Beru, previously known as the Ant King, is the main antagonist in the webtoon Solo Leveling. He was born out of the desire to protect the offspring of the Queen Ant, nurturing them with the intent to kill and consume anything that could pose a threat. After the Queen Ant’s demise, the Ant King sought to battle the strongest beings until he ultimately met his match in Sung Jin-Woo.
While the Ant King displayed formidable combat skills against the high-ranking hunters in Korea, he could not defeat Sung Jin-Woo using his abilities and powers. Regardless of how hard the Ant King tried to confront Jin-Woo, his strength could not compare to the sheer power that Jin-Woo, as the reigning strongest human, possessed.
Eventually, the Ant King was defeated, and Jin-Woo transformed him into a shadow soldier, naming him Beru.
The Communication Skills of Ant King in Solo Leveling
Even before the Ant King was turned into a shadow soldier, he possessed the ability to use human language. This skill shocked the high-ranking hunters in Korea, as it was the first time they had heard a monster articulate speech in the human tongue. They were aware of the existence of high-ranking monsters that exhibited intelligence, but they didn’t expect any of them to be capable of human language comprehension.
On the other hand, Jin-Woo did not encounter any issues communicating with Beru using the human language. Ironically, the Ant King was on a quest to find a “King,” which subtly implied the strongest human among all the hunters on the island. It was indeed shocking when the Ant King understood the ranking system, highlighting his intelligence.
So how could Beru speak human language?
When the Ant King was born, there was no evidence to suggest that he had the ability to speak and comprehend human language. In fact, the first time the Ant King communicated with a human was when he invaded the castle of the Queen Ant and devoured Min Byung-Gu. This was the moment the Ant King realized that the hunters in Korea referred to him as the “King.”
Although Solo Leveling has yet to clarify the exact reason for the Ant King’s communication abilities, his absorbing skill certainly seems related to this matter. This ability, known as “Gluttony,” allows the Ant King to not only absorb the powers of his targets but also their knowledge. By devouring Byung-Gu, this could explain why he could speak and understand humans.
After becoming a shadow soldier, the Ant King somehow retained his ability to communicate. On the other hand, Jin-Woo believed that this ability was linked to the rank of the shadow soldiers, as he was the first to hold the highest rank among them.
Beru’s Relationship with Humans in Solo Leveling
After transforming into a shadow soldier, Beru’s ability to communicate with humans remained intact. He often interacted with Jin-Woo, although it was quite challenging to pinpoint when he used monster language or human language. Regardless of the circumstances, Beru did not encounter any issues expressing his thoughts and feelings to Jin-Woo, unlike other shadow soldiers.
Sadly, Beru also became accustomed to humans, especially the Jin-Woo family. Since Jin-Woo ordered him to take care of his family, Beru also developed a habit of watching historical movies with them. He began enjoying watching films to the extent that he could sit and focus in front of the television. It is also possible that his obsession with Min Byung-Gu’s historical knowledge influenced Beru’s new interests.
Overall, Beru’s ability to communicate with humans makes him a unique character and endears him to the audience in Solo Leveling. His linguistic skill sets him apart from other shadow soldiers, adding depth to his character.
