Jinwoo has taken down three bosses in the Demon Castle Dungeon, and now there is only one left, Baran, the final boss on the 100th floor.
But he won’t face him just yet. The Return to Demon Castle Arc is where that fight happens, and there are still a lot of chapters left to adapt before that arc even starts.
Meanwhile, Sung Jinwoo’s father, Sung Il-Hwan, has finally appeared in the anime! But his real intentions are still unknown.
The latest episode covered half of Chapter 61, and in Solo Leveling Episode 16, this arc will finally come to an end.
After that, the Retesting Rank Arc will begin. Once Jinwoo returns from the Demon Castle Dungeon, he’ll get his rank reevaluated. Curious to know what rank he gets after the retest? Keep reading!
Solo Leveling Episode 16 Release Date
Solo Leveling Episode 16 will be released on Sunday, January 26th, at 12:00 AM JST. While in other regions, the episode will be released at 9:30 AM PT on 25th January, Saturday. I have attached the complete release schedule of the upcoming episode!
Region | Release Date & Time | Platform/Station |
---|---|---|
Japan (JST) | January 26, 2025, at 12:00 AM | Tokyo MX, Tochigi TV |
South Korea (KST) | January 26, 2025, at 12:00 AM | Animax |
Pacific Time (PT) | January 25, 2025, at 9:30 AM | Crunchyroll, Prime Video |
Eastern Time (ET) | January 25, 2025, at 12:00 PM | Crunchyroll, Prime Video |
British Time (GMT) | January 25, 2025, at 5:00 PM | Crunchyroll, Prime Video |
Central European Time (CET) | January 25, 2025, at 6:00 PM | Crunchyroll, Prime Video |
India (IST) | January 25, 2025, at 10:30 PM | Crunchyroll, Prime Video |
Philippines (PHT) | January 25, 2025, at 12:00 AM | Crunchyroll, Prime Video |
Spoilers Ahead
What To Expect From Solo Leveling Episode 16
In Solo Leveling Episode 16, Jinwoo will leave the Demon Castle Dungeon since he has hit his limit. But before that, he managed to collect two out of three materials needed to craft the Holy Water of Life. The last material is at the 100th floor, so he will have to come back later and fight the boss there to get it.
This item is super important because it can cure any illness, and Jinwoo is trying to make it for his sick mother. After leaving the dungeon, he will visit his mom first and then head for a rank evaluation.
The Retesting Rank Arc starts in Solo Leveling Episode 16, and since it only covers four chapters, they will probably adapt the entire arc in one go.
During the evaluation, the machine won’t be able to measure his power, and he will be declared South Korea’s 10th S-Rank Hunter. But to be declared officially he needs to wait 3 days for a proper machine to evaluate his rank.
After that, Choi Jong-In will offer him a spot in his guild, but Jinwoo will turn him down. Later, Go Gunhee, the chairman of Korea’s Hunter Association, will personally approach him to join him, but Jinwoo will reject him too.
Solo Leveling Episode 16 Preview and Synopsis
The title of Solo Leveling Episode 16 is revealed as well, “I Need to Stop Faking“.




Feeling that he needs to further raise his level to clear the S-rank dungeon “Demon Castle,” Jinwoo decides to undergo a reassessment of his Hunter Rank to participate in advanced raids. While top guild members begin to take notice of Jinwoo , whose magical power is beyond what measurement devices can quantify, another individual also visits him.
Recap of Solo Leveling Episode 15
The latest Solo Leveling episode starts with Jinwoo and Yoo Jinho doing a raid together. But the big moment comes when we finally see Jinwoo’s father, Sung Il-Hwan.
He claims he was trapped in a dungeon for 10 years and has just returned, but hunters suspect he is actually a monster that took human form.

Jinwoo Enters the Demon Castle
He is taken in for questioning while Jinwoo and Jinho celebrate finishing their 19 raids together. Jinwoo then tells Jinho that he will be gone for a while, and they won’t be able to contact each other. Jinho also reveals his next plans.
Before leaving, Jinwoo informs his sister that he will be away. Then, he uses the key to enter the dungeon.
He had already defeated the first-floor boss, Cerberus, back in Episode 7, so he heads straight into the Demon Castle Dungeon to collect materials for the Holy Water of Life.
Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 3
— Trace Of Time (@TraceOfTime) January 18, 2025
9/10 Episode
The story is progressing well. Jin woo getting more recognition. A new hunter is introduced that's probably Jin Woo's father.
He went back to that special dungeon and reached 75 floors.
Hoping best for next ❤🔥
Looks like one S… pic.twitter.com/0ret7ZlAoJ
Meanwhile, Jinho confronts his father, but their conversation shifts to Jinwoo, and he’s questioned about him.
In the dungeon, Jinwoo fights demons, clearing floors and earning a permit to access higher levels, where the bosses are.
Cha Hae-In in Swim Suit
The episode then briefly shifts to Cha Hae-In’s swimsuit scene and a flashback conversation between her and Choi Jong-In.

At the 50th floor, Jinwoo fights Vulcan using Igris and Iron. After an intense battle, he lands a lethal strike and defeats the boss, earning the Fragment of the World Tree.
Hwang Dongsoo vs Sung Il-Hwan
Meanwhile, Hwang Dongsoo is called in to handle Sung Il-Hwan’s interrogation. At first, it’s a normal questioning, but when Dongsoo realizes Il-Hwan is Jinwoo’s father, things get heated.

Dongsoo believed Jinwoo had died in the Red Gate incident. A fight breaks out, and Il-Hwan easily overpowers Dongsoo, destroying the whole area.
Back in the Demon Castle Dungeon, Jinwoo reaches the 75th floor, where he faces Metus. He defeats him without much trouble but hits his limit and decides not to go any further for now.
After beating Metus, he gets the Spring Water from the Forest of Echoes, one of the materials needed for the Holy Water of Life.
Source: Solo Leveling Official Website