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Who Are the Monarchs in Solo Leveling Explained


Credit: D&C Media

Since Solo Leveling by Chugong first came out in 2016, it has become one of the most well-loved Korean web novels, and it's currently on its second "Season." Each week, many fans are looking to read the newest chapter online and get updated on the adventures of Sung Jin Woo, as he levels up, going from the weakest to the strongest monster hunter. If you've researched anything about the series at all, you might have heard of the Monarchs Jin Woo must face. So, what are they, and what is their role in the story?

Solo Leveling Overview

Who are the Monarchs in Solo Leveling Explained
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Solo Leveling unfolds in a version of our world where mysterious portals have appeared and a small number of people have acquired superhuman power to protect the world against monsters. The main character Jin Woo is proclaimed to be the weakest monster hunter in South Korea, barely stronger than a non-gifted person.

This all changes, when Jin Woo is trapped in a dangerous dungeon, nearly dies, and reawakens with access to his level and stats, breaking the fourth wall of his world, so to speak. This allows him to keep leveling up, to eventually become the strongest monster hunter. His newfound abilities give him the power of the Monarch of Shadows, and he must face other monarchs, who wish to take over the world.

What Are the Monarchs in Solo Leveling?

Who are the Monarchs in Solo Leveling Explained 1
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As the web novel's wiki explains, the Monarchs are an old race of monsters who want to exterminate humans, making them the main antagonists. They are a rather diverse group with a combination of anthropomorphic and monstrous characteristics. Unlike their enemies, the Rulers, they won't hesitate to use humans for their own purposes and then discard them.

While they aren't impossible to defeat, their fighting style causes unique difficulties to their enemies, who often find themselves cut off from the outside world and unable to seek help when facing a Monarch.

Who Are the Monarchs?

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So far, we have met quite a few Monarchs. These include Jin Woo himself, also known as the Shadow Monarch. Others include Baran, the Monarch of Flames, Legia, the Monarch of Beginnings, the Frost and Beast Monarchs, the Monarch of Plagues, and others. Of course, as long as the web novel is still ongoing, the appearance of more Monarchs in the future can't be ruled out.

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