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Solo Levelingremains a hot topic among anime fans, even without releasing fresh episodes. While the majority of fans are waiting for the official announcement of season 3, some are still looking back to Jeju Island, where Jin-Woo foughtthe menacing Ant King. They still can’t get over the intense clash between the two powerful characters, with most of them asking what could have happened if the Ant King ate Jin-Woo instead.
Going back, the Ant King shook the entireSolo Levelingfandom when it first displayed its terrifying strength in Jeju Island. Not only did it make a clown out of Japan’s strongest hunter, but it also overwhelmed the S-rank hunters of Korea, killing Min Byung-Gu without breaking a sweat. On top of that, he also fought Jin-Woo in a high-stakes match, true to his title as the Ant King.
What If the Ant King Ate Jin-Woo on Jeju Island?
Fans Are Convinced the Shadow Monarch Will Rip Beru Apart
In theSolo Levelinganime, novel, and manhwa, Sung Jin-Woo defeated the Ant King in a heated battle on Jeju Island during the fourth ant raid organized by Japan and Korea’s combined forces. While the Ant King was successful in killing Goto Ryuji, Min Byung-Gu, and most ofthe Japanese S-rank hunters, he failed to outmaneuver the strongest hunter in Korea in a solo match.
“I am the record of your struggles, the evidence of your resistance, and the reward of your sufferings. I am Death, I am Eternal Rest, I am Terror.” —Ashborn, Shadow Monarch
However, in an alternative universe where the Ant King defeats Jin-Woo and eats him in the process,Solo Levelingfans believe it will not be the end of the line. Instead of rotting away inside the Ant King’s belly, fans believethe Shadow Monarch, Ashborn, will rip the magic beast apart from the inside, killing him instantly. In short, he will let the Ant King get a taste of his own medicine, finishing what Jin-Woo had started.
Enraged the shadow monarch rips the ant king from inside out. Finishing what his vessel started. For as even the monarch of all insects is useless against the monarch of death. -Redditordruid_804
Fans know that the Shadow Monarch holds immense powers, so much so that even the Monarch of the Fangs and the Monarch of the White Flames are afraid of him. Even the Frost Monarch is terrified of him, going so far as to plana three-man ambush on Jin-Wooin Seoul during the Monarchs War Arc. With the power he holds, fans believe the Ant King will be incapable of using his powers like Jin-Woo did.
The Architect Could Intervene to Save Jin-Woo’s Life
Losing the Shadow Monarch’s Vessel Is Likely Not an Option
Perhaps the most probable scenario that fans come up with should the Ant King eat Jin-Woo is the intervention of the architect. For context, thearchitect is the designer of the systemthat steers Jin-Woo’s growth, allowing him to level up and acquire more power. He’s basically responsible for Jin-Woo’s safety, often forcing him to kill his enemies, including humans with murderous intents, just to secure his life.
I think the architect would have stepped in as well. I think he pulled strings to benefit jinwoos luck. The whole bloodthirst thing and killing enemies. Igris dropping the sword. The multiple red gates jinwoo had to face when they are extremely rare. -RedditorMarcyff2
If so, the architect could switch things up by pulling all the possible strings to turn the fight around. He could instantly perform an emergency resurrection, possibly activating a contingency plan hidden by the system to keep Jin-Woo, the vessel, alive. After all, the architect has a carefully laid plan in the system, ensuring Jin-Woo’s safety and health more than anything else.
“You’ve come at last."—System Architect to Sung Jin-Woo
The Ant King Could Become the Shadow Monarch’s Vessel
While it’s difficult to see a dead Jin-Woo inSolo Leveling, many fans can’t help but reimagine the Ant King as thenew vessel of the Shadow Monarchafter eating him on Jeju Island. That said, fans jokingly commented on social media that “Beru Leveling” would begin and the title of the series would then be changed to “The Beru Show.” This just shows how the fans are rooting for Beru, not just because of his over-the-top personality, but also because of his immense potential.
Beru Leveling starts –RedditorBibi_is_God
If so, then the Ant King would go on to beSolo Leveling’s new protagonist. It’s not impossible for this to happen, as the architect could easily attempt the transfer of the system to the Ant King, who has devoured the previous player. Armed with Jin-Woo’s knowledge and information about the system, he could easily take advantage of it and put it to better use. Who knows, he may even surpass Jin-Woo as a player, impressing the architect in the process. However, it’s difficult to determine whether Ashborn would approve of him as Jin-Woo’s replacement inSolo Leveling.
