Summary
- Sung II-Hwan was the strongest Hunter in Korea and possibly the first S-Rank Hunter.
- II-Hwan was stronger than his son when he first appeared in the series.
- Jinwoo surpasses his father’s power during the Monarch War Arc, becoming the strongest being in the known universe.
Season 2 of Solo Leveling has been amazing so far, thanks to all the amazing action sequences and the incredible animation from A-1 Pictures. Apart from that, the new season has introduced us to many new and interesting characters. One such character is, of course, Sung II-Hwan, the long-lost father of Sung Jinwoo.
We knew that Sung II-Hwan was a Hunter who disappeared during a Dungeon raid years before the current timeline. It happened so far back that everyone presumed that every Hunter on that raid died. However, II-Hwan was very much alive, and he returned to Earth through a Gate that appeared in America. Right after his return, Sung II-Hwan showcased his prowess by humiliating Hwang Dongsoo, an S-Rank Hunter. This encounter and showcase of power obviously make everyone wonder if Sung Jinwoo is stronger than his father or if it is the other way around.
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WARNING: This post contains SPOILERS for the Solo Leveling manhwa.
Sung II-Hwan’s Strength At The Time Of His First Appearance
He Was Definitely Stronger Than Jinwoo At The Time
Sung II-Hwan was a firefighter, but soon after the appearance of the mysterious Gates, he decided to become a Hunter. At the time, there was no concrete method to examine the power levels of a Hunter, so no one knew for sure how strong Sung II-Hwan was. However, the series implied multiple times that during that time, he was the strongest Hunter in Korea, possibly the first S-Rank Hunter in the country.
That being said, he still wasn’t strong enough to survive the hunger and isolation after being trapped in a Dungeon. Right when he was about to draw his last breath, one of the Rulers decided to save him by making the Hunter their vessel. The Rulers put one condition on the table, though, that Sung II-Hwan would have to kill the new Shadow Monarch whenever they emerged. Without knowing that the new Shadow Monarch was his son, II-Hwan was out on a mission to kill him.
But the real question is, was Sung II-Hwan capable of killing the mighty Sung Jinwoo at the time? Well, he certainly was powerful enough to defeat Jinwoo. In fact, Hwang Dongsoo also refused to accept that Sung II-Hwan was still human because his power level was that of a monster.
Don’t you ever set foot in Korea. I’m not saying this for my son’s sake; I’m saying it for yours. You will never rest in peace, even in death – Sung II-Hwan to Hwang Dongsoo.
Of course, Jinwoo was possibly the strongest Hunter in Korea at the time, but Sung II-Hwan had the powers of a Ruler. Jin-Woo still had The System and his Shadow Army by his side, but that wasn’t enough to survive against a Ruler. The Rulers knew that there was still time for the new Shadow Monarch to emerge, and they wanted to eliminate the host before that happened. So, they wouldn’t have sent a warrior who wasn’t strong enough to defeat Jinwoo. But thankfully, Sung II-Hwan backed out from the mission, and what’s more fortunate is that the Rulers also realized that Jinwoo was fighting against the Monarchs, so he wasn’t their enemy. That being said, if the Rulers had sent someone other than II-Hwan, they would have possibly killed Jinwoo.
Jinwoo Surpasses Sung II-Hwan During The Monarch War Arc
He Awakens Shadow Monarch’s True Power
The Monarch War Arc changes the power dynamic in Solo Leveling. Before this, the biggest threat known to humanity was Jeju Island, and well, Sung Jinwoo came out as a hero in that story arc. However, the appearance of Monarchs changes everything for Jinwoo. The Monarchs arrived on Earth to annihilate every vessel of the Rulers, and even though they weren’t out to kill Jinwoo, the Hunter unintentionally made himself a target.
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Jinwoo was backed into a corner by the Frost and the Beast Monarch since, at the time, he wasn’t powerful enough to defeat the mighty Monarchs. Not only did Jinwoo face defeat against the Monarchs, but he almost died in the fight. At the same time, Sung II-Hwan was able to fight on par with two Monarchs at once, proving that he was, in fact, stronger than Jinwoo. Fortunately, Ashborn decided to give all of his powers to Jinwoo in order to revive him. While Sung II-Hwan held off Frost and the Beast Monarch from landing the killing blow, Jinwoo awakened the powers of Ashborn.
I Am The Record Of Your Struggles, The Evidence Of Your Resistance, And The Reward Of Your Sufferings. I Am Death, I Am Eternal Rest, I Am Terror – Ashborn to Jinwoo.
Once reborn, Sung Jinwoo finally became the next Shadow Monarch; at that moment, he surpassed his father in terms of power. A few moments ago, Jinwoo was struggling to handle two Monarchs at once, but after getting Ashborn’s powers, he not only defeated the Monarchs but also made one of them beg for mercy. Sung II-Hwan was gravely injured at this point, but he could sense that his son had become the strongest entity in the known universe, so he fled the scene. Jinwoo’s power-ups were always great, but he truly became the strongest after his encounter with the legendary Monarch, Ashborn.
Solo Leveling
- Release Date
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January 7, 2024
- Directors
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Shunsuke Nakashige
- Writers
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Noboru Kimura
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Taito Ban
Shun Mizushino (voice)
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Genta Nakamura
Kenta Morobishi (voice)
