Solo Leveling, following the “I Alone Level Up” novel series, features a modern fantasy story dipped in incredible action & adventures within 21 story arcs. Solo Leveling’s storyline centers on humans with magical skills who must face horrendous creatures to save humanity from extinction. The main protagonist, Sung Jin-woo, first introduced as a weak E-Rank hunter, was at the epicenter of countless battles of attrition.
Through blood & sweat, the main protagonist took advantage of the system-driven opportunities in the midst of adversity and utilized them efficiently, allowing him to grow into a powerful, formidable S-Rank hunter. The different plot arcs of Solo Leveling build characters as the story unfolds, making it the beloved and well-known manhwa it is today. Solo Leveling has incredible narrative arcs filled with nerve-wracking battle scenes, character development, and memorable personalities. Here are the top ten-story arcs in Solo Leveling.
11 The Instant Dungeon Arc: The Upgrade
The Instant Dungeon Arc is the third arc of the manhwa series. The narrative arc spans from chapters 13 to 17, while the novel’s version starts from chapters 13 to 16.In this arc, Sung Jin-woo, the primary protagonist, acquires a key to an E-Rank dungeon built to assist him in leveling up after becoming a player of the system. Then, with new goals, a thirst for power, and adrenaline pumping through his veins, the protagonist goes hunting alone for the first time.
As the arc progresses, while narrating his difficult quest, the main protagonist unlocks new skills and abilities. This arc allowed readers to witness the grueling trials Sung Jin-woo faced to gain power.
10 The Job Change Arc: The Art Of War
The Job Change Arc is the seventh arc of the manhwa series. The narrative arc begins from chapters 38 to 45, while the novel’s account runs from chapters 46 to 55. In this arc, while Sung Jin-woo embarked on his level-up quest, he was transported to another dungeon after receiving a task from the system.
In the uncharted territory, he encounters an army of armored warriors and an enigmatic character – a red knight guarding an empty throne. In the end, Sung Jin-woo conquered the knight, Igris, adding him to his group of shadows. The arc depicts the battle between both characters, a sizzling, intense battlefield where the main protagonist’s skills are displayed. It's also a central arc since it featured Sung Jin-woo, gaining his shadow manipulation ability.
9 The International Guild Conference Arc: The Summit
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The International Guild Conference Arc is the eighteenth arc of the manhwa series. The narrative arc spans chapters 140 to 149, while the novel’s version runs through chapters 183 to 199.
With the world’s attention focused on the convention, the main protagonist – Sung Jin-woo, is tasked with the mission of representing Korea at the famous international guild conference held in the United States. But, behind the scenes, evil continues to brew. Ancient evils known as the Monarchs began their showdown with the Rulers by murdering one of the seven Rulers’ vessels – Christopher Reed.
8 The Demon Castle Arc: Hope
The Demon Castle Arc is the ninth arc of the manhwa series. The narrative arc spans from chapters 56 to 61, while the novel’s story arc runs from chapters 65 to 75. In this arc. Jin-woo explores the Demon Castle, searching for the formula to help treat his terminally ill mother.
The Demon Castle is a system-created S-Rank dungeon; created for the sole purpose of helping the main protagonist find a cure. In the arc, Sung Jin-woo learned the formula for the Holy water of life during the arc – a potion that helped treat his mother and the father of Yoo Jinho. In this arc, he meets the intelligent demon tribe and befriends a demon king's daughter.
7 The Japan Crisis Arc: Tokyo Crisis
The Japan Crisis Arc is the 17th arc of the manhwa series. The arc spans chapters 132 to 139, while the novel’s version runs from chapters 165 to 182. In the Japan Crisis Arc, the sudden appearance of an S-Rank gate manifested in the dead center of Tokyo. With time running out and danger looming more rapidly, the Japanese Government organized an assault team.
Unfortunately, the assault team could not suppress the demons that continued to spawn. This development rages on until the main protagonist, Jin-Woo, makes an appearance and decides to save the day.
6 The D-Rank Dungeon Arc: The Beginning.
The manhwa’s first arc is full of disturbing and horrifying events in which the protagonist has multiple near-death experiences. It spans ten chapters in the webtoon adaptation and seven chapters in the novel. The Dungeon Arc kicked in when E-Rank Hunter Sung Jinwoo and his raid team discovered a second hidden dungeon within the gate while on a D-Rank dungeon raid.
Eventually, they decided to investigate, only to discover that it was way higher than their initial assumption. To their horror, Hunter Sung Jinwoo and his raid team were trapped within, with no way out, only to be accompanied by sculptures that would slaughter them if they made the slightest misstep.
5 The Red Gate Arc: Dominance
In the webtoon, the arc begins from chapters 46 to 55, while in the novel, it runs from chapters 56 to 64. In the Red Gate Arc, Jin-woo reached out to Ahn and obtained tickets to one of the White Tiger Guild’s practice sessions for new members. To connect Han Song-Yi, a new E-Rank and one of his sister’s close friends, to the perils of hunting.
However, things go horribly wrong after they are caught inside a Red Gate. A Red Gate is a unique gate that confines the individuals present in the gate, barring its entrance unless the central monster in the gate is defeated. The arc was lined with several hard-fought battles between monsters and humans, allowing readers to experience thrilling fights and sensational developments.
4 The Ahjin Guild Arc: Veiled Dangers
The 15th story arc of Solo Leveling presents Sung Jin-woo as an elder brother rather than the vessel of the shadow Monarch or an S-Ranked Hunter. The storyline reveals how much Jin-woo adores his family. The arc of the webtoon adaptation spans from chapters 111 to 122, whereas the novel’s narrative arc extends from chapters 136 to 150.
Jin-woo forms his own guild, the Ahjin Guild, and promises to assist the Knights Guild in clearing a top-tier A-Rank Gate on their territory in exchange for a price. But, at the same time, something goes horribly wrong at the high school where his sister Jinnah attends. His strength, dominance, and concern for his beloved sister are immediately discernible. The fast-paced action scenes portray Sung Jin-Woo racing against time and effectively using his powers.
3 The Jeju Island Arc: Monster Evolution
The Jeju island arc is one of the most important arcs in the series since it revealed Sung Jin-woo's strength as a hunter in the Solo Leveling world. The arc started with the gradual evolution of monster ants on Jeju Island. This unforeseen development allowed Hunters worldwide to rally on the island, working together to destroy the ant colony.
With the aid of powerful hunters like Goto Ryuji and Cha Hae-in, the ant raid went on successfully. However, terror soon broke out as the Ant King finally appeared, killing numerous hunters with deadly attacks and striking fear even into powerful hunters' hearts. In the end, Sung Jin-woo subjugated the Ant King, but the battles leading to this development were breathtaking. The arc runs from chapter 90 to 107 in Solo Leveling's webtoon.
2 The Monarch’s War Arc: Veiled Dangers
The 19th story arc of the manhwa is filled with violent inclinations, unsolved mysteries, and a bunch of killers on the run. In the arc, the Monarchs’ search for the Rulers’ vessels in the human world continues. After accidentally making himself a target, the protagonist becomes the subject of an assassination attempt.
But unfortunately, excessive conceit and incorrect estimations cost his assassins their lives as they underestimated his skills and failed to obliterate his corpse in time. The webtoon adaptation’s plot arc runs through chapters 150 to 166, while the novel’s story arc runs from chapters 200 to 224.
1 The Final Battle The Deathmatch
The manhwa’s final battle is filled with abundant energy and ferocious battle cries. In this arc, the protagonist prepares to face the most formidable obstacle he has ever encountered – a duel with Antares, the most powerful Monarch and King of Dragons. In the webtoon adaptation, the arc begins from chapters 167 to 177.
The arc presented the final power-up of Sung Jin-woo, where he manifested the full power of the Shadow Monarch while using power skills like Astralization & Shadow Extraction. This arc is definitely one of the best in the series because it finally featured the high-level battle between Sung Jin-woo and the Dragon King.