Solo Leveling is a fast-paced series, but there are a few highlights that stand out in the entire series. Beru’s resurrection was one of Solo Leveling’s most anticipated moments.
The Jeju Island arc itself was highly anticipated; it was a stage for Sung Jinwoo to establish himself as one of the most powerful Hunters in the world. Jinwoo’s battle with Sung Jinwoo and the scene where Jinwoo summons Beru as his shadow was a hyped moment.
The anime had scenes that definitely cemented his status as Sung Jinwoo’s most fearsome shadow. But could it have been better? Much more so. In the webtoon, his Arise moment was a defining scene of power, terror, and absolute loyalty.
The anime missed a massive opportunity
It showed the fearsome aspect of messing with Sung Jinwoo, since the scariest aspect about Jinwoo is not that he is very strong, but he is a one-man army.
And if you go against him and lose, it will not end there. You will become his subordinate and serve him until the end of time. Fans expected the anime adaptation to elevate this moment further, but the aura farming aspects have seen no compromise in the anime so far.
It only made sense that with the stellar animation and direction that the series displayed throughout its run, it would only elevate the effect and impact. However, due to the excessive focus on the detailing, unlike the manhwa, the impact of the animation fell short.
Instead of an awe-inspiring display, it was more of a curious one, in short, the anime viewers got was an underwhelming and rushed version that failed to carry the weight of the manhwa source.
While the adaptation attempted to add new elements to the Jeju Island arc, such as Beru’s rebirth in an egg, these changes ultimately softened the impact of his transformation. The terrifying entity was rendered into the equivalent of some common monster.
Beru’s resurrection: A moment of absolute dominance
Beru itself looked less vicious than the one in the manhwa. Compared to the cinematic brilliance of Igris’s battle, even Kargalgan’s arc, Beru’s introduction lacked the same intensity or impact.
The anime’s take on the scene missed the eerie and sinister energy, and also the sense of sheer dominance that defined a predator like Beru, the Ant King.
The moment Beru emerged in the manhwa, it was clear he was no ordinary being, his grotesque form, glowing eyes, and monstrous aura made him feel like an extremely powerful monster. The egg had the outline of the Ant King in the manhwa whereas it looked like a crystal straight out of an isekai in the Solo Leveling anime.
In the original webtoon, Beru’s rise as a shadow was an unforgettable moment. After it is shown that Beru is an extremely formidable creature capable of vanquishing entire teams of S-Rankers, we see Beru taken down by Jinwoo.
The highlight moment was the one when Beru ‘Arose’ from the dead as a Shadow joined Sung Jinwoo’s Shadow army, becoming the strongest shadow soldier. After Sung Jinwoo defeats the terrifying Ant King, he uses ‘Arise’ (Shadow summoning through his Monarch of Shadows class) to turn him into one of his shadows.
You can stream Solo Leveling on Crunchyroll.
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