Solo Leveling: How Can Beru Speak Human Language, Explained

Summary

Sung Jin-Woo triumphs over the Ant King and acquires a new shadow named Beru.
The Jeju Island arc reshapes the hunter world with Jin-Woo’s victory.
Beru’s ability to communicate stems from either his shadow grade or his gluttony skill.

The storyline of ‘Solo Leveling’ concludes with Sung Jin-Woo triumphing over the fierce Ant King, a menace that had previously threatened both Japanese and Korean hunters. Moreover, Jin-Woo not only advances to higher levels but also gains a new member for his team. Previously an adversary known as the Black Ant or the Ant King, Beru now communicates in human language and stands alongside Jin-Woo as a formidable ally instead.

The “Solo Leveling” anime has now brought onto the screen the main shadow soldiers from the comic book that Sung Jin-Woo commands. The newest recruit is Beru, an insect-like magical creature, who showcases extraordinary abilities similar to his superior. This newcomer boasts incredible strength, speed, and notably, healing magic. He stands as a formidable figure, capable of guiding Jin-Woo’s army towards victory.

Beru, the Humanoid Shadow Ant of Sung Jin-Woo

From Enemies to Allies

Origin and Identity:	Ant King/Black Ant
First Anime Appearance:	Solo Leveling season 2 episode 13, “On to the Next Target”
First Manhwa Appearance:	Solo Leveling chapter 105
Story Arc:	Jeju Island Arc

In the saga of Jeju Island within Solo Leveling, I’ve encountered a formidable figure previously known as the Ant King or the Black Ant. This character serves as the primary antagonist in the story arc, and is actually the secret boss of the dungeon rupture, carefully cultivated by the Ant Queen to maintain and command her colony. Born from the Ant Queen’s drive to safeguard her offspring, he was nourished with an insatiable hunger to eliminate and devour anything within reach. Following the Queen’s passing, his ambition was to confront the strongest being in existence – until he crossed paths with Sung Jin-Woo.

“The aura surrounding this guy is even more revolting.”—Sung Jin-Woo to the Ant King

Despite effortlessly subduing six top-ranked Korean hunters who attacked the Ant Queen in her lair, the Ant King couldn’t match Sung Jin-Woo’s prowess when they faced off. Regardless of the Ant King’s best attempts against Jin-Woo, his power seemed insignificant compared to the human king that Jin-Woo was recognized as. In the end, it was the Ant King who met his demise, but instead of letting him go to waste, Jin-Woo transformed him into a shadow soldier. Later on, he named this new creature Beru.

The Ant King’s Communication Skill

Conversing With Humans Is Not a Problem

Before the Ant King transformed into a shadow, it already possessed the ability to speak human language – an unusual trait among Jin-Woo’s other shadows who communicate through monster dialect. This talent left Korean hunters astonished, as it represented the first instance they had encountered a magical creature speaking their own language. Although they know that high-ranking monsters can be intelligent, they seem to be taken aback by their ability to comprehend such communication.

“Who is your King?”—The Ant King to Baek Yoon-Ho

Contrarily, Jin-Woo is fluent in the monstrous language due to the built-in translation system. He assumed he’d chat with the Ant King using monster dialect, but was taken aback. What truly startled him was the Ant King’s search for “King,” possibly referring to the most powerful human hunter on the island. It’s astounding how the Ant King grasps hierarchy, showing just how intelligent he is.

So, How Can Beru Speak Human Language?

How Is It Possible?

At the moment of the Ant King’s hatching, there was no indication that he had inherent abilities to converse in human speech or comprehend our language. However, it wasn’t until he invaded the Ant Queen’s den and consumed Min Byung-Gu’s head, that the Ant King posed a question to the Korean hunters – “Who among you is the ‘King’?

In the series Solo Leveling, although the Ant King’s ability to communicate wasn’t directly explained, it appears that his skill called “Gluttony” might have played a part. This skill enabled him to not only acquire the abilities of his target but also their knowledge. Looking back at the story, the Ant King consumed Byung-Gu, which probably gave him the capability to converse with and comprehend humans.

“Are you the King?”—The Ant King to Goto Ryuji

Following its transformation into a shadowy form, the Ant King miraculously maintained its capacity for speech. Jin-Woo, however, hypothesized that this might be related to Beru’s shadow grade, as he was the initial shadow to possess a general rank.

This section contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling manhwa.

Beru’s Human Side

Following its transformation into a shadowy form, Beru retained the capacity for human speech. Regularly conversing with Jin-Woo, it’s challenging to discern whether he employs monster or human language. Nevertheless, Beru effortlessly articulates his thoughts and feelings to Jin-Woo, setting him apart from other shadows in their army, as many of them struggle to do so.

It turns out that Beru has become quite familiar with humans, particularly Jin-Woo’s family. As Jin-Woo instructed him to protect his family, he gradually adapted to their routine of watching historical dramas. Eventually, he became so engrossed in these dramas that he started referring to other shadows as peasants, showing a theatrical flair of sorts. It’s also plausible that Beru developed this new interest due to Min Byung-Gu’s enthusiasm for history.

In summary, Beru’s knack for interacting effortlessly with humans makes him a cherished and beloved character in Solo Leveling. His exceptional language skills distinguish him among the other shadows, enhancing his character. Moreover, Beru is already well-known for his memorable lines, which fans often reference.

2025-04-04 04:54