Supreme Magus (spoiler alert, he doesn't get near to supreme in the thousand chapters I read)

(30/9/22 - 1/11/22) 

 Plot Reminder: Some cynic, bitter old man that grew up in a dysfunctional family avenges his run-over brother after finding out that he has cancer, and later commits suicide. Then he reincarnates as some alien soldier and dies miserably. Then he reincarnates again now in the familiar scenery, a baby in a fantasy world with magic and elves with an unfair skill that provides him with unlimited power growth and embarks on a quest to kill monsters to get more powerful to kill more monsters and so on, with his trusty sidekick the talking stone that happens to be a mage tower conveniently compress in pebble size. He goes on exciting adventures, such as killing magical bad guys, curing magical diseases, saving the magical girl in distress, and saving the world from magic daily. Contrary to a certain someone his success rate seems to be pretty high.*

Maybe point the lightning towards the enemy instead of your feet, pal?

 As most "claw your way to the top" type of fantasy, it starts great, and as the chapters go on the quality decreases. Battles pass from being innovative and exciting to becoming almost a chore, around ch. 550 I realized that there were two to five battle chapters and one or two interlude chapters to introduce new enemies. In comparison with other web novel authors, the grammar is impeccable and the characters have some depth to them.

 The distinctive trait of the novel is the uncanny detail of the magic system, which looks a bit patched up but quite complete and consistent. As far as I got it's not entirely true that the story is about the character's growth (personality-wise) as the author sells him. The character remains cynical and bitter, but now he realizes that one can't keep people locked in a tower. Sort of. He didn't lock anyone in a tower in his previous life and in the current world, he has moments of recession when he considers people objects of his possession. Not to mention that his stinginess, at first funny, starts irking after a while. So, did he grow as a person?

 The details in magic around ch. 250 at the magic academy becomes boring and redundant, and afterward, they simply disappear and turn into vague notions, the most powerful magic uses all elements so the distinction between them is irrelevant, and the tier-five spells start to repeat themselves. Burial grounds were used thrice in less than a hundred chapters to defeat powerful enemies. I'd say that is recommendable to read up to when Lith (or Derek whatever) enters the magic academy.  6/10

(Edit 2024: NOW I GET IT! I was refering to a Penumbra dialogue line where the parasite antagonist says "Okay, on the to-do list. Find this damsel in distress, kill the bad guys, cure infection, save the world! Chances of success? Nill! Chances of survival? Well, you got old Clarence on board, that should speak for itself. Chances you buggering things up royally? Almost certain!" MC effectively fails to save damnsel in distress)