One Piece: Does Lord of Mysteries have richer lore than One Piece? Explored

The news of Lord of Mysteries receiving an anime adaptation was met with immense excitement and approval from those in the know. Animanga fans who had ventured beyond the genre and into Donghua realized the gravity of what was to come. Elsewhere, those unfamiliar with it seem to have quickly gotten engrossed in a series that has a lot to offer.

Speaking of, Lord of Mysteries boasts very rich lore, and given its growing popularity, many have compared it to the mega-series One Piece. The question presented stands as- Does Lord of Mysteries have richer lore than One Piece? To answer simply, Lord of Mysteries does have lore that is more expansive than Eiichiro Oda's One Piece.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer's opinion.

Lord of Mysteries may have richer lore than One Piece

Lord of Mysteries (Image via B.CMAY PICTURES)

To begin with, it is necessary to mention that the comparison being made between Lord of Mysteries and One Piece is not a fair one. The former series is a web novel, affording it considerable scope to expand on its lore. Being a written medium permits more detailed descriptions/explanations, character development, and world-building.

Contrastingly, manga relies heavily on visual storytelling, which does bind (in some manner) what can and cannot be presented. However, putting that aside and starting with Cuttlefish That Loves Diving's series, Lord of Mysteries has 1430 chapters in total. When delved into, each chapter has averaged nearly 1937 words, even going up to 5000.

This is evidence of how detailed the creator has chosen to be. In comparison, One Piece has 1128 chapters and counting, aside from movies. It is unclear when the manga will end, with many predicting the coming few years as being crucial to its end. Moving on, the series centered on Klein Moretti showcases a vast timeline that spans thousands of years.

The main story is divided into Five Epochs, which are subdivided into multiple eras, each spanning hundreds to thousands of years by themselves. These include the Lost Era, Era of Carnage, Sprouting Era, Early Era of Fire, and many more. Elsewhere, One Piece lore suggests that the story began 5000 years prior to the present, with events like the ancient kingdom's birth and the Void Century.

On that same note, Lord of Mysteries also has a Pre-Epoch Era, which itself spans nearly 13.8 billion years of fictional history. Moreover, it is presented to have entities operating on a cosmic scale stretching all across these years. This leads to the next point in the discussion: power systems. Cuttlefish That Loves Diving seems to have created a power system that epitomizes the word "intricate."

It is presented as Pathways, or Path of the Divine, a sequence of ten potion formulas that bestow supernatural powers on the consumer. They thus become Beyonders, with each pathway being part of a group of similar pathways. At higher levels, safe switching is possible. At the end, only one Beyonder can ascend to attain divinity and become that pathway's True God.

Now to put matters into perspective, there are 22 Standard Pathways on Earth, each possessing 10 Sequence levels. These are set with Sequence 9 being the lowest and Sequence 0 the highest. Needless to mention, each Sequence boasts its own unique abilities, and each Pathway has authority of its own. The scope and variety of one's abilities expand as one progresses through the Sequence.

In comparison, One Piece's power system is rooted in Devil Fruits (supernatural power-granting fruits) and Haki (one's own spiritual energy). As per series lore, Devil Fruits are divided into 3 main types - Paramecia (grants superhuman abilities), Zoan (power to turn into an animal), and Logia (rarest, control over a certain element of nature). There are also those that have yet to be identified.

Klein Moretti (Image via B.CMAY PICTURES)

Zoan-type Devil Fruits are unique given their subtypes - Ancient (extinct species), Mythical (mythological creatures), and Artificial (permanent animal characteristic). One Piece states that there are 166 Canon (Paramecia - 94, Zoan - 55, Logia - 13, Undetermined - 4) and 61 Non-Canon Devil Fruits (Paramecia - 49, Zoan - 7, Logia - 3, Undetermined - 2).

All in all, the sheer volume and detail of Lord of Mysteries seems to outdo One Piece when discussing lore. As explained, aspects like the timelines, the power systems, and the lore itself in the former series are heavier, more detailed, and have a broader scope. Again, this doesn't say that One Piece is not lore-rich or intricately designed but is simply on the back foot against a web novel.

Final Thoughts

To conclude, both Lord of Mysteries and One Piece are shining examples of mammoth achievements in storytelling within their respective mediums. But as mentioned, the sheer scope and depth of the former’s lore clearly puts it in a league of its own.

For one, the narrative spans billions of fictional years, elaborately entwining together cosmic-scale events, carefully detailed epochs, and a highly convoluted power system that permits nuanced progression and variation. Not to mention, the word count and descriptive capacity of a web novel is a major strength.

Through this, author Cuttlefish That Loves Diving is able to freely explore history, mythology, and extraordinary mechanics with noteworthy granularity. In contrast, Eiichiro Oda's magnum opus is mind-blowing by itself but operates within the confines and strengths of a manga - a setting favoring visual storytelling.

But even so, Devil Fruits, Haki, and world history are expertly composed, though comparatively narrower in documented scope. All in all, the medium and narrative approach create a disparity. It is right to say that both are masterpieces, but when it comes to pure lore density, Lord of Mysteries takes the cake.

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About the author

Casey has been an anime writer at Sportskeeda since almost a year. Being drawn into the world of animanga after watching the Dragon Ball series almost a decade ago, Casey's interest in the genre, along with his love of crafting plot theories influenced his writerly endeavors. Presently pursuing a Master's degree in International Business, Casey worked for Uneake and FootballExpress for 1.3 years before joining Sportskeeda.

Casey's writings reflect his commitment to producing the most reliable content, evidenced by his flair for in-depth reporting. He places a high value on meticulous research and complete factual accuracy.

Although it was legendary Akira Toriyama’s magnum opus that influenced his love of animanga, Casey soon branched out and explored other titles. The unique ways in which mangakas express ideas, as well as their far-reaching effects, have inspired Casey in his creative pursuits.

When not busy writing, Casey enjoys working out, listening to music, strumming the guitar, and playing football.

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Edited by Somava