Episode 11 of the anime Solo Leveling Season 2 has given fans a glimpse into the new character, Ant King, who is set to face the formidable hunters of the S-rank guild in South Korea. This character has quickly gained popularity within the Solo Leveling series, later referred to as Beru. However, in the latest episode, the author of Solo Leveling has made it clear that this beloved character is much darker compared to other characters in the series, and the events unfolding on Jeju Island could take a different turn if Jinwoo doesn’t intervene.
In a recent post on DC Inside—an online community popular in South Korea—Chugong, the creator of Solo Leveling, shared that Beru’s initial intent is more evil than previously thought.
In Episode 11 of Season 2, the Ant King primarily targets the S-rank hunters of South Korea, instead of resorting to immediate and direct violence as is often seen in the S-rank hunters from Japan. As a result, many South Korean hunters are severely injured but manage to survive when the Ant King descends to fight Goto Ryuji.
However, according to Chugong, this is not the Ant King’s typical behavior. Chugong clarifies that the Ant King’s intent is much more malicious, especially when he plans to hunt down and kill the S-rank hunters in South Korea due to his vendetta against the Hunter Association, should Jinwoo not appear.
In reality, according to the creator Chugong, if he had to describe the Ant King’s actions in a single phrase, it would be “Crushing the wings of a butterfly.” This phrase perfectly encapsulates the malevolent essence of the character and emphasizes the depth of the narrative should the story unfold differently.
Chugong Reveals the Dark Intentions of the Ant King
While the first part of the series introduced beasts with rare intelligence, the second part has showcased many monsters that are not only intelligent but also possess emotions, such as Baruka and the unique bangle-wearing creatures, Kargalgan and orcs, with the most notable being the Ant King.
As Baruka revealed at the beginning of the season, he aimed to exploit the humanity of these monsters to create a sense of unease. However, this approach does not fully apply to the Ant King, as he is distinctly driven by a desire for revenge following the death of the Hunter Association’s leader.
In Episode 11, the Ant King begins his assault on the S-rank hunters of South Korea after lingering near the corpse of the fallen Hunter Association leader. This indicates that the Ant King’s actions are primarily driven by revenge and not just a mindless desire to eradicate all humans.
In reality, according to the author Chugong, the Ant King’s revenge plan is not simply enacted through violent actions against the S-rank hunters but also involves a strategic extermination of humans in general. Chugong states: “If Sung Jin-Woo is not present, the Ant King would systematically target the S-rank hunters in South Korea. After that, he would proceed to eliminate all the inhabitants of South Korea.”
The Dark Reality Behind the Death of Byung-Gu in Solo Leveling
This detail indicates that the Ant King aims to target South Koreans while explaining why Min Byung-Gu, the only surviving S-rank hunter, met such a grim fate while others endured injuries. Chugong clarifies that the Ant King’s focus on Byung-Gu was not due to him being a potential threat or a desire to acquire healing abilities but rather to gather information and communicate with those who had already fallen victim to the Ant King’s wrath.
Chugong explains: “The reason the Ant King targeted Min Byung-Gu was not that he saw him as a potential healer or a threat, but to communicate with the hunters who had been slain and extract information.” Chugong concludes with a strong reminder, stating: “The ultimate goal is to exterminate the hunters that oppose him.”
This also explains why the Ant King seems to avoid confronting Baek Yoon-Ho directly, as Byung-Gu once did. Overall, all these details show that the character dynamics in Solo Leveling are significantly deeper than one might initially perceive.
