Solo Leveling is a popular Korean webtoon that has captivated millions of fans with its thrilling story of Sung Jin-Woo, a weak hunter who becomes the strongest being in the world after receiving the power of the Shadow Monarch. The webtoon, which is based on a novel of the same name, has recently concluded with chapter 179, leaving many readers with mixed feelings and questions. In this article, we will cover solo leveling ending explained and what it means for Jin-Woo and the Shadow Monarch.
Solo Leveling Ending Explained: The Final Battle Against Antares
The climax of Solo Leveling was the epic showdown between Jin-Woo and Antares, the Monarch of Destruction, who threatened to annihilate the Earth and all living beings. Jin-Woo, who had absorbed all the powers of Ashborn, the previous Shadow Monarch, and his father, Sung Il-Hwan, decided to face Antares alone on a deserted island in Japan, using Kamish’s rune stone to lure him there. He also summoned his loyal shadow army, which included powerful beings like Beru, Igris, Tusk, Iron, and Greed.
The battle was fierce and intense, as Jin-Woo and Antares exchanged blows and unleashed their full potential. Jin-Woo used his skills such as Ruler’s Authority, Dominator’s Touch, and Death Knight to counter Antares’ attacks. He also created a suit of armor made of shadows to protect himself from Antares’ flames. However, Antares proved to be too much for Jin-Woo to handle alone, as he transformed into a gigantic dragon and overpowered him with his overwhelming strength and speed.
Antares then offered Jin-Woo a deal: he would spare Korea and disappear if Jin-Woo agreed to join him in destroying the Rulers, the enemies of the Monarchs. Jin-Woo refused, knowing that Antares was lying and would kill him as soon as he got the chance. He then stabbed Antares with his father’s dagger, which was imbued with his father’s will and love. This weakened Antares enough for Jin-Woo to deliver the final blow with his own dagger.
However, before Jin-Woo could celebrate his victory, he was shocked to see that Antares was still alive and laughing. He revealed that he had a backup plan: he had planted a part of his soul in one of his dragon minions, which had escaped to another dimension. He then activated a self-destruct mechanism that would cause him and Jin-Woo to explode along with the island.
Jin-Woo realized that he had been tricked and that he had failed to save the Earth. He apologized to his mother and sister in his mind and prepared to die. However, at that moment, he heard a familiar voice in his head: Ashborn. The former Shadow Monarch told him that he had one last gift for him: a chance to go back in time and change everything.
The Cup of Reincarnation
Ashborn explained that he had obtained a mysterious artifact from the Rulers called the Cup of Reincarnation. It was a device that could send someone’s soul back in time to their past self, allowing them to alter their fate. Ashborn had used it once before to try to stop the war between the Monarchs and the Rulers, but he had failed. He then decided to give it to Jin-Woo as a token of gratitude for fulfilling his wish of becoming human again.
Jin-Woo hesitated at first, wondering if it was worth risking everything he had achieved so far. He also wondered if he would lose his memories and powers if he went back in time. Ashborn assured him that he would retain both, as well as his shadow army. He also told him that he could choose any point in time to return to.
Jin-Woo then made up his mind and accepted Ashborn’s offer. He thanked him for everything he had done for him and said goodbye. He then drank from the Cup of Reincarnation and felt his soul leaving his body.
The New Timeline
Jin-Woo woke up in his bed, feeling confused and disoriented. He checked his phone and saw that it was March 4th, 2020: the day of the Double Dungeon incident. He realized that he had gone back to the beginning of his journey as a hunter.
He quickly got dressed and headed to the Hunter Association building, where he met with other hunters who were assigned to clear the Double Dungeon. He recognized some familiar faces such as Cha Hae-In, Baek Yoon-Ho, Choi Jong-In, Min Byung-Gyu, Song Chi-Yul, Kim Chul, Lee Ju-Hee, and Park Kyung-Hye.
He also noticed that there were some differences in this timeline. For example, he saw that his father was alive and well, working as a hunter. He also saw that Go Gun-Hee, the chairman of the Hunter Association, was younger and healthier than before. He wondered what other changes had occurred because of his actions.
He then entered the Double Dungeon with the other hunters, knowing that it was a trap set by the Monarch of the Beginning, who wanted to awaken him as the Shadow Monarch. He decided to play along and pretend to be weak and clueless, while secretly using his powers to manipulate the situation.
He easily cleared the first floor of the dungeon, where he met Igris for the first time. He then proceeded to the second floor, where he faced the statue of Ashborn. He pretended to be scared and confused by the statue’s questions, while secretly answering them correctly. He then received the System and became a player.
He then returned to the first floor, where he saw that the other hunters were in trouble. The gate had closed behind them and they were attacked by a horde of monsters. Jin-Woo decided to help them and revealed his true strength, shocking everyone. He summoned his shadow army and slaughtered all the monsters with ease.
He then opened the gate and led the hunters out of the dungeon, saving them from certain death. He also collected some shadows along the way, such as Kim Chul and Lee Ju-Hee. He then met with his father, who was waiting for him outside. He hugged him and thanked him for being alive.
He then realized that he had changed the course of history and prevented many tragedies from happening. He also realized that he had a new mission: to stop the war between the Monarchs and the Rulers before it even started.
Solo Leveling Ending Conclusion
The epilogue of Solo Leveling showed what happened after Jin-Woo returned to the past. It revealed that he used his powers and knowledge to eliminate all the Monarchs one by one, without anyone knowing. He also helped other hunters improve their skills and abilities, as well as solve various problems around the world.
He also reunited with his friends and allies, such as Yoo Jin-Ho, Woo Jin-Chul, Ahn Sang-Min, Lee Cheol-Hee, Park Jong-Soo, Lee Min-Sung, Hwang Dong-Su, Thomas Andre, Liu Zhigang, Christopher Reid, David Brennon, Selner, Norma Selner, Kanae Tawata, Yuri Orlov, Matsumoto Shigeo, Lennart Niermann, Adam White, Simon Kerishnan, Esil Radiru, Kamish’s Wrath, Baran’s Fangs, Tusk’s Flames, Iron’s Heartbeat, Greed’s Eyesight, and Beru’s Wings.
He also rekindled his romance with Cha Hae-In, who fell in love with him again after seeing his true self. He also became friends with her brother Cha Hae-Won and her father Cha Won-Chul. He also met with his sister Sung Jin-Ah and his mother Sung Su-Hyun, who were happy and healthy.
He also met with some other shadow beasts, such as Shadow Beast One, who was Jin-Woo’s first shadow beast in the System, and Shadow Beast Two, who was Jin-Woo’s last shadow beast in the System.
He also met with some other beings and events that were related to his past, present, and future. He saw the origin of the System, the purpose of the Monarchs and the Rulers, the fate of the Earth and other worlds, and the destiny of himself and his loved ones.
He experienced many adventures and challenges, as well as joys and sorrows. He made many choices and consequences, as well as friends and enemies. He learned many secrets and mysteries, as well as truths and lies. He gained many powers and abilities, as well as responsibilities and burdens.
He lived many lives and deaths, as well as dreams and nightmares. He became many things and nothing, as well as everything and nothing.
FAQs
Q: Is Solo Leveling over?
A: Yes, Solo Leveling has officially ended with chapter 179 on March 25th, 2021. The author of the webtoon, Jang Sung-Rak (also known as REDICE Studio), confirmed this on his blog post.
Q: Is there a sequel to Solo Leveling?
A: No, there is no official sequel to Solo Leveling. However, there are some fan-made stories that continue or expand on the story of Solo Leveling. You can find them on various platforms such as Webnovel, Wattpad, or Fanfiction.net.
Q: Is there an anime adaptation of Solo Leveling?
A: Yes, there is an official anime adaptation of Solo Leveling coming on January 2024. You can find the official trailer of the anime announcement on youtube.
Q: Is there a game based on Solo Leveling?
A: No, there is no official game based on Solo Leveling. However, there are some fan-made games that are inspired by Solo Leveling. You can find them on Google Play, App Store, or Steam.
