Solo Leveling: Complete Story Summary, Plot Breakdown, and Character Guide

This is the full synopsis of Solo Leveling.

The Absolute Being created the Rulers from light and the Monarchs from darkness. The Monarchs sought to annihilate the world, while the Rulers aimed to safeguard it, resulting in an unending war. However, the Absolute Being ensured neither side would ever claim victory, as it took pleasure in the conflict. Enraged by this revelation, the Rulers—save for one—rebelled and overthrew the Absolute Being. The only loyal Ruler, the Greatest Fragment of Brilliant Light, was infused with immense hidden power and later reincarnated as the ninth Monarch, the Shadow Monarch, Ashborn.

Utilizing artifacts imbued with the Absolute Being’s power, the Rulers managed to capture Legia, the Monarch of Beginnings, shifting the balance of war in their favor. Ashborn, realizing the inevitable downfall of the Monarchs, extended his assistance, but his unmatched power led to his betrayal by the Beast Monarch and the Monarch of White Flames. Forced into hiding, Ashborn’s absence resulted in the Monarchs’ downfall, exiling them into the void between dimensions. The war extended to Earth, nearly leading to the extinction of humanity. To avert complete destruction, the Rulers reversed time using the Cup of Reincarnation, introducing Gates and Hunters to strengthen Earth’s defenses against the impending conflict.

Hunters were classified by rank, from E-rank (barely stronger than ordinary humans) to National Hunter Rank (capable of single-handedly demolishing cities). Sung Jin-Woo, the protagonist, was an E-rank Hunter, widely considered the weakest. Despite his low rank, he continued risking his life in dungeons to pay for his mother’s medical expenses. His father had vanished years earlier in a dungeon, later revealed to have encountered a Ruler seeking a vessel to oppose the Shadow Monarch.

Jin-Woo’s destiny changed when he entered a double dungeon, where most of his party was slaughtered. Barely clinging to life, he was presented with a mysterious system offering him the chance to become a “Player.” Accepting the offer, he awoke in a hospital with no apparent changes. However, he soon discovered that the system granted him daily quests that, upon completion, enhanced his strength, speed, and abilities.

Determined to grow stronger, Jin-Woo joined a C-rank dungeon raid but was betrayed and left behind. Overcoming the dungeon boss alone, he sought revenge on those who abandoned him. His rapid growth drew the attention of major guilds, and he was soon presented with a job-change quest, evolving into a Necromancer with the ability to resurrect the fallen as his shadow soldiers. His first significant shadow, Igris, became one of his strongest allies.

During a school visit, Jin-Woo’s sister’s friend, Han Sang-Yi, expressed a desire to become a Hunter. To dissuade him, Jin-Woo arranged for him to attend a White Tiger Guild training session, which turned disastrous when a Red Gate trapped them inside. Jin-Woo’s increasing strength allowed him to clear the dungeon alone, adding Tank and Iron to his growing shadow army. He also uncovered that dungeon monsters were being commanded by an unknown entity to target humans.

Jin-Woo ventured into the Demon Castle, an S-rank dungeon, in search of materials to craft the Holy Water of Life—a potion capable of curing his mother’s illness. After conquering several floors, he returned to undergo a re-evaluation, officially emerging as an S-rank Hunter. Before his identity was publicly revealed, he disguised himself as a porter in an A-rank dungeon raid, where he once again found himself trapped. Saving the team, he added Tusk, a powerful mage-type shadow, to his ranks.

Now recognized as South Korea’s 10th S-rank Hunter, Jin-Woo returned to the Demon Castle, where he faced and defeated the Demon King Baran, acquiring the shadow dragon Kaisel and the final ingredient for the Holy Water of Life. With the potion in hand, he successfully healed his mother.

Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea launched a joint operation to reclaim Jeju Island after a devastating ant invasion. Initially declining to participate, Jin-Woo changed his mind when the Ant King overwhelmed the Hunters. Entering the battlefield, he single-handedly slew the Ant King and converted him into his shadow, Beru, ensuring the mission’s success.

The United States, recognizing Jin-Woo’s growing power, attempted to recruit him by offering an enhancement from their unique Awakener, Norma Selner. Declining their offer, he instead established his own guild, the Ahjin Guild, with Yoo Jin-Ho. Their first raid was overseen by safety inspector Woo Jin-Cheol, who witnessed Jin-Woo single-handedly clearing the dungeon and recruiting Jima as his latest shadow.

In search of answers, Jin-Woo revisited the double dungeon, where he encountered the Architect, the creator of the system. The Architect attempted to awaken Ashborn’s consciousness within Jin-Woo, but instead, Ashborn chose to fully transfer his powers, naming Jin-Woo his heir. Empowered by his newfound abilities, Jin-Woo eliminated the Architect.

An enormous S-rank Gate appeared in Tokyo, prompting Japan to seek Russia’s aid. Hunter Yuri Orloff attempted to contain it but perished instantly when the gate broke. Stepping in, Jin-Woo eradicated the invading monsters and confronted Legia, the imprisoned Monarch of Beginnings, defeating him.

As the Monarchs began targeting the Rulers’ vessels, they assassinated America’s strongest Hunter, Christopher Reed, and Brazil’s top-ranked Hunter, Jonas. Korea’s strongest Hunter, Chairman Go Gun-Hee, was revealed to be the vessel of the Greatest Fragment of Brilliant Light. Despite Jin-Woo’s intervention, Gun-Hee succumbed to his injuries following a battle with the Monarch of Frost.

Realizing Jin-Woo had fully inherited the Shadow Monarch’s power, the Monarchs of Beast, Frost, and Plague launched an all-out assault on Seoul. Although Jin-Woo managed to eliminate the Monarch of Plague, he was critically injured by the other two. At the brink of death, his father, Sung Il-Hwan, appeared to protect him. Instead of perishing, Jin-Woo fully awakened as the Shadow Monarch, annihilating the Monarchs. Unfortunately, his father succumbed to his wounds.

The remaining Monarchs, Yogumunt (Monarch of Transfiguration), the Monarch of Iron Body, and the Monarch of Destruction, Antares, descended upon Earth with an army of dragons. Jin-Woo’s shadow army successfully defeated the Monarch of Iron Body, while Jin-Woo subdued Yogumunt’s forces and led Antares away. Antares attempted to recruit Jin-Woo, but his offer was rejected, leading to a climactic battle. The Rulers’ forces intervened, ultimately vanquishing Antares.

With countless lives lost in the war, Jin-Woo pleaded with the Rulers to activate the Cup of Reincarnation to reset time. Though they warned that it could only be used once, they agreed. Sent back ten years into the past, Jin-Woo methodically eradicated the Monarchs before their descent. The story concludes with him returning to Earth as a middle school student, finally granted a peaceful life.