This article contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling and Solo Leveling: Ragnarok webtoons.

Summary

There are nine known Monarchs in Solo Leveling, each having powerful abilities.
Fans have creative theories for new Monarchs, hoping for a stronger contrast with Rulers in the series.
Successors to Monarchs have been revealed in Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, expanding the lore with new titles and powers.

An action fantasy series like Solo Leveling is full of endless mysteries, powerful characters, and epic fights between superior entities that have existed since time immemorial. Among these god-like beings are the Monarchs, created by the Absolute Being to destroy the world and act as the archenemies of the Rulers. Solo Leveling season 2 introduces three monarchs, but could an unknown monarch still be hiding in the shadows?

At this point, fans are aware that there are nine Monarchs in the series. However, the possibility of a hidden Monarch has long intrigued fans, as it could open the door to a deeper, more complex lore, one that may still have stories left to tell. So, could a hidden Monarch be biding their time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to launch an all-out attack on Jin-Woo?

This Solo Leveling Character Surprisingly Defeats One of Sung Jin-Woo's Powerful Shadows in a Solo Fight

It’s surprising how this character easily defeats Sung Jin-Woo's powerful swordsman in a solo fight.

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By Cathlyn Melo

Is the List Complete?

There Are Nine Known Monarchs

Solo Leveling season 2 introduced three out of nine monarchs, namely the Beast Monarch Rakan, the Frost Monarch Sillad, and the Monarch of the White Flames Baran. Jin-Woo, on the other hand, has yet to learn about the Shadow Monarch, whom he has a particularly close connection with. The rest of the Monarchs, namely Legia, Querehsha, Tarnak, Yogumunt, and Antares, are expected to make their anime debut in the later story arcs. Time and again, these powerful beings fought countless battles with the Rulers, manipulated events from the dark, and reshaped worlds to suit their will.

"Today, one of the great monarchs will descend upon this world and I am going to give you the chance to witness this glorious event."—The Architect

At this point, those who have read the webtoon already know about the nine Monarchs and their abilities. Despite the reveal of their identities and roles, many are still curious whether the list is final, given the rich lore of the series that continues to expand in Solo Leveling: Ragnarok. After all, the possibilities are endless, considering the Absolute Being who created both the Monarchs and the Rulers is just one among many Itarim Gods that exist in the wider universe.

Original Monarchs in Solo Leveling
Ashborn	Shadow Monarch
Antares	Monarch of Destruction
Baran	Monarch of the White Flames
Rakan	Monarch of Fangs
Sillad	Monarch of Frost
Tarnak	Monarch of the Iron Body
Legia	Monarch of the Beginning
Querehsha	Monarch of Plagues
Yogumunt	Monarch of Transfiguration

Fan Theories and Ideas

Fans engage in discussions, sharing creative ideas for new types of Monarchs they would like to see in the series. Since the main goal of the Monarchs is to cause destruction, fans mostly relate their ideas to chaos. Some interesting fan ideas include the Monarch of Despair, Monarch of Oblivion, and Monarch of Infinity, to name a few. Others take a more imaginative route, linking their original Monarchs to elements like ancient magic, oceanic monsters, and even titanic beings reminiscent of mythological giants.

"I had several in plan before.

Monarch of Humanity. Someone who governs and decides the fate and shape of human civilisation.

Monarch of Elements. Someone who wields elemental spell like wind, fire earth and etc.

Monarch of Magic. Someone who understands how the universe works and the fundamental laws of physics and what bounds all together."Reddit user Readrearea

Meanwhile, some fans are hoping to see a stronger contrast between the Monarchs and the Rulers. The idea is that if a new Monarch were to be introduced, there should also be a new Ruler with opposing abilities to avoid tipping the power balance. It’s an interesting concept, one that could provide another layer to the already rich lore of Solo Leveling. Of course, these are just theories, but who knows—one of these could end up happening and become canon in Ragnarok.

"Listen up, you lowly humans! As of now, I will start hunting you!"—Rakan, Monarch of Fangs

The Monarchs and Their Successors

Solo Leveling: Ragnarok Reveals More Details

Despite initial expectations that Jin-Woo's son, Suho, would inherit his father’s powers and become the next Shadow Monarch, he is actually next in line to Antares, the Monarch of Destruction. Meanwhile, Esil, whom everyone remembers from the Return to the Demon Castle arc, is expected to succeed the Monarch of the White Flames. Other known successors so far include Sirka, Gray, Arsha, and Ammut. However, bear in mind that the original titles of the Monarchs aren't necessarily passed down unchanged. As the mantle shifts, so too may the nature and identity of the powers themselves.

So, Could an Unknown Monarch Be Hiding in the Shadows?

The Possibilities Are Endless

So far, the original list includes only nine Monarchs, but when factoring in the successors and their newly inherited titles, fans are introduced to a total of 12 known Monarchs. Among these new additions are the Monarch of Gluttony, the Monarch of Nightmares, and the Monarch of Trials. By the end of Solo Leveling, Jin-Woo became one with the Shadow Monarch, using his powers to hunt down the rest of the Monarchs to protect the world for quite a long time. All the other Monarchs, including the strongest of them, failed to eliminate Jin-Woo, resulting in their defeat against the brilliant hunter.

However, this doesn’t mean that there’s no chance for a new monarch to arise. As the lore of Solo Leveling expands, the possibility of a new Monarch who can rival Jin-Woo, perhaps even his son Suho, remains. Maybe a new set of Monarchs could emerge, possibly created by yet another god-like being looking to test Jin-Woo and the next generation’s abilities.

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