Solo Leveling of Chugong became as popular as it is today thanks to its blistering action that is hard to match. After its anime adaptation by Aniplex and A-1 Pictures that took this already popular series to sky-high levels, Solo Leveling is now a global phenomenon, having already achieved the record of being Crunchyroll's highest rated anime of all time.
At the heart of Solo Leveling's popularity are the many compelling characters that are often seen engaging in high-level battles. Chugong's story has given us both great heroes and villains, and among them is one of the most spectacular characters to grace the series – the Ant King, who stood as the main antagonist in the Jeju Island arc. In this arc, the terrifying villain wreaked havoc on the S-Rank Hunters until he was finally stopped by Sung Jinwoo.
The Ant King is Solo Leveling's most iconic villain at the moment, and although he was already strong in the anime, Solo Leveling Arise Overdrive brings him back stronger than ever with a new transformation that has completely destroyed players who dared to challenge him. What's more exciting is that this isn't all for Beru, as he also makes another appearance as a Shadow.
Solo Leveling Arise OVERDRIVE brings back the ant king with a new transformation in the new update
Solo Leveling's web novel was written between July 25, 2016 and March 13, 2018 by Chugong. The excitement and success it generated led to the creation of the most successful manhwa series of all time between March 4, 2018 and December 29, 2021. Eventually, in 2024, the series went on to receive a TV anime. Year 2025, Solo Leveling Season 2 was released by Aniplex and A-1 Pictures, which also carried the Jeju Island Arc, which was released on March 8, 2025, in episode 9.
“Are you the king of men?” — Ant King to Sung Jinwoo in Solo Leveling Season 2
Jeju Island saw S-Rank Hunters from Japan and South Korea trying to quell an ant invasion that had taken over Jeju Island and started seeping through to other locations. While the Hunters initially managed to hold their own, the Ant King proved too overwhelming and completely wiped them out. The queen was strong, but her powers were no comparison to her son's. On Jeju Island, the Ant King was simply on a whole other level, as he was able to kill a majority of the Japanese S-Rank Hunters effortlessly, including Goto Ryuji, who was hyped as a powerhouse from Japan. It wasn't until Sung Jinwoo finally appeared to save the day that the Ant King was dealt with. The battle between the two was intense, but Jinwoo came out on top and even added the Ant King to his arsenal of shadows with his Arise ability. Currently in the anime, Beru is his strongest Shadow.
While the Jeju Island arc seemed like the peak of the ant king, Solo Leveling Arise OVERDRIVE proved that he has even more potential. Released on November 17, 2025, this Solo Leveling game from Netmarble Studio has just received its Jeju Island update, and Ant King was expected to be a major highlight. This update added Ant King as a new boss to the Workshop of Brilliant Light.
Fans who have fought this new Ant King quickly realized that he is not the same as in the anime. This Ant King is much stronger and a challenge to take on. Instead of his usual dark blue color scheme, this Ant King is all white with red highlights. This form is even more terrifying than the one Jinwoo fought before, and many players express that it is one of the more difficult matches in the game. Solo Leveling Video games continue to give us new designs for established characters, and we hope to see the same treatment for other IP antagonists.
Solo Leveling officially puts an S-Rank Hunter on Jinwoo's level
Solo Leveling Season 2 made Jinwoo powerful, but an S-rank hunter has officially risen to his level in Japan.
Beru also makes a comeback as a new shadow in the New Jeju Island update of Arise Overdrive
The ant king is an icon in Solo Leveling franchise, so seeing him introduced as a new boss with an exciting new form isn't all that surprising. That being said, not only does he have a new boss form, but he also appears as a shadow in the new Jeju Island update. The Ant King's Shadow form is called Beru, and in Solo Leveling Arise OVERDRIVE, he looks just like his anime and Manhwa version, but with a much more striking purple aura emitted from his wings and body. This new Shadow likes attacks and critical hits for Sung Jinwoo in the game, and is definitely a must have for fans of the character.
The Jeju Island Solo Leveling update brings all-new content
The Jeju Island update was one of the most anticipated for Solo Leveling Arise OVERDRIVE. While Ant King Boss and Shadow Beru sent fans into a frenzy, there was more to the update than just their inclusion. Along with Very, new hunters relevant to Jeju Island were also added to the game, notably Goto Ryuji, Japan's strongest S-Rank Hunter, who was killed by Beru, as well as Tawata Kanae, another Japanese S-Rank Hunter. The two also have their own exclusive weapons.
Aside from that, Sung Jinwoo also got a new costume for the update that mirrors his Jeju outfit from the source, as well as a new skill tree to unlock. Some of the new stuff can be unlocked in-game, while others are paid DLC that fans can choose to invest in.
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Berus' role in The Future of Solo Leveling
Beru is one of Jinwoo's most popular shadows and even rivals Igris in popularity. In large part, this is thanks to his striking design, overwhelming powers, and also his personality that stands out from the rest. While he was the prominent new character in the Solo Leveling Season 2 will also see him be important moving forward, as the world of Solo Leveling continues to expand. In Solo Leveling Season 3, Beru will become a trusted Shadow for Jinwoo and will be tasked with protecting Jinah, his own sister.
“The seat to the left of the king is mine! How dare you stand there!” — Beru
After that, he will also try to help Jinwoo regularly in battle, such as during the Japan Crisis Arc, where he has to play a crucial role in taking down various enemies. Beru will also be of great help in Jinwoo's fight against the Monarchs in the Monarchs War Arc. Without a doubt, he has proven to be one of the strongest shadows in Jinwoo's possession, and we can't wait to see more of him in future projects for the franchise.
