Jeju Island Raid Explained: The Epic Solo Leveling Showdown You Can’t Miss!

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Summary

  • Jeju Island arc features high-stakes raid with Korean-Japanese hunters for dramatic power shift.
  • Korean hunters work together to kill Ant Queen, aim to collapse ant colony within a year.
  • Japanese Blade Guild led by Goto Ryuji sends diverse melee combat specialists on a mission.

The Jeju Island storyline in ‘Solo Leveling’ is undeniably thrilling. It brims with drama, action, tension, and surprising turns, serving as an impressive backdrop for Sung Jinwoo’s journey towards becoming a formidable hunter. This arc significantly alters the power dynamics among hunters worldwide.

Initially, the protagonist isn’t part of the high-stakes expedition to the deserted island in Jeju, but he’s pivotal to the storyline. This team, an unusual blend of Korean and Japanese hunters, is sent on a mission to liberate the area from the grip of magical creatures.

Understanding Jeju Island Raid Party’s Purpose and Significance

Korean and Japanese Hunters Fight for Their Countries’ Future

  • Arc: Jeju Island Arc
  • Anime: Episodes 21 to 25
  • Webnovel: Chapters 111 to 127
  • Previous Arc: Return to Demon Castle Arc
  • Next Arc: Recruitment Arc

Since the emergence of a top-tier dungeon on Jeju Island, teeming with beasts that incessantly evolve, I’ve witnessed numerous failed attempts to retake the area, each ending in heartbreaking outcomes. Yet, when an evolved flying ant wreaked havoc on an island off the coast of Japan, the escalating destruction has become a source of grave concern for both Korean and Japanese governments.

The last instance where I interacted with ants was during my childhood days. At that time, I recall the soft crackling sounds whenever I burned an ant using a lighter; today, those sounds remind me of fireworks.

To prevent the ants on Jeju Island from posing an existential risk to both nations, a special team of elite S-rankers is formed to execute a decisive attack. As the best Korean hunters from various guilds unite for mission success, the Blade Guild, headed by Goto Ryuji, represents Japan in this joint operation.

Prior to Jeju Island, just one top-tier dungeon had appeared globally, causing over a million deaths. Now, success is imperative for South Korea and Japan because losing could potentially bring about a disastrous future for both nations.

The Korean Contingent

Korea Sends Six S-rankers to Jeju Island

10 individuals from Korea have earned an S-rank status throughout history. Currently, three of these S-rankers are either deceased, retired, or have turned away from their duties. Despite participating in pre-raid sparring sessions, Sung Jinwoo chooses not to join the team for the Jeju Island raid. As Korea’s top hunter, his absence leaves a noticeable gap and substantially reduces the strength of the Korean squad.

Nevertheless, Korea continues to harbor skilled and motivated hunters who choose to participate in the raid for diverse motives. Setting aside their discrepancies, they risk their lives for the common welfare. Out of this group, arguably the most proficient is Cha Hae-In, the vice-master of the Hunters Guild. She excels in close-quarter combat and is a relentless fighter, her distinctive technique proving highly effective against powerful monsters.

Beyond just Cha, the Hunters Guild’s Choi Jong-In also tags along on the raid team. His fire magic is potent enough to reduce most magical beasts to ashes. It works exceptionally well in long-range battles, which can make life miserable for advanced ants.

The Korean team consists of Baek Yonhoo from the White Tiger Guild, Lim Tae-Gyu from the Fiend Guild, and Ma Dongwook from the Fame Guild. Min Byung-Gyu, a skilled healer who has come out of retirement, serves as Korea’s sixth and final S-ranked member participating in the Jeju Island raid. He aims to clear his name, seek redemption, and avenge his fallen teammates.

Korean Hunters’ Mission

Korean experts have been tasked with capturing and eliminating the Ant Queen. Once this is done, the ant colony should disintegrate over the next twelve months.

The Japanese Contingent

Japan’s Blade Guild Represents the East Asian Country in the Raid

Previously stated, it is the Blade Guild’s hunters who are chosen to participate in the raiding party on Jeju Island, representing Japan. The group is headed by none other than Master Goto Ryuji, from the Draw Sword Guild. Renowned as one of Asia’s finest hunters and a living icon in his homeland, Ryuji’s extensive knowledge makes him crucial to Japan’s strategies during the raid on Jeju Island.

I’d like to have a one-on-one fight with you. What do you say?

As an avid follower of the Blade Guild, I am thrilled to be part of a team that, alongside Goto, deploys four other exceptional melee combat specialists reminiscent of Korea’s Cha Hae-In. This Japanese squad is reinforced by Ippei Izawa, Kei, Akari Shimizu, Tatsumi Fujishima, and Mari Ishida. Our team boasts a rich variety of talents, ranging from healers to assassins, thereby enriching the strategic depth of Japan’s raid force.

Japanese Contingent’s Mission

Before venturing into the ant hills in search of the Ant Queen, the Koreans first need to entice the advanced ants residing there to come out, making the process less challenging. The Japanese hunters then step up and use tactics to attract these advanced ants so that when the Ant Queen is cornered, she will have fewer defenders left to shield her.

Jeju Island Raid Party: Are They Good Enough?

Korean and Japanese Hunters Face an Uphill Battle

When the initial top-tier dungeon appeared on the Western coast of America, it resulted in the loss of a million lives and over a hundred elite hunters perished while trying to confront it. It’s uncertain how risky the S-rank gate on Jeju Island is compared to the one in America due to differences in power levels within high-tier dungeons. However, the raid team can expect a challenging struggle ahead.

Are there others? Others you call king?

16 elite operatives have been selected for this mission, but if events take a turn for the worse, it’s extremely probable that none of them will return alive. The Jeju Island Raid Team faces only two possible outcomes: either the dungeon is one of the weakest in its category, or Sung Jinwoo miraculously intervenes to assist the team.

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2025-03-13 04:09