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Uncover the origins of the Monarchs in Solo Leveling and learn why they fear Sung Jin-Woo in this detailed analysis.
Solo Leveling is a story about Sung Jin-Woo, an initially weak hunter who rises to god-like power after acquiring the abilities of the Shadow Monarch. The story is bigger than him because it is intertwined with the rivalry between the Monarchs and the Rulers—they are all powerful and have been at war for centuries. The Monarchs are the main antagonists of the series and have yet to appear in the anime, but they have already made an appearance in the Webtoon.
Their primary goal is to cause destruction in the world and wipe out humanity. This article provides information about the origins of the Monarchs, their ultimate goal, why they feared Sung Jin-Woo, and the final battle between the Monarchs and Jin-Woo.
Who Are Monarchs in Solo Leveling?
Monarchs are god-like beings who exist to oppose the Rulers. Born from the fragments of the Absolute Being, they inherit the characteristics of destruction, chaos, and annihilation. They were created in a way that they would always despise the Rulers, who also came into existence from the fragments of the Absolute Being but had different characteristics, as they sought balance and order.
Monarchs have a skill called Spiritual Body Manifestation, which allows them to transform into their true form and access their powers. They can also open portal gates that can be used to travel anywhere. Even though they are all powerful, they have a weakness. Monarchs do not have any organic form, so to enter the human world, they need to possess a human body. That means if the human body is killed in battle, they are also killed. Unlike the Rulers, the Monarchs have a unique ability to take full control over the human body. The only exception is Ashborn, who willingly gave full control of his powers to Jin-Woo.
The battle between the Monarchs and the Rulers spanned many years and multiple dimensions, as the Monarchs’ goal was to ensure there was no sign of life left. Eventually, their destruction reached planet Earth, marking the beginning of the story of Solo Leveling. Each Monarch possesses terrifyingly powerful magical and physical abilities, leading armies of dangerous monsters. After the protagonist inherits the power of Ashborn, becoming the new Shadow Monarch, it gives new hope to the Rulers to win the war.
The Monarchs’ Ultimate Goal
The whole meaning of their existence is to cause chaos and destruction. For them, winning the war means wiping out every living thing in the universe. They particularly had to wipe out humanity, as the Rulers had chosen them as their favored species.
Monarchs feel that the ideology they follow will bring balance to the universe, which makes them believe that the Rulers are a hindrance who simply interfere with their plans. Their fight against the Rulers is to attain dominance and claim to be a higher being. However, the Rulers, unwilling to allow destruction to consume everything, fought back.
Ashborn, the only exception, finally decided that someone needed to step up and end the conflict after witnessing the endless war. Therefore, he decided to find a successor and chose Sung Jin-Woo. As Jin-Woo continued powering up, he became an incredible threat to the other Monarchs.
All Known Monarchs in Solo Leveling
Here is this list of all known Monarchs who have made an appearance in the series:
- Ashborn (Former Monarch of Shadows) – He was the strongest but was defeated and became the Monarch of Shadows. Gave his powers to Jin-Woo
- Antares (Monarch of Destruction) – He was the strongest of them all, also known as the Dragon Emperor. He is the antagonist of the series.
- Legia (Monarch of the Beginning) – We do not have information about him, as he was already slain before the story began.
- Baran (Monarch of White Flames) – Was the leader of the demon army.
- Yogumunt (Monarch of Transfiguration) – Had abilities related to body modifications and transformations.
- Querehsha (Monarch of Plagues) – Had power over diseases and poisons.
- Rakan (Monarch of Fangs) – He had Abilities that resembled wolf-like features and had beast-level brute strength.
- Frost Monarch (Monarch of Frost) – His main ability was using Ice based attacks. Became one of the last Monarchs to fight Sung Jin-Woo.
- Beast Monarch – He was strong, and his abilities were physical strength equal to a beast.
Why Did the Monarchs Fear Sung Jin-Woo?
After becoming Ashborn’s successor, Sung Jin-Woo continues to grow in power in the series. He gained access to Ashborn’s immortal army of shadow soldiers, making him nearly invincible. Unlike other Monarchs who took centuries to gain power and army strength, Jin-Woo got it easily. It helped him evolve at an unexpectedly fast rate.
Until then, the Monarchs had been accustomed to fighting the Rulers and had adapted to their style. So for them, having Jin-Woo was an anomaly, and they could not predict his fighting style. When Jin-Woo single-handedly defeated Baran, the Monarch of White Flames, other Monarchs knew that he was a considerable threat. Furthermore, their barbaric style of fighting did not stand a chance against Jin-Woo, as he did not just rely on strength but also strategized his moves.
His rise to power ultimately forced the Monarchs to take desperate measures, leading to the final battle. They now clearly understood that failing to kill Jin-Woo would lead to their destruction and the loss of their goal of causing chaos and destruction.
The Final Battle Between the Monarchs and Jin-Woo
As the Monarchs realized that Jin-Woo was their biggest obstacle, Antares, the Monarch of Destruction, launched an attack to destroy Earth and everything on it. Leading an army of dragons, Antares sought to end humanity and stop Jin-Woo before he could further strengthen his abilities. If he did, the Monarchs would not be able to stand against him and would have to give up. Their ego never let them accept defeat before, and it would not have stopped them, especially after Jin-Woo entered this war.
Antares planned to lure Jin-Woo by massacring humans, but his plan failed as he never accounted for Jin-Woo having a counterattack ready, which allowed him to easily defeat Yogumunt and Tarnak without even having to fight them in person. This also meant that Antares was the only Monarch left.
Jin-Woo took the fight to a remote island in Japan, as he did not want to cause human casualties by staying in Canada. The fight was fierce, and neither party wanted to give up. Antares again underestimated the protagonist after gaining the upper hand in this fight, which resulted in his demise because Jin-Woo had another plan up his sleeve. He was distorting space to call for backup. Out of nowhere, the Rulers showed up and speared the last Monarch from every direction, resulting in instant death.
The climactic battle between Jin-Woo and Antares was the most intense confrontation in the story. Antares, being the strongest Monarch, was confident that he could eliminate Jin-Woo. However, Jin-Woo had already transcended normal human limits. Using his vast army of shadows, Jin-Woo engaged Antares in a battle that shook the very fabric of reality. With Antares’ fall, the Monarchs were no longer a threat, marking the end of their reign of terror.
Conclusion
The Monarchs’ unchecked ambition was their Achilles’ heel. Sung Jin-Woo’s destiny was much bigger than becoming an overpowered character. He was the key to bringing balance to the universe and saving Earth. His journey from being the weakest hunter to the ultimate ruler of shadows is what makes Solo Leveling an unforgettable tale. In the end, the Monarchs, once feared as unstoppable forces of destruction, met their match in a single human—Sung Jin-Woo.
This series proved to be more than just vibrant visuals and interesting fights. It taught us to keep our ambition in check, as letting it run unchecked can blind us and ultimately backfire, with an unexpected source leading to our downfall.
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