The Secret Monarchs in Solo Leveling Revealed

Season 2 concluded on an exhilarating note, but it hasn’t delved into one of the key aspects of the original material yet – the intricate world of Solo Leveling is not just a battlefield for Hunters versus dungeon monsters. In reality, there’s a vast background universe with connections to ancient powers and conflicts that have been brewing for centuries, waiting to unfold in future episodes, much to the anticipation of Manhwa readers.

Although the Rulers haven’t debuted in the anime so far, three Monarchs were featured in Season 2. Sung Jinwoo’s transformation is deeply connected to the strained history between ancient entities who have been at odds since their origin. The Monarchs, designed for perpetual amusement of the Supreme Being, play a crucial role in Jinwoo’s ascension to power and his fate as the Shadow Monarch.

On June 4, 2025, Ajay Aravind has revised this post: The upcoming Season 3 of Solo Leveling will delve into the Double Dungeon arc, where fans will be introduced to the original Shadow Monarch for the first time. However, the release schedule for the new season is yet to be confirmed and may deviate from the pattern set by its predecessors. Nevertheless, discovering more about Ashborn is just the beginning in unraveling the cosmic powers of the Solo Leveling Monarchs. In light of this, we’ve added additional pertinent information to this article.

Solo Leveling’s Story Originates with a Never-Ending War

In the Beginning There Was Only Light and Darkness

In the realm of Solo Leveling, there’s a mysterious, ethically questionable source of magic that predates everything we know. This all-powerful entity, the Absolute Being, seems to have amused itself by creating races of beings from both light and darkness, ensuring their inherent conflict would result in an endless battle between them.

Divine entities emerged from pure radiance, tasked with tending to their deity and fostering life’s growth. They maintained the universe’s existence and safeguarded it. Simultaneously, the Supreme Entity created entities of immense power, whom they named the Monarchs. These beings reveled in destruction and disorder, finding joy amidst the ensuing turbulence.

In their quest to annihilate the world and all human life, the Monarchs triggered an instinctive opposition from the Leaders, initiating an unending conflict. For countless ages, the Leaders and the Monarchs clashed incessantly, convinced that this was part of a divine mandate. However, in the end, their struggles and sacrifices served no greater purpose than to amuse their creator.

Although they earnestly begged the Almighty to halt the conflict, their requests were denied, leading instead to an internal uprising. Following their defiance against the Supreme Entity and his tyranny, their focus shifted towards the disorderly Kings. Acting as agents of destruction, these Kings held a firm belief in their dominance and aimed to wipe out anything not born from them, including humanity itself.

The Monarchs Are Beings of Absolute Destruction

They Were Created from Darkness to Fight the Rulers

Instead of the Rulers, these entities are known for having clear titles and authority over specific areas. They exert firm control over their realms, which they historically used to subdue beings they deemed inferior. Following the dethronement of the Supreme Entity, the Rulers embarked on a mission to eliminate the Monarchs completely. In the course of this conflict, one of the Rulers, Ashborn, was defeated but later resurrected due to an unseen power within him that granted him control over the deceased.

This is the source of Ashborn’s ability to summon the undead, which he utilized to create his spectral armies, identical to those employed by Sung Jinwoo. After his resurrection, Ashborn allied with the Monarchs, but they were outmatched by the magnitude of his control over death. Yet again, the Shadow Monarch was deceived, leading to a power struggle that culminated in a shameful defeat for the Monarchs. The Rulers weakened the Monarchs so severely that they were forced to seek sanctuary in the veil, hidden from the human realm.

Yet, their departure opened up a chance for the Monarchs to reclaim power by moving into the human realm and building an army among them. Consequently, this led to a recurring pattern of conflict, as every time the Monarchs attempted to annihilate humans, the Rulers intervened to prevent it.

Despite their best efforts, the Rulers’ conflict brought unintended harm upon the human realm. To prevent humanity’s demise, the Rulers wielded a supreme weapon forged by the Absolute Being, which rewound time ten years. But no matter how many times they attempted to alter history with the Reincarnation Cup, the Monarchs managed to cast the human world into darkness.

These Monarchs Are the Solo Leveling’s Main Antagonists

The Monarchs Want to Defeat the Rulers and Eradicate Humanity

Regardless of the ongoing cosmic conflict that’s constantly simmering behind the scenes, it’s important to note that the Monarchs are essentially mankind’s sworn adversaries. They have been programmed to annihilate humans without a moment’s hesitation or solid proof. The elimination of the human species during their army-building process is merely an added advantage for the Monarchs. Although they possess immense power, the Monarchs are not invincible. They must utilize a suitable human host to descend to Earth and transfer their abilities when their previous host can no longer function. Neither Monarchs nor Rulers have any organic form, which is why they require compatible human hosts to move within their realm.

Monarchs need to fully control their physical and mental human hosts to fully utilize their inherent abilities, but this comes at a cost: it depletes the host’s consciousness and body entirely. It’s worth noting that using a vessel leaves Monarchs susceptible because they become mortal, meaning they can be killed by anyone who manages to deal a fatal blow or overpower them. In the present reality, both Monarchs and Rulers coexist with humans, residing within their respective hosts.

Due to Jinwoo’s escalating influence, the Monarchs were forced to revisit the remains of the Shadow Monarch, even though they thought he was deceased. This investigation eventually uncovered Ashborn’s artifact, who possessed a previously unseen power equal to that of the Monarchs. He became a formidable adversary for these powerful beings, serving as humanity’s last line of defense. It was only through Ashborn’s control over his mind and body that Jinwoo managed to thrive as the Shadow Monarch, despite the usual fate of human vessels upon assuming the role.

Each Monarch Has Unfathomable Powers and Abilities

They Also Have Vulnerabilities That Jinwoo Exploited

Compared to a national-level hunter, a Monarch possesses significantly greater power. While they might appear restrained within their human forms, their powers are virtually boundless until confronted by an equally formidable adversary like Jinwoo. Each Monarch stands alone as the epitome of strength, capable of manifesting the extremely rare Spiritual Body, and opening gates at will.

In this manner, these beings move undetected amidst us, laying the groundwork for fulfilling their grand scheme. The Monarchs have demonstrated time and again that not even Hunters can stand against their colossal supernatural might and command over their unique elemental powers.

In essence, the eternal conflict between Monarchs and Rulers might have gone on forever if not for Ashborn’s intervention. He disrupted the balance by choosing not to oppose the Supreme Entity and aligning himself with the Monarchs. Despite being deceived from all sides, Ashborn’s final choice to seek a suitable human host marked a turning point. This decision demonstrated that the Monarchs could grant free will to their hosts and unleash an unprecedented power through the System. Even without the System, the actions of the Monarchs caused destruction and chaos during Jinwoo’s ascension.

Jinwoo Changed Everything for the Rulers and Monarchs

Examining the heart of monarch creation reveals a tragic underpinning: destruction and demise were inherent from their inception. Despite appearing as villains, they came into being for this very purpose, and any subsequent improvisation didn’t alter this fundamental truth. The cosmic lore of Solo Leveling stands out uniquely within the hunter/dungeon genre, offering a captivating oddity.

The presence of Monarchs serves as a benchmark for everyone, particularly Jinwoo, who has consistently shown that his abilities surpass those needed to conquer any dungeon boss. The existence of Monarchs and Rulers validates Jinwoo’s divine powers, imbuing his human traits with profound significance. Without his unique role as the Shadow Monarch, the ongoing conflict might not have been significantly influenced because another Monarch could have risen from the dark forces through the System. Jinwoo plays a crucial part in the war, and his existence was purposely designed by Ashborn to bring about an end to the fighting permanently.

Three Sung Generations Were Involved with the Monarchs

Sung Jinwoo, Sung Ilhwan, and Sung Suho

In Solo Leveling Season 2, a fleeting scene introduces Jinwoo’s long-lost father, Ilhwan. However, only dedicated manhwa readers understand the pivotal role he plays in the storyline. During his time, Ilhwan was one of the most powerful Hunters globally, though the absence of a ranking system kept him from gaining widespread recognition. Tragically, Ilhwan disappeared during a dungeon raid about a decade before the story unfolds, and it was assumed he had perished. Remarkably, the Rulers managed to save him on the condition that he would eliminate the next Shadow Monarch. Unbeknownst to Ilhwan, his target turned out to be none other than his own son.

In Ahjin Guild’s story arc from the manhwa, Ilhwan came close to defeating the Frost Monarch Sillad in combat, but had to retreat. Despite Ilhwan not killing his own child, the Rulers deemed that Jinwoo was more valuable to them alive. Later, Ilhwan was tasked with protecting Jinwoo from the remaining Monarchs. As the climactic battle approached, Ilhwan stepped in to shield an unconscious Jinwoo. Upon regaining consciousness, Jinwoo discovered his full Shadow Monarch powers. However, the fight left Ilhwan severely weakened, but he managed to inform Jinwoo about the situation before passing away.

In the epilogue, Jinwoo employed the Cup of Reincarnation, thereby returning Ilhwan to the fresh timeline. Instead of pursuing a life as a Hunter, Ilhwan opted to continue as a family man and father in the subsequent part of the story. As we move forward, Ilhwan remains present. In time, Ilhwan’s grandson Suho, who is also Jinwoo’s son, will tread similar paths, ultimately claiming the throne as the Monarch of Transcendence. Moreover, Suho is vying for the succession of the Monarch of Destruction, demonstrating how three generations of this family have been intricately linked with the cosmic antagonists in the world of Solo Leveling.

2025-06-06 01:43