Episode 4 picks up right where we left off, with Sung Jinwoo fully embracing his newfound abilities in the instance dungeon. His agility is on full display as he flips and dodges around a pack of ferocious wolves. Although he initially struggles to make a dent with his bare fists, the sudden realization that he can summon weapons from his inventory proves to be the key.
Drawing a sword changes the tide of battle, and he overcomes the wolves, even managing to make one flee. He also notices that after the fight, he has leveled up to level 2.
The RPG Mechanics Evolve
This episode leans heavily into the game-like progression system at the heart of Solo Leveling. Jinwoo notices that leveling up heals his wounds and boosts his stats, opening a shop menu where he can buy and sell items (though he isn’t high-level enough to purchase anything yet).
After mowing down dozens of wolves to gain experience before his battle with the boss, he earns the title “Wolf Assassin”, which gives him +40% across all abilities against animal-type monsters.
He also acquires a teleportation stone – an easy escape, if he chooses to take it. Jinwoo opts instead to push deeper into the dungeon, clearing more enemies, wanting to capitalize on this unique leveling opportunity before the dungeon disappears.
Jinwoo also noticed that as he gets stronger, the labels for each enemy changes, showing that they’ve become weaker to him. As Jinhoo explains it, white is relatively weak, orange is about equal to his level, and red means trouble. When he first fought the lycan’s their label was red, but after leveling up, they’ve become white.
Joohee Accepts the D-Rank Gate
Joohee’s manager gives her another call after a dungeon break at the gate that he called about earlier (in the previous episode). Her manager explains that there’s a major shortage of hunters right now and that they’re reaching out to every hunter they can find. She accepts the offer this time.
The Dungeon Boss: Blue Venom-Fanged Kasaka
The highlight of Episode 4 is the showdown with the “king of the swamp,” a massive armored snake called the Blue Venom-Fanged Kasaka. In a tense sequence, Jinwoo’s sword is shattered against the monster’s armor, leaving him with only the handle and maybe a foot of the blade.
Memories of being mocked by stronger hunters resurface, temporarily shaking his resolve. But bolstered by past words of encouragement from Mr. Song, Jinwoo and a desire to be strong, he channels his frustration into raw power and crushes the armor around the snake’s head and tearing it apart. It’s a brutal, visceral scene that underscores how much he’s grown, both physically and mentally.
After the battle, Jinwoo levels up again. He also receives some items that might prove useful in future episodes; a new weapon, Kasaka’s Venom Fang, a dagger made of the snakes fangs, and Kasaka’s Venom Gland, a poison potion that increases physical damage but causes a decline in strength.
Return to Reality
With the boss defeated, the instance dungeon dissolves, dropping Jinwoo back into the subway station.
Outside, the city is under lockdown because of the D-rank Gate that opened earlier. Hunters have been battling the invading magical beasts but are struggling to take down the final boss.
Jinwoo analyzes the scene and sees that the group is made up of a mess of random variety of weaker grade hunters, but he spots one higher grade healer – Joohee. He see’s that she’s still shaken up from the Double Dungeon incident one week ago.
Jinwoo, brimming with newfound strength, throws what’s left of his sword from behind the crowd of civilian onlookers, shattering the boss’s shield and allowing the other hunters to land a finishing blow.
Joohee, still uncertain if the mystery savior is Jinwoo, catches a fleeting glimpse of him, but he disappears before she can tell for sure.
A Hero in the Making
What stands out most in Episode 4 is Jinwoo’s noticeable change in demeanor. Gone is the timid E-rank who second-guesses his every move. In the past, he seemed content with his weaknesses, even laughing at jokes made at his own expense. But during his battle with Kasaka, as he reminisced about his past, you can see that he struggled deeply with feeling weak, being teased, and always feeling like he was getting in everyone’s way in battle.
Now, he walks away from a major victory, exuding a quiet self-assurance. This transformation feels like a turning point – Jinwoo is no longer content being the “weakest hunter.” With each completed quest and every battle faced, he’s carving a new path for himself.
Final Thoughts
Episode 4 solidifies Solo Leveling’s unique blend of RPG mechanics, intense battles, and personal growth. Sung Jinwoo’s swift adaptability and cool-headed approach set the stage for an exciting future, hinting at more powerful monsters and even bigger rewards. Watching him evolve from a low-level hunter that has to be saved in every battle to someone who can alter the outcome of a citywide crisis is both satisfying and thrilling.