Summary
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Solo Leveling, through its imaginative storytelling, brings a unique cast of characters to life. Since the story is set in a hostile world with life-threatening monsters inhabiting mysterious Gates and a ruthless race to make profits at any cost, rivalries are a natural outcome of the game that is set up in favor of the powerful. Hunters are often entrusted with some of the most challenging missions and are rewarded financially for their efforts. But when some of them turn their backs on their own brethren to maximize profits, things can get ugly quite fast.
Sung Jinwoo had the misfortune of finding himself in one such situation, and when he defended himself after being forced to do so, he thought things would not escalate further. But he couldn’t have been more wrong. Here’s howJinwoo’s rivalry with S-rank Hwang Dongsoostarted and what that means for Solo Leveling season 3.
Sung Jinwoo and Hwang Dongsoo’s Rivalry
Jinwoo Killed Dongsoo’s Brother While Defending Himself
Following the Double Dungeon tragedy, Jinwoo suddenly experienced a transformation that could only be described as a miracle. In the early phase ofacquainting himself with the System, he decided to participate in a C-rank dungeon raid, unaware of the sinister intentions of the team he was about to join. The leader of the raid squad was Hwang Dongsuk, a decent hunter with a team of reliable C-rankers.
I am saying you should get ready to become hunted. ~ Sung Jinwoo
During the raid, Jinwoo also met Yoo Jinho, a budding hunter who wanted to make a name for himself and was joining the squad as an extra. Dongsuk and his team were used to committing crimes inside dungeons to maximize profits and that’s what they planned to do on this occasion as well. But when they failed to kill Sung and Jinho refused to turn his back on him, Dongsuk and his squad decided to finish them together.
However, they were caught off-guard whenJinwoo started fighting backand exterminated the entire team without breaking a sweat. Sung later learned that Dongsuk was the brother of America’s S-rank hunter Hwang Dongsoo, who was enraged after learning that his sibling had died during a raid in mysterious circumstances.
Although the official reports recorded the incident as an accident, Dongsoo refused to believe it. He was convinced that his brother was murdered and took the first flight to Korea to hunt down Jinwoo.Luckily, the Red Gate incident saved Sungat the time and Dongsoo returned to America because of an emergency. But Hwang did not give up on avenging Dongsuk.
Solo Leveling Season 3 Will Reveal Who Is Stronger
Hwang Dongsoo Will Push Jinwoo to Fight Him
In the Jeju Island arc, as the raid party was preparing for the daunting mission, Dongsoo contacted the Korean Hunters Association for permission to join the squad. Although his request was denied, Hwang was unperturbed as he decided to wait longer for the right opportunity. It turns out, that this was the right decision as things later worked in his favor.
In Solo Leveling season 3, Dongsoo’s patience will be rewarded as a perfect opportunity will present itself after Jinwoo’s guild becomes popular and he gets the invitation tothe prestigious International Guild Conference. Organized by the Federal Bureau of Hunters, the event will be held in America and some of the best hunters from around the world will be in attendance.
Although Thomas Andre will warn Dongsoonot to even think about taking revenge, the S-ranker will continue to harbor a sinister plan. Knowing that Jinwoo is too powerful to corner, he will go after his friend Jinho and kidnap him. Once Sung will learn about the incident, he will be enraged, just like Dongsoo plans. The frantic search for Jinho will set the stage for anepic clash between Korea’s greatest hunterand Hwang.
The emotionally charged fight will reveal the power difference between the two arch-enemies by pushing both to fight at their best. The battle will also have far-reaching consequences as it will lead to events that will shake the foundations of the hunter world and establish Jinwoo’s authority once and for all.
Solo Leveling Season 3is expected to release sometime between 2026 and 2028.
