The clash between Sung Jin-Woo and the Rulers would have been one of the most intense battles ever witnessed. The Rulers, god-like beings with immense strength, were at the top of the cosmic hierarchy, standing against the Monarchs to prevent absolute destruction.
On the other hand, Sung Jin-Woo, as the Shadow Monarch, had proven his dominance by defeating some of the strongest enemies and standing his ground against impossible odds.
If circumstances had forced him to fight the Rulers, the battle would have been more than just a test of strength—it would have determined the fate of existence itself.
The strongest hunter versus the rulers of reality in a battle like no other (Photo: Solo Leveling/Lucasfilm Ltd)Given his incredible growth, combat abilities, and army of shadows, the question remains: could he have stood a chance against beings who wielded the highest authority in the universe?
His victories against the Monarchs suggested he was on their level, but the Rulers were an entirely different challenge. Would his power and strategic thinking have been enough to secure a victory, or would the Rulers have overwhelmed him?
Power Comparison: Sung Jin-Woo vs. the Rulers
To determine whether Sung Jin-Woo could have defeated the Rulers, it is necessary to compare their abilities. As the Shadow Monarch, he possessed nearly limitless regeneration, enhanced physical strength, and control over an army of shadows that could wipe out entire nations.
His ability to extract shadows from the dead meant his forces could continue to grow, adapting to any battle. He had also absorbed the strength of other Monarchs, making him even more powerful than before. However, the Rulers were not ordinary opponents.
They controlled immense energy that allowed them to manipulate reality to some extent, and their collective strength was unmatched by any individual Monarch. The fact that they were able to suppress the Monarchs for so long proved their superiority in direct combat.
While Sung Jin-Woo had single-handedly taken down multiple Monarchs, it is important to recognise that the Rulers were on a completely different level. Even with his Shadow Army, he would have been outnumbered and possibly overpowered in a direct fight.
The Rulers had abilities that could counter his darkness-based attacks, and their command over celestial energy would have made it difficult for him to find an advantage. Unlike the Monarchs, who were driven by destruction, the Rulers fought with precision and coordination.
A one-on-one battle might have been winnable for Sung Jin-Woo, but taking on the entire group would have required more than just strength—it would have demanded an unprecedented strategy.
Could Strategy Have Made a Difference?
Sung Jin-Woo’s victories were not based on strength alone—his intelligence and ability to adapt in battle often gave him the upper hand. Against the Monarchs, he exploited their weaknesses and used his shadows to control the battlefield.
If he had to face the Rulers, he would have needed to approach the fight differently. The Rulers were not reckless, and they did not make the same mistakes as the Monarchs. His best chance would have been to isolate them, forcing them into one-on-one confrontations rather than facing them all at once.
One possible strategy would have involved using his most powerful shadows, like Beru and Bellion, to stall some of the Rulers while he focused on eliminating them one by one.
Another approach could have been using his ability to move between shadows to launch surprise attacks, striking when they least expected it. However, the biggest challenge would have been dealing with their collective energy attacks.
The Rulers could unleash devastating attacks that could destroy entire landscapes, meaning Sung Jin-Woo would have needed to rely on his speed and regeneration to survive.
Even if he had managed to defeat some of them, the biggest question would have been whether he could last long enough against their overwhelming power.
His endurance and ability to heal quickly gave him an advantage, but the sheer scale of the fight might have pushed him beyond his limits. If he had been able to divide and conquer, his chances would have improved, but a direct confrontation would have likely resulted in an uphill battle.
Was Victory Even Possible?
The likelihood of Sung Jin-Woo winning against the Rulers depended on several factors. If they had fought him as a united force, his chances of victory would have been low. The combined strength of the Rulers far exceeded what any single Monarch had faced before.
A fight against the Rulers would have pushed Sung Jin-Woo beyond his limits (Photo: Solo Leveling/Lucasfilm Ltd)However, if the fight had been spread out, with him taking them on individually or in small groups, there was a chance he could have gained the upper hand. His ability to grow stronger during battles meant that the longer he fought, the more powerful he became.
Another key factor was whether he had access to all of his abilities at full strength. If he had time to prepare, he could have used his shadows to create an army capable of countering the Rulers.
However, if he was forced into battle without warning, he might not have had the opportunity to position himself strategically. The Rulers had experience fighting Monarchs for thousands of years, and they understood how to deal with powerful threats. Even though Sung Jin-Woo had surpassed expectations before, this was a different level of challenge.
Given his history of overcoming impossible odds, it is not entirely out of the question that he could have found a way to win. However, the probability of victory depended on the conditions of the fight.
If he was given time to prepare and could isolate his opponents, his intelligence and adaptability might have allowed him to succeed.
If he had been forced into an all-out war against all of them at once, the battle would have been far more difficult to win. The outcome would have been uncertain, but it is clear that Sung Jin-Woo would never have gone down without a fight.