View source History Report a problem
Welcome to Feat Directory! Contribute something by using the edit button above!

From Feat Directory

Jump to: navigation, search

Characters in order of appearance:

Transcript

  • Episode begins 3 years prior to the present, as dozens of battleships surround a large island. Inside one of the battleships, the captain observes the island with his binoculars*

Battleship Crewman: Captain, we should be in this fight. Battleship Captain: You know there’d be no point. None of our weapons can do any damage to those things. We’ve got no choice but to leave this to the hunters.

  • Scene changes to the island, as a hunter runs through a forest, while a giant red ant, about twice the hunter’s size chases after him. The hunter leads the giant red ant to a group of over a dozen hunters in a small clearing. Over ten giant red ants jump into the air above the hunters. One of the hunters blocks a strike from a descending red ant with his shield*

Hunter: All of you, engage the enemy! If they get past us, the front line is going to collapse!

  • A hunter charges toward the red ant occupied by the shield-wielding hunter, attempting to swing his sword down on it. Before he can do so, a red ant launches itself into him, knocking him away. Three hunters create a fireball in front of themselves before launching each of them at a red ant, which proves ineffective, as it fails to even slow them down. The red ants reach the three hunters and brutally bite into their chests with their fangs. A red ant is temporarily held at bay by a hunter who holds back it’s fangs with his sword. The red ant shortly overpowers the hunter and pushes him to the ground. A red ant plunges it’s fangs into the abdomen of a hunter, causing blood to spurt into the air. The red ants begin violently gnawing away at the hunters’ bodies. One hunter stands alone watching the carnage unfold*

Hunter: I…It’s no good! We’re too low-ranked to stand a chance!

  • A hunter lays on the ground while being slowly eaten by a red ant. The hunter has two deep gashes on his left cheek, so deep that only black can be seen inside them*

Hunter: Damn it…I’m…losing consciousness…

  • Suddenly a hunter, Min Byung-Gyu slams his polearm into the red ant, knocking it away while drawing green blood from it*

Hunter: Huh?

  • Min Byung-Gyu kneels down beside the wounded hunter and opens a book, as a luminescent green light emerges from the book and travels through his hand and into the air, where it splits into multiple droplets of green light which rain down on the wounded hunter*

Hunter (Thinking): Healing magic?

  • The massive gashes on the hip, arm, and face of the hunter disappear nigh-instantaneously*

Hunter (Thinking): Amazing. He healed me in an instant! Hunter: Huh? Look out!

  • Five red ants jump into the air behind Min Byung-Gyu*

Eunseok: Byung-Gyu, get down!

  • A hunter, Eunseok, releases a lightning bolt from his hand, striking and dispatching the group of red ants above Byung-Gyu*

Eunseok: Yoonho!

  • A hunter, Yoonho, who seems to have claws instead of fingernails, charges up to a red ant and slams his palm into its torso, launching it away while creating a small shockwave. Yoonho dispatches a red ant with a punch before turning to an attacking red ant and dispatching it with a kick. Eunseok runs by Yoonho and dispatches a red ant with a lightning bolt from his hand, as Yoonho swings his arm down on a red ant, dispatching it. Eunseok dispatches two more red ants with two lightning bolts, as Yoonho dispatches a red ant with a kick. A red ant jumps at Yoonho who quickly dispatches the ant with a punch*

Hunters: It’s the S-Ranks…The S-Rank hunters are here! Eunseok: You’re rushing things too much, Byung-Gyu. Byung-Gyu: Sorry. I wanted to help as many people as I could. Besides, I knew you two would protect me.

  • Eunseok and Yoonho notice a loud noise and turn to find a white ant, much larger than the red ants, standing behind them*

Eunseok: I don’t think that’s the boss. Yoonho: Probably just the leader of this swarm. Byung-Gyu, look after the wounded. Byung-Gyu: I’ve got it covered, Yoonho! Yoonho: Let’s go, Eunseok! Eunseok: Yes, sir!

  • Eunseok runs towards the white ant while extending the three large blades attached to both of his gauntlets. Eunseok launches himself into the air, creating a large cloud of dust from the force of the jump. The white ant lunges at Yoonho through the dust, who catches the ant’s fangs, as the ground craters beneath him. Eunseok descends towards the white ant, launching a massive lightning bolt from the three clawed blades on his right arm, striking the ant and causing it pain. Yoonho rips off the ant’s fangs with a jerk of his arms. The white ant strikes at Yoonho with its leg, but Yoonho jumps backward to avoid the attack. Yoonho launches the ant’s own fang at, blowing a hole through its torso. Eunseok lands to the ground beside Yoonho*

Eunseok: Pure brute strength. Yoonho: Huh?

  • A swam of white ants emerge from the forest in front of Eunseok and Yoonho*

Eunseok: Guess it wasn’t the leader after all. Yoonho: Now this is getting fun.

  • A red aura emanates from Yoonho’s body as his muscles enlarge and his hair grows longer, turning white at the ends*

Yoonho: *roars*

  • Eunseok jumps into the air before launching many lightning bolts from the six clawed blades of his gauntlets, obliterating the ground on impact, as Yoonho rushes towards the white ants, creating an explosion of dust*

Jong-In: It seems they made it in time.

  • A hunter, Jong-In, notices the explosion of dust in the distance. In front of Jong-In, a swarm of red ants and white ants charge towards him and a guild of hunters*

Jong-In: Now then, we should get started. Hunter: Guildmaster Choi, whenever you’re ready! Jong-In: Right.

  • Jong-In creates a trail of fire around his hand, before launching a small fireball at the swarm of ants, creating a large inferno that killed the dozens of red ants. The larger white ants pass through the inferno, unharmed*

Jong-In: Commence the attack!

  • The dozens of hunters beneath Jong-In charge towards the white ants*

Narrator: Over ten years ago, a series of gates linking our world to an alternate dimension appeared.

  • Flashback shows a blue portal opening in the middle of the sky by several tall buildings*

Narrator: The other side of each gate teemed with bizarre creatures called “magic beasts”…

  • Flashback shows a green goblin creature taking a barrage of gunshots to the chest, and remaining completely unaffected*

Narrator: …immune to conventional weaponry. Those who have awakened the abilities necessary to fight these beasts…

  • Flashback shows a hunter cutting the green goblin creature in half with a swing of his sword*

Narrator: …are called hunters. Based on the amount of magical power contained within their bodies, they are ranked, in descending order, as S, A, B, C, D, or E-Rank.

  • Sung Jinwoo is shown at the bottom of the rank hierarchy*

Narrator: However, once these powers have awakened, no amount of individual effort can ever result in greater strength.

  • Scene changes to 3 years later, present day, as several hunters surround a gate inside of a construction site. A barista hands a hunter, Kim Sangshik a coffee*

Barista: Good luck with today’s raid. Sangshik: Thank you. Beom-Shik: Hey, Kim! Been a while!

  • A hunter, Park Beom-Shik, approaches Sangshik*

Sangshik: Hey, if it isn’t Park! What’re you doing here? I thought you said you’d had enough hunting. Beom-Shik: *laughs* That was before my wife got pregnant with our second kid. Sangshik: Makes sense. If the raid goes well, you’ll be raking it in. Beom-Shik: I’m pretty nervous, though. It’s been so long that I dunno if I’m still in good enough shape. Not like I was that strong to begin with. Jeongho: Hey, it’s Sung!

  • Jinwoo enters the construction site*

Hunter: What’s up, Sung? Nice of you to come out despite the chilly weather. Jinwoo: *laughs nervously* Good to be working with you guys again today. Sangshik: Hey, Sung! You eat before coming in? Jinwoo: Yeah. I had a proper meal. Beom-Shik: What’s with him? Is he a big deal? Everyone’s saying hello. Sangshik: *snickers* The exact opposite, actually. He joined up after you quit, and that kid…His nickname is “The Weakest Hunter of All Mankind.” Beom-Shik: Weakest? Not strongest? Sangshik: Nope. Like, a trip through an E-Rank gate landed him in the hospital.

  • Jinwoo approaches a hunter, Song Chi-Yul, in the distance*

Sangshik: He might be the weakest hunter there is. Beom-Shik: Out of everyone? He’s that bad? Sangshik: So as a rule, you can assume any raid he gets called in for will be pretty easy-going. Beom-Shik: I get you. Sangshik: I’d hate for him to overhear us, so let’s leave it at that. Jinwoo (Thinking): *sighs* Too bad I already caught it all. Well, can’t argue with the truth. Joohee: Oh, no, Jinwoo! You’re hurt again?!

  • A hunter, Lee Joohee, approaches Jinwoo*

Jinwoo: Ah, Joohee…Looks like we’ll be working together again. Joohee: Never mind that. What happened to your face? Jinwoo: Same thing that usually happens to it, really… Joohee: You seriously need to be more careful!

  • Joohee and Jinwoo sit and talk*

Joohee: I heard you even ended up in the hospital. Jinwoo: It was an E-Rank dungeon, so I was the only one hurt. Joohee: Eh? Wasn’t there a healer? Jinwoo: Everyone else was higher-ranked, so…they didn’t think to bring a healer along. Joohee: Are you serious?! They were only thinking of themselves! That’s awful! Jinwoo: It’s okay. It’s my fault for being so weak. You know how it is with me, Joohee. I’m used to it. Joohee: … Jinwoo: Looks like we’re heading in already. Come on. Chi-Yul: I’ll be your humble leader for this raid outing. The name’s Song Chi-Yul. Hunters: It’s a pleasure. Yeah, that makes sense. Mr. Song’s got the most skills out of anyone here. It’s a relief to have him in charge. Jinwoo: Pleasure to be working with you, Mr. Song. Chi-Yul: Mm. All right. Is everyone ready? Let’s head in.

  • The hunters begin to enter the gate*

Sangshik: Hey, Sung.

  • Sangshik approaches Jinwoo and puts his hand on his shoulder*

Sangshik: Try and hang in there behind us, and don’t get injured this time. Jinwoo: *laughs nervously* Yeah. Joohee: Let’s give it our best.

  • Jinwoo pulls a sheathed knife out of his bag*

Jinwoo (Thinking): A knife with barely any magic power in it…But it was all I could afford. It’s better than nothing, at least. Jinwoo: Today, I’m gonna see this through!

  • Jinwoo enters the gate. Scene changes to a room where Gunhee and Jinchul talk*

Jinchul: Welcome back from your meeting, Chairman Go. How’d things go with the administration? Gunhee: The usual talking points. Dungeon breaks are a problem, but they still want the resources that can be collected from inside dungeons. Their demands make logical sense. And we hunters make a living by selling those resources.

  • Gunhee pulls an eight-pointed flat stone from his desk drawer*

Gunhee: The stones collected from defeated beasts…these essence stones. They’re valuable.

  • Scene changes to Jinwoo, within the gate, holding a two-pointed essence stone within his bloodied hand. The corpse of a green goblin creature is seen behind him*

Jinwoo: I did it! I finally got one. Joohee: Jinwoo!

  • A green goblin swings a sword down on Jinwoo, who blocks with his knife, which cracks as he is thrown back by the force of the goblin’s attack. The goblin swings down at Jinwoo, who dodges the attack, before jumping out of the way of the goblin’s second swing. The goblin jumps at Jinwoo and swings it’s sword down on him, as he rolls out of the way. Jinwoo charges at the goblin and thrusts his knife into it’s abdomen, which shatters on contact with the goblin*

Jinwoo: Huh?!

  • The goblin impales Jinwoo through the hip with a thrust of it’s sword*

Beom-Shik: Stay back, Joohee!

  • Beom-Shik rushes towards the goblin, slashing it across the abdomen with a swing of his sword and knocking it against the wall of a cave. Jinwoo pulls the goblin’s sword out of his hip before falling to his back while clutching his stomach in pain*

Jinwoo: Augh! Beom-Shik: I’m heading to the next magic beast. Joohee, look after Sung! Joohee: Right!

  • Joohee runs to Jinwoo’s side*

Joohee: You’re going to be okay! I promise I’ll heal you.

  • Joohee places her hands on Jinwoo’s wound as a bright green light emanates from them. Jinwoo watches as the other hunters fight against several creatures. Chi-Yul creates a fireball in the palm of his hand while fighting against a humanoid lizard creature. Sangshik stabs a werewolf-like creature through the stomach with a sword thrust. Chi-Yul presses a fireball against the chest of a humanoid lizard creature. Scene changes to Jinchul and Gunhee*

Gunhee: The essence stones collected from high-ranked beasts can be turned into powerful weapons and gear for fighting other beasts. Mana crystals that can be collected from dungeons have a similar application, but they’re less potent. Jinchul: But the government’s interested in a different use.

  • Gunhee stands to his feet*

Gunhee: As a new power source. Safer than nuclear, more efficient than water, wind, or geothermal, and one that doesn’t pollute the atmosphere like fossil fuels. The ideal clean energy source. They’re working on a way to generate electricity using essence stones and mana crystals. Jinchul: A rare fuel source that only hunters are able to collect… Gunhee: Which is why the duty that rests on hunters’ shoulders is such a great one.

  • Scene changes to the dungeon, as Chi-Yul deals the final blow to a werewolf-like creature, with smoke rising from its body. Sangshik, Beom-Shik, Jeongho, and Jae-Hwan stand around it’s corpse*

Hunters: *cheer* All right! Yes! We beat the dungeon boss! That’s Mr. Song for you! We did it!

  • Joohee sits beside Jinwoo while continuing to heal him*

Joohee: Jinwoo, you’re not staying on as a hunter just because you’re stubborn, right?

  • Joohee holds her hands in front of Jinwoo’s knee, creating a sphere of light around it which quickly closes up a large gash*

Joohee: If you keep this up, it’s only a matter of time until something much worse happens.

  • Jinwoo’s hip is shown to be healed*

Joohee: It’s not just your midsection. You’re hurt all over! Jinwoo: Sorry… Joohee: I don’t want an apology! I’m worried about you! Chi-Yul: Have you all collected your loot yet? Sangshik: As much as we could, at least. Beom-Shik: There’s not much in the way of mana crystals here, either. We’re not gonna earn much at all, at this rate. Jinwoo (Thinking): I guess it’s over. And all I have to show for it is an E-Rank essence stone. Hardly worth almost dying for.

  • Joohee stares at Jinwoo*

Jeongho: Hey! Joohee: Hmm? Jinwoo: Huh? Jeongho: Take a look at this!

  • Jinwoo, Joohee, Chi-Yul, Jeongho, Beom-Shik, Sangshik, Jae-Hwan, and the other hunters stand in front of a deep cave tunnel*

Hunters: A cave? Some kind of tunnel? It seems to go pretty far. Chi-Yul: A double dungeon, huh? I’d heard rumors before, but… Hunters: We beat the dungeon boss, but there’s no sign of it shutting down. Yeah, I thought that was strange. Beom-Shik: Which means… Sangshik: Yeah, there’s more loot to be found down here. Chi-Yul: Listen up, everyone. When encountering unexpected cases like this, standard procedure is to wait for orders from the Hunter’s Association. Sangshik: Hang on a sec, Mr. Song…Doesn’t that mean that the new guys are gonna hog all the good stuff? Beom-Shik: It’s still part of a D-Rank dungeon. It should be fine, right? Sangshik: He’s got another kid on the way. And we didn’t find many mana crystals. It’d be okay to bend the rules a bit, wouldn’t it? Beom-Shik: Or no? Chi-Yul: I understand how you feel. But the fact remains that it’d be a risk. Let’s take a vote. Hunter: I don’t know… Jae-Hawn: I’m in! Hunter: I say no. Hunter: No. Hunter: Let’s check it out. Hunter: Same. Hunter: Yeah. Hunter: I don’t think so. Beom-Shik: I say we go. Sangshik: Likewise. Joonhee: Sorry, but…I don’t want to. Chi-Yul: Hmm…That makes six in favor, six against. You’re the only one left, Sung. What do you think? Jinwoo: I…I… Jinwoo (Thinking): Even a D-Rank dungeon is dangerous for me. But…Now that Dad’s [Sung Il-Hwan] gone missing, I’m the only one who can provide for my family. I need money for Mom’s treatments…and to send my sister to college.

  • Jinwoo’s mother, Park Kyung-Hye is shown laying in a hospital bed, covered by a blanket while her face is hidden behind a curtain. Jinwoo’s sister, Sung Jinah is shown sitting at her desk in school*

Jinwoo (Thinking): I need this money!

  • Jinwoo clenches his fist, with the E-Rank essence stone within it*

Jinwoo: Let’s go.

  • Inside a room, a woman in a black suit instructs a man, Yoo Jinho, to touch a black sphere connected to a machine*

Woman: Now, if you could touch the black crystal with one hand, please.

  • Jinho touches the black sphere with his hand, causing a purple light to emanate from around him. The woman reads three measurements on a computer terminal, one of which is a graph, the second of which is a circular meter that reads 75 M-01. The woman opens the door to the room, as Jinho exits*

Woman: Next, please.

  • A woman, Han Song-Yi, sits in the waiting room with her hood covering her face. Jinho walks through the building, passing by several guild recruiters*

Guild Recruiter: You’re a C-Rank? We’d love you to join our guild. Guild Recruiter: Here’s the contract. You can find the labor conditions detailed here…

  • Near the entrance of the building, a man in a suit talks to Choi Jong-In over the phone*

Man: Right. One B-Rank and two C-Ranks have agreed to sign. Things are going smoothly so far, Guildmaster Choi. Choi Jong-In: That’s wonderful to hear. Age and gender aren’t a factor. If they seem like an asset, make an offer. Not that we’re likely to find anyone who can compare to Cha Hae-In.

  • Scene changes to a street, as two thieves on a motorcycle grab a woman’s purse, and drive off*

Woman: Someone! Catch them! Blue-Cap Thief: Out of the damn way! Huh?

  • A woman, Cha Hae-In stands in the middle of the street in front of the speeding motorcycle*

Blue-Cap Thief: Move! Or do you wanna get run over?!

  • Hae-In moves within a blur, flipping into the air above the motorcycle and placing her hand and the blue-cap thief’s shoulder, before grabbing the purse from the red-cap thief and landing to her feet on the other side of the motorcycle. The blue-cap thief loses control of the motorcycle and crashes, causing him and the red-cap thief to tumble off. The theft victim walks up to Hae-In*

Woman: E…Excuse me… Hae-In: Here.

  • Hae-In hands the woman her purse*

Woman: Thank you! Thank you so much!

  • A crowd of people notice Hae-In and surround her*

Crowd: That’s Cha Hae-In! Cha Hae-In: The S-Rank hunter! Oh, damn! It’s really her! This is awesome! I’m a huge fan! Hae-In: E…Excuse me…

  • Hae-In jumps from the street to the top of a street lamp, before jumping to the rooftop of a building. Hae-In performs a sideways flip to the end of the rooftop, before back-flipping to the rooftop of a taller building, then jumping away*

Crowd: Look at her go! That’s an S-Rank hunter for you.

  • In the dungeon, Jinwoo, Joohee, Chi-Yul, Sangshik, Jeongho, Beom-Shik, Jae-Hwan, and the other hunters walk through the cave tunnel*

Hunters: How long’s it been since we entered the cave? About 40 minutes.

  • Chi-Yul is shown leading the ground, levitating a small fireball above his hand, to light the path*

Chi-Yul: The gate shouldn’t close until an hour after the boss is beaten, so we’ll have 20 minutes to spare. Jinwoo: Um…I’m sorry. Joohee: About what? Jinwoo: It’s because I voted the way I did that we’re searching for the boss now. Joohee: You don’t need to worry about me, so stop it. Jinwoo: Are you sure you’re okay? Joohee: Of course…I’m not! Jinwoo: Uh?! Joohee: Have you already forgotten?! If that attack had hit just a little higher, you’d be dead right now, Jinwoo! I was barely able to heal your arms and legs, too! This is insane! Are you sure you didn’t hit your head?! Because it seems like it! Jinwoo: Sorry… Jinwoo (Thinking): It’s true that having a B-Rank healer like Joohee around has saved me more than once. Joohee: Do you actually understand the problem here? Jinwoo: Yeah. Joohee: Hm. Well, in that case, maybe you should treat me to show your gratitude. Jinwoo: Huh? Joohee: Or what? You don’t like the thought of taking me out to eat? Jinwoo: Th…Th…That’s not it at all! Chi-Yul: We’re here! It’s the boss chamber. Hunters: Rare to see an actual door on one of these. It’s kind of intimidating. Mhm. Sangshik: Well, I’m going in. No way am I going back empty-handed now. Beom-Shik: Same here. Let’s do it. Sangshik: The team moves onward together. That was the call, right, Leader Song? Chi-Yul: Yeah, you’re right.

  • Scene changes to a room where several of the “newly awakened”, including Jinho and Song-Yi, listen to a message from Gunhee on a projector screen*

Gunhee: To the newly awakened: I am the chairman of the Hunter’s Association, Go Gunhee. Among you there are bound to be those who choose to be hunters, and those who decide not to. It’s been over ten years since the gates first appeared, and yet there’s still a great deal we don’t know about the dungeons. To become a hunter is to risk your life. Even those who have grown accustomed to raids cannot afford to let their guards down. You must never grow arrogant, or careless. If you want to survive, this advice will serve you above all else: Please, be afraid.

  • Scene changes to the dungeon, where Chi-Yul, Beom-Shik, and Sangshik open the door to the boss chamber. As the door opens braziers around the chamber light with blue flames. The hunters, including Chi-Yul, Beom-Shik, Sangshik, Joohee, Jinwoo, Jeongho, and Jae-Hwan enter the chamber*

Hunters: Hey, the place lit up. Dig the atmosphere! I’ve never seen a dungeon like this before. What’s with the statues? They look so old. And some have instruments.

  • Jinwoo stares at the statue in the center of the room, a giant royal-like figure sitting on a throne*

Jinwoo: Whoa! This one’s way bigger than the rest. Hunters: Damn, that’s huge. What’s it supposed to be? There’s something creepy about it. Jae-Hwan: Gotta say, I’m not seeing any beasts. Hunters: Good point. Not a single one…

  • Chi-Yul places his hand on an ornate circle in the middle of the floor*

Chi-Yul: What is this? A magic circle? Hunter: Mr. Song! Something’s written over here!

  • An angel statue is shown holding a tablet with hieroglyphic-like text*

Chi-Yul: In the ancient script? Let’s take a look…”The Commandments of the Cartenon Temple. First, revere God. Second, praise God… Joohee: Jinwoo!

  • Joohee grabs Jinwoo’s sleeve*

Jinwoo: Hmm? Chi-Yul: …Third, prove your faith to God… Joohee: That big statue…I saw its eyes move. It’s been watching us! Jinwoo: Huh? Chi-Yul: …Those who do not follow these laws… Jinwoo: It can’t be. You must have imagined it. Chi-Yul: …will not leave alive”?

  • The hunters jump as a loud noise echoes out, they turn to find the door shut behind them*

Hunters: Hey! The door just shut! But, why?! Are we trapped in here now? Hunter: This is what I was worried about! You guys didn’t take this seriously, and now look! We never should’ve come this way! I’m leaving! You can have the treasure, or whatever else you find in here. See ya!

  • One of the hunters approaches the door and attempts to push it open*

Chi-Yul: Get away from there!

  • The several-meter tall knight statue on the right side of the door, lunges at the hunter, slashing him from his right armpit to his left shoulder with its giant axe, cutting off his arm and head, causing blood to splatter against the door of the chamber*

Beom-Shik: …! Sangshik: …! Jinwoo: …! Joohee: …! Hunter: No! Jae-Hwan: Are you kidding me? Hunter: They moved! Are we supposed to fight those things?!

  • Joohee grabs Jinwoo’s shoulder and cowers behind him*

Jinwoo (Thinking): The guy who just died…Was he D-Rank? If nothing else, he was stronger than me and my E-Rank.

  • The knight statue gets back in its initial position, standing straight up with the head of its axe on the ground*

Jinwoo (Thinking): And he was just…in an instant…This doesn’t make sense! This is supposed to be a D-Rank dungeon! There shouldn’t be magic beasts like this down here! Chi-Yul: If these statues are moving…That means…

  • Jinwoo looks back at the giant royal-like statue behind him. Its eyes glow yellow and suddenly dart to him*

Jinwoo: …! Jinwoo (Thinking): I’ve stood on the precipice of death plenty of times before. In my first raid ever, I got separated from everyone else, and ended up stranded. I’ve been attacked by E-Rank beasts and spent weeks in a hospital afterward.

  • Flashback shows a green goblin slashing Jinwoo across the back with its sword*

Jinwoo (Thinking): I almost starved to death in a labyrinth before, too. No matter how low-ranked the dungeon was, I was always fighting for my life.

  • Flashback shows Jinwoo passing through a dungeon behind two hunters, while holding his knife*

Jinwoo: Most hunters are able to buy gear with the money they make from selling essence stones, so they can beat even stronger beasts, and reap even bigger rewards. But this cheap knife is the best I can afford. If it breaks, I’ll have to fight empty-handed.

  • Flashback shows Jinwoo sitting on a bench, the tips of his shoes missing and his toes poking out*

Jinwoo: These shoes are done for, too.

  • Flashback shows Jinwoo earlier in the dungeon raid, charging at the back of the goblin he killed earlier with his knife aimed at it*

Jinwoo (Thinking): And so, day after day…I’ve endured being mocked, and put up with a life-threatening job where the risks outweigh the rewards. But even then, in order to survive, I’ve learned to keep my eyes open and look for opportunities. That might be why I was able to tell…

  • Jinwoo snaps back to the present*

Jinwoo: Everybody, get down!

  • The giant royal-like statue emits two beams of red-orange energy from its eyes, striking the ground, before moving them towards the hunters. The beams hit one of the hunters, instantly reducing him to his bones, before those are completely burned away as well. Sangshik and Beom-Shik run out of the way of the beams’ path, as Jinwoo jumps out of the way while pushing Joohee out of the way as well. The beam stops as it crashes against the wall of the chamber, leaving behind a molten crater in its wake*

Hunter: Ahh!

  • A female hunter notices the burned, severed hand of a hunter laying on the ground*

Hunters: What the hell?! Nobody mentioned this! What is going on here?! How should I know?! Sangshik: You all right? Beom-Shik: Yeah. How about you, Kim? Sangshik: I’m fine.

  • Jinwoo raises up from the ground as Joohee cowers on the ground, clutching her head*

Joohee: No more…No more! Jinwoo (Thinking): What is happening here? How is this possible? We’re trapped. We’re done for. We’re dead. Dead. We’re gonna die!

  • Episode ends*

Episode Rating

Story & Pacing (9.3/10)

  • The opening battle on Jeju Island instantly sets the stakes for the world of hunters, with S-Rank hunters showcasing their power while lower-ranked hunters struggle for survival.
  • The transition to Jinwoo’s introduction is handled well, contrasting the overwhelming power of S-Rank hunters with the frailty of the “Weakest Hunter”.
  • The Dungeon Raid storyline builds suspense masterfully, progressing from a seemingly easy D-Rank dungeon to an utter nightmare inside the double dungeon.
  • The cliffhanger ending is perfectly executed, leaving viewers in pure shock and terror as the statues massacre the hunters.

Characterization & Dialogue (9.1/10)

  • Sung Jinwoo – The Underdog
    • His introduction perfectly highlights his struggles—he’s not just weak, he’s painfully self-aware of it, yet continues fighting for his family.
    • His internal monologue adds depth, showing that despite his lack of power, he is perceptive, determined, and refuses to give up.
    • His decision to enter the second dungeon despite knowing the risks further reinforces his desperation and resilience.
  • Baek Yoonho & Eunseok – The S-Rank Powerhouses
    • Their battle against the ants is spectacular, showcasing high-level abilities like Eunseok’s lightning attacks and Yoonho’s transformation.
    • Their teamwork and efficiency starkly contrast the chaos of lower-ranked hunters, emphasizing the power gap in this world.
  • Song Chi-Yul – The Seasoned Leader
    • His calm and tactical leadership during the raid makes him stand out as one of the more competent hunters.
    • His understanding of the risks but willingness to follow the group’s vote shows that he respects his comrades but is also aware of the dangers.
  • Lee Joohee – The Concerned Healer
    • She provides a compelling emotional anchor, constantly worrying for Jinwoo’s well-being and acting as a contrast to the other, more reckless hunters.
    • Her terrified breakdown during the statue massacre is a realistic reaction, further driving home the sheer horror of the situation.
  • Choi Jong-In & Cha Hae-In – The Elite Hunters
    • Choi Jong-In’s introduction hints at his immense power, as he single-handedly burns through waves of ants.
    • Cha Hae-In’s street fight scene is an awesome way to establish her abilities, showing her superhuman agility while also subtly setting her up as a potential future ally/rival.
  • The Other Hunters – Realistic and Diverse
    • Hunters like Sangshik and Beom-Shik add a realistic and human touch—they are not heroes, but ordinary people risking their lives for money.
    • The group vote on entering the second dungeon is a great moment that highlights greed, ambition, and desperation, making the tragedy even more impactful.

Action & Tension (9.5/10)

  • The Jeju Island battle is fast-paced, brutal, and visually intense. The S-Rank hunters are portrayed as near-godlike compared to everyone else, which makes their battle feel both exhilarating and terrifying.
  • Jinwoo’s fight against the goblins is brilliantly choreographed—his knife breaking mid-fight adds extra tension, showing how under-equipped he truly is.
  • The dungeon massacre at the end is utterly terrifying, with the statues mercilessly killing the hunters in gruesome ways. The laser attack from the throne statue is pure nightmare fuel.
  • The horror aspect of the episode is executed to perfection, making it one of the most gripping and intense moments so far.

Worldbuilding & Themes (9.3/10)

  • The episode brilliantly introduces the ranking system, explaining how hunters are categorized from S to E Rank.
  • The hunter economy is explored through essence stones and mana crystals, adding depth to the world’s power dynamics.
  • The government’s involvement in dungeons and their desire to use essence stones as an energy source is a great touch, showing that hunters aren’t just warriors, but also key economic figures.
  • The theme of power disparity is present throughout—from the helpless lower-rank hunters to the godlike S-Rank hunters.

Jinwoo’s economic struggle adds a real-world layer to his motivations, making him a relatable protagonist.

Cinematography & Atmosphere (9.4/10)

  • The fight choreography is dynamic and fluid, with fast-paced yet easy-to-follow action sequences.
  • Lighting and shadows are used excellently in the double dungeon, making it feel foreboding and eerie even before the massacre begins.
  • The soundtrack (presumably dark orchestral tones) adds immense tension, especially in the final minutes of the episode.
  • Camera angles effectively build tension, such as Jinwoo noticing the statue’s eyes moving—a subtle yet terrifying moment.

Final Verdict: 9.2/10 – A Near-Perfect Pilot Episode

This episode nails its worldbuilding, action, and tension, crafting a gripping and immersive introduction to Solo Leveling.

  • Strengths:
    • ✔️ Amazing action scenes (Jeju Island battle, goblin fight, statue massacre)
    • ✔️ Engaging protagonist with a strong underdog arc
    • ✔️ Terrifying horror elements (double dungeon massacre)
    • ✔️ Excellent worldbuilding (hunter rankings, essence stones, economic impact)
    • ✔️ Tense and well-paced storytelling
  • Weaknesses:
    • ❌ Some characters get minimal screen time (e.g., Woo Jinchul, Joo Jae-Hwan)
    • ❌ Heavy exposition may overwhelm some viewers

With thrilling fights, deep lore, and a chilling cliffhanger, this episode is a fantastic introduction to the world of Solo Leveling.