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Is the Jeju Island Arc the best Solo Leveling Arc? Explore the significance of this storyline and Sung Jinwoo’s accomplishments in it.
Solo Leveling is one of the most popular new anime, bringing to life a fascinating world of superhuman hunters fighting against monsters. Throughout the series, we follow Sung Jinwoo, a weak protagonist who gains a mysterious system. With this, he becomes the only hunter capable of leveling up, which turns him into a savior who faces the celestial beings threatening the world.
While the manhwa and novel of the original Solo Leveling series are completed, anime viewers have already become entranced with each arc which offers something new. They are drawn in by Jinwoo’s growth and the exciting aura surrounding him.
However, one particular story arc that most fans are waiting for is the Jeju Island Arc. This arc has been hyped beyond belief, with many considering it to be the qualitative pinnacle of the series. So, is the Jeju Island Arc the best Solo Leveling Arc?
There is a very good argument for the Jeju Island Arc being the best Solo Leveling Arc, considering the monumental rise in stakes and its significance to Jinwoo’s prominence. Let us take a closer look at this.
What Is the Jeju Island Arc in Solo Leveling?
The Jeju Island Arc is the 13th Solo Leveling Arc, that takes place immediately after the Return to Demon Castle Arc. The series had already been building up the existence of monstrous ants through glimpses, but this arc finally features them as the main antagonists who cannot be ignored by the hunters.
Soon after Jinwoo cured his mother from the Eternal Slumber, mutated ants in Jeju Island began leaving its shores, even reaching as far as Japan. These ants were notably much stronger than the average hunter, with several humans being sacrificed before even being able to kill one.
With this threat that could potentially wipe out both Japan and Korea, hunters from both nations decided to form a raid party. This group would infiltrate the island and kill the Ant Queen, following which the ants would naturally die. Jinwoo, though impressing others in the joint training session between nations, decided to sit out of the battle.
This was because he had just regained his family and trusted the hunters to do their job. Unfortunately, during the actual raid, an unforeseen circumstance arose. This was the appearance of the mysterious Ant King, later called Beru. The Ant King’s powers far surpassed even S-Rank Hunters, leaving all of them in fear.
At this point, Jinwoo recognized the danger and used his shadow exchange skills to jump into the battle. He used his shadows to face all the ants while personally destroying the Ant King. In the process, he saved most of his allies.
How Is the Jeju Island Arc Different from the Other Solo Leveling Arcs?
The Jeju Island Arc is the first significant rise in the scale of the threat. Till this point, all Solo Leveling arcs majorly focused on hunter expeditions inside dungeons, with even dungeon breaks being handled rapidly.
This Arc, on the other hand, is completely different. It shows how monstrous ants have taken over a complete island and could potentially kill millions of innocent people. In addition, it is also the first time Solo Leveling explores countries outside of Korea. It brings in Japan and its hunters, giving us a glimpse into their powers and mindset.
Most importantly, it features the first realistic threat in Solo Leveling which could not be handled by the strongest of hunters. When the mission seemed to be accomplished, the Ant King’s appearance completely changed the tides. Until then, we could rely on Cha Hae-In, Baek Yoon-Ho, or many others to save the day when danger arose.
However, in the face of this antagonist, even they were left without answers. Solo Leveling hadn’t shown the deaths of any heroic or dominatingly powerful figures till this point. This changed during the Jeju Island raid, where strong participants from both Japanese and Korean teams died before Jinwoo could appear.
As a result, the Jeju Island Arc is the first time Solo Leveling becomes more than a series featuring a cool protagonist. It showcases memorable side characters, realistic threats, and the political framework of the world.
Sung Jinwoo’s Biggest Accomplishments in the Jeju Island Arc
While we have seen how the Jeju Island Arc elevated Solo Leveling’s storytelling, it still highlights the main character, Sung Jinwoo. Even before the raid began, Jinwoo stunned others with his powers as a new S-Rank Hunter.
He fought a heated spar against the top Japanese Hunter, Goto Ryuji. Though this battle was stopped by those around them, Ryuji considered this a traumatizing experience. While Jinwoo decided to sit out of the raid, he had no choice once the Ant King was introduced.
The king had killed Goto Ryuji, Min Byung-Gyu, and several other powerful hunters, with defeat seeming inevitable for the hunters. Jinwoo single-handedly changed the outcome of this battle, showcasing his unbelievable skills.
After defeating the Ant King, Jinwoo also revived Byung-Gyu to heal Cha Hae-In, who was severely injured. As a result, he saved his future wife. Notably, following the end of the chaos, Jinwoo extracted the Ant King’s shadow. He named this Beru, who later became the Shadow Monarch’s most dedicated soldier.
Apart from his direct contributions, Jinwoo’s biggest accomplishment in Jeju Island was his newfound recognition as one of the main protectors of the world. This was his first fight since becoming an S-Rank Hunter, where the public got to know of his terrifying abilities. This scared some but inspired awe from many more. It also made those like Baek Yoon-Ho believe Jinwoo could end wars by himself.
Is the Jeju Island Arc the Best Solo Leveling Arc?
There is a very good argument for the Jeju Island Arc being the best Solo Leveling Arc, for reasons we have seen throughout this article. It introduced Beru, sparked Jinwoo and Hae-In’s relationship, and made Jinwoo globally recognized.
Additionally, it branched out the storyline from the borders of Korea to the world and beyond. The fight choreography was among Solo Leveling’s best, with Jinwoo’s battle against the Ant King keeping us on edge.
At the same time, it is also worth mentioning other arcs that gained the acclaim of fans. The International Guild Conference Arc is one of the most exhilarating arcs of the series, where Jinwoo faced the powerful Thomas Andre. It also kicked off the invasion of the Monarchs in the world.
Following this, the Monarchs War Arc and the Final Battle Arc feature Jinwoo’s relentless struggle against the celestial beings. It introduced the menacing Antares and Jinwoo’s ultimate sacrifice to protect his loved ones.
Nevertheless, while calling an arc the “best” is a matter of perspective, most of the fandom recognizes the impactful nature of the Jeju Island Arc. Hence, anime fans have a lot to look forward to when it is finally adapted.
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