Solo Leveling Season 2 has proven its massive appeal, becoming one of the most successful anime of 2025. While author Chugong skillfully weaves subtle details into characters like Beru, the series also pays tribute to classic anime legends.
We already know Jinwoo’s daily missions draw inspiration from Saitama’s training in One-Punch Man, and the Jeju Island arc echoes Hunter x Hunter. But Solo Leveling Season 2 hides a deeply meaningful Easter egg as a nod to Vegeta, one that not all fans might catch.
Solo Leveling Celebrates Vegeta’s Most Iconic Line from Dragon Ball Z
One of Vegeta’s most intense moments in Dragon Ball Z is his first Super Saiyan transformation during the Android Saga, granting him incredible power against Dr. Gero’s creations. What makes this moment unforgettable is Vegeta’s threatening line to Android 19 in episode 130: “Does a machine like you know fear?”
Surprisingly, in Solo Leveling episode 15, Sung Jinwoo shows respect for this iconic Vegeta moment when he threatens Metus in the Demon Castle: “I guess even the undead know fear.”
The similarity continues. In episode 19, Jinwoo delivers a similar line to one of the Demon Knights: “Do demons like you know fear? You’re trembling. I think I have my answer.”
The clear parallel between these scenes leaves no doubt that Jinwoo’s words are a direct reference to Vegeta. This detail also highlights how, unlike Goku’s innocent and kind nature, Jinwoo’s system-influenced personality leans more toward a fierce anti-hero, making him more Vegeta-like in character.
Solo Leveling Packs Multiple Dragon Ball Easter Eggs
Although the Vegeta-related detail appeared in the original Solo Leveling novel and manhwa, the anime version adds its own special tribute to Dragon Ball.
In episode 9, Jinwoo performs the same warm-up move as Goku in Dragon Ball Super: Broly. While it could be a coincidence, Jinwoo perfectly mimics Goku’s motions, leading fans to believe A-1 Pictures included this scene as a tribute. Coincidentally, this episode aired the same day the legendary creator Akira Toriyama’s death was announced.
Furthermore, in episode 22, Jinwoo repeats a stretching move identical to Goku’s before a sparring match with Japanese S-Rank Hunter Ryuji Goto.
These Easter eggs emphasize that while Solo Leveling clearly draws from MMO genres, Dragon Ball likely inspired the author’s vision of Jinwoo’s power evolution. After all, both Solo Leveling and Dragon Ball are fantasy stories about pure strength, where characters grow stronger after every battle.