Warning: This article contains spoilers for Solo Leveling's manhwa!!

Solo Leveling's author has offered a satisfying explanation for one of the most debated aspects of the story, the Spiritual Body Manifestation ability, which is considered one of the greatest powers in the series but also one of the most inconsistent ones.

The Spiritual Body Manifestation ability is one of the most intriguing abilities seen in Solo Leveling and has often been questioned for being a plot device, since its functioning ranged from being a sort of transformation by the Rulers' vessels to summoning the powers of higher beings, the way the Monarchs showcased their real forms on Earth. However, Solo Leveling's author's recent statement finally shone a light on the nature of this power in the National Level Hunters.

The Spiritual Body Manifestation Ability in Solo Leveling Was Exclusive for Monarchs

Solo Leveling's Author Explains the Nature of Thomas Andre's Skill

It wasn't explored in Solo Leveling why Rulers’ Vessels like Thomas Andre and Christopher Reed could use The Spiritual Body Manifestation when it was pointed out in the story that Rulers don't have physical bodies to manifest. Even its use as a ruler's vessel was questioned by the monarchs themselves, without much explanation to the readers as to why they found it to be an unnatural ability for humans. However, a post published on the platform Dcinside by Solo Leveling’s author, Chugong, revealed the functioning of this ability, clarifying that rulers' vessels don't have spiritual manifestations as monarchs do.

According to Solo Leveling's setting, a person is a soul + body, but higher beings are soul=body. So their bodies are said to be spiritual, not physical. Of course, if you destroy the spirit body, the soul will also be destroyed. That's why higher beings cannot be made into shadows.

That is, Spiritual Body Manifestation is a process in which a person with a physical body temporarily changes his or her body into a spiritual one to maximally use the power of higher beings. It is a power that cannot be handled by the body of the vessel at the moment. If a human casts it, they will die 100% of the time. The bottom line is that Thomas's reinforcement is a skill, not Spiritual Body Manifestation.

- Chugong

According to Solo Leveling's creator, Spirit Body Manifestation can’t be used by humans, as those who use it will die and become a spirit body. Furthermore, the author stated that Thomas Andre never used Spirit Body Manifestation, but his Reinforcement is a skill that allows him to release the power that he was given by the Rulers to coat his body in armor.

This explains why Querehsha and Rakan were surprised when Christopher Reed cast the ability in Solo Leveling's manhwa chapter 140, as it means his soul will be destroyed along with his physical body, contrary to Monarchs, who had completely taken control of their respective human bodies.

The Reason Why Jinwoo Never Used Shadow Extraction in Christopher Reed

Jinwoo's Father and the National Level Hunter Sacrificed Themselves

Additionally, this highlights that Christopher Reed sacrificed himself by using Spiritual Body Manifestation, as he was already being foretold by Norma Selner that he would die and wanted to use everything he could to defeat the monarchs. This way, as Christopher Reed was defeated when his body and soul were one, his soul was destroyed.

Because of this, there was no way for Sung Jinwoo to seek Christopher Reed's corpse and use Shadow Extraction to question him about who attacked him and clear his father as a culprit. Also, Solo Leveling's author also revealed in another post shared on Cdinside that the Spiritual Body Manifestation was the reason why Sung Il-Hwan could fight two monarchs and why his body began to crumble and vanish into the air.

Of course, the reason he fought well against the two monarchs was because he prepared for death and used spiritual body manifestation.- Chugong, referring to Sung Il-Hwan.

Furthermore, the fact that the ability can only be achieved as a way for monarchs to show their true forms also explains why Antares was surprised by Jinwoo’s form in chapter 175 of the manhwa, as he shouldn't be capable of using Spirit Body Manifestation due to Ashborn being originally one of the rulers. As a result, Jinwoo's form was due to having managed to control the powers of the Shadow Monarch. Nevertheless, thanks to deepening the lore of the series, fans can have a better understanding of the best powers seen in Solo Leveling and think about them differently.

Source: Solo Leveling's author Chugong on Dcinside, Kamish in Dcinside