Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 11 took one of the most intense moments of the Jeju Island Raid and dialed it up to eleven. A-1 Pictures adapted manhwa chapters 96-100, making some bold choices along the way—some that made the action hit much harder, and others that shifted the tone or pacing in unexpected ways. Let’s dive into what changed, what worked, and what might leave fans with mixed feelings.
Min Byung-Gyu’s Buffing Scene Was Postponed
In the manhwa, Min Byung-Gyu hands out buffs to his allies before they even step foot in the Ant Queen’s chamber. This makes perfect sense—these hunters are walking into a death trap, and they know it. The early buffs emphasize just how dangerous all the ants are, not just their boss.
But the anime changes things up. Instead of happening beforehand, the buffing moment is pushed right into the middle of the battle against the Ant Queen. This makes it seem like the hunters only needed the boost for the Queen herself, rather than the whole fight. While this little change streamlines the action and keeps things moving, it also slightly downplays the looming dread that the manhwa built up from the start.
A New Scene for Bravo Team
One of the anime’s best additions was a fresh scene featuring Japan’s Bravo Team—Kanae Tawata and Atsushi Kumamoto. Instead of just being background characters, they actually get a moment of their own, reacting to Charlie Team’s eerie silence and battling a massive swarm of ants in the city.
This gives them more life than they had in the manhwa, making them feel like actual players in this war rather than just extras. However, this comes at the cost of shifting some attention away from the brutal showdown happening in the Queen’s chamber. It’s a cool addition, but some fans might feel it slightly dilutes the tension of the main event.
The National Level Hunters Subplot Was Cut
This is probably one of the biggest cuts in the adaptation. In the manhwa, there’s a short but significant conversation near the coast of China, where it’s hinted that Japan’s true motive for sending Goto Ryuji wasn’t just to fight—it was to set him up for a promotion to National Level Hunter.
The anime ditches this subplot entirely. Chairman Matsumoto’s dialogue is rewritten to focus only on the immediate crisis, cutting out the geopolitical scheming. On one hand, this makes the episode feel tighter, keeping the audience locked into the high-stakes battle. But on the other, it removes some of the larger world-building and political intrigue that gave the manhwa an extra layer of depth.
The Ant King’s Introduction is Pure Nightmare Fuel
The Ant King was terrifying in the manhwa, but the anime? It takes things to a whole new level. The way he’s introduced—his hulking figure emerging from the shadows, the eerie silence before the carnage, and the absolute brutality of his attacks—sends chills down your spine.
A-1 Pictures goes all in, making the action more gruesome. The Japanese S-Rank hunters don’t just die—they’re obliterated. The Ant King’s strength feels otherworldly, and Cha Hae-in’s defeat is even more gut-wrenching as she’s sent flying into a rock pillar, completely powerless. This is easily one of the anime’s most chilling moments so far.
Min Byung-Gyu’s Death is Even More Heartbreaking
If you thought Min Byung-Gyu’s death hit hard in the manhwa, the anime makes sure you feel every second of it. The switch to a first-person perspective—seeing Baek Yoonho’s horrified expression as Byung-Gyu realizes he’s already been impaled—adds a layer of intimacy and sheer helplessness that wasn’t as pronounced in the original.
It’s a simple but incredibly effective choice. You’re not just watching a character die; you’re experiencing their final, desperate moments firsthand. And that’s what makes it hurt.
Cha Hae-in’s Last Stand Against the Ant Queen Gets an Upgrade
One of the anime’s best visual highlights is Cha Hae-in’s finishing move on the Ant Queen. A-1 Pictures gives her the spotlight she deserves, adding extra flair to her swordplay with stunning effects and smooth animation. It’s flashy, it’s cinematic, and it makes her feel like a true powerhouse, even if the moment is ultimately overshadowed by the looming horror of the Ant King.
The Cliffhanger and Jinwoo’s Arrival—Perfectly Executed
Solo Leveling thrives on hype, and the anime absolutely nails Jinwoo’s entrance. In the manhwa, his sudden appearance was already a mic drop moment, but the anime stretches out the tension, making sure the audience feels the hunters’ despair before delivering the ultimate power move.
The haunting background music, Baek Yoonho’s hopeless expression, the slow realization that they’re done for—it all builds up to that one, perfect moment. Jinwoo steps in, the air shifts, and with a single word—“Exchange”—the entire battlefield changes. It’s nothing short of peak storytelling.
Conclusion
Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 11 sticks closely to the manhwa but isn’t afraid to make changes where it counts. Some, like the brutal detailing to the Ant King and Min Byung-Gyu’s tragic death, take the adaptation to new heights. Others, like the omission of the National Level Hunter subplot, streamlines the pacing at the expense of some world-building.
At the end of the day, the anime delivers where it matters most—bringing the hype, the heartbreak, and the sheer intensity of Jeju Island’s deadliest battle to life. With Jinwoo finally stepping onto the battlefield, the real show is just beginning.
About Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling is a Korean Webtoon written by Chu Gong and illustrated by Jang Sung Rak. It is adapted from the web novel; I Alone Level Up. Kakaopage publishes it in South Korea and Piccoma in Japan. The series ended in December 2021 and has been collected into 14 volumes.
Portals connecting the Earth to realms of monsters have opened up, and hunters defeat those monsters. Sung Jin Woo belongs to the lowest level of hunters, but after getting involved in a Dungeon quest, he alone can see quests like that of a game.
His journey to become the most powerful hunter and bring peace back to Earth begins.
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