Summary
- The Ant King in Solo Leveling used ice magic because of his Gluttony skill.
- Ice powers were probably acquired from S-rank hunter Kei.
The following contains minor spoilers for Solo Leveling
During the intense finale of Solo Leveling‘s Season 2, it’s understandable if some details were overlooked while following Sung Jinwoo’s fight with the Ant King. Intriguingly, at one juncture during their clash, the Ant King employs ice magic against Jinwoo, a power that appears to be uncharacteristic for an Ant-type monster.
In the anime version of “Solo Leveling,” I noticed an intriguing twist with the Ant King’s powers. Unlike his manga counterpart, this adaptation showcased the Ant King wielding ice magic, presumably to enhance his character and make him a more formidable adversary for Jinwoo. However, I found myself pondering over how exactly the Ant King employed this power against Jinwoo and why he chose not to use it earlier in the season finale.
The Gluttony Skill
A Powerful Trump Card
It’s plausible that the character known as the Ant King, whose shadow is called Beru, gained his ice powers through his skill of Gluttony. This skill enables him to absorb new abilities by devouring other beings. We can assume that it was this Gluttony ability that gave the Ant King the capacity to mimic Min Byung-Gyu’s voice and later, the power to heal.
In the comic (manhwa), even though the Ant King doesn’t showcase ice magic, it’s plausible that he obtained this power from the top-ranked Japanese Hunter Kei following their confrontation. This is suggested because Kei, who belongs to the Draw Sword Guild, demonstrated remarkable control over ice magic in the anime, creating massive walls of ice. He even employed this skill during a skirmish between Goto Ryuji and Sung Jinwoo prior to the Jeju Island raid. Regrettably, his character wasn’t given much spotlight, as he was only subtly characterized when he shared a dislike for mana’s smell with Cha Hae-In.
In Chapter 91 of the manga, Kei observes that there appears to be another individual with a highly sensitive nose similar to his own in South Korea. He notes that if a handkerchief can mask the smell for her, it seems her olfactory senses might not be as acute as his own.
In a swift manner, the Ant King demonstrates an astonishing knack for mastering new powers, which was clearly shown in his command over ice magic against Jinwoo. Yet, this proficiency proved futile, as Jinwoo effortlessly overpowered the Ant King, despite having the abilities of vanquished S-rank hunters at his disposal.
Does This Create a Plot Hole?
Why Didn’t the Ant King Use the Ability Earlier?
In the Solo Leveling anime adaptation, expanding the Ant King’s powers might raise questions about narrative continuity, as some viewers may wonder if he could have employed those extra abilities earlier to rescue the Ant Queen from the hands of the Korean Hunters.
Alternatively, there are several reasons that might explain the Ant King’s actions. It could be that he valued the Ant Queen, but not enough to risk his life in a hasty attempt to save her from perceived weak humans. Another possibility is that he saw this situation as an opportunity to avenge the invasion of his colony. The Ant King may have viewed himself as having evolved beyond his humble origins, becoming something greater. Upon seeing the defeated Ant Queen, his only concern was increasing his own power by consuming her.
Born as the supreme being, I devour everything in my path, growing stronger with every foe I conquer. It is my destiny to rule, but to endure, I must escape.” (The Ant King before being defeated by Jinwoo in Episode 24.)
As the Ant King retaliates against the hunters, avenging the Queen’s demise, it appears that this vengeful drive slips his mind when confronting Jinwoo. Instead, the Ant King views the world solely in terms of power and dominance. He boasts about enhancing his venom with marine life from the island, and harbors intense contempt for humans as a weaker species. Eventually, when faced with Jinwoo’s formidable might, he reveals his true nature and prioritizes nothing but his own survival.
Solo Leveling can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Amazon.
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2025-06-03 16:44