Warning: The following contains MASSIVE spoilers for Solo Leveling beyond the anime!

Summary

• Many S-Rank Hunters lose their lives during the Jeju Island Raid, including Min Byung-Gu and Goto Ryuji.
• The National Level Hunters and Go Gun-Hee are vessels of the Rulers, and have the power to use Ruler's Authority.
• Sung Jin-Woo is both the Shadow Monarch and the strongest Hunter in Solo Leveling.

eye-catching visuals and iconic protagonist have made it a household name for fans of manhwa.

In Solo Leveling, people with special powers protect the world from monsters. After a disastrous raid, an infamously weak Hunter named Sung Jin-Woo gains the ability to power up without limit. This allows him to get stronger and ascend the ranks to become one of the world's most powerful individuals. Throughout his journey, he encounters many of the strongest Hunters in the series.

10 Min Byung-Gu Has A-Rank Combat Abilities

S-Rank Healer From South Korea

Min Byung-Gu's healing prowess is often overlooked in favor of combat-oriented Hunters like Baek Yoon-Ho and Choi Jong-In. After the third Jeju Island Raid, he retires and aspires to become a teacher. He initially declines his friend's invitation to the Jeju Island Raid, but soon changes his mind and s the South Korean party. Byung-Gu is brutally killed by the Ant King, who later gains his healing abilities as a shadow.

On Jeju Island, the comionate Hunter can single-handedly five S-Ranks. He instantly heals two of his colleagues from a poison attack and regenerates a pair of arms after the Ant King rips them off. A testament to Byung-Gu's strength comes from his ability to resist Jin-Woo's extractions through sheer willpower alone. As a shadow, he easily heals Cha Hae-In, one of South Korea's strongest Hunters, from the brink of death. Beru later inherits his remarkable healing abilities from Byung-Gu, who is the most powerful healer to appear in the series.

9 Goto Ryuji Is Known As Japan's Greatest Hunter

S-Rank Fighter From Japan

Goto Ryuji is introduced as a powerful Japanese Hunter and Master of the Draw Sword Guild. When the ants from Jeju Island attack Japan, he meets with Go Gunhee and offers to help the South Korean government defeat the monsters. He is unfazed by the death of his team during the raid, and reveals that his true intentions were to eradicate Korea's S-Rank Hunters. Ryuji is later decapitated by the Ant King and killed instantly.

As Japan's strongest Hunter, Ryuji is known for his formidable combat ability. During their fight, he wounds Jin-Woo on his cheek and forces the mage to take the fight more seriously. After the South Korean S-Rank Hunters are defeated, the Ant King recognizes him as the strongest person standing. While Ryuji deflects the monster's initial attack, he is quickly killed by the stronger enemy.

8 Cha Hae-In Is Called The Fairy For Her Beautiful Sword Skills

S-Rank Fighter From South Korea

Despite being stronger than the Guild Master, Cha Hae-In serves as the Vice-Guild Master of the Hunters Guild. She has impeccable sword-fighting skills and a unique sensitivity to the smell of mana. When she learns that Jin-Woo's scent doesn't bother her, she becomes interested in his abilities. Hae-In participates in the 4th Jeju Island Raid as one of South Korea's S-Rank Hunters, but is severely wounded by the Ant King.

Hae-In's strength is acknowledged by strong Hunters like Sung Jin-Woo and Goto Ryuji. The Ant King recognizes her as the most dangerous person in the party and immediately strikes her down with a near-fatal blow. Hae-In defeats Igris, one of Jin-Woo's most powerful shadows, during their sparring session. The fighter easily overpowers the Japanese S-Rank Hunters and defeats the Ant Queen with one slice of her blade.

7 Lennart Niermann Is 's Strongest Hunter

S-Rank (Class Unknown) From

Lennart Niermann is the Master of 's strongest guild and is ranked 12th in the world. Unlike many Hunters in the series, he is humble and respectful of Jin-Woo's immense power. When Rakan attacks, the German Hunter arrives on the scene and activates his Charge skill in order to save Thomas Andre. When Jin-Woo arrives, he leaves the scene to help his American colleague with his injuries.

There is very little information regarding Lennart's abilities, but his power is hinted at on several occasions. While rank isn't always an accurate indicator, his position as the world's 12th strongest implies his prowess as a Hunter. Another indication of his power comes with his ability to sense Jin-Woo's shadows while they are hidden. It's revealed that only individuals with extreme power or perception can detect them. During the battle against the Beast Monarch, the Lennart is strong enough to temporarily impair the monster with an energy blast.

6 Go Gun-Hee Was Once Korea's Strongest Hunter

S-Rank (Class Unknown) From South Korea

Once a talented S-Rank Hunter, Go Gun-Hee became the President of the Korean Hunters Association after retiring. He tries to recruit Jin-Woo after his reawakening, but the young man declines his offer. However, Gun-Hee continues to him, even using his influence as President to allow Jin-Woo to raid dungeons alone. After the Frost Monarch suddenly appears in his office, he engages in battle, but soon es away from his injuries.

As a Ruler's vessel, Gun-Hee is one of the world's strongest Hunters. He dodges many of the Frost Monarch's attacks and deflects them with his bare hands. While the Chairman stands his ground against the monster, his elderly body is unable to keep up with the fight. Gun-Hee's status as a vessel gives him an ability called Ruler's Authority, which allows him to move objects through telekinesis. While Go Gun-Hee is a gifted Hunter, his declining health has left him unable to use his full powers.

5 Christopher Reed Fights Three Monarchs On His Own

S-Rank (Class Unknown) From the USA and National Level Hunter

As a National Level Hunter, Christopher Reed is extremely confident in his abilities. After Norma Selner warns him about her vision, he refuses to believe anyone can kill him. However, he accepts her advice after giving it some thought. A few days later, Christopher wakes up to an eerie silence within his home. He is confronted by three Monarchs, but loses his life after he engages them in battle.

Very little is revealed about Christopher, except that, as a vessel, he can use Ruler's Authority. He is also one of the few humans, apart from Thomas Andre, who can activate Spiritual Body Manifestation. This surprises the Monarchs and implies that he is powerful. The flames emitted from Christopher's body are so strong that they quickly engulf the surrounding area. It takes more than 1800 firefighters and 14 S-Rank Hunters to extinguish the fire.

4 Liu Zhigang Is Ranked Seven-Stars Under China's System

S-Rank Fighter From China and National Level Hunter

Liu Zhigang is a National Level Hunter and the strongest in China. Along with Lennart Niermann, he is one of the few S-Ranks to respect Jin-Woo and acknowledge his strength. After the Jeju Island Raid, Zhigang defends China's coast from muated ants. He kills a giant from the Tokyo S-Rank Gate and becomes intrigued when he learns how easily Jin Woo defeats the monsters. After seeing both warriors in action, a navy captain remarks that Zhigang's is vastly greater than Japan's strongest Hunter, Goto Ryuji.

Like Go Gun-Hee and the National Level Hunters, Zhigang is a Ruler's vessel. He possesses Ruler's Authority, which gives him immensely powerful telekinetic abilities. He is also an exceptionally strong fighter, as shown by how he massacres hundreds of ants in one strike. He easily kills a giant from the Tokyo S-Rank Gate, and effortlessly slices monsters during the final battle. Even from a distance, he is perceptive enough to feel the intense mana emitted from Jin-Woo and Antares.

3 Thomas Andre Is Ranked Number One In The World

S-Rank Tanker From the USA and National Level Hunter

Thomas Andre is the strongest National Level Hunter. After battling Kamish, he fashioned the dragon's fang into a pair of daggers that he later gives to Jin-Woo. Thomas is defeated by the mage Hunter after the latter refuses to spare Hwang Dong-Soo. During his visit to South Korea, he fights the Beast Monarch but becomes gravely injured by the monster's attacks. When the Iron Body Monarch rampages across Canada, Thomas defeats him with the help of Jin-Woo's shadows.

As a vessel, Thomas can use Ruler's Authority. When combined with his Reinforcement ability, this power creates a black hole strong enough to pull Jin-Woo. The Shadow Monarch remarks on how he would be defeated if he also didn't possess Ruler's Authority. When the Beast Monarch appears, Thomas holds his ground against the monster for a noticeable amount of time. He also defeats the Iron Body Monarch alongside the shadow soldiers. Along with Christopher Reed, he is one of the few humans shown using Spiritual Body Manifestation.

2 Sung Il-Hwan Has The Potential To Be A National Level Hunter

Unofficial S-Rank (Class Unknown) From South Korea

Sung Il-Hwan is Jin-Woo's father and a Hunter who was trapped in a dungeon for 10 years. Since the ranking system was established after he disappeared, he was never officially recognized by the public. During his isolation, the Rulers send him on a mission to kill the Shadow Monarch. However, they later change their minds and order him to protect their new ally. After Jin-Woo learns that his father is alive, the two reconcile, and Il-Hwan apologizes to his son before ing away.

A few years ago, Il-Hwan was made a Ruler's vessel and given the power to use Ruler's Authority. After defeating Hwang Dong-Soo and destroying the Federal Bureau of Hunters HQ, he demonstrates his strength by standing his ground against the Monarchs. His clash with the Frost Monarch causes a powerful explosion, but he escapes unscathed. In a later encounter, Il-Hwan easily keeps up with the monster's movements and sends him flying with a kick; he also stabs the Beast Monarch through the jaw. While he's never officially ranked, Il-Hwan proves he is strong enough to be a National Level Hunter.

1 Sung Jin-Woo Is The Most Powerful Individual In The World

S-Rank Mage From South Korea and the Second Shadow Monarch

Once a weak E-Rank Hunter, Sung Jin-Woo survives the Double Dungeon and becomes the System's chosen Player. His reawakening gives him the ability to level up without restraint, and he quickly gets stronger as he trains. After obtaining the Necromancer class, Jin-Woo gains the power to turn deceased enemies into shadows. His strength is acknowledged by the Hunter Association, who recognize him as the 10th S-Rank Hunter. However, he soon rises to become the world's strongest Hunter and the new Monarch of Shadows.

Jin-Woo is a vessel for the Shadow Monarch, and therefore possesses Ruler's Authority. He commands an army of powerful shadows and single-handedly defeats foes like Thomas Andre and the Ant King. However, after unlocking the Shadow Monarch's true powers, Jin-Woo destroys the rest of the Monarchs. He possesses other powerful abilities, such as hypnosis and memory manipulation, and becomes feared by the Rulers. Sung Jin-Woo's unlimited power makes him both the strongest Hunter in Solo Leveling and the most powerful character in the series.

Watch on Crunchyroll

Read on Pocket Comics