The rival.
Especially the douchebag Machiavellian type rivals that the main character ends up friends or teaming up with after the main character 'proves their worth' to them by being stronger. No character growth outside of now they work with the protagonist.
I really want this trope to be subverted one day, like the douchey rival shows up and everyone is just like "Wow what a dickhead" and just relentlessly bullies him until he goes away.
It is kinda subverted in Death Note.
Two Machiavellian rivals team up together and on the surface they’re chasing another enemy, but in reality they both know that it’s all a farce and they’re both the real enemy. Light infiltrates an investigation on him with fake friendship but real ego :keikaku:
When they find out who Light was and what he did, one of his own ‘friends’ immediately killed him
Lights death is so fucking good.
Here he is, self-proclaimed god, dying alone in an ally like a rat, crying shidding and farding.
Also, bless Matsuda.