Solo Leveling: Will Cha Hae-In Get Stronger After Jeju Island?

Summary

Cha Hae-In is motivated to grow stronger after Jeju Island events.
Cha Hae-In seeks ways to surpass her current power limitations.
Cha Hae-In’s role in the Ahjin Guild arc may solidify her as a powerful hunter.

By the end of Solo Leveling’s Jeju Island arc, Sung Jin-Woo isn’t the only one hoping to grow stronger. Among the elite hunters in Korea, Cha Hae-In likely has the biggest desire to chase more power, given her shortcomings and her painful experience at the hands of the Ant King. With her ego bruised and her pride as an S-rank hunter on the line, will Cha Hae-In grow stronger after Jeju Island?

The Jeju Island arc in Solo Leveling pushed Cha Hae-In to the brink of death, largely due to the terrifying strength of the Ant King. She endures a massive blow to her ribcage, which renders her unconscious for the remainder of the raid. Instead of being remembered for her strength and bravery, she’s remembered as a damsel in distress who needed the help of her knight in shining armor.

This Solo Leveling Character Has the Most Brutal Death on Jeju Island

His brutal death on Jeju Island is a constant reminder that powerful characters aren’t untouchable in Solo Leveling.

This article contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling webtoon.

Jeju Island’s Events Become a Motivation Rather Than Trauma

Cha Hae-In’s Desire to Fight

For most hunters, surviving a near-death experience like the Jeju Island raid is traumatizing enough to convince them to retire. In Cha Hae-In’s case, the events of Jeju Island leave her shaken, but at the same time, they motivate her to come back stronger than ever. She isn’t similar to Lee Joo-Hee, who retires just days after the double dungeon incident, unable to keep up with Jin-Woo’s relentless drive for power and change.

“This raid mission made me realize my own limitations.”—Cha Hae-In

Instead, Solo Leveling season 2, episode 13, “On to the Next Target,” reveals a different Cha Hae-In, looking more hopeful than before, as if she no longer carries the weight of her traumatic encounter with the Ant King. Her expression radiates optimism and excitement as she looks forward to the day she can fight by Jin-Woo’s side. And to make that day a reality, she resolves to do everything in her power to grow stronger, even though a hunter’s mana output is supposedly fixed the moment they awaken.

Will Cha Hae-In Get Stronger After Jeju Island?

Is There Room for Growth?

solo leveling cha hae in true main character moment — Solo Leveling Animation Partners

Realistically, from a narrative standpoint, Cha Hae-In can’t grow stronger through conventional means. For a hunter like Cha Hae-In to acquire more power, she would need to either become a player in the system like Jin-Woo, undergo a second awakening, or become the recipient of Norma Selner’s upgrading abilities. Under more extreme methods, she could become a vessel of a superior being, either a monarch or a ruler, though that’s unlikely to happen. Even then, to obtain their power, she would have to ensure her body is strong enough not to break or be completely taken over.

Despite this, Cha Hae-In remains undeniably one of the most capable hunters in the nation, with an immense potential to grow stronger. Just because she can’t level up or upgrade her power by 20 to 30% doesn’t mean there’s no room for her growth. She can still polish her swordsmanship, learn advanced techniques from Song Chi-Yul, acquire a more effective weapon, or perhaps obtain a new runestone that would grant her a new skill.

“I am still far from strong enough. There, I could only wait for others to rescue me.—Cha Hae-In

With all these options, Cha Hae-In at least has a chance to surpass her former self. It’s simply up to her to explore these options and take advantage of them. Sadly, at the end of the day, she’s still a side character who will most likely be used to amplify Jin-Woo’s strength in Solo Leveling. Of course, her role in Solo Leveling: Ragnarok could be a completely different story, offering her the development and spotlight she truly deserves.

What’s Next for Cha Hae-in After Jeju Island?

Cha Hae-In’s New Role

Following Cha Hae-In’s disappointing performance on Jeju Island, she would pursue her interest and curiosity in Jin-Woo, driving her to join the newly established Ahjin Guild. By this point, she’s more than determined to know Jin-Woo better, going above and beyond to earn the chance to fight by his side. However, Jin-Woo would not make it easy for her, presenting her with a one-of-a-kind challenge she must overcome.

The Ahjin Guild arc might be the story arc that would cement Cha Hae-In as the strongest female hunter in the series. She is set to fight Igris, Jin-Woo’s strongest swordsman, using only a spare weapon from the gym of the Korean Hunters Association. On top of that, she would also face a familiar enemy, one she would never forget for the rest of her life. This would be her chance at redemption, even if it’d be brief.

“I want to catch up with him and stand shoulder to shoulder with him. For that, I must become stronger.”—Cha Hae-In to Sung Jin-Woo

All in all, Solo Leveling‘s Jeju Island arc tested Cha Hae-In like never before. It exposed her weaknesses but also unlocked her desire to surpass her limits. Even though she can’t grow stronger like Jin-Woo, she’s willing to rise to the challenge and keep up. With her strong will and commitment to change, she finds a way to redeem herself from the nightmare that was Jeju Island.