Summary

Ant King is the most powerful dungeon boss in Solo Leveling season 2, surpassing S-rank hunters in strength and abilities.
Fans debate whether to call the Ant King "Black Ant" or "Ant King," as his title reflects his desire for power.
Chugong reveals the simple reason behind naming the Ant King, confirming it was chosen because "Ant King" sounds cool.

The Ant King is one of the most terrifying creatures in Solo Leveling, pushing the elite hunters from Korea and Japan to the brink of annihilation. His monstrous strength, incredible speed, and extraordinary abilities far surpass those of S-rank hunters, except, of course, Jin-Woo. However, behind the Ant King’s overwhelming prowess, Solo Leveling’s creator, Chugong, surprisingly reveals a simple reason for his royal title.

The Ant King serves as the hidden boss of the S-rank gate that triggers an alarming dungeon break on Jeju Island. He is a force of nature, capable of tearing through even Japan’s strongest hunters, including Goto Ryuji. At this point, many fans see the Ant King as the most powerful dungeon boss Jin-Woo has faced so far in the anime, largely due to his overwhelming strength, blinding speed, intelligence, and incredible healing and regenerative abilities.

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By Cathlyn Melo

Is It "Black Ant" or "Ant King?"

It Can Be Interchangeable

Upon seeing the Ant King’s debut in Solo Leveling season 2, many fans refer to this monstrous creature as either the Black Ant or the Ant King. Those who call him the Black Ant likely focus on his dark, menacing aesthetic, while those who refer to him as the Ant King emphasize his role as the counterpart to the Ant Queen. Also, this royal title possibly reflects his desire to challenge the king of the humans and ultimately crown himself as the king of the world.

Whether fans refer to the mutated ant as the Black Ant or the Ant King, there’s no issue at all, as long as they understand they’re talking about the same Solo Leveling character. In other words, the title of the monstrous creature could be interchangeable depending on what the fans prefer to use. It’s not even a big deal, because the mutated ant is now extracted as one of Jin-Woo's shadows and has a new name, Beru.

"There's no King outside. Is there another? The one whom you call the king?"—Ant King

For those who didn’t know, Jin-Woo decides to name the Ant King or the Black Ant, “Beru,” instead of something like “gaemi” or simply “ant,” inspired by an author he suddenly remembers. Beru’s name comes from Bernard Werber, the author of the novel “The Ants.” It’s a unique name, considering Jin-Woo often names his shadows based on their personality, original name, and appearance.

The Ant King Lives up to His Title

Going back to the Jeju Island arc, the S-rank hunters nearly succeed in clearing the dungeon break until the sudden arrival of the Ant King. From its appearance and overwhelming aura, it’s clear that the mutated ant is unique among its kind. His presence not only catches the S-rank hunters off guard but also leaves them speechless, freezing in place before him.

The rest is history, as the Ant King attacks the S-rank hunters one after another without breaking a sweat. While he acts like he’s exacting revenge against the Ant Queen’s killers, he has other motivations. With the Ant Queen dead, the Ant King craves more power to become the strongest being. This desire pushes him to seek out the king of the humans, leading to his high-stakes battle with Jin-Woo.

"Are you the king of humans?"—Ant King to Sung Jin-Woo

Solo Leveling’s Creator Sheds Light on the Ant King’s Title

Why Is the Ant Queen’s Offspring Called Ant King?

In a forum post, Solo Leveling’s creator finally clarified why he gave the Ant King’s title to the Ant Queen’s offspring. Unexpectedly, his explanation was not complicated at all, considering the Ant King’s mysterious origins. If we recall, the Ant King was born after the Ant Queen uniquely bred him from the others, leading to his compelling development in the series. Here’s what Chugong has to say about the Ant King’s title in Solo Leveling:

“Beru is more of an Ant Warrior than an Ant King. He was originally an existence born to become the strongest soldier to protect the queen, and he has no obligation to propagate his own offspring or create an ant kingdom. He is far from being a king. Nevertheless, the reason I specifically gave him the title 'Ant King' is... Well because, 'Ant King' sounds cool, doesn't it?”-Chugong (Translations provided by Redditor xPapaGrim)

This clarification is an eye-opener for those fans who believe that the Ant King’s title was given to the Ant Queen’s offspring because of his strength and abilities, which are far superior to the rest of his kind. And surprisingly, of all the possible explanations behind this title, Chugong confirms that the Ant King title only “sounds cool.” True enough, the title amplifies the mutated ant’s overall appeal and charisma to the fans. Besides, the mutated ant deserves this title as the strongest being to ever emerge from his kind.

For now, as much as fans want to see more of the Ant King, they will have to settle for his new role in Solo Leveling as one of Jin-Woo's strongest shadows. But unlike his former self, the new Ant-King will do everything in his power to serve his master, from leading his army to protecting his loved ones. Yet still, traces of the original Ant King remain in his new form, and fans can look forward to seeing those remnants reemerge possibly in the next season.

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