In Solo Leveling, the betrayal of Ashborn by the Monarchs before the series began was due to their fear of his immense power and his creation by the Absolute Being to destroy them if they lost control. Despite rising to dominance in battle, his comrades Baran and Rakan turned on him, leading to a clash where Ashborn emerged victorious but was left weakened. This betrayal shaped Ashborn's character as the Shadow Monarch and ultimately led to his alliance with the protagonist, Sung Jin-Woo. With titles like King of the Dead and Monarch of Shadows, Ashborn stands as one of the strongest beings in the series.

His unique background and connection with Sung Jin-Woo add depth to his character and set the stage for the unfolding story.