Few anime franchises have experienced a rise as meteoric as Solo Leveling‘s, having transitioned from a successful light novel to a worldwide phenomenon, spawning a webtoon, a sequel, an anime, an action RPG, and an upcoming live-action series. However, China has a donghua adaptation that’s currently on track to become an IP as big as Solo Leveling and has just returned to Crunchyroll one year after its debut.
Despite the stark contrast between their stories, Lord of Mysteries was released shortly after the conclusion of Solo Leveling Season 2, sparking comparisons between the two, given that both series are based on light novels with massive followings. While Lord of Mysteries might not scratch the itch for a straightforward power fantasy quite like Solo Leveling, the series left its mark as one of the best isekai of 2025 thanks to its stunning animation, dark tone, and narrative depth. And yet, surprisingly, the new Lord of Mysteries special has flown under the radar, despite delivering one of the series’ strongest episodes to date.
To celebrate the donghua’s anniversary, Lord of Mysteries Special: Prey premiered on Crunchyroll on June 20th. While the initial release covered the “City of Silver” storyline, the second part of the special, comprising episodes 2 and 3 and titled “The Marked Hunt,” dropped on June 26 and 27, respectively. These episodes not only maintain the series’ exceptional visual quality but are also likely to win over viewers who weren’t yet fully convinced by the story, serving as the perfect appetizer for the upcoming season of Lord of Mysteries.
Lord of Mysteries Just Returned to Crunchyroll With Its Best Episodes Yet
Set chronologically right after Lord of Mysteries‘ episode 10, the episode “City of Silver” explores the origins of Derrick Berg, the newest member of the Tarot Club. However, far more than a mere backstory, this special showcases the strengths of Lord of Mysteries to the fullest. Offering a glimpse into more advanced Beyonder sequences and an atmosphere filled with Lovecraftian charm, City of Silver is defined by tragedy yet rich in detailed world-building, going from dark traditions and even a distinct system of timekeeping.
Lord of Mysteries‘ characterization didn’t falter compared to its novel counterpart, allowing viewers to quickly empathize with Derrick and understand his desperation while also hinting at the vast, unexplored universe lying beyond what has been revealed so far. Likewise, “The Marked Hunt” stands as the first mission for the Tarot Club, introducing other Beyonders and developing characters such as Audrey and Alger, who hadn’t received much screen time in the first season.
While it isn’t really a surprise that Lord of Mysteries maintains its high-quality animation, the battles showcasing different pathways ensure constant tension throughout the episodes. Furthermore, although the pacing drew some criticism in its first season, the Lord of Mysteries special avoids feeling overly frenetic. Instead, it maintains an engaging pace that balances action with humorous moments, all without even focusing on Klein, despite him being the protagonist. Taking the time to develop other characters, especially the Tarot Club members, reveals Lord of Mysteries‘ true potential, thereby building greater hype for its second season.
Solo Leveling Fans Have a New Franchise to Watch as Lord of Mysteries Continues to Grow
Although Solo Leveling has made a significant impact on the industry, it suffers from a major flaw in the streaming era: the failure to officially renew the anime, a move that might cause viewers to lose interest eventually. In contrast, by revealing the full adaptation roadmap after its first season and including a new release just a year apart to maintain momentum, Lord of Mysteries avoids big gaps between seasons. This also makes the donghua a good choice for viewers looking for something to watch without the fear of it being canceled before completing its story.
China’s Biggest Isekai Creator Is Back With a New Series
While fans wait for Season 2 of Lord of Mysteries, its creator just dropped a whole new series and it looks just as promising.
As a donghua, the series also bucks the current anime trend of increasingly shorter seasons. Lord of Mysteries Season 2 will be two full courses, around 30 episodes, as announced at the 2025 Tencent Video Anime Awards annual conference. Additionally, the Lord of Mysteries author’s recent comments hinted that the new season might be released earlier than the originally scheduled 2027 window.
This demonstrates that the Lord of Mysteries IP has everything it needs to continue growing beyond China. The series has already become a massive success on Crunchyroll, standing out as the only donghua to date to surpass 100,000 ratings on the platform. Furthermore, with the sequel novel concluded, an ongoing webcomic, and an upcoming RPG release, Lord of Mysteries has the potential to become a hit that rivals Solo Leveling in the future.
- Release Date
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June 28, 2025
- Network
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Tencent Video
- Directors
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Gideon Liu
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Lei Wu
Dunn Smith (voice)