Ashborn was the Monarch of Shadows and King of the Dead. He was referred to be the Greatest Fragment of Brilliant Light and was the strongest Ruler. Eventually, Ashborn decided to take Jinwoo as his host in the hopes of ending the slaughter permanently after having spent eons fighting in the old wars between the Rulers and the Monarchs.
Ashborn’s Life
Ashborn fought in a bloody war with the Monarchs eons ago, as ordered by their god, the Absolute Being, alongside the other Rulers. He was the only one of his brethren who stayed true to their creator and tried to end their uprising against the Absolute Being for exploiting them as pawns for his amusement. They easily defeated him and left him for dead despite his best efforts.
Given the severity of his wounds, Ashborn assumed his life was over and prepared to die. He was about to pass away but he discovered that the Absolute Being had concealed a terrible power inside of him. He quickly used it and became the Shadow Monarch. He returned to the front lines of battle with his increased strength and his health entirely restored. However, he saw that it was too late and the uprising had already ended with Absolute Being already dead.
Ashborn never felt like he completely belonged in the chaotic world, so when the Monarchs launched their attack on the human world centuries later, he joined them there out of his yearning to find his place in the universe. He began searching for a suitable human vessel at the same time.
Ashborn saw that Sung Jinwoo was the only human who had broken free from the constraints and expectations of the program Kandiaru had built. Jinwoo was weak and always on the verge of death, but he always managed to escape with his life, and his unwavering determination to risk it all the time for his family's sake left a permanent impression on Ashborn, leading him to accept Jinwoo as a worthy vessel.
Ashborn’s Abilities
As the strongest ruler and the Shadow Monarch, Ashborn was one of the most powerful beings in existence with immeasurable strength. His abilities were:
Power Bestowal: He could bestow his powers to another human strong enough to harness it.
Ruler’s Authority: He could move telekinetically and control objects.
Monarch’s Domain: In battle, Ashborn could increase the potency of each of his active shadows by 50%.
Umbrakinesis: He could completely manipulate shadow and darkness.
Shadow Extraction: He could increase his army by drawing shadows from his adversaries' corpses.
Shadow Exchange: He could instantly cover great distances by using shadows as portals.
Shadow Preservation: He could store his shadows and keep an eye on them through their senses.
Also Read: Who is Thomas Andre in Solo Leveling?
FAQs on Ashborn in Solo Leveling
A. Yes, Ashborn is alive in Solo Leveling, though he is in a deep slumber.
A. Sung Jinwoo eventually surpassed Ashborn in terms of strength and powers.
A. Ashborn was betrayed by the Monarchs before the beginning of the novel series.
A. Ashborn was always loyal to the Absolute Being, but the latter’s betrayal caused him to transform into the Shadow Monarchs.
