Widely recognized within the weak-to-strong genre of Korean-based manga, Solo Leveling is the adaptation of the light novel series. Throughout its storyline, the series introduced numerous exceptionally powerful characters, from awakened Hunters and Dungeon bosses to Sovereign Monarchs and Rulers.
The central focus of Solo Leveling revolves around Sung Jin-Woo, a hunter whose strength grows after every battle. Throughout the manga, numerous battles took place, leaving readers astonished with their intensity. Sung Jin-Woo played a crucial role in most of these encounters.
The Double Gate battle unravels the truth behind Jin-Woo’s power (Photo: Solo Leveling/Lucasfilm Ltd)Several other fights shaped the story in unexpected ways. Which of these battles stood out as the most unforgettable in Solo Leveling?
10. Sung Jin-Woo’s Battle Against Beru
A pivotal moment in the Solo Leveling story occurred during the Jeju Island Arc when hunters from different nations were assembled to exterminate an evolving species of ants. Among those who participated in this mission were ten S-Rank hunters from Japan, including their strongest, Goto Ryuji.
Accompanying them were renowned Korean S-Rank hunters such as Choi Jong-In, Baek Yoon-Ho, Cha Hae-In, and Min Byung-Gyu, an S-Rank healer. Initially, the operation seemed to be progressing well, but the emergence of the Ant King drastically changed the tide of battle.
This powerful enemy slaughtered Goto and the S-Rank healer while also severely injuring multiple hunters, including Cha Hae-In. Just as the situation threatened to spiral out of control, Sung Jin-Woo appeared and engaged the Ant King in combat.
Viewers around the world tuned in to witness this astonishing clash, which concluded with Sung Jin-Woo’s victory. The Ant King was later revived as one of Jin-Woo’s summons, renamed “Beru.”
9. The Double Gate Confrontation
This particular battle held immense personal importance for Sung Jin-Woo, as it was directly tied to the force responsible for his transformation into a powerful hunter: the System. After surpassing Level 100, Jin-Woo was given a quest within the same double dungeon that had nearly led to his demise when he was still an E-Rank Hunter.
Inside, he encountered the Architect—the very creator of the System—who promised to reveal the truth behind Jin-Woo’s powers if he could emerge victorious. What followed was a lengthy and grueling duel, during which Jin-Woo awakened a dormant power hidden deep within himself.
With this newfound strength, he successfully defeated the Architect, gained access to the memories of the Shadow Monarch, and eliminated the System’s creator before it could cause harm to the S-Rank hunters who had ventured into the dungeon.
8. Chris Reed’s Brutal Defeat
Recognized as the third-strongest hunter in the United States, Chris Reed was an exceptionally formidable fighter. However, his impressive ranking proved meaningless when he encountered the Monarch of the Iron Body, Querehsha, who was also known as the Best Monarch.
Before this battle, Norma Selner, a rank upgrader and seeress, had foreseen Chris’s demise. She urged him to seek protection from Sung Jin-Woo, but Chris, confident in his strength as a globally acknowledged hunter, ignored the warning.
Unfortunately, Norma’s vision became reality when the Monarchs arrived to assassinate Chris, who was revealed to be a Ruler’s Vessel. Their confrontation engulfed the area in flames, but despite Chris’s desperate efforts, he suffered a gruesome end.
7. Sung Jin-Woo’s Showdown with Legia
The battle between Jin-Woo and the Monarch of Giants was another extraordinary fight within Solo Leveling. It all began when an S-Rank gate appeared in Tokyo, prompting the Japanese government to enlist Yuri Orloff to contain the threat.
However, the barrier erected by Orloff proved futile against the sheer force of the giants, who tore through the seal with ease.
Once Sung Jin-Woo arrived at the scene, he swiftly eliminated a massive portion of the giant army, setting the stage for an intense confrontation with a powerful yet incomplete version of the Giant Monarch. Despite the enemy’s strength, Jin-Woo emerged victorious in this battle.
6. Thomas Andre’s Humiliating Loss
One of the most highly anticipated fights in the series was the unofficial clash between Thomas Andre and Sung Jin-Woo.
The conflict arose when Hwang Dong-Su, an S-Rank hunter under Thomas’s command, orchestrated a situation that forced Jin-Woo into battle by taking Yoo Jin-Ho, the Vice Master of Ahjin Guild, hostage.
Thomas intervened in an attempt to protect his subordinate, but his arrogance blinded him to the real circumstances surrounding the fight. As a result, an all-out brawl erupted between two of the strongest hunters in existence.
To the shock of everyone, Jin-Woo completely dominated the Nation-Level Hunter, proving that his power had surpassed even Thomas Andre’s.
5. Thomas Andre vs. The Beast Monarch
When another S-Rank gate materialized, the Beast Monarch emerged and began hunting down humans as if they were prey. Neither A-Rank nor B-Rank hunters could inflict any damage on him, with many of them perishing in the attack.
It was only when Thomas Andre stepped in that the Beast Monarch finally encountered a worthy opponent. Initially, Thomas managed to overpower the enemy by utilizing Spiritual Body Manifestation. However, his advantage was short-lived, as the Beast Monarch quickly turned the tide.
The battle left Thomas severely wounded, but before further harm could be inflicted, Sung Jin-Woo arrived on the scene.
4. Sung IL-Hwan vs. The Frost and Beast Monarchs
During a heated confrontation involving Querehsha, the Frost Monarch, the Beast Monarch, and Sung Jin-Woo, an unexpected moment occurred—Jin-Woo was struck from behind and killed. However, this apparent demise was not an end but rather the catalyst for his transformation into the true Shadow Monarch.
As the Monarchs attempted to eliminate him before his full awakening, Sung IL-Hwan, Jin-Woo’s father, intervened. He fought bravely against the Monarchs, holding them at bay as Jin-Woo’s rebirth approached. His resistance as a Ruler’s Vessel was remarkable, standing his ground against overwhelming odds.
3. Sung Jin-Woo vs. Three Monarchs
The intense three-on-one battle involving Jin-Woo, the Monarch of Plagues, the Monarch of Frost, and the Monarch of Beastly Fangs was one of the most iconic fights in Solo Leveling.
The Architect’s challenge pushes Jin-Woo to his ultimate awakening (Photo: Solo Leveling/Lucasfilm Ltd)Early in the skirmish, the Frost Monarch immobilized a large portion of Jin-Woo’s army, but Beru managed to break free and engage the Plague Monarch. After a fierce struggle, Jin-Woo successfully eliminated the Plague Monarch.
However, he was then bombarded by relentless attacks from both the Ice Monarch and the Beast Monarch. The fight was brought to a shocking finish when the Beast Monarch landed a critical blow, striking Jin-Woo from behind and seemingly ending his life.
2. Sung Jin-Woo’s Revenge Against the Frost and Beast Monarchs
Following his apparent death, Jin-Woo encountered Ashborn, the original Shadow Monarch, who revealed the truth about the battle between the Monarchs and the Rulers. After this revelation, Jin-Woo accepted his destiny and was reborn as the Shadow Monarch.
Once reborn, Jin-Woo ordered the Frost Monarch to wait as he pursued the fleeing Beast Monarch. The sheer force of his newly awakened power blanketed the entire Earth, allowing him to locate and teleport to his enemy.
Within five attacks, he eliminated the Beast Monarch with ease, then returned to the Frost Monarch’s location and dispatched him with minimal effort.
1. Sung Jin-Woo vs. The Dragon King
After Jin-Woo had already defeated three Monarchs, Antares, the Monarch of Dragons and the most formidable of them all, took it upon himself to eliminate him. Arriving on Earth through an S-Rank gate, Antares was accompanied by the Monarch of Transfiguration and the Monarch of the Iron Body.
While Jin-Woo quickly disposed of the latter, his battle with Antares was far more intense. The Dragon King’s transformation into a monstrous dragon struck fear into Jin-Woo’s army, unleashing flames of devastation. Despite the overwhelming power of his enemy, Jin-Woo fought back fiercely.
However, the battle was finally brought to an end when the Rulers arrived and eliminated Antares.