Lord of Mysteries has one of the most complex but structured power systems in anime. Unlike random magic in other series, this world follows rules based on potions, sequences, and something called Pathways. But since the anime skipped a lot of explanations in the first two episodes, I will explain about both Pathways and Sequences according to the web novel.
This article contains spoilers from Lord of Mysteries Episode 1, 2, and the web novel.
What Are Beyonder Potions?
The only way to get supernatural powers in this world is by drinking a special potion called a Beyonder Potion. But it is not safe. If you can not handle the potion, you lose control. That usually leads to death, madness, or becoming a monster.
In the Lord of Mysteries Web Novel, Old Neil gives a full explanation. There are five main reasons people lose control:
- Drinking a potion from a different Pathway
- Taking the next-level potion too early
- Using a wrong or unstable formula
- Letting your emotions or desires take over
So the entire system is built around taking power slowly and carefully.
What Are Pathways in Lord of Mysteries?
Pathways are the core structure of the power system. Each Pathway is a specific theme of abilities. For example, the Church of the Evernight Goddess controls the Sleepless Pathway. There are 22 total Pathways in the world.
This system comes from something called the Blasphemy Slate. It is a set of ancient cards discovered by Emperor Roselle, who figured out how to turn humans into gods. Each church in the story controls at least one full Pathway.
What Are Sequences?
Each Pathway is made of different levels called Sequences. They are ranked backwards:
- Sequence 9 is the lowest and safest level
- Sequence 0 is the highest and is god-level
For example, Captain Dunn Smith is Sequence 7: Nightmare. That is already considered very powerful. Klein starts at Sequence 9: Seer.
The anime briefly showed this ranking system in the ritual scene, but it did not explain much about how you move up.
How Klein Becomes a Beyonder?
In the novel, Klein earns the right to become a Beyonder after helping the Nighthawks with a case. He chooses the Seer Pathway and drinks his first potion in Chapter 31. Old Neil helps him through the process.
After drinking the potion and on a mission, Klein sees strange visions and hears voices saying “Hornacis… Flegrea…” He nearly loses control.
His first two powers are:
- Spirit Vision (seeing auras and emotions)
- Spiritual Perception (sensing supernatural danger)
This whole part is very short in the anime, but it is one of the most important moments.
What Is the Acting Method?
This is the secret to safe advancement. Klein learns it from Emperor Roselle’s diary. Just drinking the potion is not enough. To gain control, you have to “act” like the name of your Sequence.
For example, to digest the Seer potion, Klein has to behave like a Seer in real life. He has to observe, think, and predict. That is how he blends with the power instead of getting destroyed by it.
He explains this to the Tarot Club using a castle example. The potion is the castle, the name is the invitation. By acting the part, you become the guest and gain access.
Most Beyonders don’t know this secret, which is why many of them fail when trying to rank up.
The anime showed only small parts of how Pathways and Sequences work, so most new viewers are confused. But once you understand potions, losing control, and the acting method, the whole system starts to make sense. I hope my guide was helpful! I am reading the novel alongside the anime.
