Solo Leveling Season 2 has been moving at a really good pace, covering around 3-4 chapters per episode.
The Red Gate Arc was concluded in just two episodes, and at first, a lot of people thought the anime might be rushing the story. But so far, the pacing has been smooth, and the adaptation is staying close to the manhwa.
Of course, there have been some changes. One big difference is in the Demon Castle Arc. In the manhwa, Sung Jinwoo learns about the Holy Water of Life inside the Demon Castle Dungeon, but in the anime, he had already beaten Vulcan, the first boss of the dungeon, back in Episode 7 of Season 1.
Now, we are heading into the Jeju Island Arc, which is one of the best arcs in Solo Leveling. The main reason is ‘Beru’. Jinwoo turns the Ant King into his shadow soldier and names him Beru.
Before Ashborn gives Jinwoo Bellion, Beru was the strongest in his army and even led the Shadow Soldiers as their commander.
Will Beru Appear in Solo Leveling Season 2?
Yes, Beru will show up in Solo Leveling Season 2. This was already confirmed by the producer, Sota Furuhashi, who said that the Jeju Island Arc will be adapted this season.
The reason some scenes were cut or rushed from the manhwa was to make sure they could fit Jeju Island Arc into the season. And looking at the current pacing, it seems like they will adapt the entire arc.
Right now, the anime is covering the Hunters Guild Gate Arc, which should wrap up in Solo Leveling Season 2 Episodes 5 and 6. After that, we will get the Return to Demon Castle Arc, and then the Jeju Island Arc will begin.
Most likely, the Return to Demon Castle Arc will be rushed. This arc has about 14 chapters, while Jeju Island Arc has 18 chapters, so that is 32 chapters left for the season.
With only 7 episodes (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) left, they need to cover around 4 chapters per episode to fit everything in.
This is not impossible, but it is likely they will speed through the Return to Demon Castle Arc since everyone is waiting for Jeju Island Arc.
Major Spoilers From Jeju Island Arc
Jeju Island Arc Explained
The Jeju Island Arc has been hinted at a lot in the Solo Leveling. Before the events of Solo Leveling, an S-Rank gate appeared on Jeju Island, but back then the S-Rank hunters were much weaker.
So far, the Korean government has attempted three raids on Jeju Island, and there was also a dungeon break.
The ants started evolving too, which made things even worse. The situation became a global threat. After the death of Eunseok, an S-Rank Hunter from Korea, the government stopped raiding Jeju Island.
Japenese And Korean Alliance
But the ants kept evolving, growing wings, and moving to other areas, causing terrorism. The Korean government could not handle it alone anymore, so Japan decided to help, though they had their own hidden agenda.
6 S-Rank hunters from Korea and 10 from Japan joined forces. The plan was simple, separate the ants from their queen, so the Korean S-Rank Hunters could kill her.
Since ants only lived for a year killing the queen would make the ants go extinct in that time. But they did not know about the real threat lurking there, the Ant King, the strongest enemy humanity had ever faced.
At first, the raid seemed to go smoothly. The Japanese hunters quickly took down the ants, and the Koreans killed the queen and her guards without much trouble.
Death of Two S-Rank Hunters
But then the Ant King showed up. He was too strong for even the S-Rank Hunters. He wiped out the Japanese A-Rank hunters and killed Japan’s strongest hunter, Goto Ryuji.
Then, the Ant King turned his focus on the Korean S-Rank Hunters. He easily defeated them all and eventually killed Min Byung-Gyu, a retired S-Rank Hunter.
Sung Jinwoo’s Arrival
Sung Jinwoo, who had originally decided not to join the Jeju Island raid, learned that things had gone terribly wrong. Using his shadow exchange ability, he quickly reached Jeju Island, fought the Ant King, and saved the remaining S-Rank Hunters.
Afterward, he used his shadow extraction technique to turn the Ant King into one of his strongest soldiers, Beru.
Jeju Island Raid is the first official raid Sung Jinwoo goes as an S-Rank Hunter of Korea.
Which shadow soldier is your favorite? Share it in the comments below!
