Will Jin-Woo’s Shadow Soldiers Disappear?

Solo Leveling is widely known for Sung Jin-Woo’s skill in raising an overwhelming number of shadow soldiers to fight his opponents. From Igris, Iron, Tusk, and Tank to Beru, Jin-Woo’s shadow soldiers are loved by fans not just because of their strength and usefulness in combat, but also because of their connection with Jin-Woo. But as the plot unfolds in Solo Leveling, will the shadow soldiers disappear and leave Jin-Woo behind?

Before Sung Jin-Woo obtains an immense power far greater than the rest of the hunters, he is an ordinary hunter with pathetic abilities. Since Jin-Woo is the weakest, most hunters fail to see his worth, and he eventually gets used to it. However, times change, and Jin-Woo finally finds comrades in his shadow soldiers who will always stand beside him and never betray him no matter what happens.

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Sung Jin-Woo and His Army of Shadow Soldiers

Sung Jin-Woo Learns Shadow Extraction to Raise a Shadow Army

The word “Arise” has been attached to Sung Jin-Woo’s Shadow Extraction skill for quite a long time now. Many fans get goosebumps whenever Jin-Woo activates the skill, especially in the anime adaptation. As soon as Jin-Woo commands a dead foe to rise, he gains a loyal comrade willing to fight for his name and honor over and over even in the face of death. After all, as long as Jin-Woo’s mana doesn’t run out, his shadow army can continue fighting.

Shadow Extraction somehow works like a resurrection spell, but its targets return to life in their shadow form. However, unlike typical resurrection spells in most anime—where a powerful caster can revive anyone—the Shadow Extraction skill has restrictions. In Jin-Woo’s case, he can’t use the skill on anyone he likes, no matter how powerful they are. For example, Jin-Woo can’t use it on the Monarchs, as well as those demons with contaminated mana.

As Jin-Woo grows stronger in Solo Leveling, the number of shadow soldiers he can place in his storage increases. His shadow army is a combination of high orcs, ice bears, mages, ants, and many more. The best part is that he has extraordinary shadow soldiers who can expertly lead his army on his behalf. In the end, it’s up to the fans to choose which among these shadow soldiers becomes their favorite in the series.

Will Sung Jin-Woo’s Shadow Soldiers Disappear?

Will Fans Say Goodbye to Beru, Igris, Tusk, and the Others?

Fortunately, Jin-Woo’s shadow soldiers will never disappear in the series, as long as he is alive and well. According to Bellion, the Grand-Marshal Grade shadow servant of Jin-Woo, and formerly of Ashborn, the shadows will only disappear if Jin-Woo dies. Their survivability depends on Jin-Woo, which means they can’t disappear or abandon him, regardless of whether they like it or not. Since Jin-Woo became the strongest being at the end of the Solo Leveling manhwa, his shadow soldiers stayed with him. Even during the revised timeline, or in the Academy Arc of the series, they will stay with Jin-Woo.

Will the Shadow Soldiers Betray Jin-Woo?

The shadow army is extremely loyal and faithful to Sung Jin-Woo, especially the likes of Igris, Beru, Tusk, and Iron, to name a few. They follow Jin-Woo’s orders and will go to extreme lengths to serve their master as much as they can. As shown throughout the Solo Leveling manhwa, every one of Jin-Woo’s shadows has a role in his army. Funny, there’s competition among Jin-Woo’s powerful shadows, especially after the Ant King’s shadow is extracted and Beru comes into the scene.

Despite this, there came a time when Beru swayed from Jin-Woo’s orders. It’s because Beru’s instinct to consume and kill took over his senses for a split second when he fought Cha Hae-In in the Hunter Association’s gym. Instead of following Jin-Woo’s command to fight Hae-In without harming her, Beru reverted to his destructive habits. Of course, Jin-Woo intervenes, and Beru finally calms down. That’s the only incident in Solo Leveling when one of Jin-Woo’s shadows tries to disregard his orders.

All in all, Jin-Woo and his army of shadows have a very strong connection in Solo Leveling. It goes beyond a master-and-servant relationship, as Jin-Woo sees their worth as more than just a tool he can use in combat. They are Jin-Woo’s allies, an extension of himself, and an independent force that transcends mere control.

Solo Leveling

Release Date

January 7, 2024

Directors

Shunsuke Nakashige

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  Taito Ban

  Shun Mizushino (voice)

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  Genta Nakamura

  Kenta Morobishi (voice)