Solo Leveling takes a bold approach to storytelling by embracing its darker elements. Right from the start, it immerses viewers in a setting where Hunters are assigned a fixed level of strength with no possibility of improving.
The protagonist, Jinwoo, begins his journey as an E-rank Hunter, widely regarded as the weakest of all, with abilities barely distinguishable from those of an ordinary person.
On the verge of death, Jinwoo stumbles upon a unique ability that allows him to level up after becoming the “Player.” This stands apart from the rare second awakening that some Hunters experience, as those who undergo that process are still bound by the same fixed power limits.
A rare power lets Jinwoo break the limits other Hunters cannot (Photo: Solo Leveling/Lucasfilm Ltd)His path to growth presents him with unavoidable circumstances, forcing him into difficult decisions as he contends with a system that imposes both tasks and consequences for failure.
The story of Sung Jinwoo redefines what it means to be a hero as events progress into a new phase.
10. The Double Dungeon Incident
A Dark and Lethal Start to the Series
The opening episode of Solo Leveling reaches a turning point when Jinwoo’s guild chooses to go through a double dungeon through a vote. The decision rests in his hands after the group is split, and, prioritizing financial security for his family, he opts for them to proceed.
Things escalate in an unexpected direction when what was presumed to be a D-rank dungeon turns out to be a rare S-rank dungeon, sealing the Hunters inside. Unaware of the grave danger, one member of the guild attempts to leave but is instantly slain by giant knights guarding the exit.
In that terrifying moment, the Hunters come to grips with their predicament, realizing they are in a situation far beyond their control. Jinwoo, caught in the middle of it all, is forced to confront the possibility of his own death.
9. Jinwoo Had No Choice But to Sacrifice Himself
The Trials End with an Unforgiving Decision
Trapped within an S-rank dungeon, Jinwoo’s quick thinking proves to be the only reason his guildmates survive. He uncovers that bowing to the statue and responding to its musical statues with praise are necessary steps to stay alive.
By the third trial, only six Hunters remain, but exhaustion weighs heavily on them. As the door finally opens, two of them make a run for it, leaving Jinwoo, Joohee, Song Chiyul, and Kim Sangshik to fend for themselves.
Under immense pressure, Sangshik abandons the group, prioritizing his survival over everything else. Meanwhile, Song Chiyul intends to sacrifice himself so Jinwoo and Joohee can escape, but Joohee collapses in fear, and Jinwoo, badly injured, ends up left behind.
While Joohee and Chiyul manage to flee, Jinwoo faces an agonizing death, devastated by the thought that he will never see his family again. Just before the end, he is confronted with a life-altering choice: become a player or perish on the spot. This moment exposes the fragility of human willpower, showing how some prioritize self-preservation when faced with impossible odds.
8. The Guild That Eliminates Temporary Recruits
A Disturbing Reality That Society Knows About
After surviving the double dungeon ordeal, Jinwoo starts uncovering the mechanics of the system that governs his newfound strength. As he regains his footing, he resumes work and joins a guild made up of a mix of C-rank and D-rank Hunters, including Yoo Jinho, a new recruit.
While clearing a C-rank dungeon, Jinwoo senses something off about his team. His suspicions are confirmed when he realizes they intended to let him and Jinho die.
What makes matters worse is that such occurrences are not rare. Elsewhere, three female Hunters affiliated with top guilds casually discuss their refusal to freelance, citing the disturbingly high number of fatalities among temporary hires.
Despite the widespread suspicions surrounding these deaths, the absence of concrete evidence keeps the issue from sparking a large-scale outcry.
7. Jinwoo Accepting That Killing Is the Only Way to Survive
A Forced Choice He Tries to Cover Up
Jinwoo’s first C-rank dungeon mission turns sinister after he defeats the boss, only to be confronted by Hwang Dongsuk and his crew. They assume that Yoo Jinho was responsible for the kill and attempt to turn him against Jinwoo, openly admitting that they had initially planned to eliminate both of them.
The moment Dongsuk and his men attack, the system identifies Jinwoo as a target and orders him to strike back, marking his attackers for death.
Conflicted at first, Jinwoo struggles to process the situation, questioning why things have come to this. However, reality soon sets in—there is no alternative but to follow the system’s directive.
Dongsuk, now the last one standing, begs for his life, but Jinwoo remains unmoved. With no mercy, he repeats the very words Dongsuk had once used: “What happens in a dungeon stays in a dungeon. Your words, not mine.”
6. Joohee’s Phone Call with Her Mother
A Subtle but Painful Moment of Manipulation
Although Joohee’s conversation with her mother is not among the bloodiest scenes in Solo Leveling, it remains a deeply unsettling moment. Unlike in the original manhwa, the anime adaptation introduces a scene where Joohee calls her mother, who urges her to quit and return home. Frustrated, Joohee loses her temper, snapping at her mother for trying to dictate her life.
Before the call ends, her mother feigns innocence, questioning why Joohee is so upset. This exchange reveals a painful truth—Joohee’s mother plays the victim while subtly breaking her daughter’s spirit.
This brief yet poignant moment captures the weight of Joohee’s personal struggles, exposing the lack of genuine support from someone who should have been in her corner.
5. A Father’s Desperate Plea to Kang Taeshik
His Daughter’s Tragic End Drives Him to Seek Justice
One of the most gut-wrenching moments in Solo Leveling occurs when a heartbroken father approaches Kang Taeshik, a B-rank Hunter, with a desperate request. He offers a large sum of money in exchange for Taeshik eliminating the criminals who assaulted his daughter, an ordeal that led to her tragic suicide.
Furious that the justice system is allowing these men to walk free through reduced sentences in exchange for participating in raids, the father demands action.
The reality presented here is grim—dungeons may hold terrifying monsters, but some of the worst evils exist outside them. The father, shattered by the cruel loss of his child, not only mourns his daughter but also grapples with the trauma that has landed his wife in the hospital. Taeshik, an assassin Hunter, agrees to take matters into his own hands.
6. Joohee’s Emotional Phone Call with Her Mother
A Conversation That Ends with Manipulation
Joohee’s conversation with her mother might not rank as the most disturbing event in Solo Leveling, but it carries a deeply unsettling and personal touch.
The Double Dungeon forces Jinwoo into a life-or-death gamble (Photo: Solo Leveling/Lucasfilm Ltd)Unlike the original manhwa, the anime adds a moment where Joohee takes a call from her mother, who advises her to quit and return home. This suggestion doesn’t sit well with Joohee, who quickly loses her patience and snaps, telling her mother to stop trying to dictate her life.
Before the call ends, her mother switched her tone, acting innocent and questioning why Joohee is getting upset when she supposedly did nothing wrong. This subtle yet powerful manipulation lays bare a toxic dynamic, where one person undermines another while pretending to care.
It’s a painful exchange that highlights Joohee’s inner struggles and the emotional burdens she carries, especially when those who should offer her support instead make her feel guilty for her choices.
5. A Father’s Desperate Plea to Kang Taeshik
Justice for His Daughter Came at a Price
Among the most heartbreaking moments in Solo Leveling is when a grieving father approaches Kang Taeshik, a B-rank Hunter, begging him to bring justice to the men who harmed his daughter. In return, he offers a substantial sum of money, hoping Taeshik will accept the deal.
The tragedy runs deep—his daughter had suffered a brutal assault at the hands of three criminals, an ordeal so devastating that it drove her to take her own life.
Adding to the father’s pain, he learns that the criminals are being given reduced sentences in exchange for participating in dungeon raids. His anger towards the flawed justice system is clear, as he expresses frustration over how such people are allowed to walk free.
The situation serves as a grim reminder that danger doesn’t only exist inside dungeons but also in society itself. The grief-stricken man not only lost his daughter but also had to witness his wife’s health deteriorate from the sheer shock of their loss. Taeshik, an assassin-type Hunter, agrees to take matters into his own hands, accepting the task of eliminating the criminals.
4. Survivors of the Double Dungeon Face a Brutal End
Taeshik’s Twisted Enjoyment in Taking Lives
Taeshik had no intention of letting the criminals live, crafting a false story about how goblins overpowered them during a raid. However, his plan takes an unexpected turn when Kang Jeongho and Kim Sangshik, two of the remaining survivors from the double dungeon incident, unknowingly stumble upon the scene. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the dungeon, Jinwoo and his group hear distant screams but arrive too late to save anyone.
Jinwoo quickly notices the injuries on Kim and Kang, piecing together that Taeshik did not grant them swift deaths but instead toyed with them before finishing them off. As a B-rank Hunter with the Stealth ability, Taeshik possessed the skill to take lives efficiently, yet he deliberately prolonged their suffering.
It’s in this chilling moment that Taeshik reveals the truth—he finds greater pleasure in killing humans than monsters. Much like the corrupt guild willing to sacrifice their teammates, Taeshik embodies the darkest and most ruthless aspects of humanity.
3. Jinwoo and His Ruthless Assassin-Like Nature
Taeshik Sees Himself in Jinwoo
The battle between Jinwoo and Taeshik brings many realizations to the surface. Taeshik quickly deduces that Jinwoo must have undergone a second awakening, while Song Chiyul and Joohee witness firsthand how much Jinwoo has changed.
In the heat of their clash, Taeshik stares deep into Jinwoo’s eyes and recognizes something chilling—Jinwoo shares the same killer instinct as he does.
At that moment, Jinwoo activates his newly acquired Murderous Intent skill, using it to overpower Taeshik and pierce his heart, ending his life in an instant. With his final breath, Taeshik delivers a foreboding warning, telling Jinwoo that darkness will always follow him.
Though Taeshik’s time in the story was brief, his words leave a lasting impression, foreshadowing the inevitable path Jinwoo is bound to take.
2. Jinwoo’s Last-Minute Survival as He Loses the Teleportation Stone
A Twist of Fate Saves His Life
Jinwoo gains access to a Job Change Quest, where he overcomes Igris in battle and is then forced to take on a seemingly endless horde of enemies. With exhaustion setting in, he fights relentlessly, pushing himself beyond his limits.
Jinwoo’s sacrifice is the only reason his guildmates survive (Photo: Solo Leveling/Lucasfilm Ltd)In his weakened state, haunting visions of his past self flood his mind, reminding him of the times he felt powerless in combat. Though he has come a long way, those memories remain fresh, reinforcing his desire to grow stronger and escape the feeling of helplessness.
With no strength left, Jinwoo finds himself surrounded, unable to fend off the overwhelming army. Just as a knight prepares to land a fatal strike, an unexpected event occurs—his penalty for not completing his Daily Quest activates, pulling him into the Penalty Zone.
This unexpected turn of events grants him precious hours to recover and devise a plan, narrowly snatching him from the jaws of death.
1. Jinwoo’s Transformation into a Necromancer Hints at His Future
The Start of a Powerful and Dark Path
After completing the Job Change Quest, Jinwoo is presented with the option to become a Necromancer. Initially hesitant, he considers rejecting the offer, but when the system alerts him that Necromancy is a hidden class, he reconsiders.
Upon accepting, he immediately rises to the rank of Shadow Monarch, gaining the ability to summon fallen knights, including Igris. The moment is striking, as the once-formidable warriors now kneel before Jinwoo, signifying the immense power he has acquired.
With his new abilities, Jinwoo is no longer required to fight every battle personally. Igris alone possesses the strength of a high-ranking Hunter, and with an army of shadows at his command, Jinwoo’s potential reaches terrifying new heights.
Solo Leveling makes it clear—this is a world where survival depends on strength, and Jinwoo has already proven he is willing to do whatever it takes to secure his place at the top.