Summary
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Solo Leveling’s Jeju Island Arc is one of the most thrilling story arcs in the series as S-rank hunters from South Korea and Japan unite to put an end to the ants before they can take flight and cause more havoc. With the lives of 16 S-rank hunters on the line, who dies, and who survives inSolo Leveling’s Jeju Island Arc?
Years before the joint raid party between the two nations, South Korea made an effort to end thedungeon break in Jeju Islandwith not just one but three missions. All these attempts failed to produce positive results and instead took the lives of participating hunters, including the S-rank mage, Eunseok, which ultimately demoralized the government in the process. Since then, the ants have taken their time evolving, eventually developing wings and causing a larger problem not just in South Korea but also in neighboring Asian nations.
The Jeju Island Raid Party
Who’s in the Dangerous Joint Mission?
TheJeju Island raid partyconsists of 16 S-rank hunters who have all agreed on a simple but practical strategy: the Japanese hunters will draw and engage the ants outside the nest, while the South Korean hunters will finish off the queen without her guards. The South Korean representatives include the Hunters Guild’s very own Choi Jong-In and Cha Hae-In, in addition to Baek Yoonho, Lim Tae-Gyu, Ma Dongwook, and even the retired healer, Min Byung-Gu, who returns to the battlefield. The South Korean hunters were also accompanied by an A-rank hunter with a passion for covering dangerous raids. Through him, the entire nation was able to witness the gruesome raid unfold on a live stream.
“Hey, you’re emitting quite a fearsome aura, Ant."—Goto Ryuji to the Ant King
The Japanese hunters, on the other hand, are led by Goto Ryuji, theMaster of the Draw Sword Guildand Japan’s strongest hunter. He brought nine S-rank hunters from his guild to join the mission, including Minoru Hoshino, Mari Ishida, Kanae Tawata, Atsushi Kumamoto, Tatsumi Fujishima, Kenzo Tanaka, Akari Shimizu, Ippei Izawa, and Kei. These members were divided into four groups: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta.
Who Dies in the Jeju Island Arc?
Death Toll Revealed
Before Sung Jin-Woo made a surprise last-minute appearance, the hiddenboss of the red gate, the Ant King, had already claimed the lives of eight S-rank hunters, which tells a lot about the explosive strength of the evolved creature. The Delta team, with Kei and Ippei, was wiped out, as was the Charlie team, which included Tatsumi, Kenzo, and Shimizu. The Alpha team’s Goto Ryuji and Mari Ishida also died, while the two members of the Bravo team, Kumamoto and Tawata, thankfully survived. All these deaths put the Draw Sword Guild in trouble, not to mention the entire nation of Japan.
“The last time I played with ants was when I was a little boy. I remember hearing faint snapping noises every time I torched an ant with a lighter. Now I hear fireworks."—Choi Jong-In
Meanwhile, Min Byung-Gu heroically died in the Queen’s nest despite the combined strength of theSouth Korean S-rank hunters. He put everything on the line to heal his colleagues, going so far as to boost their powers and regenerate their decapitated limbs, despite his trauma caused by Eunseok’s death and the threat from the Ant King. Byung-Gu was supposed to pursue teaching, but he chose to accompany his colleagues, especially Baek Yoonho, on the dangerous mission, making his death a huge loss.
In the end, Sung Jin-Woo cleared the S-rank gate by killing both the Ant King and the Ant Queen. He also usedshadow extraction on the Ant King, giving him the name Beru, and officially adding the evolved creature to his collection of soldiers. He also extracted Byung-Gu’s shadow to heal Cha Hae-In’s serious injuries but then canceled in honor of Byung-Gu and his aversion to fighting monsters.
What Happens After the Jeju Island Raid?
Jeju Island Raid’s Aftermath
Following the somewhat successful Jeju Island Raid, Sung Jin-Woo became the talk of the nation, with some people praising his abilities and others criticizing his last-minute appearance. If only Jin-Woo had appeared earlier, deaths could have been avoided, according to his detractors. On the contrary,Jin-Woo’s outrageous abilitiesdrew the attention of every nation in the world, particularly the United States. They want to recruit Jin-Woo on their side, but Go Gun-Hee is adamant about keeping Jin-Woo in South Korea by granting him favors.
Solo Leveling’s Jeju Island Arc is an intense and emotional story arc that depicts the true horrors of an S-rank gate, demonstrating that even S-rank hunters are vulnerable to its threats. Most importantly, the Jeju Island arc marks a turning point in the series, as it solidifies Sung Jin-Woo’s status as a one-man army.
