Warning: The following contains slight spoilers for Solo Leveling manhwa!!One of the most relevant aspects ofSolo Levelingis how, unlike any other hunter, Jinwoo is capable of keeping leveling up ceaselessly. The system has pushed Jinwoo in the first two seasons ofSolo Levelingso far, and despite appearing to be currently the strongest in the series after the Jeju Island Arc and gainingBeru as a shadow soldier,there’s a title that the Shadow Monarch won’t be able to get no matter how much more power he amasses: becoming a National Level Hunter.
InSolo Leveling Season 2,viewers got a glimpse into national-level hunters, first with a sneak peek at Thomas Andre in episode 9 during Woo Jinchul and Go Gunhee’s conversation and in episode 13, when Liu Zhigang showcased his powers by easily destroying a swarm of monster ants that escaped from Jeju Island in a single attack. Even though this confirmed to viewers that there is a higher class that Jinwoo could aspire to reach ina future season ofSolo Leveling,there are several reasons why he can’t ever become a National Level Hunter.
Who Are The National Level Hunters
There is a Marked Difference in Strength Between a Regular S-Rank and a National Level Hunter
The first hint of the existence of National Level Hunters inSolo Levelingappears in the manhwa in chapter #64, where the chairman of the Korean Hunter Association, Go Gunhee, says to Jinwoo that not all S-Rank hunters have equal strength, as it is impossible to determine whether they belong to an SS-rank or SSS-rank. As a result, just as there is a contrasting strength between hunters who belong to different lower ranks, like Jinwoo, who was considered the lowest among the E-Rank Hunters,there is an even bigger gap in power between S-Rank Hunters and National Level Hunters.
Although it is stated in chapter 100 ofSolo Leveling’s manhwa that all National Level Hunters have cleared an S-rank gate before, hinting that it is the requirement to obtain the position, in the light novel it was stated thatthe title only belongs to the five hunters who survivedin the Kamish’s Raid, a dungeon break that happened before the events of the story and was considered the greatest calamity on Earth.
While, inSolo Leveling,it’s mentioned that a National Level Hunter holds the power of a whole country’s military force, this also extends to their influence, being unable to be controlled by their governments and having the authority of a one-man nation. This puts the national level hunters above any other in the world, with each one of them taking the top 5 positions worldwide. This way,the only five National Level Hunters throughoutSolo Leveling’s original storyare Thomas Andre and Christopher Reed from America, Liu Zhigang from China,Siddharth Bachchanfrom India, and Antoine Martinez from France.
Ryuji Goto Aimed to Become a National Level Hunter in Solo Leveling’s Manhwa
The National Level Hunters Are In A League of Their Own
While this is a storyline exclusive toSolo Leveling’s webtoon adaptation, one of the reasons why Goto agreed to follow the Japanese Hunter Association chairman Matsumoto’s plan to annihilate the South Korean S-rank Hunters during the Jeju Island raid was to take the respective credit after clearing an S-rank dungeon break, a feat only done before by National Level Hunters. According to Matsumoto,this will give Goto Ryuji enough recognition to become a Nation Level Hunter.
I neither have a position befitting my power nor a title to prove it. - Ryuji Goto, Solo Leveling: ARISE Hunter Origin: Ryuji Goto’s Story
This setting was also explored in thespin-off webtoon ofSolo Leveling: ARISE, Hunter. Origin: Ryuji Goto’s Story, where Goto genuinely cares about what is best for his country andhe was manipulated by Matsumoto to believe that becoming a National Level Hunter will help him gain powerto keep Japan safe. However, the Japanese chairman only wanted to use Goto as a scapegoat for his own interests.
Nevertheless,Ryuji Goto became too overconfident in his powers, believing himself to be equal to Thomas Andre and Liu Zhigang, when inSolo Levelingchapter 100, a Chinese navy captain confirmed that after meeting both hunters he was certain Goto didn’t stand a chance to the raw strength of China’s National Level Hunter, being evident the difference in rank even to regular citizens. Since the Japanese' machinations backfired in the Jeju Island Raid, this proves how even if Ryuji Goto was indeed one of the strongest S-rank hunters, the National Level Hunters are in a whole other class.
Several Solo Leveling’s Characters Are Teased to be Above National Level
Go Gunhee and Sung Il-Hwan Are Some of the Strongest Hunters in Solo Leveling
It was revealed duringthe appearance of Jinwoo’s father, Sung Il-Hwan, inSolo Leveling Season 2that he was a strong hunter before disappearing inside a gate for a decade, but he didn’t formally receive any rank at the time because the regulatory system wasn’t introduced yet. After all, the gates were still a fairly recent incident. However, it is implied that, upon his return,Sung Il-Hwan has overwhelming power, easily defeating Hwan Dongsoodespite the latter being recognized as one of Korea’s strongest S-Rank hunters, who was recruited by Thomas Andre’s Scavenger Guild in America.
This highlights the fact that, despite not having the opportunity to join the Kamish Raid,Sung Il-Hwan is certainly a powerful hunterwho might be on the same scale as the National Level Hunters. Additionally, another hunter who has been confirmed by Jinwoo to possess great strength is the chairman Go Gunhee, who still has an incredible aura despite being heavily weakened due to his age. This hints thatGo Gunhee was incredibly powerful during his prime,and hemay have also been compared to the National Level Hunters.
Will Jinwoo Ever Become a National Level Hunter
The Lack of a Title Doesn’t Diminish Jinwoo’s Strength
Jinwoo had already accomplished the feat of clearing an S-Rank dungeon break by the end ofSolo Leveling Season 2, which was considered in the manhwa enough to be recognized as a National Level. However,due to the meaning of the title inSolo Leveling’s universe, Jinwoo won’t be capable of becoming a National Level Hunterdespite having currently reached the top of the power scale ladder among Korean hunters.
Furthermore, Jinwoo has just reached level 100 at the end ofSolo Leveling Season 2,so he still has the opportunity to continue becoming stronger before he reaches the power of a National Level Hunter. As a result, while the Shadow Monarch never gets the title officially in the story, inSolo Levelingchapter 140, upon witnessing his powers as the chief of the Asian Branch of the Federal Bureau of Hunters,Adam White recognizes Jinwoo is strong enough to be the sixth National Level Hunter.
Solo Leveling
Cast
Solo Leveling follows Sung Jin-woo, the world’s weakest hunter, who gains extraordinary powers through a mysterious program after surviving a brutal monster attack. As he navigates his newfound abilities, Jinwoo embarks on a quest to uncover the secrets of his powers and the dungeon that altered his fate.
