The second season of the anime “Solo Leveling” has come to an end. This series attracted significant attention from viewers, especially within the winter anime season lineup. The anime adaptation of the popular Korean manhwa has received high ratings from audiences, scoring 8.6 out of 10 on IMDb and 8.4 out of 10 on Kinopoisk. Let`s delve into what made the second season of “Solo Leveling” remarkable and what we can anticipate in the upcoming third season.
The first season of “Solo Leveling” was released a year prior. Expectations were high for the adaptation of this well-known manhwa, particularly regarding the animation quality, given the story`s reputation for dynamic action scenes. The main character, Sung Jinwoo, transforms from the weakest hunter in the world to the strongest, demonstrating power beyond comprehension. However, during the first season, some viewers, including myself and those familiar with the manhwa, felt something was missing. The visual execution and animation quality were inconsistent, and the dungeon atmosphere lacked the desired grimness.
The second season successfully addressed these concerns and delivered the action viewers were eager for. Animation quality improved in both action sequences and regular scenes, and the overall pacing of the narrative became more engaging. Furthermore, the second season`s plot featured more intense battles against formidable opponents compared to the first, which served more as an introduction to the overall story. The initial episodes introduced Sung Jinwoo’s struggles as an E-rank hunter, the awakening of his new powers, his mastery of them, and his job change. In the first season`s finale, the protagonist becomes a Necromancer, gaining the ability to resurrect defeated enemies as part of his shadow army.
In the second season, the main character immediately embodies the cool and powerful persona from the manhwa. Jinwoo has clear objectives and a defined path to achieve them. His priorities are to maximize his power, build a formidable army of shadow warriors, seek out high-rank dungeons for challenging battles, and find ingredients to create the Holy Water of Life to awaken his mother from her prolonged sleep. Concurrently, he encounters South Korea`s strongest hunters and others, faces unexpected challenges, and rescues those in need.
The anime closely follows the manhwa, not only in narrative but also in panel composition. The series feels like a living manhwa, which has both advantages and disadvantages. Viewers unfamiliar with the Korean manhwa will find each scene, especially in the second season, captivating. However, those already familiar with the source material might find that the anime primarily offers animated versions of the manhwa panels without significant original additions. The anime is a faithful adaptation of the popular web manhwa, rather than an original take on the story.
The Korean manhwa “Solo Leveling” consists of 200 chapters, of which studio A-1 Pictures adapted 45 in the first season and 65 in the second (chapters 46 to 110). The final episodes focused on the major “Jeju Island Arc” and partially covered the “Recruitment Arc.” High-rank hunters from Korea and Japan collaborated to clear Jeju Island, infested with giant ants. While S-rank hunters assaulted the ant nest, less powerful hunters guarded the island`s sea borders, all broadcasted globally. Japanese and Korean hunters had distinct roles: the Japanese lured out the majority of ordinary ants, while the Koreans targeted the Queen Ant in the nest`s center.
However, the plan was flawed from the start. The Japanese hunters were not only unable to contain the ant swarm but were also uncooperative with their Korean allies. Ryuji Goto, Japan`s strongest S-rank hunter, and the Chairman of the Japanese Hunter Association hoped for the demise of the team attacking the Queen, intending to claim all the glory. Yet, the Japanese hunters overestimated their abilities and were defeated by the Ant King.
This was the fourth raid on the island, on the verge of failing like the previous three, until the unexpected arrival of the protagonist. Sung Jinwoo swiftly healed his injured allies and proceeded to engage with the Jeju Island boss. Dealing with the ant threat was merely a warm-up for him, an opportunity to gain a powerful shadow subordinate. The action unfolded rapidly, and the hero`s presence was intensely impactful. The animation in the final episodes, particularly the dynamic sequences, was especially impressive.
In the second season`s finale, Sung Jinwoo reached level 100, far from his limit. He also acquired a new shadow warrior – the Ant King, who surpasses other shadows in power and can speak. The raid was successful, and the remaining ants were eliminated through the combined efforts of Jinwoo and other hunters. The world became aware of his power, making it impossible for him to remain in the shadows. However, Jinwoo is unfazed and even decides to establish his own guild. The final moments of the season showed the Beast Monarch and the Ice Monarch entering the human world, hinting at future turmoil.
Following the release of the second season`s finale of “Solo Leveling,” the creators have not yet announced further seasons. However, given the series` popularity, it is likely only a matter of time. The first two seasons were released a year apart, suggesting that the studio planned for the production of all 25 episodes in advance.
When will the third season of “Solo Leveling” be released? It is expected that the continuation might take a bit longer. A possible release timeframe could be late 2026 or early 2027. For those eager to continue the story, reading the manhwa from chapter 108 onwards is a viable option.
Speculating on the release date before an official announcement is speculative. Instead, let`s discuss the events anticipated in the upcoming chapters of the manhwa and potentially in the third season of the anime.
After the “Jeju Island Arc,” the short “Recruitment Arc” (chapters 108–110) follows, partially previewed in the final minutes of the 25th episode. Next is the “Ajin Guild Arc” (111–122), focusing on the protagonist`s guild establishment, an engaging battle between hunter Cha Hae-In and his shadows, and minor skirmishes with monsters from Gates. While adapting previous arcs, the creators sometimes condensed them, but retained essential elements. These chapters are likely to be covered in the initial episodes of the third season.
Following this is the “Double Dungeon Arc” (123–131), where the protagonist revisits the dungeon with the god statue where he previously escaped death and gained his leveling power. Then comes the “Japan Crisis Arc” (132–139), where a massive S-rank Gate opens in Tokyo, requiring the protagonist`s intervention. The manhwa then proceeds to the “International Hunter Conference Arc” (140–149), where Jinwoo travels to the USA. The third season will likely conclude around this point.
The first two seasons adapted slightly over half of the manhwa chapters. The remaining chapters could span not only a third but also a fourth season, maintaining the 12–13 episode format. In that scenario, the final three arcs – “Monarch War” (150–166), “Final Battle,” and “Epilogue” (178–200) – could form the basis for a fourth season.