Solo Leveling

by Chugong

Synopsis:

Jinwoo's received some amazing gifts from the system, but the latest one might prove to be the greatest one yet—a key to the double dungeon where it all started. Perhaps a second visit might provide him with answers for once. He's got some time to kill until he can use the item though, but before he can tackle another gate, unexpected movement from the shadow soldiers guarding Jinah sets his alarm bells ringing...

I’d slightly misremembered how things would come together in volume five of Chugong’s Solo Leveling, so I didn’t quite get the longer-form explanations I was craving — though those will come with time. Various things happen in this book, but the main feature is Jinwoo’s return to Cartenon Temple, to come face to face with the person who created the system.

I really loved the scene with the other hunters leaving Jinwoo to sort everything out and just smoking, tearing up and blaming the smoky atmosphere. There is some genuine tension in this volume — we’ve heard dark warnings about the nature of Jinwoo’s power, after all, and we see part of this volume through the eyes of characters like Haein and Jinchul — and that scene is a lovely way of showing its release.

Of course, there’s more going on, and the world doesn’t solely revolve around Jinwoo. We’re beginning to see a much larger plot taking shape here, and I can’t wait to get to those bits.

Rating: 4/5 (“really liked it”)

Solo Leveling

by Chugong

Synopsis:

"IT'S SHOWTIME."

The news has made headlines—"Korea and Japan join hands to exterminate the terrifying magic beasts on Jeju Island once and for all!" It's a monumental moment for the people of the country…and it has absolutely nothing to do with Jinwoo. Instead, the newest S-rank hunter's number one priority is bringing his recently recovered mother back home where she belongs at last. When the situation on Jeju Island takes a devastating turn for the worse, though, will the country's top hunters be strong enough to save the day without him?

Volume four of Chugong’s Solo Leveling covers the Jeju Island arc, and it’s a lot of fun — the other S rank hunters are so outclassed, even Ryuji Goto, and then Jinwoo swoops in… It’s wish fulfilment, there’s never any real chance that Jinwoo’s going to lose (or allow all Korean hunters to die), and it’s so satisfying to see that come to fruition.

I know others find that without any tension (because we know Jinwoo won’t lose) — or at least minimal tension, because some does come through from Haein Cha etc — the series isn’t so fun, but that’s a feature not a bug to me.

Speaking of bugs, hurrah, Beru! He’s super cute in the manhwa, a weird thing to be saying about a scary insect shadow soldier, so I’m curious about how he is in the source material too.

Plus, with the next volume (and a return to Cartenon Temple), we’re getting close to getting some explanations of what’s going on, so I’m very much looking forward to that.

Rating: 4/5 (“really liked it”)

Solo Leveling

by Chugong

Synopsis:

JINWOO SUNG, OFFICIALLY S RANK

Leveling up in C-rank dungeons has become next to impossible for Jinwoo. But an E-rank hunter attempting anything higher? Well, that would raise some serious red flags…so the time has come for a reevaluation. And when the results are back, it’s official-Jinwoo is the tenth S-rank hunter from South Korea! An entirely new world, brimming with powerful magic beasts and elite hunters, is now open to him. But before he can immerse himself in it, there’s something absolutely vital he has to do…

Volume three of Chugong’s Solo Leveling covers Jinwoo’s re-evaluation, his time with the mining squad (and meeting with Haein Cha), and some more of his time in the Demons’ Tower. His time with Esil is still pretty funny (dude, she probably has a crush on you!) and I continue to love watching him just get more and more overpowered.

I feel like some things are maybe better handled here, in that I feel like we’ve been hearing about Jeju Island for longer in the light novel than we did in the manhwa, so it just makes sense that it’s the next thing on the horizon.

There’s nothing groundbreaking and new here: if you’re getting tired of Jinwoo’s overpowered adventures, then you probably want to stop here. If you’re enjoying that, and it’s just how Jinwoo will win and not can Jinwoo win, then this continues to be super fun.

Rating: 4/5 (“really liked it”)