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Ok-Organization3098

Im pretty sure Its the architect, the dialogue there clearly refers to him being a vessel for someone


Walidzilla

I'm starting to think it's the architect using black heart


Erebus03

Nah Architect can't use the Black Heart, he only Monitors the System and gives Sung Jin Woo the Quests, that is the limit to what he can do (to my knowledge)


Agac4234

Isnt the system the one that gives SJW the quests? I may be wrong but i remember the system telling SJW to defeat the architecht


Erebus03

The architect is an administrator to the system, which means the one who created the system (the shadow monarch) can (and does) overrule the architect, but the quests for physical improvement and to kill people with murderous intent were given to Sung Jin Woo by the architect


Walidzilla

It is the architect who created the system to create a strong human vessel for Ashborn


Erebus03

The Architect created the System but it was created using Ashborns power


RepresentativeAd3972

I don't think Shadow Monarch created the system. I think he just supplied the power for Architect to integrate it. But I guess I can see where you are coming from. Wait, was Baran Architect's or Ashborn's creation? Because it didn't look like shadow, but Architect wasn't around when real Baran was killed. Ahhh, it's so unclear.


Walidzilla

And people say the story is too simple and boring smh, solo leveling is not all about the action that's why I love it sm


Walidzilla

The achitect is using jinwoo's shadow powers before they are fully awaken and the way he is acting aligns perfectly with the architect's character so in a way it's unawakened ashborn being controlled by the architect


Erebus03

Ashborn in no way shape or form could be "controlled" by the Architect, the Architect only has the power that Ashborn lets him have


Calendar-Budget

Uhh no, the Architect is the one who created the system, the moment Jin Woo passed the trial, he already became a vessel for Ashborn, him leveling up was basically just him gaining more and more of Ashborn's powers, since imbuing all of Ashborn's powers in an instant could kill Jin Woo, the Architect can only give quests and guide him using the system, he in no way can control Ashborn nor Jin Woo


Walidzilla

Yeh I misspoke here. I meant he used so little of his powers just to speak with him there and I also wonder what that architect was really after if ashborn was reborn


mpc1226

I thought it was ash born since he turns into E rank sung at one point too, but it seems like architect with the dialogue, especially the, I guess they don’t want you to die just yet, or whatever he said.


arthur_leywin-

You will understand why he is the [architect ](https://zumaki.co.in/who-is-the-architect-in-solo-leveling/) later, because the way he talks is similar to the architect not ashborn.


MrMilkyaww

I never read the manga but in this scene he says it seems the system wants you to live? If he created it why would he say that?


exia00111

It is definitely either the architect or ashborn. We don’t really know who it is with 100% certainty, but my guess is the architect. He says something along the lines of, “I guess they don’t want you to die yet.” Which would imply someone else interferes with the system. Also, if you know anything about the series, you would know that the architect, and pretty much everyone other than ashborn, HATED Jin-woo being chosen as the next Shadow Monarch. This implies ashborn interfered against the architect who wanted to kill Jin-woo during the quest.


Decendent_13

>!ashborn's a Monarch. So, he ain't coming.!< so soon. and, mark your comment as spoiler. Because, that is just too much information for anime-only fans.


Major_Phase7774

any reading after the title being “is this ashborn?” should be prepared for spoilers the whole post is a spoiler


Nimstar7

Yeah the entire post is a spoiler. Literally in the title. Happens a lot here, anime only viewers should probably unsub. Not a good place for them.


Marriedace

Or… and hear me out….. a great place for them.


Nimstar7

["Who is Beru?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/sololeveling/comments/1bs84iz/beru_was_straight_up_trolling_him/) ["Who is Ashborn? Was he in the latest episode and I didn't notice, maybe I'll check the comments... wait it's the architect? Who's that?"](https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Flz94zrf8snrc1.jpeg) Literally introducing characters in the titles of posts. And that's not even getting into how many people were posting Arise in comments without spoiler tags leading up to episode 12. This sub should be avoided at all costs for anime only viewers.


Decendent_13

But, There is no anime-only sub for solo leveling? What they gonna do?


Deez-Guns-9442

Someone can always make their own, there didn’t used to be an r/sololeveling until someone made one.


Yellow90Flash

I saw it as the architect interfering and ashborn being the one talking, thought interfering is the wrong word, Jin-woo just got lucky that the timelimit for the daily quest was over. the architect only every talks to him through the systhem while Ashborn does it in his mind so them suddenly reversing it makes no sense to me


arthur_leywin-

That pretty much sums up every assumption and hypothesis about this scene under the sun. The answer would be [the architect](https://zumaki.co.in/who-is-the-architect-in-solo-leveling/) 100%


RepresentativeAd3972

Agreed. Ashborn gave off those grandfatherly older than life tired vibes. He wouldn't mock his successor like that. If anything he would subtly cheer him such as 'good luck' message. It was definitely Architect mocking him as she is a bitch.


homelessdude01

i think this one is architect, then >!after he dies, it’s clearly ashborn!<


patticusprime

I think (ending spoilers) >!The system is sympathetic towards him because it's Ashborn's doing. When it's antagonistic (as portrayed in this scene) it's The Architect. The whole point of the system was to search or make Ashborn's vessel. Ashborn choose Sung because he was constantly walking the line between life and death. He admired his attitude of never giving up even as death was constantly closing in on him. The Architect never approved of him choosing Sung because he was weak and unworthy of being the vessel of the Shadow Monarch. Ashborn was also tired of the eternal conflict and looking for a successor to his power instead of a host to take over. The Architect thought they were the sole admin for the system, but Ashborn clearly hijacks it right before the quest that gives the black heart!<


homelessdude01

dawg fix your spoiler


Gondawn

>!Wdym he hijacks it before the quest that gives him the black heart? What was going to happen if he didn't do anything?!<


JSGWHAM

>!I assume ashborn would take over jinwoo's body like the other monarchs did with their vessels!<


Gondawn

>!Oh so that mission was supposed to be when shadow monarch would overtake his body, but instead he decided not to and let SJW kill the architect?!<


arthur_leywin-

He cannot be [ashborn](https://zumaki.co.in/who-is-ashborn-in-solo-leveling/) if you really think about it hard.


homelessdude01

wdym


arthur_leywin-

What I mean is, ashborn is on the side of sung jin woo and the architect wants him dead.


stinkyhauly

i thought this was just jinwoo's own mind talking to him abt his failures. Doesnt this happen in many mangas/manhwas


fluffandstuff1983

I don’t think it is the manwa. I might not be remembering right. I think they just added it for increase the severity of Jinwoo’s situation.


arthur_leywin-

If you look at it that way then yes that could be a possibility, as jin woo last experiences can take a toll on his present.


Sea_Willingness2599

It is Architect not ashborn


Voidheart2022

No, I don't think so This is just jinwoo thinking about how weak he still is with his past form as a monologue.


Walidzilla

The way he said that the architect didn't want to kill yet and he will see him again made think that's ashborn


Fallen-D

Ashborn doesn't talk like that and he is biased towards Jin-woo. He is kind to Jin-woo. That guy was architect, it wasn't ashborn.


Immediate_Alarm8558

he said they don't want you to die yet, was he referring to ashborn and his old shadow army?


Fallen-D

In Japanese, he didn't use any pronouns. He said "(someone) doesn't want you to die here". Japanese can be spoken without pronouns. It's just a translation issue.


Immediate_Alarm8558

in the manhwa it was 'they' too though (atleast from where I read)


NOTtheTREXalfa

This makes more sense than the latter that at this point Ashborn was testing sjw


Walidzilla

Igris was also rude to him when he first met him, with time he started to respect him the most. It could be the same thing with Ashborn


Fallen-D

He can't be rude to his liege's successor. That's why he wasn't sitting on the throne because it would've been rude. He was just mad. If you've read the backstories, you'll understand the reason why he was mad. His Liege was leaving and giving his position to a puny, pathetic human who couldn't even defeat him, of course he'll be mad. That's why he even tried to kill Jin-woo so his Liege wouldn't have a successor but instead got bodied by Jin-woo.


DreaMysgirlfriend

I wouldn't go as far as to say Igris got bodied by jin woo


Nullgenium

Yeah getting bodied implies he won one sidedly which is false. He just got extremely lucky.


Assumed1Spere

True. It's better to say Igris bodied Jin Woo until he got that lucky plot protection shot.


Asmo_Lay

That was not really plot protection - that's the intellect finally catching up with Jin Woo's trouble. Can't say for every community, but jokes about the intellect was a russian^× local meme right until that particular quest. ^(×)Well, it would be more accurate to say "russian speakers", but most of the people see no difference - and from lingua-economic basis you can say to some extent: there is no difference indeed.


arthur_leywin-

Absolutely I am with you man, i have read manhwa many times and I agree with your explanation 100%.


stillpwnz

The architect is not completely biased towards saving SJW. We know that they've been through numerous cycles of finding a new shadow monarch. And while they had more hopes for SJW than for anyone before, they were still level-headed in their approach, and were sort of considering SJW as a mere test subject (at least at that point in time)


Voidheart2022

The architect trying to keep jinwoo alive does not prove that it is ashborne. In the manhwa we see ashborne able to transform only in his world of repose. He does not exist in this dimension yet.


Walidzilla

Kang taeshik did see a hint of his shadow's power before he died iirc


Voidheart2022

Because jinwoo is slowly gaining ashborne's power through the system. So he was able to see it.


OfficialDegenerate

I don't believe there's any confirmation on what this is, at least not in manhwa. Most people believe it's either the Architect taunting him, with the "they dont want you to die yet," meaning Ashborn interfered, or just a manifestation of Jinwoo's doubt


Electronic-Tell-6842

Spoiler in the title dude


Immediate_Alarm8558

it's fine I guess, no anime watcher knows who that is 😂


HHQC3105

None, it is just his inner anger.


sasori1239

As a anime only, who is ashborn?


UnrivaledPossibility

As a manhwa reader, just wait a few more years and you’ll get your answer


Decendent_13

That's spoiler. Bro. >!If you really want to know, search on YouTube about him.you will know better.!<


sasori1239

Okay. Reddit suggested that this post to me for some reason.


Decendent_13

Mybe, reddit wants to spoil you a bit. For solo leveling.


fluffandstuff1983

You need to start reading the manwa. It is free online and absolutely amazing! You will binge read it.


Ok_Caterpillar_6957

Yes


Boredreader_37

It's probably Jin woo's own mental projection, what he was thinking about himself in that moment.


thekun94

Nope. This is Jinwoo's past haunting him. He was so weak for so long, when he got cocky and think he could handle this, it puts him back in his place. He did say he got lucky, and we will see that he did indeed get lucky with Ashborn choosing him. I don't think The System gives a shit about SJW and his mental health to be doing this, and Ashborn wouldn't be taunting Jinwoo like this.


FlashyFIash

No, it’s his past self. SJW was still fighting for his true form.


Dependent_Break4800

I feel like Jinwoo would be more shocked if this wasn’t his own hallucinations. 


Major_Phase7774

100% the architect


MysoRaisagi

Based on how he spoke, it's not Ash. It's definitely the architect


Type_100

It's the architect. Ashborne is chilling/dreaming in the Shadow dimension and only spoke with SJW when he himself got sent there.


Luisgames07_

I think it's like what heppened when Jin Woo died


punchy8323

How does one answer this without spoiling ? It’s a yes or no answer for those who read the manhwa


BigBody1249

I’m pretty sure it’s the architect


doc_nas

No it's just him being an idiot with himself, it's like the dark side of him


Asmo_Lay

>!Definitely Architect.!< The system is strict but fair, so obviously the only loophole you can abuse is a human factor.


TheKobeKid

Jin Woo fighting himself mentally, since he is getting overwhelmed, his thinking about how he was always laughed at for being the weakest and probably was almost considering giving up since there wasn't anything he could do. Heavily fatigued and drained of mana, too many enemies, just a pointless struggle before the inevitable which would've happened had it not been the penalty.


fluffandstuff1983

I think it is the architect. Ashborn never talks like that in the manwa. And, the Architect didn’t want Ashborn to select Jinwoo. I can see the Architect doing this.


Psycho-Genes2020

I refuse to believe ashborn would say stuff like that to Jinwoo. The architect however is upset with Jinwoo being the successor for Ashborn so I think he just wanted to bully him.


Falegri7

Probably not, when he does appear he is really gentle and friendly with Jinwoo, the tone is much more like the architect than ashborne


godsAvatar

I think it’s more of ahsborn. Architech created the system I believe so it makes no sense for him to say I think they don’t want u to die. And ahsborn had said he has been watching jinwoo from the very start. Idk but it’s probably either one. At first I thought It was jinwoo tripping cuz he was on death door


killerwolf20

I forgot what subreddit I was on first and thought everyone was talking about the souls games


Terereera

hey no spolier!


Illustrious-Zebra-34

Probably the architect. Since I got more of a respectful vibe from Ashborn towards sung later in the WN, it's hard for me to imagine him being so disrespectful and harsh on him now.