The following contains spoilers from theSolo Levelingmanhwa and anime.
Solo Leveling’sexciting premise, well-choreographed fight sequences, and remarkable world-building have helped the series carve its place in the hearts of anime fans. Despite releasing in early 2024, the series is widely regarded as one of the most popular anime in recent times, and the anticipation for its upcoming installment has only multiplied over the last few weeks.
The excitement for Solo Leveling Season 3 is understandable, as it is set to introduce ancient monsters that are about to wreak havoc on the human world. It is also expected to reveal the secrets of the System. But perhaps what most fans don’t realize yet is that the show might just finally reveal Sung Jinwoo’s final enemy.
Here Comes the Monarch of Destruction
Antares' Debut Will Shift the Power Dynamics
Until the Jeju Island arc, Solo Leveling has introduced several interesting villains. All of them are driven by their unique worldviews and personal interests. However, most of them have struggled against Sung Jinwoo, whose otherworldly powers almost make him seem invincible. But he might finally find a worthy rival in the upcoming installment, as the Monarch of Destruction could potentially make his debut.
Destroy everything. That is the only mission bestowed to us.
Antares is unlike any other rival Jinwoo has faced so far. Eons ago, as the Rulers and the Monarchs were engaged in a seemingly endless battle for dominance,the Monarch of Destruction played a crucial role in it. However, when circumstances tipped the battle in favor of the Rulers, Antares had to go into hiding and lie in wait so that he could eventually find the right opportunity to arrive in the human world, without having to find an ideal vessel.
Meanwhile, other Monarchs did not face the same difficulty in finding a vessel for themselves, which allowed them to traverse different dimensions and worlds. But as the ancient monsters put their evil schemes into action, they will finally create the ideal circumstances of Antares' arrival. Jinwoo may have defeated magic beasts, but the Monarch of Destruction will make him question his powers.
What Makes Antares So Frightening?
Antares, the King of Dragons, is one of the most powerful beings in existence. He has been around for eons and has also fought countless intense battles so far. Antares' unparalleled strength makes him the greatest threat to the overpowered protagonist, who has become unaccustomed to defeating his adversaries without any effort.
Jinwoo’s laid-back and cocky attitude won’t work. In fact, it can prove fatal if Sung is not paying attention. Antares' Breath of Destruction alone is so overwhelmingly powerful that itcan kill an S-rank hunter within seconds. He is also incredibly proficient in using fire magic and likes to use it to his advantage, often to catch his adversaries off guard. When it comes to raw strength, there is no being in the Solo Leveling universe that comes close to the King of the Dragons, not even Ashborn, whose power Jinwoo has inherited.
Interestingly, Antares has an army of dragons, each one of whom is capable of inflicting serious damage to even top hunters in the world. Furthermore, the Monarch of Destruction also usesthe Spiritual Body Manifestationand can transform into an enormous dragon himself. This allows him to manifest his true spiritual form, in which his combat prowess improves to the point that his presence alone can exert serious damage on his surroundings. It should not come as a surprise, then, that eventhe National Level Huntersdon’t have a chance against him.
Antares is also gifted with other supernatural powers that will pose a threat to Jinwoo as he confronts him. Despite evolving dramatically in the next few arcs, Sung will be unsure of his victory against the King of Dragons. What makesthe Monarch of Destructiontruly terrifying is the fact that he has his calm confidence in his powers as if he were invincible, and he is not wrong to think that way.
Like most Monarchs, Antares appears to view humanity as disposable and does not feel that their extermination would carry real consequences. His dangerous ideology, coupled with powers that can rival any being to have ever been born, makes Antares a frightening villain who is cold and calculating with no remorse for the countless lives he takes. As he makes his debut in Solo Leveling Season 3, Antares will shift the power dynamics of the human world forever.
Solo Leveling Season 3 is expected to release sometime between 2026 and 2028.
