Summary
- The Frost and Beast Monarchs debut in Solo Leveling, increasing the threat to Sung Jin-Woo and his allies.
- Jin-Woo’s power on Jeju Island attracts the Monarchs, sparking anticipation of their future interactions.
- Jin-Woo transforms from an incomplete to a complete monarch by absorbing the Shadow Monarch’s powers.
Solo Leveling season 2 may have ended, but Sung Jin-Woo’s story is far from over. With the appearance of the two Monarchs in the finale, a far greater threat seemingly looms over Jin-Woo, his family and friends, and the rest of the world. As the plot unfolds in Solo Leveling, these Monarchs refer to Jin-Woo as the incomplete Monarch, seemingly belittling his top-notch abilities.
The Frost Monarch and the Beast Monarch finally make their anime debut in the last episode of Solo Leveling season 2. Although they only have a brief appearance, their presence significantly impacts the course of the story, setting up potential events for the next arc. As Jin-Woo’s power grows, his enemies gradually close in to reach him.
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This article contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling manhwa.
The Appearance of the Monarchs on Jeju Island
Enter Sillad and Rakan
Sung Jin-Woo successfully clears the dungeon break on Jeju Island with the assistance of his shadow army. He also reaches level 100, receives a mysterious key from the system, and gains a new shadow general. In other words, Jin-Woo reaches a new milestone on Jeju Island despite appearing at the very last minute of the fight against the Ant King. If it weren’t for his arrival, Korea’s S-rank hunters would have died, and the Monarchs wouldn’t have made an appearance.
The main reason why Sillad and Rakan went to the island was because of Sung Jin-Woo and the remnants of his power. Because Jin-Woo has unleashed a huge amount of his power to finish off the mutated ants on the island, he unintentionally draws the attention of the two Monarchs. As it turned out, they sensed the Shadow Monarch through Jin-Woo’s power, so they went to the island to see what exactly was going on.
“I’m sure that it’s his power.”—Rakan to Sillad
However, the Monarchs never saw Jin-Woo in the aftermath of the fight, but they were sure about the presence of the Shadow Monarch’s power. With this, Sillad and Rakan anticipate that the Shadow Monarch will get in contact with them sooner or later, like the rest of the Monarchs who successfully took over their vessels one after another. Unfortunately, manhwa readers know that the Shadow Monarch has already made a different decision that could anger everyone.
Why the Monarchs Call Jin-Woo the Incomplete Monarch
They Detest Jin-Woo Above All Else
The Monarchs don’t have a sweet spot for Jin-Woo simply because he is an “incomplete monarch.” They treat him differently, going to extreme lengths to insult his abilities and mock his humanity. Somehow, the rest of the Monarchs have a working relationship, but when it comes to Jin-Woo, everything is different. They see him as an enemy they should eliminate as soon as possible and an inferior being who needs to know his real place in the world.
“That’s strange. I don’t understand why he’s helping humans.”—Sillad to Rakan
In the eyes of the Monarchs, particularly Sillad, Jin-Woo becomes an incomplete monarch because the Shadow Monarch never took over his body. Unlike the rest of the vessels, Jin-Woo maintains his mind, body, and will—plus, he inherits the black heart of the Shadow Monarch, something that wasn’t supposed to happen in the first place. If it weren’t for the Shadow Monarch’s betrayal, everything would have gone according to the Monarch’s plans against the Rulers.
Is Jin-Woo Truly an Incomplete Monarch?
Jin-Woo Becomes One With the Shadow Monarch
By the end of Solo Leveling‘s Monarchs War story arc, Jin-Woo has become one with the Shadow Monarch. He evolves from an incomplete monarch to a complete monarch after fully absorbing the Shadow Monarch’s powers, removing all the limitations on his abilities, including the restrictions on shadow exchange and even shadow extraction. It is the worst-case scenario for the other Monarchs, who once again feel overwhelming fear from the new Shadow Monarch.
In the past, the Shadow Monarch’s overwhelming strength threatened the Monarchs, particularly Rakan and Baran, leading to their betrayal. Now, it’s Sung Jin-Woo who has become a huge threat to Sillad, Rakan, and even Querehsha, leading to their Seoul invasion attempt. Times may have changed, but the results are the same: once again, the Shadow Monarch emerges victorious.
“The hunt will proceed as planned. Nothing has changed.”—Sillad to Rakan
Even superior beings like the Monarchs are not untouchable in Solo Leveling. The moment they mess with Jin-Woo, they are humbled by his power and strength. Though his enemies see him as an incomplete monarch, his power speaks for itself, closing the gap between a mere human and a superior being. In the end, it’s best to be an incomplete monarch as long as Jin-Woo becomes one with the Shadow Monarch in the series.
- Release Date
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January 7, 2024
- Directors
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Shunsuke Nakashige
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Taito Ban
Shun Mizushino (voice)
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Genta Nakamura
Kenta Morobishi (voice)
