Solo Leveling Volume 12 Review
In Solo Leveling Volume 11, we left Hunter Jinwoo Sung facing off against three Monarchs who have come to destroy him and the people he cares about. But Jinwoo won’t let them do as they please, especially after they killed the president of the Korean Hunter Association. Although Jinwoo has become much stronger since his second awakening, has he gained enough power to overpower three Monarchs? Let’s find out.
The Plague Monarch, Beast Monarch and Frost Monarch decide to work together to stop the vessel of the Shadow Monarch, aka Jinwoo, so they don’t hesitate to attack South Korea. Jinwoo is ready for them—but he’s especially ready to kill the Frost Monarch as he caused the death of the association’s president. However, the three Monarchs together are much stronger than he expects, and he’s at risk of succumbing to them, once and for all… or is he?
A surprise hit allows Jinwoo to fulfil the conditions for a new skill, which he didn’t know he possessed until now. He’s able to meet the true Shadow Monarch who, in return, tells him the story of the Monarchs and Rulers and of the Supreme Being who created the creatures on both sides. It’s a moment full of discoveries for Jinwoo, and for the readers, as we finally get the answers to everything that’s happened in the past. It’s a new awakening for Jinwoo who can finally use his full potential and call upon the armies of the Shadow Monarch as his own. After all, the battle has just begun.
As in previous volumes, Volume 12 can’t help but grip the readers and immerse them in the story. This time it Isn’t just thanks to the amazing fight scenes and seamless narration, but because the readers can finally get the whole picture on what’s going on and who is who. Why was Jinwoo chosen by the Architect, the being who gave him the second awakening? Why are the Monarchs coming for him? Who is the Shadow Monarch? And what are the Fragments of Luminosity? But most importantly, is the monster with Jinwoo’s father’s appearance really a monster or his father? There is just so much going on in this volume.
After the Monarchs get a hit on Jinwoo, it seems like all hope is lost. How can he survive it? The other hunters waiting on the sidelines are trying to figure out what to do after the Monarchs defeated Thomas Andre, the strongest hunter in the world. It’s the appearance of Jinwoo’s father that makes the difference. He, as the president of the Hunter Association, decided to become a vessel for a Fragment of Luminosity to protect the humans and Jinwoo as well. The Supreme Being was something akin to a god, and he created both the Rulers and the Monarchs—the protectors and the destroyers—and watched them fight against each other for entertainment. It’s only when the Rulers, who at the time were called Envoys, become fed up with the war, that they turn their back on the Supreme Being and become known as the Rulers. The Shadow Monarch was one of the Envoys until he joined the Monarchs when the rest of the Envoys betrayed the Supreme Being. This new gig as a Monarch though didn’t last long as there was another backstabbing. There is a lot of betrayal going on, and the only loyalty remains with the Shadow Monarch who, thanks to Jinwoo, is now a protector of humanity.
While the Monarchs remain evil beings, there are a lot of grey areas for the Rulers. They were tasked with protecting but they failed over and over again and now their only chance to completely destroy the Monarchs is through Jinwoo and his powers. Did I mention that time traveling is mentioned as well? See, I told you that there was a lot going on. We are reaching the climax of the story, and it won’t be much longer until the last battle against the strongest Monarch—the Dragon Monarch also known as the Monarch of Destruction—will play out.
This volume left me on edge from start to finish. It’s quite intense thanks to all the revelations and also because we know that Jinwoo’s ultimate battle is approaching, and let me tell you, there is no guarantee he will survive it. He knows that as well, so he takes steps to guarantee his mother’s and sister’s safety in case something happens to him. After what happens in this volume, I wouldn’t put it past the authors to leave us with a bitter surprise at the end of the story.
Solo Leveling started as a web novel written by Chugong before being adapted into a manhwa with illustrations by DUBU (Redice Studio) and the adaptation thanks to h-goon. Both manhwa and novel are published in volume format by Ize Press in the English language, and the series has also been turned into an anime with two seasons out so far on Crunchyroll. Volume 13 is slated for release in August 2025.
Our review copy was supplied by Ize Press.
