Ever since reawakening with his new powers in Solo Leveling, Jin-Woo prioritized curing his mother. He focused on getting stronger so he could defeat the Demon Castle and craft the Elixir of Life. The same Elixir that cured his mother of a severe illness failed to work on Cha Hae-In’s injuries. Why is that so?

The Elixir of Life is considered to be one of the strongest items in Solo Leveling. Jin-Woo defeated 100 floors of the Demon Castle and even fought the Demon Monarch Baran’s clone to craft it. Yet, it failed to work. Is Cha Hae-In’s condition too extreme to be reverted?

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What is the Elixir of Life?

The Elixir of Life, also called the Holy Water of Life, is a legendary item that Jin-Woo crafted after defeating the Demon Castle. The item is described as a rare potion that “cures all illness with powerful magic.” To craft it, Jin-Woo defeated multiple demons in the Demon Castle, including:

• Vulcan: Boss of the 50th Floor that dropped World Tree Fragment
• Metus: Boss of the 75th Floor that dropped Spring Water From Echo Forest
• Baran: Boss of the 100th Floor that dropped Purified Blood of Demon Monarch

How Effective is the Elixir of Life?

The Elixir of Life is easily the strongest potion that we know of so far. It is capable of curing any illness or ailment. But at the same, it is not a multipurpose potion. It can cure the highest levels of illness, like Jin-Woo’s mother’s Eternal Sleep. However, it can not affect other health conditions like physical injuries, regardless of their severity.

Jin-Woo, at the time of crafting, was able to create 6 Elixir of Life potions. He had already used one to cure his mother and, left with no alternative, chose to use the second on Cha Hae-In, but it failed.

Why Did the Elixir of Life Fail?

Cha Hae-In’s Condition

During the South Korean Hunters’ clearance of the Ant Queen’s nest, they came across the Ant King. When the Ant King realized that his Queen had been slaughtered, he went on a rampage. Hae-In, who is already sensitive to mana’s smell, started feeling nauseous due to the Ant King’s presence.

In a blink, he targeted Hae-In and struck her with immense strength. Hae-In’s body slammed against a wall, leaving her severely injured. When Jin-Woo arrived, he noticed that her body had turned pale and her aura was rapidly growing weaker.

Potions Were Ineffective

Jin-Woo, upon his arrival, immediately used the potions in his inventory to cure the injured Hunters. The potions in seconds brought all of them to full health. But the potion failed to work on Hae-In because her hit points were too low to be effective.

Jin-Woo faced a similar situation in Season 1, Episode 12, when the same potion failed to work on him because his hit points were too low. Left with no choice, he relied on the Elixir of Life. But again, the Elixir of Life also failed because the Elixir of Life cures illnesses and not physical injuries.

An Anime Only Moment

While it does not change why the Elixir of Life did not work. It is interesting to note that the usage of Elixir of Life is an original addition to the anime. In the Manhwa, Jin-Woo did not even think of using the Elixir of Life on Hae-In. This change was probably made to give Jin-Woo a more sincere and considerate touch to his character.

In the Manhwa, instead of relying on the Elixir of Life, Jin-Woo used his Shadow Extraction powers to save Hae-In. The upcoming season finale will likely feature the same.

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Solo Leveling: Is Jinwoo Too OP?

Solo Leveling has made a name for itself with its impressive protagonist, but one thing has remained on viewers’ minds: is Jinwoo too overpowered?

Solo Leveling once again shows how little we understand about its world. Despite having legendary items at his disposal, Jin-Woo finds him unable to save a comrade. Up against a wall, how will Jin-Woo use his powers to save Cha Hae-In?

Solo Leveling is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Solo Leveling

Release Date

January 7, 2024

Directors

Shunsuke Nakashige

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  Taito Ban

  Shun Mizushino (voice)

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  Genta Nakamura

  Kenta Morobishi (voice)