Solo Leveling season 2 episode 2: Sung Jinwoo vs. Baruka unfolds as he single-handedly conquers the Red Gate

Solo Leveling season 2 episode 2 was released on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at 12 AM JST. Building on its record-breaking premiere that captivated the anime world, episode 2 advances the story with the unfolding of the Red Gate Arc. This installment delivers the highly anticipated showdown between Sung Jinwoo and the ice elf leader, Baruka.

Meanwhile, tensions escalate between S-Rank Hunters Hwang Dongsoo and Baek Yoonho, culminating in Dongsoo departing with the assumption that Jinwoo is unlikely to survive the Red Gate. Inside the gate, Jinwoo expands his shadow army, adding Iron as a new shadow soldier after defeating the A-Rank Hunter Kim Chul.

The episode concludes with the Red Gate Arc coming to a close, as Jinwoo encounters S-Rank Hunter Baek Yoonho, the leader of the White Tiger Guild, for the first time.

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Solo Leveling season 2 episode 2 kicks off the clash between Jinwoo and Baruka while tension escalates between Dongsoo and Yoonho

Jinwoo as he fights the ice elves (Image via A-1 Pictures)

Solo Leveling season 2 episode 2, titled I Suppose You Aren't Aware, kicks off with Jinwoo transforming the slain ice bears into shadow soldiers. Meanwhile, outside the Red Gate, three hours have passed in real time, equivalent to three days inside the gate. Hwang Dongsoo speculates that Jinwoo must have already died and prepares to leave.

However, he confronts the White Tiger Guild, questioning why they allowed a non-member, E-Rank Hunter, to enter the gate alongside their strike team. Tensions rise between Dongsoo and Baek Yoonho, and a clash between the two S-Rank Hunters seems imminent until Woo Jinchul steps in and diffuses the situation.

Inside the Red Gate, Kim Chul grows increasingly frustrated as he encounters Jinwoo's party members, who appear calm despite the difficult situation. Enraged, Kim Chul approaches them, intending to vent his frustration, but Jinwoo intervenes and sends him flying.

Jinwoo confronts the ice elves (Image via A-1 Pictures)

Jinwoo soon realizes that the ice elves, using stealth skills, have followed Kim Chul to their location, and among the enemies is their leader, Baruka, the boss of the Red Gate dungeon.

Back outside, Jinchul reassures Dongsoo that he personally evaluated Jinwoo and confirms he is an E-Rank. He questions why Dongsoo is so fixated on him, reminding him that the Hunter Association's investigation determined Dongsoo's brother's death was caused by magic beasts. Dongsoo speculates that Jinho, a D-Rank Hunter, was likely involved.

However, Dongsoo admits that he is targeting Jinwoo simply because he wants to kill someone and is using his brother's death as a convenient excuse, before taking his leave.

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Solo Leveling Season 2 episode 2: Jinwoo defeats Baruka as he turns Kim Chul into a shadow soldier

In Solo Leveling season 2 episode 2, Jinwoo discovers that he can speak the monster language and engages in a conversation with Baruka despite not understanding how he's able to do so. He speculates that it may be another aspect of the System. During an exchange of blows, Jinwoo becomes aware of Baruka's overwhelming strength.

Baruka, intrigued by Jinwoo's ability to speak their language and his formidable combat skills, questions whether Jinwoo is truly a human. He reveals that monsters hear voices compelling them to kill humans.

However, as Jinwoo probes deeper into this revelation, something unusual happens — a glitch seemingly rewinds Baruka a few seconds, erasing any memory of their conversation about the voices.

Baruka in Solo Leveling season 2 episode 2 (Image via A-1 Pictures)

Baruka offers Jinwoo a deal: surrender the humans with him, and he'll be spared. Jinwoo refuses, prompting the two to prepare for battle. Jinwoo summons his shadows and gives them their first mission. The clash between Jinwoo and his shadow army vs. Baruka and the ice elves begins.

As the fight progresses, Jinwoo starts running low on mana, which is vital to sustaining his shadow soldiers. He acknowledges that Baruka is stronger than him and that Igris alone isn't enough to win. Thus, Jinwoo adopts a new plan.

As Jinwoo and Baruka exchange introductions mid-battle and continue their fight, Kim Chul also attacks Jinwoo with the intent to eliminate him. Jinwoo deploys a smokescreen, and moments later, a new shadow soldier emerges.

Solo Leveling season 2 episode 2 sees a brief rewind as Kim Chul attacks Jinwoo. Just as he's about to land a blow, Igris pierces Kim, causing him to realize that Jinwoo likely had planned this move all along.

Donsoo and Yoonho in Solo Leveling season 2 episode 2 (Image via A-1 Pictures)

Back in the present, Jinwoo names Kim Chul's shadow Iron. With Iron and Igris now by his side, Jinwoo faces Baruka head-on. Jinwoo finally lands an attack, but Baruka avoids any critical damage. During this exchange, Baruka realizes that all of his ice elves have been defeated. Filled with rage, Baruka turns his focus to Jinwoo, but the protagonist manages to break Baruka's dagger.

Iron restrains Baruka, allowing the shadow mages to bombard him with attacks. As Baruka's in a fit of fury, Jinwoo uses stealth to pierce him. Iron delivers the final blow, defeating the dungeon boss. With Baruka slain, the gate to the real world opens, and Jinwoo and his group make their return.

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Solo Leveling Season 2 episode 2 wraps up with Jinwoo's victory over the Red Gate and his first meeting with Baek Yoonho

Jinwoo and Iron in Solo Leveling season 2 episode 2 (Image via A-1 Pictures)

In the final moments of Solo Leveling season 2 episode 2, before returning to the real world, Jinwoo attempts to extract Baruka's shadow, only to discover that he has failed, leaving him in a sour mood.

As the group exits the gate, Yoonho notices the absence of Kim Chul and the other higher-ranking Hunters from their strike team. He anxiously questions Jinwoo about the missing members, but Jinwoo suggests thaat he should ask his surviving guild members for answers.

Rather than being hostile, Jinwoo tells Yoonho to be grateful for his role in saving two of his guild members. Yoonho apologizes, and once Jinwoo and Song-yi leave, he expresses to Mr. Ahn that he must recruit Jinwoo.

After dropping Song-yi off, Jinwoo reflects on the events, frustrated by his inability to obtain Baruka's shadow and the fact that the only reward he received was the dagger. He also realizes that it marks the third time he has taken the life of another human.

Solo Leveling season 2 episode 2 ends on a lighter, humorous note as Jinho visits Jinwoo the next day. Jinwoo picks up Song-yi for their raids, and their conversation about the previous night gives Jinho the wrong impression as they head off for their usual raids.

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