In the world of Solo Leveling, few hunters can take pride in their powerful abilities that can shake the very fabric of reality, and especially cannot be compared to the strength of Sung Jinwoo.
Sung Jinwoo’s journey is a legendary tale, an epic adventure of self-discovery. His determination, even in the face of death, has led him to uncover the hidden secrets of the system. Ultimately, the E-rank hunter has received the overwhelming power of Ashborn – the Shadow Monarch. Jinwoo is the designated successor of Ashborn, but does he truly have to be the only one with exclusive potential?
No character in Solo Leveling is shrouded in mystery like “Architect” – the one believed to have created the hidden system. Although Architect’s personality may be somewhat explained through a few rare appearances, the origins of his existence remain cloaked in secrecy, and Solo Leveling has yet to provide any significant hints about this matter.
Moreover, Architect has a disdainful relationship with Sung Jinwoo and his humanity. While we may accept this fact, we have yet to pose the question: Why does Architect hate Jinwoo and his “humanity” so much? What will happen if Architect were once a human?
Architect: A Failed Attempt or the “First Human”?
From all the times Architect appears in the light novel and webtoon Solo Leveling, it is clear that he has a close relationship with Ashborn. Solo Leveling informs us that he was created to find a suitable vessel for Ashborn. We know quite a bit about the Shadow Monarch and his genius schemes when Jinwoo holds the original title and his will.
All points lead to a dark theory being widely circulated: Architect was once a human hunter, much like Jinwoo. A human who caught Ashborn’s eye due to his potential. We speculate that Architect is Ashborn’s chosen one to be his successor. But is he really the “first human” of the system? Although the environment transformed a Monarch into a hunter, it quickly recognized the system’s flaws. It had to make sacrifices, and it forced itself to view every other hunter as mere tools.
When Architect realizes these mistakes, he has already spoken to the Monarch, not wanting to be forced to do things he does not believe in. However, this conversation has failed, defining Architect’s fate forever. The evidence supporting this theory appears in the battle between Jinwoo and Architect in Chapter 126 of the webtoon, where the final check suddenly reveals Architect’s skin peeling off, revealing the lightest shade of blue beneath.
Architect, or whatever remains of him, may have been trapped in a virtual wall, and like a realm of shadow due to his own fears, he has had to serve Ashborn until the perfect vessel appears.
The Reality of Architect’s Existence
Diving into this dark theory, we can explain why Architect hates Sung Jinwoo so much and why he wants Ashborn to seize his position.
Architect’s disdain for Jinwoo is always very personal in a peculiar way, and this dark theory has explained the matter. Architect hates Jinwoo because he is a reflection of what Architect has failed to become. Both characters have come into contact with the system, but while Architect sees the system as a powerful weapon and decides to take over it, Jinwoo views it as an opportunity for growth and self-image. Architect sees Jinwoo as a better version of himself.
Architect’s disdain for the protagonist of Solo Leveling only increases when Ashborn does not seize Jinwoo’s will, allowing Jinwoo to maintain the original intent of his original will. Architect had hoped that if Ashborn could seize control of the human vessel, he might finally escape his prison. Architect had hoped that Ashborn would see his loyalty and honor the system’s promise of freedom, but alas, Solo Leveling did not allow this scenario to unfold.
This dark theory, asserting that Architect is a failed human hunter who does not achieve his goal and must serve Ashborn, adds another layer of depth to the story of Solo Leveling and brings complexity to Architect.
According to Animated Times
