Originally adapted from the popular South Korean web novel (plus manhwa) of the same name, Solo Leveling anime is gaining massive fan approval as one of the most exceptional storylines ever curated. Set in a world where normal people and hunters like the series’ protagonist Sung Jinwoo navigate through dungeons and monsters, the anime has fans’ interest at its peak.
But what these anime fans are most amused by is the System. To give an overview of it, it is a highly mystifying game-like interface. However, there is more to it than just that when diving deep into the story, and it’s even more complicated than Jujutsu Kaisen and all its techniques. Nonetheless, here’s a simplified explanation of the Solo Leveling power system, step by step.
Solo Leveling is all About the Hunters Fighting Monsters in the Dungeons
In Chugong‘s Solo Leveling, there are ordinary people, monsters, and monster hunters. These hunters were originally created through a random ‘awakening’ after the Gate between the human world and the monster world was opened, which led to them gaining magical superpowers and becoming ranked hunters to hunt monsters within this Gate.
These hunters have to fight in dungeons, i.e. the mysterious different difficulty-leveled portals that randomly open across the world and allow monsters to jump into the human world. Defeating monsters in these dungeons provides the hunters with rewards in treasure or increased experience points.
The System is a Special Anomaly that only Sung Jinwoo Possesses
Among these hunters is the series’ protagonist Sung Jinwoo, who initially makes his entrance as the weakest of hunters. In the ranking system that goes from E rank to D, C, B, and eventually S rank, Jinwoo ranks at the E level initially. Plus, what’s worth noting is that all these hunters cannot power up or increase their mana by training or experience.
However, there is a very rare chance when an already hunter gets a ‘second awakening’, which might end up helping them increase in ranks and power. For Jinwoo, this system works wildly differently for some reason, as he possesses a distinctive ability called ‘System Solo Leveling’ which allows him to see a game-like interface and check his and others’ stats, progress, and skills.
This happens in the fateful event renowned as the Double Dungeon incident. During that incident, a game-like mysterious quest window pops up in front of Sung Jinwoo as he gets terribly battered to the verge of death while fighting. Little did he know while taking on this quest that this was the very System that is at the center of the power system in the anime.
The System Helps Sung Jinwoo Increase his Ranks and Levels
This special system in Solo Leveling, which only Jinwoo has access to further allows him to level up his mana and increase his stats, in contrast to other hunters, who don’t get a choice besides staying on the same level. Plus, the strategic use of this power system helps Jinwoo not only improve his strength, agility, and other attributes but also maximize his powers and battle potential.
On the one hand, while other hunters stick closely to their innate abilities, combat skills, training, experience, and fights in the differently-leveled dungeons to increase their ranks, Sung Jinwoo, on the other has an additional power-up, i.e. his unique System Solo Leveling ability, which adds to enhancing his overall prowess and eventually increases his rank to the highest S level.
While this explanation is understandable, it is only because it’s in the most simplified forms. In reality, this very power system in Solo Leveling is much deeper and more extensive than this, and even harder to understand than the power system in Jujutsu Kaisen, which includes harnessing one’s cursed energy and using jujutsu techniques to perform extraordinary feats!
You can stream Solo Leveling on Crunchyroll and Jujutsu Kaisen on Netflix.
