5 Years Later, Solo Leveling Brings Back An Enemy Not Even Jinwoo Could Beat

Published Nov 14, 2026, 9:30 AM EST

Merlyn De Souza is a freelance writer and anime enthusiast based in Goa, India, with a Bachelor's in English Literature. When she isn't writing, she can be found exploring various realms of entertainment, including, but not limited to, K-dramas, novels, and even the occasional manhwa. She also enjoys all things creative, like sewing and makeup.

Over the course of Solo Leveling's story, Jinwoo has fought many a formidable opponent, each stronger than the last, as Jinwoo himself continues to level up. That said, even at his strongest, the Monarchs are without a doubt some of the most challenging opponents Jinwoo has ever faced. Even after resetting the timeline with the Cup of Reincarnation in Solo Leveling's finale, Jinwoo spends 27 long years fighting the Monarchs in the dimensional gap, the events of which are soon to be adapted in Solo Leveling: Karma.

As such, after the Itarim, who are the main antagonistic force in Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, the Monarchs are the next biggest possible threat in the series' universe. And although it seemed like Jinwoo had dealt with them for good, Solo Leveling: Ragnarok just brought back one of the Monarchs — and not just any of them, but one that even Jinwoo once lost to.

Solo Leveling: Ragnarok Brings Back Sillad the Frost Monarch

Nearly five years after Sillad, together with Rakan and Querehsha, killed Jinwoo during the Monarchs War, Solo Leveling's sequel has unexpectedly brought back the fearsome Frost Monarch through his trident for an epic rematch against Thomas Andre, the Korean S-rank hunters, and Sung Suho. At the end of Chapter 71 of Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, Thomas Andre and the Scavenger Guild were seen approaching the dungeon boss room, within which they only found Sillad's trident.

Subsequently, Chapter 72 sees the trident come to life and pick off the hunters of the Scavenger Guild, gradually using their spilled blood to materialize a specter or copy of Sillad. Given that the S-rank dungeon that Suho and the S-rank hunters are currently exploring opens up to the realm of the ice elves, it's no surprise to find the spear itself.

Earlier in the series, Suho similarly came across the sword of the former Monarch of Fangs, Rakan. The Fang of Rakan similarly contained some of Rakan's will or ego and was attempting to protect the King of Beasts' territory. Back then, the sword also corrupted all those who touched it, before eventually sacrificing its power to save Grey, the heir to the Monarch of Fangs.

As such, it is possible that the trident is also similarly trying to guard the Frost Monarch's territory, though its ability to create a copy of Sillad is certainly an unexpected twist. In the original series, Sillad was able to completely overpower and kill Jinwoo before he fully inherited the Shadow Monarch's powers.

He also punched a hole through Chairman Go Gun-hee, one of Korea's S-rank hunters and the vessel for the Most Brilliant Fragment of Light, and left Sung Il-Hwan on death's doorstep. As such, if this copy is anywhere near as strong as the original Frost Monarch, then Suho and the rest may have a very challenging battle ahead.

Solo Leveling's Sequel Gives The S-Rank Hunters A Major Chance At Redemption

Custom Image by Merlyn De Souza

All that said, bringing back Sillad has also set the stage for multiple characters such as Thomas Andre and the Korean S-rank hunters to finally redeem themselves in this rematch. Solo Leveling: Ragnarok's latest arc is in many ways a re-enactment of the Jeju Island Arc with a dangerous S-rank gate being at the center of it. However, unlike the Jeju Arc, where the S-rank hunters were utterly overpowered and cornered by the Ant King until Jinwoo appeared, this time, the S-rank hunters stand a fair fighting chance on their own.

Solo Leveling's sequel has given the S-rank hunters the ability to hold their own in battle through Suho's specialized shadow equipment. This has given each of them a much-needed power-up and the ability to prove themselves while also rewriting history. Chapter 72 also outright sees the Korean S-rank hunters vow to redeem themselves in this battle so they can face Jinwoo when he returns from fighting the Itarim.

Unlike Jinwoo, who always bore the burden all by himself, Suho's story has instead been all about teamwork and making allies, so a redemption for the S-rank hunters could very well be in the cards in the chapters to come. In addition to the S-rank hunters, Thomas Andre, who was also overpowered by Rakan during the Monarchs War, now also has the chance for a rematch against a Monarch, even though it may only be a copy of him. But of course, with the Itarim's Apostle also among their ranks, it's unlikely things will be this straightforward and simple. To top things off, Solo Leveling: Ragnarok's manhwa has diverged quite a bit from the web novel, making it impossible to anticipate what will happen next.