Recently, the anime adaptation of Solo Leveling has successfully captured the hearts of fans, effectively transitioning from its webtoon origins.
The Anime Solo Leveling Expands on the Light Novel and Webtoon with Stunning Animation
With the ongoing excitement in the anime industry, particularly surrounding the recent events in the Jeju Island arc and the transformation of the King of Bees, A-1 Pictures has delivered creative interpretations that continue to resonate positively with the anime community.
The latest episode introduced a new character that fans have eagerly anticipated, showcasing a significant power that is exclusive to the anime. This has sparked considerable discussions among fans.
In the pivotal battle between Jinwoo and the King of Bees in Solo Leveling Season 2, Episode 12, the King of Bees employed Ice Magic against Jinwoo. Notably, this use of Ice Magic was not present in either the manhwa or the original web novel, hinting that Beru may have concealed this ability from the character Kei, a Japanese hunter and the source of the King of Bees’ powers.
While this serves as a minor addition to the anime, it enhances the intensity of the battles, despite the potential for fan dissatisfaction. However, it is clear that the creators of the anime have been thoughtful in their adaptation, staying true to the source material.
Anime Solo Leveling Brings Magic to the King of Bees
Firstly, while the anime does not provide explicit explanations, one of Beru’s abilities is known as Gluttony, which allows him to absorb the skills and abilities of any living creature he consumes. This includes normal aquatic creatures, allowing the King of Bees to claim unique powers.
Thus, the only way he could access Ice Magic was by consuming the Japanese S-class hunter Kei, who was defeated in Season 2, Episode 11, while trying to protect himself from the attack.
Although the webtoon and anime do not clearly state whether Kei was actually consumed by the King of Bees, the web novel provides more explicit details. In both the webtoon and anime, when Goto Ryuji discovers Kei’s corpse, his head appears almost intact with some parts missing. However, Chapter 115 of the web novel clarifies that Goto Ryuji found all of the Japanese S-class hunters dead with heads missing, presumably due to the King of Bees.
This suggests that while the King of Bees did not utilize the abilities and powers of the Japanese S-class hunters he killed, he fully absorbed their essence.
This storyline has been reimagined in the anime with the King of Bees utilizing Ice Magic, although this particular scene is exclusive to the anime. It clearly demonstrates that the creators have been very considerate in interpreting the original source material, the web novel, and not just the webtoon.
While this is merely a minor enhancement to Beru’s abilities, the inclusion of Ice Magic against Jinwoo certainly adds a new layer of depth to the battles. Overall, apart from the minor adjustments in Season 2, A-1 Pictures has done an excellent job in adapting the anime of Solo Leveling, and fans can expect even greater improvements as the series progresses.
