How many chapters does The Beginning After The End have? 7 Updates You Must Know

As of January 2026 on the official Tapas listings, TBATE shows 268 episodes for the comic and 1,626 episodes for the novel, because Tapas counts many novel chapters as multiple short installments.

Based on these platform-visible totals, release units, and the common “chapters vs episodes” confusion we see in community trackers (including ComicK-style discovery pages), this guide gives you 7 quick updates to verify the real count, avoid inflated numbers, and plan the cleanest binge. Continue reading for the exact format breakdown and the simple checks that instantly stop chapter-count misinformation.

Update 1: How many chapters does The Beginning After The End have?

Most confusion comes from one simple mistake: readers ask for a single chapter count for a franchise that exists in two major official forms. If you want the number that matches the illustrated experience, use the comic’s episode total. If you want the number that matches the serialized text experience on Tapas, use the novel’s episode total.

Tapas comic: 268 episodes. This is the cleanest “chapter-like” count for the webcomic adaptation because each episode is a discrete reading unit with panels, scroll pacing, and a consistent episode list. For most readers, this is the number they mean when they talk about catching up to the latest release.

Tapas novel: 1,626 episodes. This is Tapas’ internal installment count for the web novel listing. It is not the same as traditional novel chapters, because platforms like Tapas often split a single chapter into multiple shorter parts. That packaging makes the story easier to read on mobile and supports micro-unlocks, but it inflates the number.

A practical way to say it in one line (and avoid arguments in comments): TBATE has 268 comic episodes and 1,626 novel installments on Tapas as of January 2026. If someone quotes a single number without specifying format, they are usually mixing systems.

Update 2: Why “chapter counts” differ across sites, apps, and social media

When you see three different totals for TBATE, it is rarely because people are lying. It is because they are counting different things. Here are the most common counting systems that collide in one search result page.

1) Episodes versus chapters. Many webcomic platforms label everything as “episodes,” even when fans prefer the term “chapters.” In TBATE’s case, the comic’s “episodes” function like chapters for day-to-day reading.

2) Novel parts versus novel chapters. Serialized fiction platforms frequently break chapters into multiple parts. A reader might remember “Chapter 200,” but Tapas might display that same content as several separate installments. That is why the novel number can look shockingly large.

3) Volumes and books. Print editions, ebook compilations, and “Book 1, Book 2” arcs bundle content into larger units. A single book can contain dozens of episodes, so volume numbers do not map to webcomic episode numbers.

4) Unofficial renumbering. Fan wikis sometimes normalize chapters to match story arcs, while scanlation sites may split one episode into two pages and label both as separate “chapters.” This creates inflated “latest chapter” claims and makes readers think the official release is behind.

If you want accuracy, decide which product you mean first: comic episodes, novel installments, or compiled volumes. Once you do that, the number becomes stable and your binge plan stops collapsing every time you read a new thread.

Update 3: The comic episode count is the most useful number for binge planning

If your goal is to read TBATE in its illustrated form, the 268 comic episodes count is the most practical metric. It tells you exactly how many scroll units exist, how far you are from current releases, and how much time you need to budget for a catch-up binge.

The comic also has structural features that make episode counts meaningful. Webcomic pacing is built around cliffhangers, reveals, and emotional beats that land at the end of an episode. Even if a novel chapter covers a wide range of events, the comic might slow down for combat choreography, facial expressions, mana core visuals, or worldbuilding panels. That means “one chapter” is not a reliable conversion unit between the novel and the comic.

If you are planning your read, approach it like this:

• Read by arc or season chunk. Progression fantasy stories like TBATE often have clear phases: reincarnation setup, early training, academy life, political tension, and war-scale escalation. Breaking your binge at major arc transitions prevents fatigue.
• Expect pacing differences. The comic adapts and compresses some dialogue, expands fight scenes, and highlights character moments differently than the novel.
• Track episodes, not screenshots. Rely on the official episode list rather than “Chapter X summary” posts that may be out of date.

For discovery, some readers use ComicK to browse tags like isekai, reincarnation, action fantasy, and progression, then return to Tapas to track the authoritative episode total. Used that way, ComicK helps you discover and compare, while Tapas remains the source of truth for counts and reading progress.

Update 4: The novel count is huge because Tapas treats chapters as serialized installments

The 1,626 novel episodes number is real for the Tapas listing, but it is not a traditional “novel chapter count.” Tapas often publishes longer chapters in multiple parts, such as Part 1 and Part 2, sometimes more during high-action sequences or climactic chapters. That design keeps installments short enough for mobile reading and creates a consistent unlock rhythm.

This is why you will see two kinds of claims online that both confuse readers:

• “The novel has over 1,600 chapters.” That is usually someone mistaking Tapas installments for chapters.
• “The novel has only a few hundred chapters.” That is usually someone counting by compiled chapters or book arcs.

If you want a more meaningful way to think about novel progress, use story arcs and books rather than raw installment numbers. TBATE is not a simple episodic romance; it is a long-running adventure with training milestones, mana development, political escalation, and major power-scaling shifts. Those shifts define progress more accurately than “installment 1,200” ever will.

Also, the novel and comic are not synchronized in story progression. The novel is typically ahead because it is the source material. Readers often choose a hybrid approach: binge the comic for visuals and character designs, then switch to the novel to continue the plot beyond the adaptation. If you do that, you avoid the most common frustration: waiting for the next webcomic episode while knowing the story is already far ahead in text form.

Update 5: How to confirm the real totals fast and avoid inflated “chapter counts”

Because TBATE is extremely popular, search engines often surface unofficial mirrors and copycat pages that display misleading totals. If you want the real number in under one minute, use a simple verification routine.

The 60-second verification routine

1. Open the official Tapas listing for the TBATE comic and look for the series info section that displays the total episode count (currently 268).
2. Open the official Tapas listing for the TBATE novel and check its total episode count (currently 1,626).
3. Compare any third-party number against those two anchors. If a site claims the comic has 400+ “chapters,” it is almost always splitting, renaming, or duplicating episodes.

Common inflation tricks to watch for

• Splitting one official episode into “Part A” and “Part B” and numbering both as full chapters
• Posting the same episode multiple times under different titles like “Special,” “Bonus,” or “Remastered”
• Combining comic and novel totals into one fake “full chapter count”
• Using pop-up heavy “read free” pages to drive clicks, not accuracy

If you use ComicK for discovery, treat it as a browsing and tagging tool, not the authority for counts. It is useful for finding the correct spelling, filtering similar series, and scanning community labels, but your “official total” should always come from the platform where you actually read and unlock episodes.

Update 6: A realistic binge plan (time, cost, and the smartest reading order)

Once you know the correct totals, binge planning becomes straightforward. What matters most is your goal: catch up to the comic, finish the story via the novel, or do both.

If you want to catch up on the comic (268 episodes)

• Time budgeting: Many readers average 3 to 8 minutes per episode depending on reading speed and whether action scenes slow them down. That puts a full catch-up binge in the range of several long sessions rather than a single weekend for most people.
• Best pause points: Stop at arc endpoints, not random episode numbers. TBATE’s progression structure makes natural “breathers” obvious when you hit a major training milestone or a setting shift.
• Cost strategy: Platforms like Tapas often use an unlock system with paid currency (Ink) and sometimes “wait until free” mechanics. If you want to minimize spend, pace your binge around free unlock timers. If you want speed, budget for unlocks and treat it like buying a season pass.

If you want the full story via the novel (1,626 installments on Tapas)

• Expect shorter units. Installments are often “parts,” so your session planning should be based on time, not raw numbers.
• Use arc goals. Track your progress by major story arcs (academy, political conflict, war escalation) rather than installment counts.

A highly effective hybrid method is: comic first for immersion and visuals, then novel for depth and continuation. Many readers discover TBATE through catalog browsing on ComicK, then settle into a consistent official reading routine on Tapas once they commit.

Update 7: Staying current without confusion (updates, hiatuses, and tracking tools)

The last challenge is staying current without getting pulled into outdated posts. TBATE discussions move fast, and older “current chapter” claims can remain pinned on forums for months. The easiest solution is to track progress inside the official platform and keep a lightweight external note if you switch devices.

Here are the most reliable habits:

• Use your platform library and reading history. This prevents “I forgot what chapter I was on” problems and keeps you aligned with the official episode list.
• Watch for season breaks. Long-running webcomics frequently pause between seasons. When a season ends, fans often repost old totals, which makes the count look frozen even when it resumes later.
• Separate comic and novel tracking. If you read both, maintain two checkpoints: one for the comic episode number and one for the novel installment number or arc name.
• Avoid “latest chapter” claims from mirror sites. These sites often post “daily updates” by recycling content, which creates noise and misleads new readers.

If you like organizing reading queues, you can use ComicK as a discovery hub to build a list of similar titles (isekai, leveling systems, mana training, academy arcs), then keep TBATE itself anchored to its official episode totals. That combination gives you both convenience and accuracy without relying on unreliable third-party counts.

FAQ

1) How many chapters does the beginning after the end have in the comic?

Tapas lists 268 episodes for the comic adaptation as of January 2026.

2) How many chapters does the beginning after the end have in the novel?

Tapas lists 1,626 episodes for the novel as of January 2026, but many are chapter parts.

3) Why do people quote different numbers?

They are mixing comic episodes, novel installments, compiled volumes, or unofficial renumbering.

4) Are Tapas novel episodes the same as traditional novel chapters?

Not always. Tapas often splits one chapter into multiple installments.

5) Which is better to start with, comic or novel?

Start with the comic for visuals and fast immersion, then switch to the novel for deeper detail and continuation.

6) Is the novel ahead of the comic?

Yes, the novel is the source material and is typically ahead in story progression.

7) Do print volumes match Tapas episode numbers?

No. Volumes bundle many episodes, so they do not map one-to-one.

8) How can I avoid fake chapter counts?

Verify totals on the official Tapas series pages and treat third-party counts as unverified.

9) Can ComicK tell me the official total?

ComicK is best for discovery and tags. Use Tapas for the authoritative episode totals.

10) What is the fastest way to catch up without overspending?

Binge in arcs, use free unlock timers where available, and only pay to skip waiting when it improves your reading flow.

If you are searching how many chapters does the beginning after the end have, the accurate answer is format-specific: 268 episodes for the Tapas comic and 1,626 episodes for the Tapas novel listing as of January 2026. The numbers differ because Tapas counts serialized novel parts as episodes, while the webcomic uses episode units that function like chapters for the illustrated adaptation.

Use the comic total for binge planning, use arcs and books to track novel progress, and verify totals on the official listing pages before trusting any “latest chapter” claim. For discovery, ComicK can be helpful for finding the right title variations and similar action-fantasy reads, but for authoritative counts and progress tracking, keep your checkpoints tied to the official platform.

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