The Solo Leveling Manhwa has more than a fair share of powerful characters. The series’ most powerful characters, except Sung Jin-Woo, are mostly the Rulers and the Monarchs. However, a few human characters are more than capable of holding their own against these entities regardless.
These humans, even among the S-Rank Hunters, stand out in terms of power and strength, are categorized as having the military strength of an entire nation on their own, and are treated as walking one-man armies. These humans are the only SSS-Rank Hunters of the series, and below is every single one of them examined in detail.
6 Sung Il Hwan
Hunter Class: Assassin
The father of Jin-Woo, Sung Il-Hwan, was one of the first Korean hunters to become an S-Rank hunter. He was rumored to be dead for a significant part of the series after he got trapped in a dungeon during a raid, only to resurface during the Demon Castle Arc. Sung Il-Hwan is a rather complex character with very little background information related to him other than the fact he is the father of Jin-Woo and Jinah and that he very much cherishes his family, as was shown through his treatment of Hwang Dongsoo, who tries to kill Jin-Woo. Like Jin-Woo, Il-Hwan is shown to be selfless to strangers who require help as he saved the innocent people who happened to get caught in the crosshairs of his battle with Dongsoo.
For his level of power, he is an unrecorded and unofficial S-Rank, as he couldn’t take the Hunter test before getting trapped. While trapped in the Dungeon, he becomes even more powerful after being rescued by the Rulers and becoming a Ruler’s Vessel to carry out his mission of killing the new Shadow Monarch. Il-Hwan later dies from the injuries he sustained from his battle against the Frost Monarch after sharing his last memories with his son, Jin-Woo.
5 Christopher Reed
Hunter Class: Unknown
One of the five National Level Hunters in the series, Christopher Reed was the strongest hunter in the United States of America and ranked third in the world. Portrayed as conceited and arrogant, Reed frowned at the possibility of a human in the world strong enough to kill him.
However, his pride aside, Reed had a keen intellect and was not needlessly headstrong to not take caution when required. His arrogance was not misplaced, however, as Reed was one of the strongest hunters in the world. Additionally, it was a Ruler’s Vessel capable of even using Spiritual Body Manifestation. Still, unfortunately, the full extent of Reed’s powers was never displayed as he was killed off in an offscreen moment.
4 Go Gun-Hee
Hunter Class: Unknown
Chairman of the Korean Hunter Association, Go Gun-Hee was also an S-Rank Hunter of Korea and was easily the strongest after Jin-Woo in Korea. Due to old age and his body not being able to hear the weight of his entire powers, he retired to become the chairman of the Hunter Association.
Even retired, Gun-Hee still had a stifling enough presence to intimidate other S-Rank hunters. Additionally, he was a Ruler’s Vessel capable of using the Ruler’s Authority skill. Portrayed as humble and honest, Gun-Hee showed a high appreciation for good morals and values, making his relationship with Jin-Woo much more solid. Despite being so powerful, Gun-Hee meets his demise at the hands of the Frost Monarch at the beginning of the Monarch’s War Arc.
3 Liu Zhigang
Hunter Class: Fighter
The Hero of China, Liu Zhigang, is one of the five National Level Hunters and is ranked second in the world. He was also the strongest Hunter in Asia until Jin-Woo overtook him. Described as bold and deservedly so, Zhigang, much like Jin-Woo, displays an insatiable thirst for battle, as he is always eager to engage in combat with opponents he believes will be capable of testing his limits.
He is also blunt in expression and quite humble and friendly to individuals he acknowledges. As a Hunter, Zhigang is undoubtedly one of the most powerful in the world. He is also a Ruler’s Vessel capable of using the Ruler’s Authority and Spiritual Body Manifestation, although he never uses this skill in the series. Aside from Jim-Woo, Zhigang is vastly superior to all other hunters globally, with the only exception being Thomas Andre.
2 Thomas Andre
Hunter Class: Tanker
Guild master of the Scavenger Guild, Thomas Andre, is one of the five National Level Hunters and America’s greatest hunter, ranking first in the world. Known as The Goliath, Thomas Andre is literally a Goliath of a human with a massive physique. He dislikes insubordination, but more than that, he has a strong sense of comradeship, as was shown in his treatment of Hwang Dongsoo, even in death.
Portrayed to be arrogant, and rightly so, he is surprisingly gracious in defeat as he bore no malice against Jin-Woo after the latter nearly killed him in the battle between the two. The battle became the foundation of their relationship further down the story. Thomas’s ranking is not just in name as he is also a Ruler’s Vessel capable of using Spiritual Body Manifestation but unfortunately not Ruler’s Authority, making him greatly feared and respected among other S-Rank hunters and even the government.
1 Sung Jin-Woo
Hunter Class: Mage
The infamously weak E-Rank Hunter, Sung Jin-Woo, is the story’s protagonist and the new Shadow Monarch. After awakening as an E-Rank hunter, typically, a hunter can’t awaken twice or receive a massive boost in power after awakening. So, usually, a Hunter lives his life with the same power he awakens with. Jin-Woo is the exception to this rule, rightly so, as the central character. He is chosen as Ashborn’s successor and, through the System, becomes stronger without restraint until he becomes one of the strongest existences in the series.
Despite his power, however, Jin-Woo is a relatively benevolent and selfless individual who loves his family dearly, a trait exemplified by the sacrifices he made for them as the series unfolded. Displayed by the many different feats he achieved in the story, ranging from the Jeju Island Raid Arc to the Monarch’s War Arc, Jin-Woo firmly established himself as a powerful being among powerful beings, even surpassing Ashborn, the former Shadow Monarch and becoming the new Shadow Monarch.
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