Monarchs in Solo Leveling: Where Were These Ancient Threats Hiding Before The Story Began?

Daksh Chaudhary
Apr 4
4 min read

Solo Leveling where were Monarchs hiding

If you’ve read Solo Leveling, you know the Monarchs are the ultimate villains - ancient, god-like beings who want to destroy humanity. But here’s a question that fans keep asking: Where were the Monarchs hiding in Solo Leveling before the main story started? How did they stay off the radar for so long, only to suddenly unleash chaos through Gates and dungeons?

The Monarchs aren’t your typical villains who show up yelling “I’m evil!” from day one. No, these guys are smart. Monarchs have been hiding in plain sight for centuries, using loopholes, proxies, and even the very System meant to protect humanity. To understand their hiding spots, we need to break down their strategies - from other dimensions to possessing humans - and see how they stayed invisible for so long.

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Their Real Hideout For Monarchs In Solo Leveling: A Separate Dimension

The Monarchs weren’t physically on Earth at all. After their ancient truce with the Rulers, they retreated to their own dark dimension - a realm completely cut off from the human world. This dimension wasn’t just a hiding spot; it was a fortress where they rebuilt their armies and plotted their revenge. Think of it like a villain’s secret lair, except this one existed outside the boundaries of reality itself.

But hiding in another dimension didn’t mean they were idle. The Monarchs found clever ways to meddle with Earth. Tiny cracks between dimensions acted like secret tunnels. Through these gaps, they sent fragments of their power, commands to their monsters, and even whispers to corruptible humans. It was like slipping poison into a glass of water - subtle, undetectable, and deadly over time.

Hiding In The System

Where were Monarchs hiding in Solo Leveling

The System - the mysterious power that only Sung Jinwoo received - began as the Rulers' weapon, but became one of the Monarchs' greatest tricks. Originally, the Rulers designed it to create a human champion strong enough to host the Shadow Monarch's power and save humanity. But the Monarchs corrupted it. While it appeared to help Jinwoo grow stronger, the twisted System pushed him to clear dungeons and fight monsters that secretly advanced the Monarchs' goals. Why? They needed a perfect vessel - someone strong enough to steal, not just contain, their rival's power (the Shadow Monarch's).

Though only Jinwoo had the System, its influence spread globally. Every dungeon he cleared under its guidance unknowingly played into the Monarchs' hands. Catastrophes like Japan's guild annihilation weren't accidents - they were stepping stones to weaken humanity. The System wasn't just Jinwoo's power-up; it was a hijacked program, turning the Rulers' weapon into the Monarchs' trap.

Possessing Humans And Monsters

When you can’t enter a world yourself, you send puppets - that's what Monarchs did. The Monarchs possessed powerful beings to act as their hands and voices on Earth. Take the Frost Monarch, for example. He manipulated Choi Jong-In, leader of the White Flames guild, turning him into a puppet to unleash chaos in Seoul. Similarly, Antares, the Dragon Monarch, controlled magical beasts like the dragons on Jeju Island, using them to scout humanity’s strength.

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Even humans hungry for power became unwitting hiding spots for Monarchs in Solo Leveling. Hunters like Thomas Andre, corrupted by the Monarch of Destruction’s energy, thought their strength was a gift. In reality, it was all carefully orchestrated. The Monarchs didn’t need to hide in shadows - they hid in the pride and greed of those who thought they were in control.

Dungeons And Gates: Their Training Grounds

Dungeons and Gates weren’t random disasters - they were the Monarchs’ testing labs. By filling these spaces with loyal monsters like the Jeju Island ants or ice elves, the Monarchs could study Hunters’ tactics and weaknesses. Every S-Rank Gate cleared by humans was a victory that masked a darker truth: the Monarchs were testing humanity's limits.

The closer a Gate was to the Monarchs’ dimension, the deadlier it became. The infamous Jeju Island raid, which nearly wiped out Korea’s Hunters, was a rehearsal for larger invasions. Gates were never just portals - they were windows. And through those windows, the Monarchs watched, waited, and refined their plans for the day they’d finally step through.

Final Verdict: Masters Of The Long Game

So, where were the Monarchs hiding in Solo Leveling? Everywhere and nowhere. They lurked in a dimension beyond human reach, seeped into the System meant to protect humanity, hid inside the souls of corrupted Hunters, and masked their plans behind every disaster labeled a “dungeon.” Their greatest weapon wasn’t brute strength, it was patience. For centuries, they turned humanity’s tools into traps and their heroes into pawns.

By the time Hunters realized the truth, the Monarchs were already steps ahead. Gates became battlefields, cities burned, and Jinwoo’s rise as the Shadow Monarch became the only wild card they hadn’t planned for.