This article contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling manhwa.

Solo Leveling is all about action and suspense, with Jin-Woo fighting powerful opponents, from magical beasts and corrupted hunters to powerful Monarchs, in every story arc. Every time a new enemy emerges, Jin-Woo shows up with his strongest shadows, and together, they overwhelm their foes with flawless coordination.

However, Jin-Woo isn’t the only hunter in Solo Leveling who can dominate the battlefield with the same level of intensity. As the Monarchs rise in Solo Leveling Season 3, a very powerful character has the guts to challenge the Monarchs head-on, even before they come for Jin-Woo. And no, it’s neither Thomas Andre nor Cha Hae-In.

Sung Il-Hwan Is Coming After the Monarchs

Sung Il-Hwan Is a Ruler’s Vessel

solo leveling sung il-hwan threat monarchs

Sung Il-Hwan is a threat to the Monarchs.
Sung Il-Hwan is one of the strongest hunters in Korea.

Sung Il-Hwan is one of the most intriguing characters to debut in Solo Leveling, with a mysterious past and power that rivals even the strongest S-rank hunters in the world. His sudden reappearance in the present world after years of being presumed dead gave everyone another reason to fear, as no one really knows who he is, whether he is a human, a mutant, or even a magical beast.

In other words, Sung Il-Hwan is an anomaly, which makes him an unpredictable force in the series. Still, someone like Hwang Dong-Soo exists, a hunter who refuses to back down against Il-Hwan even when the difference in their power is undeniable based on aura and appearance alone. No ordinary hunter comes close to Il-Hwan, whose very existence is connected to the Rulers.

solo leveling sung il hwan real threat monarchs — Solo leveling sung il hwan real threat monarchs

While Solo Leveling Seasons 1 and 2 have yet to touch on the deeper lore surrounding the Rulers and the Monarchs, manhwa fans know that Sung Il-Hwan isn’t merely a dungeon survivor but a vessel for the Rulers. He was supposed to come after the Shadow Monarch, but upon discovering that the vessel was Jin-Woo, he abandoned his mission without hesitation and decided to protect him from the rest of the Monarchs.

Sung Il-Hwan Will Fight the Monarchs to Protect Jin-Woo

Sung Il-Hwan Won’t Let Jin-Woo Die Again

As one of the vessels of the Rulers, Sung Il-Hwan has the power to stand on equal footing with the Monarchs themselves. He fears no enemy, not even the Shadow Monarch, who has complete control and power over the dead. In fact, his main mission requires him to annihilate the Shadow Monarch without fail, carrying out the will of the Rulers. Fate, however, has other plans for Il-Hwan.

Instead of coming after his very own son, Sung Il-Hwan will protect Jin-Woo from the rest of the Monarchs. As Jin-Woo's father, he won’t let his son carry the weight of the world alone, even if it means he will defy the Rulers and earn the wrath of the Monarchs. He has already lost years of his life, but this time, he will fight on his own terms. With that, Sung Il-Hwan would go above and beyond just to stop the Monarchs.

You will never rest in peace, even in death.—Sung Il-Hwan

In the Monarchs War arc, which begins in Chapter 150 and ends in Chapter 166, Sung Il-Hwan will finally unleash his true power not just to protect Jin-Woo, but also to save the world. If Solo Leveling Season 3 brings the arc to life, anime fans will realize just how strong Sung Il-Hwan is. Fighting against two Monarchs at the same time is no small feat, especially if he’s doing it while protecting Jin-Woo from certain death.

Sung Il-Hwan Is the Second Strongest Hunter in Solo Leveling

Sung Il-Hwan has some of the most impressive feats that no other hunter, except Jin-Woo, could ever hope to match in Solo Leveling. From destroying an S-rank hunter like Hwang Dong-Soo in seconds to fighting two powerful Monarchs at the same time without fear and hesitation, Sung Il-Hwan truly deserves to be honored. Without him, Jin-Woo wouldn’t have survived the Seoul assault.

No wonder most fans consider Il-Hwan the strongest hunter after Jin-Woo, even with Thomas Andre’s global reputation. While this topic is still up for debate, Il-Hwan's feats make a strong case for him being second only to Jin-Woo. He did die after the Monarchs’ assault, but it was only because his body pushed beyond its limits, unable to handle his full power.

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