The wait is over! Episode 4 of Solo Leveling Season 2 is here, and it picks up right after the intense battle where Jin-Woo defeated the monsters.
Following the fight, Jin-Woo shifts his focus to saving his mother. To do this, he needs to craft the "Elixir of Life," which requires three special items. So far, he has already secured two of them. The final item, however, is hidden on the 100th floor of the Demon Castle, guarded by a powerful boss. Jin-Woo knows he must be fully prepared to face this challenge.
But here’s the catch—officially, Jin-Woo still holds an E-rank, meaning he’s not eligible to participate in high-level raids. To bypass this limitation, he decides to use a re-evaluation system to upgrade his rank.
When Jin-Woo arrives at the re-evaluation center, we see many hunters anxiously awaiting their results. Most of them fear getting stuck with an E-rank, as it means little money and fewer opportunities. There's even a touching side story of a poor hunter abandoned by his family, desperately hoping for a better rank.
Interestingly, several scenes from the original manhwa were cut in this episode, as is often the case with A-1 Pictures’ anime adaptation. But don’t worry—those deleted scenes will be available on my second channel soon!
Jin-Woo’s Hidden Power Revealed
At the re-evaluation center, something unexpected happens. When Jin-Woo places his hand on the magic measurement device, an error appears on the monitor. He tries again, but the same error shows up.
The staff initially thinks it’s a technical glitch, but one expert realizes the truth—Jin-Woo’s magic power has exceeded the machine’s limit! This confirms what many suspected: Jin-Woo has become the 10th S-Rank Hunter!
Changes from the Manhwa
In a cutaway scene, we see characters Jin-Chul and Choi Jong-In discussing Jeju Island. However, this conversation is different from the manhwa, where they originally spoke about another hunter, Dong-Su. A-1 Pictures continues to make changes in scene order, likely to better build up toward the Jeju Island arc.
We’re also shown an original anime-only scene involving the mysterious "Ants" storyline. These new elements are part of the studio's effort to expand the anime's world-building.
Everyone Wants Jin-Woo
Choi Jong-In begins investigating a recent Red Gate incident. He learns that a non-guild member defeated the boss in an S-rank dungeon, which catches his interest. Though he doesn’t yet know it’s Jin-Woo, he’s determined to find out.
Soon after, word spreads about Jin-Woo's S-rank power. Several top guild leaders now want him to join their teams. Choi Jong-In even approaches Jin-Woo directly with a recruitment offer. But Jin-Woo, cool as ever, ignores him and walks away, saying he has more important things to do. That moment leaves Choi absolutely stunned—he’s not used to being brushed off like that.
Even Baek Yoon-Ho arrives on the scene hoping to meet Jin-Woo, but he’s already gone. Still, Baek realizes Choi Jong-In is also targeting Jin-Woo for recruitment. It’s now clear that everyone wants Jin-Woo on their side because of how powerful he’s become.
Emotional Ending with His Mother
The episode ends on a touching note. Jin-Woo visits his mother in the hospital. He gently tells her that it looks like she could wake up at any moment, and asks her to wait just a little longer. As he turns to leave, he notices Jin-Chul watching him and tells him, “You’ve proven I was blind,” admitting that he had underestimated Jin-Woo all along.
Final Thoughts
Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 4 is packed with emotion, action, and plot twists. The anime continues to diverge slightly from the manhwa, but the buildup is strong, especially with the Jeju Island arc on the horizon. Jin-Woo’s rise to S-rank is official now, and the world is finally taking notice.
Stay tuned for deleted scenes and deeper analysis on my second channel!
