Chapter 13 : Losing Control

"Good thing?" Klein was taken aback, quickly understanding the rationale behind Lin Ruo's statement.

He had never underestimated the darkness within human nature, just as he had unwavering faith in the goodness of humanity. If the knowledge of the Law of Beyonder Characteristics Indestructibility for Beyonder powers became widespread, then those who sought advancement but lacked the appropriate materials might directly turn to the option of acquiring it from other Beyonders. The ruthlessness of the Beyonder world could potentially intensify manyfold.

It's a harsh reality... Klein sighed and inquired, "How does loss of control relate to the origin of Beyonder powers?"

"You're familiar with the creation myth, right? There's a simple idea in it, that all things originate from the same source." Lin Ruo didn't repeat the entirety of the creation myth to Klein, understanding that Klein was already familiar with it. He continued, "While the content of the creation myth is partly true, much of it is embellished. We don't need to delve into that."

"This perspective isn't entirely correct, nor is it entirely wrong. All the Beyonder powers in this world indeed stem from a single Creator." Lin Ruo paused for a moment, choosing not to provide a more intricate description. He wasn't certain if sharing more details would lead Klein down a dangerous path, potentially corrupting his understanding.

"Beyonder powers don't belong to humans. To a certain extent, humans harness these powers through potions, which can be seen as a form of theft. And taking what isn't rightfully one's own comes with a cost—loss of control is one such consequence."

Lin Ruo continued to explain, not truly divulging the exact nature of the source of the loss of control. He couldn't reveal that it was due to the chaotic and nonsensical rules governing the world. Yet, his words weren't entirely untruthful; after all, humans did acquire Beyonder abilities through potions, akin to stealing.

Just as the essence of "ploys" lay in the deceitful use of potions.

"Stealing..." Klein suddenly thought about Sequence 0. If all Beyonder powers originated from the so-called Creator, then what humans were currently doing could indeed be seen as stealing the Creator's power. "So, that's how it is."

It was evident that Lin Ruo had shared quite a lot of information with just a few sentences, something that astounded Klein.

"Alright, let's conclude this topic." Observing Klein's pensive and slightly shocked expression, Lin Ruo cleared his throat and redirected the conversation, "Now that I've explained the source of loss of control, let me walk you through the various scenarios of losing control."

"Losing control typically falls into five categories." Lin Ruo recollected various cases from the original story as he explained, "The first three are directly linked to the usage of potions. The first type is losing control due to consuming potions of higher sequences."

"Usually, whether for a regular person or a Beyonder, promotion is achieved through a step-by-step ingestion of potions, starting from Sequence 9. Yet, exceptional situations arise sometimes. For instance, ordinary individuals directly taking Sequence 8 or 7 potions, or Sequence 9 Beyonders consuming Sequence 5 or 6 potions. Such instances have a high likelihood of leading to loss of control."

"Once control is lost, the individual may either suffer mental breakdown, morph into a monstrosity, or undergo a radical personality shift—turning cold, cruel, impulsive, irritable... or descending into mental chaos and becoming a walking aberration." Lin Ruo explained with a sigh. "In any case, a Beyonder who loses control ceases to be themselves, instead becoming a mere vessel for a monster."

Klein was taken aback, his shock apparent. He couldn't help asking, "What's the second scenario?"

"The second type involves a half-Beyonder who was born with inherent Beyonder characteristics but consumes an potion from a sequence unrelated to theirs. Well, in fact, the third type is quite similar to the second." Lin Ruo elaborated:

"This world gives birth to half-Beyonders, some of whom possess natural talents while others inherit Beyonder characteristics due to their parents. For such individuals, if they were to attempt becoming Beyonder without taking potions from their designated sequence, they'd risk mental instability, and at worst, immediate loss of control."

"The third scenario is akin to the second but pertains to genuine Beyonders consuming potions from sequences not theirs." Lin Ruo continued, "Typically, once a sequence for potion consumption is chosen, it cannot be changed. The sole alternative is progressing towards the Abyss. If a Beyonder consumes an potion not from their sequence, although immediate loss of control is less likely, they will likely experience partial madness, be unable to further promote, and are almost guaranteed to lose control."

Lin Ruo hesitated before adding, "However, this isn't an absolute rule, as there are intersecting pathways within the Beyonders' sequences. Those with similar pathways can somewhat switch sequences within limits. For instance, Sleepless, Corpse Collector, and Warrior pathways share similarities in sequences. A Sleepless Beyonder could adopt the corresponding Corpse Collector pathway potion to switch sequences, under suitable circumstances."

"This is a secret unknown to most Beyonders..."

Another secret? Lin Ruo seemed to possess knowledge beyond the reach of ordinary Beyonders.

Listening to Lin Ruo, Klein found himself marvelling at the vast reservoir of insights the other possessed. Just as he was about to inquire further about these similar pathways, Lin Ruo interjected:

"Klein, remember this: once your Beyonder path is chosen, your allies and enemies will be determined."

"It's crucial, truly crucial!"

Lin Ruo's voice carried a weight that surpassed any prior conversation.

Klein looked at him more attentively, though he discerned nothing overt. Nonetheless, he nodded solemnly and affirmed, "I'll remember."

"Good, now let's move on to the remaining two types of loss of control!" Lin Ruo's tone reverted to its casual demeanor as he went on to elucidate the fourth and fifth scenarios of loss of control to Klein.

One was being influenced by residual mental imprints from an potion and promoting prematurely, leading to loss of control. The other involved accidentally encountering forbidden knowledge, watching inappropriate materials, succumbing to a mysterious being's allure, or suffering a severe emotional shock, resulting in loss of control.

Upon concluding the descriptions of all types of loss of control, Lin Ruo looked at Klein, who appeared visibly shaken, and assured, "But don't worry too much. Loss of control isn't inevitable, especially for lower sequences. The likelihood of it occurring is minimal."

"If you're interested, start by becoming a lower-sequence Beyonder. Experience firsthand the changes and perils that potions bring, and then consider progressing further."