Solo Leveling Welcomes Jinwoo’s Perfect Successor In New Release

Solo Leveling is a name to reckon with. What started as a web novel turned Manhwa became one of the biggest names in new-gen anime, earning massive global praise and a fanbase through its action-packed story and powerful characters. The series follows Sung Jinwoo, a once-weak hunter who gains a mysterious ability that allows him to level up without limits. As he grows stronger, Jinwoo uncovers secrets about the world, the Monarchs, and the Rulers while becoming humanity’s greatest hope against deadly monsters.

The Solo Leveling franchise has continued to expand beyond the original story, providing fans with continued updates. Alongside the hit anime adaptation, the Solo Leveling movie, it has also inspired games, merchandise, and special events that allow fans to immerse themselves in its world in new ways. One of the most popular additions is Netmarble Studio’s Solo Leveling: Arise, an action RPG based on the series, which debuted on May 8, 2024, and can be played on both PC and mobile. The game lets players relive key moments from Jinwoo’s journey while announcing a wide roster of hunters with unique abilities. It also regularly introduces original content, including Hunter Origin manhwa one-shot chapters that expand the Solo Leveling universe. Solo Leveling: Arise provides engaging updates, thereby providing fans with fresh reasons to dive back into the world of hunters and experience new adventures beyond the original storyline.

Agnes Rivera Is Solo Leveling: Arise’s Newest S-Rank Hunter

After the announcement of Agnes Rivera by the developers on June 2, 2026, during the Solo Leveling Arise June Live stream, her production officially concluded on June 25, 2026, and on July 2, 2026, the developers expanded the world of Solo Leveling: Arise with the release of Hunter: Origin 33, an official one-shot manhwa introducing the brand-new Italian S-Rank Dark Hunter. While Agnes isn’t Solo Leveling: Arise’s first Dark Hunter, she is the game’s very first Dark Buster Hunter. The Buster class was only introduced in June with the release of Liu Zhigang, making Agnes one of the earliest characters to expand on the new class. Combined with her Dark attribute, these similarities have led many players to compare her to Jinwoo. This shared trait and Agnes’ backstory make her one of the strongest candidates to carry on Jinwoo’s legacy.

Agnes’ story begins on her birthday, when one of her close friends encourages her to stop drinking and finally move on from Dante, whom she still believes to be a traitor. Then comes the tale of the betrayal — years ago, during a lavish gala held at a banquet hall, Agnes had spotted her lover Dante from a distance, but something about him immediately felt off. Moments later, a massive explosion released a mysterious gas that threw the event into chaos, transforming ordinary people into zombie-like creatures that began attacking everyone in sight. Amid the confusion, Dante had vanished without a trace, leaving Agnes convinced that he had betrayed her. Awakened as a Hunter and unable to understand Dante’s motives, Agnes spends years searching for answers, haunted by his disappearance and the heartbreak he left behind. Years later, on her birthday, Agnes finally learns the truth: Dante had never betrayed her of his own free will. Instead, he had been manipulated by a mysterious villain, who had taken control of his body and turned him into a killer. Moments later, at this heartbreaking saga’s climax, Dante desperately begs Agnes to end his life, admitting that he has completely lost control. Cradling Dante’s lifeless body in her arms, Agnes vows to avenge him by hunting down the mysterious evil that manipulated him and destroyed their lives.

Hunter: Origin 33 succeeds in giving the new S-Rank Hunter a strong emotional foundation. Rather than introducing Agnes as another powerful fighter, the one-shot explores the grief, betrayal, and loss that shaped her personality and motivations. These experiences help distinguish Agnes from the growing roster of Solo Leveling: Arise characters while also explaining why some fans have drawn comparisons to Jinwoo. With her tragic past and unique Dark Buster abilities, Agnes has quickly become one of the game’s most intriguing original additions.

Agnes Rivera Of The Italian Rivera Guild Is Solo Leveling’s Next Breakout Character

It is therefore clear that Hunter: Origin 33 carefully explores Agnes’ backstory and the events that shaped her into one of the Solo Leveling universe’s most compelling new characters, making the Jinwoo comparisons inevitable. While Dark powers are usually associated with Jinwoo and his abilities as the Shadow Monarch, Agnes debuted as the first-ever Dark Buster Hunter and serves as the guild master of Italy’s Rivera Guild, giving her a unique place in Solo Leveling: Arise.

Although Agnes and Jinwoo have very different journeys, they share several similarities. Both are closely connected to the Dark element and stand out because of their exceptional abilities. However, their powers are not the same. While Jinwoo commands an army of shadow soldiers, Agnes fights as a Dark Buster Hunter. Even so, her dark abilities and tragic past have led many fans to see her as one of the characters who comes closest to following in Jinwoo’s footsteps. Another similarity between Agnes and Jinwoo is their role as leaders. Jinwoo gradually becomes a figure others depend on, earning the respect of both Hunters and his shadow army through his determination and willingness to protect those around him. Agnes likewise leads the Italian Rivera Guild, demonstrating authority and responsibility despite the grief she carries. While they lead in different ways, both possess the qualities expected of powerful figures within the Solo Leveling universe.

Agnes and Jinwoo are also connected by the hardships they faced. Jinwoo started as the weakest Hunter and had to fight countless battles before becoming the strongest. Agnes, on the other hand, grew up in a violent world and later lost the person she trusted most in the wake of Dante being controlled by a mysterious villain. Their experiences are different, but both characters become stronger because of the pain they endured. Although Jinwoo is the protagonist of Solo Leveling, Hunter: Origin 33 gives Agnes a strong introduction and enough depth to make her stand out from many of the game’s original characters. Her tragic past, abilities, and leadership have already made a strong impression on fans. These qualities explain why Agnes is the closest thing that Solo Leveling: Arise offers as a spiritual successor to Jinwoo’s legacy.

Solo Leveling Seasons 1 and 2 are currently streaming on Crunchyroll. Recently, at the Crunchyroll Showcase at Anime Expo 2026, Aniplex and Crunchyroll confirmed a new theatrical anime film, Solo Leveling: Beyond the System, giving fans another major project to look forward to. The anime film will pick up events right where Solo Leveling Season 2 left off. This announcement was accompanied by the reveal of a teaser key visual and concept video for the new Solo Leveling movie, which was presented by Jinwoo’s English voice actor, Aleks Le, officially confirming that the film is in development. This major announcement finally gives fans a glimpse of what lies ahead for the S-Rank Hunter.