Solo Leveling is back with Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- ! Based on the Korean webtoon by DUBU (REDICE Studio), Chugong and h-goon, Solo Leveling is the story of hunter Sung Jinwoo and his allies as they fight monsters from another world. Once a weak low-rank hunter, everything changed for Jinwoo in the depths of a deadly dungeon. Now he’s the only hunter in the world who can level up, secretly gaining strength and abilities, but others are taking notice… RELATED: Solo Leveling Episode 22, “We Need a Hero” Let’s talk about everything that happened in Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- Episode 23 ! And stay tuned to Crunchyroll for the next incredible episode. Warning: Full details for the latest episode of Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- follow. S-Rank level spoilers ahead for Solo Leveling Episode 23 ! Into the Depths On Jeju Island a mysterious, evolved magic beast moves faster than two Japanese S-Rank hunters can see. It makes quick work of them, their heads tumbling to the ground. Inside the queen ant’s lair, the Korean S-Rank hunters kill magic ant after magic ant, each one as powerful as an S-Rank itself. Baek Yoonho, Ma Dongwook, Cha Hae-in, Lim Tae-Gyu and Choi Jong-in fight as healer Min Byung-gu supports them. Baek uses his enhanced vision to get a glimpse of the queen in the deepest chamber of the lair. The group ventures deeper inside. RELATED: Which Solo Leveling Guild Do You Belong To? On the surface of Jeju Island, two more Japanese S-Rank hunters look for their missing colleagues. They sense the evolved magic beast… but it’s too late. Back inside the lair, the Korean hunters have reached the queen’s chamber, which is protected by hundreds of royal guard ants. Unleashed Ma activates his defensive abilities, doubling in size, as Choi releases his fire magic at full strength. He doesn’t hold back as countless royal guard ants are engulfed in flames. Baek unleashes his full power as well, transforming into a half-man, half-tiger with glowing eyes and an unruly white mane. He roars and tears apart the ants with his clawed hands. The cameraman who accompanied the team can only stand and watch, transmitting the feed to televisions across the country. S-Rank healer Byung-gu stands nearby to protect him and support the other hunters. RELATED: Here's the Winter OPs You Thought Were the Best of the Season Lim rains magic arrows down on the royal guard ants, and the S-Rank hunters keep working in perfect harmony to destroy them all. Hunters on standby outside the island, as well as the population of Korea, watch the fight unfold through the live newsfeed. Finally, only the massive queen itself remains. Backup Arrives… The queen ant spews noxious gas on Ma and Baek. Just as it begins to eat away at their skin Byung-gu cures the two hunters. As the hunters attack, the queen emits a screech into the sky. As the hunters combine their abilities, magic arrows, flames, claws and blades pummel the queen. Cha delivers the final blow, and the people of Korea cheer as its head is severed from its body. But it’s too soon to celebrate. RELATED: Live-Action Solo Leveling Adaptation in the Works The queen’s scream summoned all the ants of the island back to the lair and the hunters are still inside. Choi senses his magic defenses shattering as the ants come for them. The evolved magic beast, similar to a humanoid black ant in appearance, reaches them before the ants do. The S-Rank hunters sense the staggering power of the black ant as it stalks toward them. Cha falls to her knees, overcome by its stench, and they all immediately realize this is no ordinary magic beast. It stands next to the queen’s corpse for a moment, then moves like lightning. It takes out Cha in one blow to her side, removes Ma’s arms, and slices Baek and Choi across the chest. Just before it kills Lim, Ma blocks the attack, arms completely restored. Run! Byung-gu uses Camouflage, a stealth skill, to heal his allies unseen. The black ant slams Ma into the ground then turns to Byung-gu – whom it can see through his invisibility. The healer is impaled through the chest by the black beast’s arm, and he tells his friend Baek to run with his dying breath. RELATED: Solo Leveling Season 2 Trailer Prepares to Embark on Deadly New Mission There’s no time, however; the black ant grabs Baek by the throat and begins to speak. It tells Baek that they are too weak for it, and it wants to face their king to answer for its queen’s death. It speeds outside in search of Japanese S-Rank guild leader Ryuji Goto just as another wave of magic ants swarms the hunters. Exchange Outside, Goto and the other Japanese hunters search for their unresponsive teammates. Just as they find their corpses, Goto receives orders over the radio from Japan’s guildmaster, Chairman Matsumoto. The heartless leader orders the Japanese hunters to leave the Koreans to their deaths. They’ll move in another strike team to finish the remaining ants, taking all the credit for the successful raid and reducing Korea’s military might in one swoop. The black ant, however, has other ideas. Goto barely blocks its attack in time as it approaches. When it asks him if he’s the human king, Goto answers yes. A curtain of darkness falls and the hunter’s blade breaks in two. RELATED: A Monster Guide to the Solo Leveling Magic Beasts (So Far) Back inside the lair, the hunters can barely hold back the thousands of magic ants through the pain of their severe injuries. Cha is unconscious and the others can barely stand. Suddenly, soldiers emerge from the hunters’ shadows – it’s Jinwoo’s army! The shadow soldiers hold back the onslaught of magic beasts, protecting the hunters. Elsewhere, Jinwoo stands, his eyes glowing as he utters one word: “Exchange.” What did you think of Solo Leveling Episode 23 ? Can Jinwoo survive the black ant? Find out in the next episode of Solo Leveling right here on Crunchyroll! Need to catch up on previous Solo Leveling Season 2 episode recaps? Check them out below: Solo Leveling Episode 22 Recap Solo Leveling Episode 21 Recap Solo Leveling Episode 20 Recap Solo Leveling Episode 19 Recap Solo Leveling Episode 18 Recap Solo Leveling Episode 17 Recap Solo Leveling Episode 16 Recap Solo Leveling Episode 15 Recap Solo Leveling Episode 14 Recap Solo Leveling Episode 13 Recap
