The Beginning After the End: Where to Start the Manhwa After Season 1?

If you just wrapped up Season 1 of The Beginning After the End and immediately felt that “okay… I NEED more of Arthur right now” — yeah, same here. This isn’t one of those shows you casually finish and forget. It sticks, mostly because Arthur Leywin isn’t your typical overpowered protagonist — he’s layered, flawed, and constantly evolving.

So let’s cut through the noise and talk about where to continue properly, plus what I personally think is the best way to experience the story after the anime.

Quick Answer (If You’re Impatient)

If you want to jump straight into the continuation:

• Start the manhwa at Chapter 55

That’s exactly where Season 1 leaves off — right after the Adventurer Arc. No confusion, no overlap, just a clean continuation.

But Honestly… Should You Start From Chapter 1?

I’ll be real with you — and this is coming from someone who tried skipping ahead:

Starting from Chapter 1 is 100% worth it.

Here’s why it hit differently for me:

The World Feels Way Richer

The anime does a solid job, but it rushes through details. In the manhwa you actually understand how mana works, power scaling feels more grounded, and the world doesn’t feel like just a backdrop — it feels alive.

Arthur Feels More Human

The biggest difference is his internal thoughts. The anime shows his actions, but the manhwa shows his mind. You get his regrets as King Grey, his emotional struggle adapting to a new life, and the subtle trauma he carries, which completely changes how you see certain scenes.

The Art Just Gets Better

Early chapters are good, but as it progresses the art improves a lot. Expressions become sharper, fights feel heavier, and emotional moments land much harder. You can literally see the growth over time.

The Beginning After the End Season 2: Crunchyroll Trailer and 2026 Premiere

Anime vs Manhwa — What’s Actually Different?

The anime feels like a highlight reel, while the manhwa is the full experience.

What Happens After Chapter 55 (No Spoilers)

This is where things actually begin. You’re moving into the Academy Arc at Xyrus, where Arthur meets new rivals and allies, his magic training becomes more structured, and the story slowly introduces deeper political tension. It’s also where his growth starts being seriously tested.

What About the Light Novel?

If you’re the type who binge-reads and hates waiting weekly updates, the light novel is the ultimate version of the story. It’s far ahead of the manhwa, dives much deeper into lore, and later takes a noticeably darker tone.

Where to start:

• After the manhwa → around Chapter 170–180
• For smoother transition → start earlier around Volume 2 (Chapter 30)

My Personal Recommendation Path

If you want the best experience and not just the fastest way forward:

1. Start the manhwa from Chapter 1
2. Catch up to the latest chapters
3. Switch to the light novel
4. Then enjoy Season 2 when it releases

This way you don’t miss details, get the full emotional impact, and still enjoy seeing everything animated later.

Season 2 — Is It Worth Waiting?

Season 2 is confirmed for April 2, 2026, and it will most likely cover the Xyrus Academy Arc. That’s the point where the story evolves from a good isekai into something much more serious and memorable.

But relying only on the anime means missing a huge part of what makes this story special.

Final Thoughts

The Beginning After the End isn’t just another reincarnation story. It starts familiar, but slowly builds into something deeper, more emotional, and more strategic. If you only watch the anime, you’re getting maybe 60% of the full experience.

The real strength of the series is in Arthur’s mindset, his gradual growth, and the world-building that expands over time. And once it clicks — it really clicks.

Quick Recap

• Start manhwa at Chapter 55 for direct continuation
• Better experience — start from Chapter 1
• Light novel — continue around Chapter 170–180
• Season 2 releases in April 2026