As the South Korean and Japanese S-rank hunters converge, egos clash during training. The Jeju Island raid finally begins, but someone is missing in action.
The Jeju Island Arc has officially begun in Solo Leveling Season 2, Episode 22, We Need a Hero. The episode starts with a sparring match between South Korea’s and Japan’s strongest hunters before shifting to the preparations for the raid, setting up one of the series’ most important battles.
The episode delivers solid animation, especially in the combat sequences, and effectively builds tension for what’s ahead. However, some changes from the manhwa have caught fans’ attention—some made for pacing, others likely to avoid cultural backlash. One notable difference is how the anime presents Jinwoo, making him seem more human and less ruthless than his manhwa counterpart.
Let’s take a look at the some of the details that had happened in the episode:
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
South Korea’s hunters vs Japan’s hunters
One of the most challenging parts to adapt in this series is the sparring session between South Korea’s S-rank hunters and Japan’s strongest S-rank hunters, especially given the real-world tensions between the two nations.
However, the anime handled this carefully, ensuring both sides remained impressive during combat. It’s also notable that the Japanese hunters’ attitudes in the episode were less arrogant and more inquisitive than in the original material.
I expected to be disappointed by the fight scenes here, but I wasn’t. In fact, some sequences felt more fluid than both the Kargalgan episode and this season’s Demon Tower episode—which seemed a bit unfair. However, in terms of power, it looks like they masked the strength of Jinwoo and Goto for certain reasons, making a few adjustments from the manhwa.
Some speculate that this change was influenced by historical tensions between Japan and Korea, but there could be a deeper reason for it—one that we may discover in the next episode.
Jinwoo steps away from his ruthless “edgelord” image
The second season continues to depict Jinwoo as more human compared to his manhwa counterpart. A significant change in this episode was that Jinwoo didn’t voice his thoughts in the anime.
In the manhwa, Jinwoo recognised the bloodlust in Ryoji and considered that another emergency quest might appear, forcing him to kill his opponent, as with Hwang Dong-sook and Kang Tae-sik. Despite this, he smirked sinisterly and continued his fight. Baek Yoon-ho (whose hair turned white) and Cha Hae-in had to restrain him, while the Japanese hunters held back Goto.
However, in the anime, Jinwoo doesn’t have this internal monologue, and Baek Yoon-ho’s hair remains unchanged when he restrained Jinwoo—making the situation less intense.
This adjustment makes Jinwoo’s transition from his battle-ready state to his quiet moments with his mother and sister feel more natural, reinforcing his human side.
Some fans who enjoy Jinwoo’s “edgelord” persona may find this change disappointing, but overall, it adds more depth to his character, making him more well-rounded and multidimensional rather than purely cold and ruthless like in the manhwa.
The ants in Jeju Island
It’s amusing how the anime puts so much effort into animating the ants in Jeju Island while skipping major moments like Jinwoo vs Baran. The scenes where the ants devour each other and Beru hatches from the gigantic egg were so detailed that every squelch and crunch made me cringe, reminding me why I dislike bugs. Suddenly, I don’t know how I’ll survive the next episode.
However, the larger ant that just hatched looked similar but a bit girthier than the manhwa--so much so that the anime design reminds me of Kamen Rider. I'm not sure whether I like this look yet, but what I am sure of is just how strong this monster really is.
The raid begins
The anime effectively captures the gravity of the upcoming raid. For both viewers and manhwa readers, this arc features either incredibly cool moments or deeply harrowing ones.
It’s easy to forget that this is an all-out war against powerful creatures that have already claimed the lives of many, including high-ranking hunters. Failure here means more lives will be lost.
Taking the time to show hunters of different ranks signing up and preparing for battle, instead of jumping straight to them in gear, makes the scale of the impending conflict feel even greater. We saw Jinwoo’s original teammates from Season 1, then Song-Yi, who insists on joining despite being an E-rank, and other familiar faces like the Hunter’s Guild second strike team, actor Lee Minsung, and members from various guilds. It’s a quick callback to everyone Jinwoo has met so far and everyone else involved in this massive battle.
The most notable reappearance, however, is that of S-rank healer Min Byung-Gyu, who was Baek Yoon-ho’s best friend and one of the original hunters from the previous Jeju Island raid.
It was also almost like a showcase of each S-rank hunter’s abilities, from Japan’s top fighters to Choi Jong-in, the “Ultimate Hunter.” But viewers quickly notice someone missing—Jinwoo.
Jinwoo chose not to join the mission, believing that the gathered S-rank hunters were more than enough to handle the ants, and because he wanted to stay behind for his mother. However, trouble is already brewing, with the episode abruptly ending as Japan’s S-rank healer is targeted and beheaded.
These ants aren’t just mindless monsters—they’re intelligent, organised, and deadly. Chaos is on the horizon, but with Jinwoo discreetly placing his shadows on everyone during the sparring session, we know that it’s only a matter of time before he steps in to turn the tide.
