Sung Jinwoo Shocks the Hunter World with His New Guild and Unleashes Shadow Power!

This discussion may reveal plot details about episode 7 of Solo Leveling Season 2 – Arise from the Shadow, titled “The 10th S-Rank Hunter”. You can watch it on Crunchyroll.

This way of phrasing aims to be clear and easy to read while also providing a warning about potential spoilers for those who haven’t watched the episode yet.

Summary

Sung Jinwoo is revealed as an S-Rank Hunter to the world, shaking up the news.
Jinwoo rejects offers from major Guilds to establish his own, impacting the Hunter economy.
Jinwoo prepares for a final showdown in the Demon Castle, while one of the series’ biggest arcs is teased.

In the seventeenth episode of the second season titled “Solo Leveling: Emergence from Shadows“, which is the nineteenth episode in total, it’s disclosed to the public that Sung Jinwoo, a South Korean resident, has climbed up the ranks to become the tenth highest-rated S-Rank Hunter. This event effectively debunks his longstanding nickname, “Humanity’s Weakest Weapon”, which he had earned during most of his career as a Hunter. As the newest S-Rank on the scene, various Hunter Guilds are eager to recruit Jinwoo, but he has a different plan that could potentially disrupt the existing equilibrium within the Korean Hunter community.

With his newfound S-Rank freedom, Jinwoo elects to confront the Demon Castle one more time. Unbeknownst to him, a glimpse of Hell has surfaced on Korean shores, seemingly as a trade for his descent into the infernal Dungeon. In the seventh episode of Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-, this intriguing setup promises an exhilarating and chaotic storyline for the series, following another masterfully executed arc adaptation.

What’s All the Commotion?

A New Hero Is Revealed

Continuing from the previous segment, it’s revealed that renowned actor Lee Minsung has disclosed his new status as an A-Rank Hunter, a move seemingly designed to deflect attention from his controversial past actions. With an air of arrogance, he might say, “I can’t hide my excitement as I see the puzzled expression on everyone’s face when they realize that someone more influential, someone of greater significance, has just arrived.” As Jinwoo pulls up to the Hunter Association headquarters, the bustling reporters snap pictures, but their attention quickly shifts when Chairman Go Gunhee personally greets him.

Within the confines of his dwelling, Jinwoo encounters S-Rank Hunters and Guild Masters Baek Yoonho and Choi Jong In, hailing from the White Tiger and Hunters Guilds respectively, who appeared in person to attempt to enlist him after his S-Rank status became public. The culmination of Jinwoo acquiring his dazzling new S-Rank Hunter permit is a live display of his talents. He showcases one Shadow, at which point Go Gunhee informs him that a comprehensive account of his abilities was forwarded to him by Woo Jinchul, who witnessed his incredible duel against Kargalgan.

When he unveils an entire army and hints at having another hundred Shadows at his command, in addition to the legion already displayed, everyone present is left utterly stunned. Even formidable figures such as Baek Yoonho and Choi Jong In, renowned for their strength among Korean Hunters, acknowledge that they stand no chance against Jinwoo’s magical prowess. After the test concludes, these top-tier S-Rankers attempt to secure a private conversation with Jinwoo regarding joining their guilds; however, just as before, he shows no interest whatsoever, choosing instead to focus on other priorities.

I can’t help but admire how little attachment Jinwoo seems to have towards his new Rank, as evident by his actions. He went through all this merely to make it less awkward for him to auction off high-end items such as the Orb of Avarice. It wasn’t about the journey or the status symbol it once represented; it was a means to an end, and a burden of strength he was once trapped within that no longer defines his life.

As the news spreads, we get to witness reactions from characters we haven’t seen since season 1, like Mr. Song Chiyul and Joohee. Their faces light up with pride, clearly proud of Jinwoo’s incredible achievement.

From my perspective, should there be any prospect of infusing additional humor into the “Solo Leveling” anime, it primarily lies within the ranks of Jinwoo’s shadows.

Jinwoo’s Balance-Shattering Decision

A New Guild is Born

In the anime “Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-” episode 4, it’s revealed that other S-Rankers don’t understand why Jinwoo isn’t joining them. The reason, however, is that he intends to form his own guild, a clever move reminiscent of Uno’s Reverse, as Jinho had initially tried to recruit Jinwoo for Yoojin Construction but now finds himself being recruited by Sung Jinwoo’s “Ahjin Guild”, named after his sister, Jinah.

Meanwhile, Chairman Go Gunhee visited Jinwoo personally to discuss his future plans as an S-Rank Hunter, who is now the center of attention for every major guild in the country. The conversation also touched upon the delicate power balance among the top 5 guilds in Korea, which are regulated by a mysterious sixth force known as the Hunter Association.

By deciding to establish a new guild, Jinwoo is initiating a significant change in the Korean hunter economy, and at the same time, putting a halt on Yoojin Construction’s ambitions, much to the dismay of Jinho’s father.

Despite his father’s disapproval over his decision to leave the family business and work with Hunter Sung Jinwoo, Jinho’s biggest challenge arises when it is revealed that both his father and Jinwoo’s mother are suffering from the same fatal disease, known as the Eternal Sleep Disease. After the uproar over his promotion subsides, he begins to prepare for a trip to the Demon Castle Dungeon, seeking the final ingredient for the Elixir of Life. He employs working with Jinho as a cover for his absence from home, just as he did before, and organizes his Shadow Army into divisions to safeguard Jinah and the town during his week-long journey.

In a comical scene, Jinwoo calls forth his High Orc commanders from the Kargalgan battle and notices one is absent. Inquiring about the missing general, they awkwardly direct his attention skyward to reveal that he’s trapped in the Dungeon’s ceiling. If there’s any chance of boosting humor in the Solo Leveling anime, it lies primarily with the Shadows within Jinwoo’s ranks.

No Breaths From Hell

Jinwoo Tests Tusk’s Power in the Demon Castle

After acquiring his new license, Jinwoo visited a high-end store popular among S-Rankers to gauge the value of his loot for selling. To his astonishment, he discovered that B-Rank items from the System’s Store could command an exorbitant price upon appraisal. Consequently, Jinwoo opted to sell some equipment he had gathered during previous quests instead of the Orb of Avarice, which he presented to Tusk, the Shadow of Kargalgan. This combination imbued him with extraordinary power, allowing him to confront demons residing on Level 75 of the Demon Castle, as his spells grew stronger with the artifact’s influence.

Jinwoo divided his shadow into distinct groups and dispatched them onto the battlefield to eliminate any enemies they encountered. However, some of these units found it challenging to cope with the cunning foes inhabiting Level 80+, who strategically targeted their adversaries based on strength.

In episode 7, Jinwoo accurately predicts that their objective is Tank and other magical creatures, swiftly defeats the Demon Knights, and ultimately uncovers an answer to a question he had posed during his last visit to the Demon Castle: “Do magic beasts experience fear?” What made episode 7 exceptional was its skillful progression and establishment of key plot points for forthcoming episodes, as well as the seamless transition between various scenes in line with this narrative structure. For instance, the spotlight was on Jinho’s choice and family life, and his father’s predicament.

As I stand by, observing within the Demon Castle, the long-awaited ants from Jeju Island make their appearance on Korean shores – a significant milestone in the much-anticipated arcs of this extraordinary series, Solo Leveling. The narrative is progressing at a satisfactory pace, interspersed with thrilling action sequences in its closing moments. Our protagonist, Jinwoo, has been diligently farming aura, and the promise of an exhilarating climax for the next episode hangs heavy in the air. So far, Solo Leveling Season 2 is living up to expectations.

Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- is available on Crunchyroll.

2025-02-17 23:57