Antares’ Death in ‘Solo Leveling’ was a Mere Fluke That Will Come Back to Haunt Sung Jinwoo
- Antares, the Monarch of Destruction, was the strongest and most chaotic Monarch, with unmatched power and an army of dragons.
- The fight between Jinwoo and Antares was epic, but left many fans unsatisfied.
- The sheer destructive force of Antares and his cryptic nature hint that his defeat may have only been temporary, leaving the door open for his return.
Solo Leveling Season 2 continues the momentum of Season 1, delivering a spectacular comeback that cements the manhwa’s lasting legacy. The latest episode ended on a cliffhanger, building anticipation for Jinwoo’s much-awaited clash with the High Orc leader in Episode 6.
Solo Leveling has continued to reign as a top-tier manhwa and its anime adaptation is already dominating the internet buzz. While Season 2 looks promising, the anime studio can only hope to capture the manhwa’s legacy and fully showcase Sung Jinwoo’s true Shadow Monarch powers and epic battles with other Monarchs.
While Solo Leveling‘s manhwa features memorable characters like Beru and Igris, its core appeal lies in the epic conflict between the Rulers and Monarchs. Nevertheless, Antares remains Jinwoo’s most formidable foe, as the Monarch of Destruction left a lasting scar through their fierce battle.
Who is Antares and Why he’s Jinwoo’s greatest enemy in Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling is easily the most popular manhwa series out there with many intriguing mysteries that are only explained towards its ending. The massive success of Solo Leveling’s anime adaptation highlights its simple yet captivating story.
However, despite its popularity and devoted fanbase, the manhwa series’ ending took an unexpected turn, leaving many fans shocked and even unsatisfied.
Though the series stars a supremely powerful main character, it chiefly avoids many issues that typically arise from this narrative trope. By the end of the series, it’s undeniable that Sung Jin-woo stands as the strongest hunter in the world.
Solo Leveling Season-2
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As the story unfolds, we delve deeper into the System and Jinwoo’s abilities as the Shadow Monarch, only to discover that he isn’t the sole monarch and is, in fact, being hunted by the others.
In the end, Sung Jinwoo faces his most challenging battle against Antares, the Monarch of Destruction, also known as the King of Dragons. Being the final antagonist of the series, Antares embodied unmatched destructive prowess.
After Ashborn, it’s Antares who deserved the title of the ‘Strongest Monarch.’ His might makes him egoistic, and like every other Monarch, he looks down on humanity.
Antares is a being who thrives on chaos, possessing some of the most devastating abilities that allow him to unleash massive destruction wherever and whenever he chooses.
After defeating three Monarchs on Earth, Jin-woo faces Antares, the Dragon Monarch, who arrives via an S-Rank Gate with two allies. The clash between Jinwoo and the Dragon Monarch stands as Solo Leveling‘s most thrilling battle, posing a true challenge for the anime to honor the manhwa’s epic legacy.
Antares: The Unyielding threat even after Death
Antares has command over an army of innumerable dragons who are each powerful enough to wipe out all of humanity on their own. He’s the one Monarch who can give Jin-woo trouble in a one-on-one fight.
The final battle in Solo Leveling turned into a clash of Monarchs—Jinwoo’s shadow army against Antares’ army of dragons. For a brief moment, Jinwoo held his ground, but Antares soon cornered him and made him an offer.
The epic showdown between Jinwoo and Antares was one of the webtoon’s finest moments, but the Rulers’ last-minute intervention diminished its significance.
Their sudden appearance and quick defeat of Antares rendered Jinwoo’s struggle almost meaningless, leading to major backlash on the ending.
If Antares had a larger role in the story or sequel, Jinwoo’s efforts could feel wasted as he might return as the final, looming threat once again.
Antares was more than the Monarch of Destruction. He was the personification of chaos itself. His unmatched power and mysterious origin make one wonder if he was really defeated or if his being is still roaming beyond time.
Monarchs revealed nearly immortal regeneration, and if Antares was the strongest of them all, then perhaps defeating him was nothing but a temporary setback.
Jinwoo’s time reset erased the war, but if Antares transcended the very fabric of time, he may still exist, watching, waiting. This lingering threat could explain why Jinwoo continues to wander the universe in the sequel—ensuring that no shadow of Antares ever rises again.
Additionally, Jinwoo’s son interacting with Antares in the sequel hints at the Monarch of Destruction’s lingering presence in the World of Nothingness, setting up a return that could finally give the Jinwoo vs Antares showdown the closure it deserves.
Solo Leveling manhwa can be read on Webtoons, while the anime is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
