Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadows S2 Ep 13 Review
It pains me to say this, but the second season of Solo Leveling has come to a close. But after everything that has happened this season, there’s likely not an anime fan out there who hasn’t heard about it. After seeing what he managed to do in the last episode, there won’t be a person in Korea who doesn’t know about Sung Jin-woo, the hero of Jeju Island. Since Solo Leveling is such a good story, though, the falling action is as good as the climax. However, the anime did manage to miss a few details that feel like a mistake to leave out. And for good reason.
Why did the anime skips this?
Looking back on last week’s episode, one problem with its ending (besides being horribly timed) was it left out a key part of Jin-woo’s thoughts. He later acknowledges this to Chairman Go, but in the manwha, Jin-woo spends the time after his failed attempts to save Cha Hae berating himself. He acknowledges that Hunters like Byung-Gu wouldn’t have died if he had chosen to go on the Raid from the start. It’s an important self-criticism that serves as a reminder that, despite now being the strongest in Korea, Sung Jin-woo is still human. It feels like a mistake not to include that in the anime, and that’s only the first one the episode makes.
The second has to do with how it portrays the way Jin-woo saves Cha Hae. I can’t remember if the anime brings it up, but Jin-woo actually has a moral code regarding his necromancy. Having learned he can revive dead humans, Jin-woo vowed to never use that power on another human unless they were evil or deserved it. Kim Chul proved to be a horrible man, so he got that treatment. In contrast, Byung-Gu was an incredibly kind person who hated violence. The fact that Jin-woo was willing to break his own rule is meant to highlight how serious and desperate he was about saving Cha Hae. In addition, whereas he revived him on the first try in the anime, he almost fails to do so in the manwha. Jin-woo has to actually convince Byung-Gu to come back to save someone one last time before it works.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe way this S Rank shadow held on to his sentience & a significant portion of his abilities.. Maybe Jinwoo should've gone around the island collecting Goto's squad members.. #SoloLeveling #俺レベ #SoloLevelingS2 pic.twitter.com/NcPl4fI8hv
— Shadz (@ShadzMangaOnly) March 29, 2025
Beyond that, though, the outcome remains the same. Cha Hae’s life is saved, and Jin-woo agrees to let Byung-Gu rest in peace. It’s a very emotional moment that earns him a great deal of respect from Byung-Gu’s comrades.
Besides, Byung-Gu is nothing in comparison to the real reward: the Ant King himself. Or should we say, Beru?
Welcome to the force, Beru
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsAnt King's shadow extraction and naming#俺レベ #SoloLeveling pic.twitter.com/4EXqK0B9bq
— Cha (@fluffycha07) March 29, 2025
The anime does a really good job of capturing the importance of Jin-woo reviving the Ant King. The fact that he can already talk, something no other Shadow can do, emphasizes how special this Shadow is. Also, Beru is a combination of two names: Bernard Weber, a French author who wrote a fiction series about ants; and Meruem, AKA the OG Ant King. Beru more than proves worthy of being Jin-woo’s first shadow general, helping to wipe out most of the remaining ants. Thanks to Jin-woo and the Hunters of Korea, most of the leaderless ants are easy pickings. What could’ve spelt the end of Korea becomes a huge victory for the country.
As for Japan…well, the man in charge brought what happened upon himself. Now he has to live with the fact that 70% of his country’s S-Ranks are dead. And will likely lose his job in the near future.
By the way, Jin-woo does try to revive the Ant Queen in the manwha, but he abandons that when he realizes that the Queen’s useless as an undead Shadow. That, and it divides the loyalty of the Shadow Ants.
Commence the Praise!
With Jeju Island no longer a threat, Korea is free to mourn those lost. While people give him valid criticism (which he acknowledges), everyone says that Sung Jin-woo is the hero of Jeju Island. While he could’ve helped from the start, joining at such a critical moment saved Korea from destruction. Thus, most people are giving him all the glaze (like I have been.) He’s now the apex predator of the country; the strongest.
So, what now?
Thanks to the experience from the Raid on Jeju Island, Jin-woo has hit an important milestone: Level 100. He’s stronger than he’s ever been. And while some might sit on their throne and reap the rewards, Jin-woo isn’t like that. He’s already making plans to form his own guild with Jinho. And at that this point, he doesn’t need to hide the fact that he can solo an entire dungeon. Yet, not everything is well.
During the cleanup on Jeju Island, one of the teams of Hunters were attacked by two unknown beings. I can’t say who they are without spoiling things, but let me make this clear: Jin-woo will need to fight them in the near future. And right now, not even he may be enough to win. Which is why he needs to keep getting stronger. Not to protect his title, but to protect the people he cares about.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe Monarchs has arrived
— Solo Leveling (@SoloLevelAnime) March 29, 2025#SoloLeveling pic.twitter.com/qRIO1P6RK5
Now we Wait
Sadly, this is where the season of Solo Leveling comes to an end. At this time, there is no news that can confirm nor deny whether there will be a third season. However, given its meteoric rise to prominence in the anime world in just over a year, people are going to want to see the rest of the story animated. Its not a question of if it will happen, but when. And with the fights only going to get crazier (trust me), Solo Leveling could wind up being one of the biggest anime of the decade.
Until that day comes, though, feel free to go and read the manwha for yourself. Or stick around for a review of the game Solo Leveling Arise. Or go watch YouTubers like AniNews or Anime Balls Deep as they break down the series.
Edit: Third Season drops next year.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js— Anime Rave (@AniRave) March 31, 2025
TV Anime "Solo Leveling" SEASON 3 is Officially Announced for 2026!
Animation Studio: The Answer Studio
Produced by Aniplex pic.twitter.com/KuP3xpWuXW
I Give “Onto the Next Target” a 4/5
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Thanks for reading: All Hail Sung Jin-woo, our Glorious King, Sorry, my English is bad:)