Why Solo Leveling Season 3 Might Be Darker Than Expected

This article contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling manhwa.

Summary

• Solo Leveling season 3 may take a darker turn with high stakes and powerful enemies.
• Jin-Woo will unravel the truth about his powers, blurring the line between good and evil.
• Character deaths in season 3 will be impactful, leaving lasting devastation on both Jin-Woo and fans.

Since day one, Solo Leveling has been a dark fantasy anime series that many viewers may not like if they are into lighthearted genres like comedy, iyashikei, or slice-of-life. The first two seasons of Solo Leveling featured some of the darkest and most brutal moments in anime, but they only scratch the surface of the story. As Jin-Woo grows stronger and encounters more powerful opponents, season 3 has a strong chance of taking a darker turn than expected.

Solo Leveling season 2 left many fans traumatized with brutal character deaths at the hands of the menacing Ant King. Some characters were decapitated and others were impaled, proving just how dark the series can be. Beyond the killings, Jin-Woo was also dealing with personal struggles, as he felt like he was losing his humanity the more he acquired power. If this isn’t enough, Solo Leveling season 3 may even get darker, especially if it stays faithful to the source material.

Is Solo Leveling Season 3 About to Get Much Darker?

A Turning Point in Jin-Woo’s Story

There are high expectations that Solo Leveling season 3 will increase the stakes even further, as Jin-Woo has reached level 100, a feat no hunter, not even Jin-Woo himself, ever imagined he could accomplish when he was just an E-rank nobody. With so much power at his disposal, it’s only natural that the road ahead is bound to be more difficult and possibly even darker, especially when far more dangerous enemies stand in his way.

Throughout the first two seasons of Solo Leveling, all Jin-Woo did was grind levels by clearing low-level and high-rank gates. He fights countless magical beasts, ranging from lycans and goblins to powerful dungeon bosses, including the leader of the ice elves, Baruka, the three demon bosses from the Demon Castle, and the Jeju Island’s Ant King. And yet, he failed to uncover the truth about these beings, his powers, and the current state of the world.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of… I’ve already died once.”—Sung Jin-Woo

All of that is likely to change, possibly in season 3, as Solo Leveling’s story will most definitely expand, introducing new characters who could either be important allies or dangerous foes. If fans thought the second season was already dark and intense, then they should think twice, because once season 3 has been confirmed, things are expected to get even more serious.

Darker Plot Reveals

Jin-Woo Will Find Out the Truth

Many fans find it difficult to determine whether Jin-Woo is good or evil in Solo Leveling. He is the type of main character who always challenges everyone’s morals, especially when it comes to his decision to extract the dead and turn them into a shadow with a life of servitude. Shadow extraction is not just a powerful job-exclusive skill, but it also blurs the line between good and evil.

In season 3, if the anime adapts the Double Dungeon arc from start to finish, Jin-Woo will finally learn the truth about his powers, including the origins of Shadow Extraction. He’ll learn where it came from, who gave him the ability, and why the Shadow Monarch chose him. Unlike most shonen anime with standard power-ups and villains, Solo Leveling will reveal a deeper and darker narrative. Most importantly, Jin-Woo will discover that there’s more to the darkness that resides within him.

Without giving away many spoilers, the Double Dungeon arc will most certainly shift the tone of the narrative, as themes of war, control, manipulation, and fate will be explored.

“If I have a bad feeling about something, I’m never wrong”—Sung Jin-Woo

Character Deaths Will Hit Harder

There’s More on the Line

Should Solo Leveling season 3 cover the International Guild Conference Arc through the Monarchs War Arc, fans should prepare tissues as character deaths will hit even harder than before. Unlike the first two seasons, which mainly took the lives of secondary and less impactful characters, season 3 is expected to remove characters who have made a significant impact on Jin-Woo’s growth.

Moreover, these character deaths will most certainly have a lasting but devastating impact, not just on Jin-Woo but on the fans as well. Unlike previous losses, these deaths won’t be simple and quick, but they will be painful and heartbreaking. The way these characters exit the story will cement the true cost of the battles next season. As Jin-Woo witnesses these tragedies unfold one by one, he’ll realize that even with all his monstrous strength, he can’t possibly save everyone.

“If I don’t kill them, I’ll be killed”—Sung Jin-Woo

For now, fans will have to wait for more updates about the release of Solo Leveling season 3. If fans can’t wait any longer, they could still turn to the manhwa or the novel to get a glimpse of what’s to come next season.