Episode 3 of Solo Leveling begins with Sung awakening in a hospital bed, gradually realizing that the injuries inflicted by the enigmatic statues had mysteriously vanished. Suddenly, Woo, the supervisor of the Hunter Association's Surveillance Team, along with his partner Kang, enters Sung's room. They inform him that he has been in a coma for three days. They update him on the status of their comrades: Song may soon retire, Joohee is undergoing psychiatric care, and only six survivors emerged from the harrowing double-dungeon ordeal.
Woo reveals that the White Tiger Guild was alerted to the incident and rushed to the temple to lend aid, but they found Sung sprawled on the ground, with no sign of the statues or the temple itself. Woo inquiries if Sung experienced a "second awakening," prompting Sung to ponder the possibility and subtly place his hand on Kang's mana meter to check for any changes in his own abilities. However, Sung's mana levels remain unchanged, much to his disappointment. Woo and Kang apologize and depart from his room.
Left alone in his room, Sung is astonished that they didn't inquire about the peculiar log hovering before him. Curiosity piqued, he tinkers with the log for a moment. Suddenly, Jinah, Sung's sister, bursts into the room, scolding him for causing her undue worry about his well-being. He realizes that Jinah is unable to see the log and poses questions to her about unread video game notifications and how to access them. Jinah explains the process, and Sung comes to the realization that he has become "The Player," tasked with completing a daily "Strength Training" quest.
Sung reads through several notifications detailing crucial information about the "Player Development System." It warns of penalties for failing to comply with the system's demands and mentions that he has been rewarded with something, though Sung is still grappling with the meaning of it all. He notices the daily "Strength Training" quest notification and opens it, scanning through the tasks he needs to complete today with a chuckle.
Elsewhere, Woo informs Chairman Go over the phone that Sung did not undergo a second awakening. Chairman Go acknowledges this information and expresses gratitude that the expedition didn't result in a dungeon breach. However, he informs Woo that he intends to classify this matter as a "special case" that will be reviewed over time. In his office, Guildmaster Choi tells Cha that he would like them to participate in a B-Rank raid as instructors. Cha expresses hesitation about her instructional capabilities, but Choi assures her that she just needs to tackle the raid as usual.
Later, a gate materializes in the heart of the street, eliciting consternation among the townsfolk. At the hospital, Sung receives a log update informing him of his failure to fulfill his daily mission. He is then transported to a desolate landscape, where a towering giant centipede threatens to overwhelm him. The log imposes a harsh ultimatum: Sung must endure this perilous trial for four grueling hours, a penalty for neglecting his duties. With adrenaline fueling his flight, Sung battles through the quest and emerges back at the hospital, breathless and disoriented.
The log's announcement of Sung's reward for completing the penalty quest leaves him speechless and fainting. By morning, Sung shares with Jinah a glimmer of hope that his hospital confinement might soon end. Jinah beams with joy, playfully hinting at a future dinner date. Meanwhile, at Joohee's residence, a call beckons her to join a D-Rank raid, which she politely declines. The caller then reveals Sung's current plight.
Joohee rushes to the hospital and, overhearing a nurses' conversation about Sung's unusual exercise obsession, spots him jogging outdoors and decides to confront him. Unbeknownst to her, Sung has successfully completed his daily "Strength Training" quest. He rambles excitedly about the Player Development System and the trio of rewards awaiting him upon quest completion: full rejuvenation, ability points, and a mysterious loot box often yielding random treasures.
Returning to his hospital room, Sung eagerly uncovers today's loot box prize—a key that grants him access to an "instance dungeon." His curiosity piqued, Sung ponders its purpose just as a news bulletin reports the emergence of D-Rank and C-Rank gates in the vicinity. His thoughts then drift to a poignant flashback involving Sung, Jinah, and their mother. In this memory, Sung learns that his mother suffers from Final Rest, a rare eternal sleep disease linked to prolonged mana exposure since the gates' advent. The doctor's prognosis is grim: life support is all they can offer.
A montage of Sung's daily quest endeavors unfolds, interspersed with reflections on his past encounters with former colleagues and hunters. In his hospital room, Sung resolutely allocates most of his ability points to enhancing his strength. Armed with the loot box key, he ventures to Hapjeong Station and enters the "instance dungeon." The dungeon doors slam shut behind him, and the log appears, sternly informing Sung that he must vanquish the dungeon boss or use a teleportation stone to escape.
Inside, Sung confronts a swarm of goblins and vanquishes them with determination. However, his resolve is tested when a fearsome Steel-Fanged Lycan appears, daunting Sung with its presence. He realizes the stark reality: if wounded or slain by the Lycan, there will be no one to heal him. The episode concludes on a tense note as the Lycan springs towards Sung, the air thick with anticipation.
