to die (especially those who have deliberately abused or killed the innocent and helpless). In addition to his abilities, he is also the possessor of a book of powerful magic written by a Hero/Sage whom the Goddess had also disposed of and who had died in that dungeon (Mimori also now wears the Sage's robes). His most used Skills are "Paralyze" and "Poison", to which he has leveled up to add "Sleep", "Dark" (which blinds the opponent) and "Berserk" (which sends the person the Skill is used against into an uncontrollable rage). After learning of the legend of "The Lord of the Flies" and buying a helmet mask of that character, he adopts that identity, using the helmet mask to disguise himself with a magic stone inside it that disguises his voice.
A princess from the High Elf country and former knight captain of the Holy Kingdom of Neia. After she was forced to flee Neia rather than be handed over to the Goddess Vicius, a bounty was placed on her and she was forced to hide her identity by disguising herself as a human. After a fateful encounter with Mimori, who saves her from bounty hunters, she decides to pledge her loyalty to him and follow his journey of revenge as his guard. When Mimori buys the "Lord of the Flies" mask, he also buys the helmet mask of "The Fly Swordsman" for Seras to use to hide her true identity. As their journey continues, her feelings towards him becomes stronger and more romantic, but she is determined to not let her feelings get in the way of his vengeance.
A slime whom Mimori encounters in the forest while it is being overpowered by a group of other larger slimes. Impressed by its determination to fight back despite its disadvantage, Mimori decides to save it. It becomes attached to Mimori and decides to follow him, thus aiding him in his journey of revenge. Mimori later uses special potions to help Piggymaru "level up". Despite it being a Slime, it appears to be highly intelligent and extremely resilient in dangerous situations, able to bond with Mimori to produce a multi-enemy attack called "Assault Accel".
The Goddess who summons Class 2C to save the world from demons. Behind her radiant smile, she is actually a heartless, cruel and arrogant person who rejects and disposes of anyone whom she deems to be useless while adopting a public persona of caring. Angered by her irresponsible actions, Mimori now targets her as the object of his revenge after he escapes from the dungeon.
The class representative of Class 2C who always got top grades in her studies. When Mimori was banished to the dungeon, she tried to speak up for him, but was viciously knocked unconscious by the goddess. Feeling guilty that she could not save Mimori, she resolves to protect her weaker classmates to ensure they do not suffer the same fate as Mimori. Trained enormously in martial arts during her childhood days, she is skilled in handling close combat weapons; however, she has yet to unlock her true Skill potential despite being an S-Rank Hero, causing her to be looked down upon by Kirihara, Oyamada and Yasu.
A member of Class 2-C who is powerful enough to be deemed an S-Rank Hero. Due to his current power level and Skills, he becomes extremely arrogant and believes himself worthy of kingship in this new world. He is the leader of one of the Hero groups. His major Skill is Dragonic Buster, a powerful flame-throwing magic.
Another member of Class 2-C who is powerful enough to be deemed an S-Rank Hero. However, while also extremely powerful, he appears to be more violent, uncaring and emotionally unstable. He is a member of Kirihara's group, with Kirihara being the only one who can dominate him.
A girl in Class 2-C whom Mimori had befriended back in their own world, but who was too afraid to defend him or speak up for him when he was "disposed of" (a betrayal she can never forgive herself for). She admits to being a coward and proves unable to kill monsters, reluctantly joining Asagi Senjou's group for survival, with Asagi nicknaming her "Pigeon". While she hates herself for her betrayal of Mimori and her cowardice, she remains with Asagi's group in hope that she might be able to warn Ayaka Sogou of any hostile move against her by Asagi. In Volume 8 of the light novels, it is revealed that her Major Skill is Disclose, an ability to see other Heroes' stats.
Another member of Class 2-C who is powerful enough to be deemed an A-Rank Hero. However, while also extremely powerful, he appears to suffer from an inferiority complex due to his treatment and lack of friends in his former world and therefore believes that others are looking down on him, causing him to lash out whenever he feels slighted or mocked. He is the leader of his own Hero group, but feels no responsibility towards his followers or seems to care whether they live or die just as long as he survives. His major Skill is Levatine, a "black fire" magic.
A member of Class 2-C, she refuses to join any of the Hero Groups, preferring to work only with her younger sister Itsuki. She proves to not only be skilled in fighting, but also to have a strong intellect and keen analytical mind, able to see facts and truths that others either can't or dont.
Hijiri Takao's younger sister and also a member of Class 2-C. While also strong at fighting, she is also far more reckless and sometimes takes her older sister's instructions too literally, which can lead to misunderstood situations. She is more emotional and less intellectual than Hijiri, sometimes causing her to not understand what her sister is talking about.
An incredibly skilled leopard-woman warrior who had been captured and sold as a slave, only to become a champion in the city of Monroy's arena fighting known as "Blood Fighting" or "Blood Sport" (similar to the gladiatorial battles in Rome's Colosseum), where slaves and mercenaries battle to eventually earn their freedom. Eve had been the undefeated Blood Fighting Champion for five years, hoping to also earn the freedom of Lisbeth (see below), but the Duke in charge of the Blood Fights planned to betray her and fix her final match so she would be killed (like all the Champions before her). Warned by Mimori of the plot and verifying it for herself, she agrees to have him help her rescue Lisbeth and joins him and Seras on their journey to find the Forbidden Witch in the Land of Golden-Eyed Monsters. After coming to trust Mimori and fighting side by side with him against the Duke's private army, she also vows loyalty to him.
A Dark Elf child who was also sold as a slave along with Eve. She doesn't seem to have a last name, and has a strong emotional bond with Eve, whom she calls her "Big Sister". Forced to work in a Monroy inn near the Blood Fighting Colosseum, she is both physically and emotionally abused by the landlady (similar to how Mimori was abused by his parents). Eve had been prolonging her Blood Fighting in the hope of also earning Lisbeth's freedom, but after learning of the Duke's betrayal and his lecherous plans for Lisbeth, she rescues Lisbeth, and the two join Mimori and Seras on their journey. After Mimori proclaims her a member of his "mercenary band". she gains confidence and insists on pulling her own weight.
A cat-woman who acts as a "disciple" of the Goddess Vicius, who in private treats her in "Domme"-fashion. She is a skilled warrior (able to take down Oyamada in an instant without even breaking a sweat), secretly training Ayaga in swordsmanship.
The leader of the Black Dragon Knights from the Bakuos Empire and referred to as "Humanity's Strongest"/"The Strongest Man in the World". His goal is to battle against and defeat the strongest opponents he can find, and his current mission is to capture Seras. Despite his incredible physical strength and martial skills, Mimori is able to catch him off guard and kill him, along with his entire squad.
Media
Light novels
Written by Kaoru Shinozaki, the series began serialization on the novel posting website Shōsetsuka ni Narō on November 24, 2017.[7] The series was later acquired by Overlap, who began publishing the series in print with illustrations by KWKM on July 25, 2018.[8] As of January 2024, eleven volumes and one short stories volume have been released.[9]
A manga adaptation, with composition by Keyaki Uchi-Uchi and illustrations by Shō Uyoshi, began serialization on the Comic Gardo manga website on July 26, 2019.[34] As of June 2024, the series individual chapters have been collected into ten tankōbon volumes.[35]
In July 2020, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that they also licensed the manga adaptation for English publication.[10]
An anime television series adaptation was announced during the second livestream for the "10th Anniversary Memorial Overlap Bunko All-Star Assemble Special" event in January 2024. It is produced by Seven Arcs (with cooperation from SynergySP) and directed by Michio Fukuda, with scripts written by Yasuhiro Nakanishi, character designs handled by Kana Hashidate, and music composed by Tatsuhiko Saiki.[55] The series aired from July 5 to September 27, 2024, on TBS and other networks.[a] The opening theme song is "Hazure" performed by Chogakusei,[4] while the ending theme song is "Pray" performed by Hakubi.[5]Crunchyroll streamed the series.[57]Muse Communication licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia.[58][59]
The goddess Vicius summons a class of Earth students to her world to fight as their heroes against the Demon King. Due to the summoning, each one of them is bestowed with a special power. However, one of them, Touka Mimori, is immediately discarded by Vicius, magically banished and left to die in a dangerous dungeon for having a seemingly weak ability. In the dungeon, Mimori soon discovers that his skill has a special perk that gives him a chance to survive and seek revenge.
2
"The Ruins of Disposal" Transliteration: "Haiki Iseki" (Japanese: 廃棄遺跡)
Mimori explores the dungeon and develops his powers, eventually confronting the strongest monster in the ruins which holds the key that he needs to escape. Meanwhile, a mysterious woman is on the run in the forest outside, trying to escape pursuers.
Back on the surface and in the forest, Mimori encounters a weak slime whom he befriends and names "Piggymaru". Later, he meets the fleeing woman, who is fleeing from bounty hunters. Meanwhile, the rest of the students struggle to get stronger and fulfill Vicius' expectations.
4
"The Woman Known as the Princess Knight" Transliteration: "Hime Kishi to Yoba Reta On'na" (Japanese: 姫騎士と呼ばれた女)
Arriving at the town of Mils and while registering (using the name "Hati Skoll") to explore the local Ruins, Mimori meets the woman again, who calls herself Mist Balukas. After penetrating to the lowest level, Mimori finds a special treasure and again encounters Mist. Since Mimori is there for other reasons, he gives the treasure to Mist, and the two decide to explore the dungeon together. In the course of the exploration, Mimori discovers that Mist is really Seras Ashrain, an elf princess and knight with a bounty on her head.
5
"The Chain Known as Trust" Transliteration: "Shinrai to iu na no Kusari" (Japanese: 信頼という名の鎖)
After Mimori and Seras return from the dungeon, Mimori decides to hire Seras as his bodyguard and they agree as to terms, as well as confiding their true identities to each other. However, the next day when Seras presents the recovered treasure to the local Duke, her disguise is revealed and she is forced to flee, with the most powerful warriors in the world, the "Black Dragon Knights", pursuing her. Learning of this, Mimori decides to help her and catches up to her just as she is on the point of being captured.
Mimori and Seras are confronted the Black Dragon Knights and their leader Civit Gartland, known as the most powerful warrior in the world. Taking advantage of Civit's over-confidence, Mimori kills Civit and deals with the rest of the knights with a new ability he obtained by fusing with the newly-empowered Piggymaru.
7
"Monroy's Bloodsport Champion" Transliteration: "Monroi no Chi Tōshi" (Japanese: モンロイの血闘士)
Now traveling together, Mimori and Seras arrive at the city of Monroy and look for clues about the Forbidden Witch, whom Mimori hopes will be able to translate his Ancient Magic scrolls. They discover that Eve Speed, a leopardkin and Colosseum warrior, may knows the Witch's location, but she lies about having such knowledge. Further investigation reveals a special motive for Eve's continuing to fight in the Colosseum. That night, Mimori makes a special purchase that will give him a new secret identity.
8
"Together with the Lord of Flies" Transliteration: "Hae-ō to Tomoni" (Japanese: 蠅王と共に)
Suspecting that the Duke plans to double-cross Eve and have her killed in her final Colosseum match, Mimori attempts to convince Eve to let him and Seras help her, but she refuses until she discovers that the plot against her is real. She and her friend, the child dark elf Lisbeth, decide to escape together and join Mimori's party. Escaping from Monroy, they find themselves pursued not only by the Duke's private army, but also by a group claiming responsibility for the deaths of the Black Dragon Knights.
Mimori and his companions deal permanently with all of the pursuers sent to recapture Eve and Lisbeth, with Eve personally taking revenge on those who betrayed her. The party then departs to the Land of Golden-Eyed Monsters, a dangerous region where the Forbidden Witch lives. Meanwhile, Vicius decides to send the heroes there as well for training, in preparation for the imminent battle with the Demon Lord's forces.
10
"The Land of the Golden-Eyed Monsters 〜encounter〜" Transliteration: "Kinsei Maguntai 〜Enkauntā〜" (Japanese: 金棲魔群帯 〜encounter〜)
As Mimori's group travels though the forest in search of the Forbidden Witch, the egg recovered from the Mils Ruins in Mimori's possession hatches and a horse-like monster is born, whom Mimori names "Slei". Close to their destination, Mimori and the others are attacked by a monster which Eve kills, but while dying sends a signal to countless monsters who converge on their position.
11
"To the Limit, and Beyond" Transliteration: "Genkai no, Sono Saki e" (Japanese: 限界の、その先へ)
Mimori decides to face the stampeding monsters with Slei and Piggymaru while Seras and the others take shelter in a cave. While Mimori takes down wave after wave of the countless monsters, elsewhere in the forest the other students face some of them and suffer casualties. Worried about Mimori, Eve leaves the hideout to search for him, but comes across some students instead and is attacked by one of them when they mistake her for one of the forest's monsters.
12
"Ruler and Sword" Transliteration: "Ō to Tsurugi" (Japanese: 王と剣)
Before Eve can be defeated, one of the students realizes she is not a threat, and Eve is allowed to leave. Exhausted after eliminating all of the monsters, Mimori, Slei and Piggymaru are rescued by Eve, who reunites them with the others. After the battle, some students begin suspecting that there are assassins among their instructors after their lives, while Vicius calls back the heroes in preparation for an imminent battle against the Demon Forces. Mimori's party reaches the Forbidden Witch's home and meets her in person, with Mimori hoping that she can help with his revenge.
Reception
Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network praised the character development and high school politics, though she also felt it was too reliant on tropes.[74]
In BookWalker's Next Big Light Novel Hit poll, the series ranked ninth in the bunkobon category.[75]
The series has 1.1 million copies in circulation between its digital and print releases.[76]
