Summary
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It is a shame that the anime adaptation forSolo Levelinghas not put much focus on the s-class hunters and the various guild factions. This part of theSolo Levelingworldbuilding, while mainly just existing as something for Sung Jinwoo to overcome, could actually be interesting. The intersection between hunter powers and bureaucracy feels like an underexplored aspect of the series, benefiting from it being in the modern day instead of a typical medieval fantasy setting.
One of the most powerful guilds we see in the show is the White Tiger Guild. Though many of its hunters are barely touched on, it is the home of one of the top hunters in Korea as well asone of the only human hunters to become a shadow under Jinwoo’s command.
Guildmaster Baek Yoonho
One of Korea’s Top S-Class Hunters
Starting at the top of the pyramid of power in the White Tiger guild is its guildmaster Baek Yoonho.He is a formidable hunter, possessing the ability to increase his S-class strength even further by transforming into a white tiger. This transformation ability makes him unique among hunters, whose abilities keep them looking mostly the same. His powerful transformation also gives Baek enhanced beast senses, which allows him to be amongthe first to realize the true depths of Sung Jinwoo’s power.
“What the heck…? All this magical energy is coming from Jinwoo?” -Baek Yoonho
Baek was able to hold his ownagainst S-rank hunter Ma Dongwook in their sparring match without fully transforming, and managed to do well against the Japanese S-class in the mock battle. His durability also is extremely high, able to still remain conscious and fight after being knocked around by the Ant King on Jeju Island.
“So these are the best hunters of South Korea. There’s not much for us to see” - Japanese A-rank hunter Hanaekawa watching Baek Yoonho and Ma Dongwook sparring.
However, despite Baek’s beast transformation granting him immense power, he seems to be mediocre in terms of power on the world stage. Hanekawa evaluated him as nothing impressive, and Goto Ruiji noted that only Cha Hae-In and Chairman Go Gunhee were worth paying attention to among the Korean hunters that had gathered. Still, Baek Yoonhoo managed to strike out and create this guild on his own, managing to make it strong enough to be considered one of the top 5 in Korea.
The White Tiger Guild’s Other Members
Including Jinwoo’s Shadow Solder “Iron”
Unfortunately, many of the other members of the White Tiger Guild are not explored too deeply in the anime or other adaptations of the story. Jinwoo encounters several members of the White Tiger Guild during a red gate incident where he defeats the dungeon boss Baraka. Here he meets A-rank tank Kim Chul, B-rank Mage Park Heejin, C-rank Tank Yoon Kijoon, and C-rank hunter Go Myung-Hwan.
“Sung Jinwoo! You Die!” -Kim Chul screaming while charging at Jinwoo from behind.
During the difficult battle in the red gate dungeon, Jinwoo is betrayed by Kim Chul, who rushes him from behind while he is distracted by the boss. Jinwoo dispatches Kim,turning him into his first hunter shadow soldierand renaming him Iron. Kim Chul, who had hated Jinwoo in life, became his loyal shadow and was viewed by theSolo Levelingprotagonist as one of the dumbest members of his army.
“A lumbering giant with no agility.” -Baraka after clashing with Iron.
However, before his defeat, Kim Chul was one of the strongest members in the guild after Baek Yoonho. He was able to easily defeat a group of ice bears by himself. Kim Chul was also able to survive an attack from Jinwoo that sent him flying away. As a member of the guild’s elite strike team, he seemed to be a reliable leader before it all fell apart in the red gate dungeon.
“Somehow… you knew this would happen from the start..” -Kim Chul dying after being impaled by Igris.
Solo Leveling
Cast
A-1 Pictures' Solo Leveling is an anime based on Chugong’s popular web novel. Set in an unforgiving fantasy world where hunters explore dungeons filled with monsters, the vulnerable Sung Jinwoo gains a significant power boost after he is picked to be a solo player by the System.
