Solo Leveling: The Shocking Truth Behind Jin-Woo’s Decision on Goto Ryuji!

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Summary

  • Goto Ryuji’s shadow couldn’t be extracted on Jeju Island due to his remains being nowhere to be found.
  • Jin-Woo assumed the Ant King devoured Goto Ryuji, making extraction impossible.
  • Extracting human shadows raises moral questions, despite their potential power.

In the series “Solo Leveling“, the protagonist Sung Jin-Woo has a unique ability to absorb the shadows of defeated adversaries, allowing them to serve under him. Yet, this power called ‘shadow extraction’ is subject to certain limitations that hinder its full expression. Consequently, some readers are curious as to why Jin-Woo didn’t extract Goto Ryuji’s shadow in “Solo Leveling“.

On Jeju Island, Sung Jin-Woo’s band of shadows make their debut in public for the first time. From Igris to Iron, and all their shadow companions, they engage in a confrontation with the ants that have swarmed and devastated the once bustling island. However, prior to Jin-Woo’s arrival, numerous hunters had already lost their lives on this battlefield, including the powerful Japanese hunter, Goto Ryuji.

This section contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling manhwa and novel.

How Did Goto Ryuji Die on Jeju Island?

The Final Moments of Japan’s Strongest Hunter

Ryuji, a renowned Japanese hunter known for his exceptional strength, stepped forward to aid Korea during their fourth attempt to invade Jeju Island. He was one of 16 elite S-rank hunters who dared to face the disaster brought about by the Ant Queen and her numerous offspring. In unity with nine other members from the Draw Sword Guild, Ryuji contributed significantly by luring the ants away from their queen’s nest, supporting the Korean hunters in their endeavor.

In truth, Goto Ryuji was secretly working alongside Shigeo Matsumoto, head of the Japanese Hunter’s Association. Together, they hatched a scheme to lead Korean hunters into a deadly trap by assigning them the critical part of the operation – an unusual tactic for the proud Japanese hunters who typically took pride in their showmanship. As predicted, during the operation, Goto instructed his team to retreat from the battlefield and wait for unforeseen complications to arise.

“Goto Ryuji. He’s definitely no ordinary man.”—Go Gun-Hee

In a swift turn of events, the Black Ant, or Ant King, thwarted Japan’s deceitful plot immediately. Full of conviction, Goto decided to confront the Ant King single-handedly, intending to divide his adversary into countless tiny fragments. Unfortunately, he underestimated the real power of the Ant King, which led to his sorrowful end. As soon as the Ant King stirred, so did Goto’s severed head, hitting the ground. It’s a pity that accompanying Goto during the raid was not the ideal strategy for the Japanese hunters to survive.

The Impact of Goto Ryuji’s Death

Following Ryuji’s demise, together with that of his guild members, it came to light that Shigeo Matsumoto had been engaging in a deceitful plan. This revelation was particularly made to the Chairman Go Gun-Hee of the Korean Hunter Association. After losing Ryuji, Shigeo traveled to Korea with the intention of enlisting Sung Jin-Woo. He was even prepared to forfeit Japan’s claim on all the magic crystals from Jeju Island in order to secure Jin-Woo’s allegiance.

Of course, Shigeo’s plans crumbled as Go Gun-Hee had already uncovered the truth. In fact, he had proof of the deceitful plot – a miniature device found on Jeju Island. This gadget, roughly the size of a postage stamp, was connected to a communication tool. By employing an MP3 player, Go Gun-Hee played a recording from the device, which contained Goto Ryuji’s voice.

“This man is the only hunter that can rival Liu Zhigang in Asia.”—Go Gun-Hee to Goto Ryuji

In the narrative that unfolds, Japan encounters a predicament more severe than the Jeju Island catastrophe. A monumental gate emerges in the heart of Tokyo, causing turmoil within the Draw Sword Guild and other guilds across the nation to seek aid from adjacent countries. With Goto Ryuji absent, Shigeo Matsumoto’s decline seems unavoidable.

Why Didn’t Jin-Woo Extract Goto Ryuji’s Shadow?

He Could Have Been a Powerful Shadow

Different from Min Byung-Gu, Jin-Woo failed to seize the shadow of Goto Ryuji on Jeju Island following their battle with the Ant King. This was unexpected given that Jin-Woo typically seeks to recruit potent beings for his team. Many were left wondering why Jin-Woo didn’t consider utilizing Goto Ryuji’s shadow, as he could have been a formidable ally capable of commanding his army.

It turns out that under the circumstances, Jin-Woo simply couldn’t retrieve Goto Ryuji whatsoever. As shown in the Solo Leveling book, specifically chapter 123, there was no sign of his body. Although Jin-Woo detected residual magic energy from Goto Ryuji near the island, he failed to locate his physical remains. Consequently, without a body, Jin-Woo had no chance of extracting Goto’s shadow.

“His attacks aren’t something that I can’t avoid.”—Sung Jin-Woo to Goto Ryuji

After observing that the Ant King mimicked Goto Ryuji’s speech pattern during their initial meeting and later seemed to have absorbed his powers, Jin-Woo inferred that the Ant King had consumed Goto and assimilated his strength. This theory might explain why the Ant King was able to communicate in human language. Disheartened by what appeared to be a futile death for Goto, Jin-Woo sighed as he departed the island.

In the world of “Solo Leveling,” Goto Ryuji might have been among the most formidable shadow soldiers, standing shoulder to shoulder with Iron, Tank, and even Igris. Yet, despite his potential power, taking a human’s shadow remained ethically dubious, regardless of its strength. It’s seen as disregarding the deceased, although Jin-Woo never explicitly condemned this practice. Keep in mind, however, that Jin-Woo did later extract Hwang Dong-Soo’s shadow within the storyline.

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2025-03-30 16:56