5 Things Solo Leveling Season 3 Already Changed From The Manhwa (& It’s Not Even Out Yet)

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The anime series “Solo Leveling” has rapidly grown into one of the planet’s largest, yet its popularity wasn’t solely due to its stunning animation. Prior to being Crunchyroll’s most favored anime, “Solo Leveling” was a highly acclaimed manhwa, which itself was based on a light novel series. The beautiful artistry and thrilling fight scenes of the “Solo Leveling” manhwa generated immense anticipation for the anime, making it one of the most eagerly awaited shows of 2024. When Season 2 debuted in early 2025, it solidified “Solo Leveling” as a powerful player within the anime industry.

Solo Leveling has stayed true to the main narrative from the manhwa, yet it’s also made some significant, albeit sometimes subtle, departures. These variations, whether minor or major, don’t go unnoticed by dedicated fans of the source material. Interestingly, despite the fact that Solo Leveling Season 2 didn’t hint at a Season 3, it’s already evident where some storylines for the next season might deviate from their counterparts in the manhwa.

Solo Leveling Manhwa Chapter 111

Ah, the thrilling climax of Season 2 in “Solo Leveling”! A chilling whisper of a new formidable duo emerged – the Frost and Beast Monarchs, who possess the unparalleled power to open gates at will! As avid readers of the manhwa know, these two enigmatic figures are no minor players in this grand tale; they’re among the series’ primary antagonists.

In the anime adaptation, Sung Ilhwan is subtly depicted stalking these villains from the shadows – a detail not explicitly shown on screen. However, the manhwa reveals much later that Sung isn’t just passively observing; he’s actively planning his next move against them!

In Season 2 of Solo Leveling, the story concludes with events from volume 7 of the manhwa. However, it’s not until the start of Volume 8, where Season 3 begins, that Ilhwan makes his appearance. The Monarchs suggest they are being followed when they are first introduced, but the anime reveals their tracker’s identity more openly to create anticipation for the upcoming season. This change doesn’t significantly alter the narrative, but it lessens the surprise of Ilhwan’s appearance when he attempts to attack the Frost Monarch later on.

Solo Leveling Manhwa Chapter 109

In Season 3 of Solo Leveling, the story becomes increasingly captivating through its expansion of the series’ universe. Initially, the early arcs focused on the enigma surrounding the System. However, as we progress, the narrative delves deep into the mythology and lore of the series, as well as the international politics beyond South Korea. It is in these later arcs that Norma Selner, one of the most intriguing characters in the entire storyline, emerges. Selner possesses a unique ability: she can unlock hidden potential in any Hunter to make them even more powerful. Her ability, aside from Jinwoo’s, is the only one that enables a Hunter to “level up”.

What stands out most about Norma Selner’s encounter with Jinwoo is that she perceives an endless power within him, akin to a vast, enigmatic void in his soul. This astonishing discovery stirs quite a reaction among the Americans and offers insights into Jinwoo’s role as the Shadow Monarch beforehand. It also sheds light on Hwang Dongsoo’s decision to defect from South Korea to the United States, making it a crucial aspect of SL lore that the anime will inevitably address in future episodes. Given this scene didn’t unfold during Season 2’s finale as planned, it seems likely that Norma Selner’s debut will be rescheduled for the earlier episodes of Solo Leveling Season 3 instead.

Solo Leveling Manhwa Chapter 67

From my perspective, while Season 2 of “Solo Leveling” generally adhered to the original manhwa, it did skip over some scenes, notably the introduction of Yoo Suhyun, Jinho’s cousin and a future member of the Ahjin Guild. If the anime had followed the manhwa closely, Suhyun would have been introduced just before Jinwoo entered the A Rank Gate with the Hunter’s Guild’s strike team. However, her absence in Season 2 doesn’t necessarily diminish the experience, as viewers can still encounter her at the same time as Jinwoo does in “Solo Leveling” Season 3.

Despite not having an introduction in Season 2 of “Solo Leveling”, it leaves us wondering if Suhyun will play a role in the story at all. Typically, the anime expands on key characters instead of reducing their significance, so this is quite unusual for the adaptation. What makes this even more intriguing is that Han Songyi expressed interest in joining Jinwoo’s guild in the final episode of Season 2, which could potentially imply that Suhyun might be replaced by Songyi in the storyline.

A possibility for adjustments in Solo Leveling Season 3, given Jinho Suhyun’s absence, is that a light-hearted subplot involving Cha Haein’s emotions might not unfold as it does in the manhwa. In the original comic, Cha Haein becomes intensely jealous upon seeing Jinwoo with Suhyun on social media, but it may be challenging for the anime to replicate this scene with Songyi due to their significant age difference. Consequently, this could be another instance where the anime adapts the manhwa differently in Season 3.

Solo Leveling Manhwa Chapter 121

In the climactic ending of Solo Leveling Season 2, I, as an observer, witnessed Sung Jinwoo among the survivors at Min Byunggyu’s funeral following the Jeju Island raid. During this somber occasion, Jinwoo was approached by Go Gunhee who expressed gratitude for his national service and requested a meeting.

Interestingly, this conversation has a consistent start in both the anime and Manhwa; however, their subsequent discussion varies significantly between the two versions. In the Manhwa, Jinwoo is inquired about whether he placed a protective barrier over Jeju Island. This is because a team of Hunters who visited the island post-raid during a cleanup mission experienced strange occurrences and ultimately passed out.

In the anime adaptation of this dialogue, Gunhee queries Jinwoo about his future actions following his newfound status as a top-tier Hunter, whereas in the original comic (manhwa), Gunhee asks this much later, post-Jinwoo’s rescue of Jinah from Orcs. It appears that the anime is delaying Gunhee’s acknowledgment of the unusual circumstances until Season 3 of “Solo Leveling.

From another perspective, discussing Jinwoo’s guild with the Young Shadow Monarch earlier in the anime could fit quite well. This is because Season 3 is set to focus on Jinwoo and Jinho recruiting for their new Ahjin guild. While this conversation in the anime doesn’t yet delve into everything that hasn’t been explored in the manhwa, there are still opportunities for them to discuss more in future talks. For instance, Jinwoo has not yet received approval to lead solo dungeon raids. This could be a significant topic of discussion following the Ahjin Guild arc and the Orc gate break.

Solo Leveling Manhwa Chapter 115

In the third season of “Solo Leveling,” we’ll uncover some shocking facts about Jinwoo’s power from various sources. Besides his direct encounter with the System, Jinwoo will also get a chilling forewarning from Cha Haein, which was initially disclosed to her by Min Byunggyu. Later, Haein will disclose that Byunggyu had glimpsed the true nature of Sung Jinwoo’s power during Season 3, and he aimed to alert Jinwoo about the ominous source of his power. This sinister origin is something Jinwoo may not fully comprehend yet. This revelation, similar in essence to what happens in Volume 8 of the manhwa, is likely to unfold in a comparable fashion in Season 3, but there are already some alterations in this storyline.

In the anime, compared to the manhwa, there’s a significant difference in how Byunggyu communicates with Jinwoo. While the manhwa doesn’t show any direct communication between them, the anime introduces this element. Byunggyu expresses his desire for Jinwoo to use his powers to heal Cha Haein, something that wasn’t as clear during the Jeju Island raid in the manhwa. Intriguingly, Jinwoo doesn’t question this communication from beyond the grave in the anime, hinting at a possible exploration of alternate storylines or deeper insights into Jinwoo’s abilities with death and afterlife connections.

Solo Leveling Season 2 is currently streaming on .

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2025-04-21 05:36