In a landmark moment for its global fanbase, the fantasy series The Beginning After The End (TBATE) officially concluded its long-running web-novel run after an epic eight-year journey. The final instalment — Chapter 529 — was released recently, bringing to a close one of the most anticipated and discussed finishes in the genre.
A Finale Years in the Making
First penned by author TurtleMe, TBATE began serialization online in October 2015 and later migrated to the Tapas platform. Over the years, the series grew from a cult web-novel to a mainstream phenomenon, spawning a webtoon adaptation and an anime format. Seeing it come to a definitive end now marks a major moment—not just for the author, but also for avid readers who have grown alongside its protagonist, Arthur Leywin.
The official end-date has been confirmed as August 24, 2025, when Chapter 529 released on the author’s Patreon feed. With this, the story—written over nearly a decade—reaches closure.
What the Finish Means
For many, the ending feels like the closing of an era. TBATE wasn’t merely a long-running series: it was a formative experience for readers who followed Arthur’s reincarnated-king journey from page-one. The series built up a sprawling world of magic, politics, reincarnation, and self-discovery, culminating in a final climax that has divided opinion.
On one side, many fans celebrate the novel’s ambition—complex world-building, layered characters, and a steady build toward a map-shaking climax. On the other, some readers express disappointment with how certain plotlines resolved. As one Redditor put it:
“I agree with a lot of the criticism … the ending is … underwhelming, not the absolute worst but it could have been much better.”
Regardless of individual opinion, the sheer fact of its completion gives TBATE a different status in the web-novel and fantasy-fiction space. For those who invested years into it, it may feel like losing a friend—but also like seeing the final chapter of a shared journey.
The Legacy of TBATE
Beyond satisfying (or frustrating) its readers, TBATE leaves a few broader marks:
- Global reach: It helped popularize English-language web-novels with expansive fantasy sets, showing they could gather mass readership and go mainstream.
- Cross-format success: From web‐novel to webtoon to anime adaptation, it demonstrated how a story can evolve across media while retaining core fan engagement.
- Author continuity: sustained a major project over nearly a decade—rare in serialized web fiction—offering a rare test of endurance in the format.
In many ways, TBATE’s conclusion invites readers to look back: at where Arthur’s journey started, the evolution of its themes (power, redemption, legacy), and how the world-building paved the way to this finale.
What’s Next, For the Author and the Universe?
With the novel now concluded, fans are asking: what comes next? The webtoon version is still ongoing (or at least not definitively closed), and adaptations (print volumes, anime seasons) continue to build. Some speculate that spin-offs, side-stories, or other media will emerge to keep the universe alive.
For TurtleMe, it’s likely the time has come to take a break—or perhaps embark on a new project, having tied up the TBATE main narrative.
Final Thoughts
The conclusion of The Beginning After The End after eight years is more than just a series finishing—it’s a cultural moment for the web-fiction and fantasy-novel community. Whether you loved every chapter or found the ending uneven, it’s undeniable: this story will remain a reference point for ambitious, serialized fantasy storytelling.
As one longtime reader put it:
“Vol 7-9 was peak … the ending doesn’t ruin all my good memories of the novel.”
With its story now complete, readers can reflect on Arthur’s journey in full, revisit favorite moments, and perhaps look forward to what the creator does next.