Warning: Contains huge spoilers for Solo Leveling (manhwa)
Summary
- The double dungeon in Solo Leveling foreshadows crucial lore revealed later, with the Statue of God hinting at the cruel Absolute Being.
- The commandments within the Cartenon Temple hold deeper meaning, reflecting the past conflict between Rulers and the Absolute Being.
- Jinwoo's experience in the double dungeon mirrors the fate of former Shadow Monarch Ashborn, setting up his important role in the story.
As the event that marks the beginning of Jinwoo's journey in ending of Solo Leveling, where it is revealed that the Cartenon Temple secretly tells a completely different story.
The Statue of God and the commandments of the Cartenon Temple in the double dungeon foreshadow a crucial part of Solo Leveling's lore which is only revealed towards the end of the series. The sadistic Statue of God represents the cruel creator of the universe of Solo Leveling, known as the Absolute Being.
Moreover, the commandments of the Cartenon Temple also hold deeper meaning and actually represent the troubled history of the Rulers and the Absolute Being. Thus, the double dungeon sets up not only Jinwoo's journey toward becoming a "Player" but also the conflict that started it all, suggesting that Solo Leveling's story may have been decided from the very start.
Solo Leveling: Biggest Differences Between The Anime & Manhwa
The Solo Leveling anime exhibits more than ten differences between its adaptation and that of the manhwa, some with greater impact than others.
The Double Dungeon Holds Great Thematic Significance
Solo Leveling created by Chugong; anime produced by A-1 Pictures
The double dungeon, better known as the Cartenon Temple has three basic laws that one has to follow in order to stay alive. However, little did Jinwoo know when he first entered that these laws were much more than a sadistic game. When Jinwoo later returns to the double dungeon, he asks the Architect of the system as much and while the Architect claims the commandments did indeed have meaning, it isn't until chapter #162 that the true significance is revealed.
Chapter #162 of Solo Leveling reveals that the Rulers turned their back on the Absolute Being because they realized he was making them fight the Monarchs, the creatures of darkness simply for his entertainment, living up to the cruel, sadistic person he is represented as by the Statue of God. It is here that the laws of the double dungeon are completely recontextualized.
The Rulers worshipped the God, or the Absolute being with their loyalty. They praised him with their battle cries and proved their faith by dying for the Absolute Being against the never-ending war against the Monarchs. Much like the hunters in the double dungeon, the Rulers who died in this cruel game outweighed those who survived. These parallels between the double dungeon and the history of the Rulers even extends to Jinwoo and the former Shadow Monarch Ashborn who was once a Ruler.
Solo Leveling isn't Just Great, It Has The Potential to Be The Next Attack on Titan
Solo Leveling's stellar opening episodes hint it could be on its way to becoming the next Attack on Titan, with more in common than fans think.
Jinwoo's Origins Mirrors the Former Shadow Monarch
When Jinwoo first enters the double dungeon, he quickly has to make sense of the commandments in order to survive. However, all proves to be in vain when Jinwoo is eventually betrayed by his raid and dies. Jinwoo's death in the double dungeon mirrors that of Ashborn the former Shadow Monarch, who similarly stayed loyal and followed the Absolute Being's commandments. However, like Jinwoo who was left to die by his raid , Ashborn too was betrayed and killed by the other Rulers who chose to rebel against the Absolute Being.
Both Jinwoo and Ashborn followed the commandments, faced betrayal, and were eventually met with death despite it all.
If so, Ashborn's choice to make Jinwoo his successor suddenly begins to make more sense along with why he may have felt drawn to Jinwoo in the first place. Even Jinwoo's shadow soldiers have often seen glimpses of Ashborn in Jinwoo further pointing at the parallels between them.
Overall, the Statue of God plays an important role, especially in Jinwoo's character arc by teaching him true fear, which eventually shapes him into the powerful hunter that he becomes. As the opening scene of Solo Leveling, the double dungeon is also a crucial aspect that drives the plot and continues to grow in significance as the series progresses.
Solo Leveling is available from Crunchyroll.
Solo Leveling
- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025-00-00
Based on a webtoon series, Solo Leveling is an action-adventure fantasy anime originally created by Chugong. When Sung Jinwoo is slain in the depths of a high-level dungeon, he is reborn, intending to use his newfound strength to reach the heart of the dungeon and uncover its secrets.
- Creator(s)
- Chugong
- Where To Watch
- Crunchyroll
- Seasons
- 1
