In the depths of the dense forest, Sam sat still with his body motionless and his eyes closed in concentration. The surrounding air was calm, but his nen swirled around him like gentle waves. This moment marked the pinnacle of his journey so far; today, he would begin crafting a power that would change his fate forever.
Quite some time had passed since he started his nen training, and with each passing day, his understanding of this mysterious force deepened. His ambition to create a unique ability based on sequences—a complex system that would grant him absolute protection and the immortality he dreamed of—grew stronger.
He had not shared this idea with the old man. He knew that keeping this ability a secret was part of his survival strategy; no one should know the true extent of his power.
Path of the Guardian Emperor
This path evolves from the simplest form of self-defense to complete mastery over both body and spirit, where protection becomes a means of achieving personal dominance. Sam's creature does not seek to protect others; all his power is directed towards ensuring his survival and securing the immortality he desires.
Sequence Path
Novice : 9
Description: Beginning to understand the importance of self-preservation as the highest priority.
Abilities:
Personal endurance enhancement: Increases the body's ability to withstand pain and minor injuries.
Survival instinct: Highly sensitive perception of nearby dangers, granting the opportunity to flee or adapt.
Time in the White Space: One year as a condition and nen oath, surrounded by solitude and madness during meditation, while maintaining his sanity.
Digest Conditions: After drinking the "Novice" potion, Sam begins to behave as if he were a novice in every aspect of his life, handling nen as though learning it for the first time. He does not allow himself to act with confidence or attempt complex techniques but instead continually revisits the basics of nen, as if every day were his first day.
Apprentice : 8
Description: Developing the foundations of self-defense, focusing on evading harm before it happens.
Abilities:
Personal energy shield: Creating a thin layer of nen surrounding the body to absorb minor impacts.
Quick dodge skills: Enhanced reflexes allowing for easy evasion of physical attacks.
Time in the White Space: Ten years as a condition and nen oath, surrounded by solitude and madness during meditation, while maintaining his sanity.
Digest Conditions: After consuming the "Apprentice" potion, Sam forces himself to act as a dedicated apprentice. He imposes a strict training schedule that starts at dawn and ends at midnight. He no longer allows himself long periods of rest or relaxation but spends most of his time repeating the same movements until they become ingrained in his instincts.
Blade Wielder : 7
Description: Using the sword as a means of preemptive attack before the threat becomes real.
Abilities:
Preemptive strike: The ability to read an opponent's intentions and strike before they move.
Enhanced sensory accuracy: The senses become sharper, allowing for the observation and analysis of the smallest details in combat.
Time in the White Space: Fifty years surrounded by solitude and madness during meditation, while maintaining his sanity.
Digest Conditions: Sam maintains sword training, using it for hunting or combat, and continues carrying it with him wherever he goes—even while sleeping.
Armored : 6
Description: Transforming the body into an impregnable fortress.
Abilities:
Permanent shield: Skin and bones gain hardness greater than steel.
Resistance to external influences: Reduces the impact of toxins and diseases on the body.
Time in the White Space: One hundred years surrounded by solitude and madness during meditation, while maintaining his sanity.
Digest Conditions: Attempting to fight without armor and relying on his body during defense, focusing on exercises that enhance physical strength.
Combatant : 5
Description: A fighter who relies solely on himself, bolstered by immense physical strength.
Abilities:
Physical strength enhancement: A massive increase in muscle power, enabling him to crush enemies with ease.
Lethal strike: The ability to deliver a fatal blow to powerful foes.
Time in the White Space: Five hundred years surrounded by solitude and madness during meditation, while maintaining his sanity.
Digest Conditions: Maintaining a self-centered mental state and preferring oneself over anything else, while acting accordingly.
Rebirth : 4
Description: A phase of self-transformation, where Sam is reborn stronger and more self-centered.
Abilities:
Self-regeneration: Rapid healing from injuries, even fatal ones, within minutes.
Enhanced combat instincts: Automatic reactions to face any threat, even without full consciousness.
Time in the White Space: One thousand years surrounded by solitude and madness during meditation, while maintaining his sanity.
Digest Conditions: Repeatedly retraining all previously learned basics until they become second nature.
Champion : 3
Description: A champion for himself alone, an entity symbolizing individual supreme power.
Abilities:
Sovereignty field: Creating an energy field that weakens any enemy within it and amplifies the power of all previous abilities.
Mental fortification: Protection against mental and magical influences, making him immune to mind manipulation.
Time in the White Space: Ten thousand years surrounded by solitude and madness during meditation, while maintaining his sanity.
Digest Conditions: Building a loyal combat force and attempting to make them stronger, benefiting from your combat strength in exchange for their loyalty.
Guardian : 2
Description: A living embodiment of a shield, capable of deflecting any attack directed at him.
Abilities:
Invisible shield: A defensive layer that protects him from all forms of damage.
Energy absorption: Converting damage into energy to enhance his power.
Time in the White Space: Fifty thousand years surrounded by solitude and madness during meditation, while maintaining his sanity.
Digest Conditions: Living as a living shield in every detail of his life, even while sleeping.
Guardian King : 1
Description: A king ruling his own kingdom—his body and soul—with an iron fist.
Abilities:
Absolute dominance: Temporarily disables the powers of enemies within his range.
Enhanced supernatural senses: Heightened senses allow him to predict attacks before they happen.
Time in the White Space: One hundred thousand years surrounded by solitude and madness during meditation, while maintaining his sanity.
Digest Conditions: Building a kingdom and keeping it protected and stable.
Guardian Emperor : 0
Description: The pinnacle of selfishness and self-preservation; an entity that cannot be touched or threatened.
Abilities:
Absolute self-barrier: A shield that cannot be penetrated, no matter the type of attack.
Protection theft: Absorbing any protection from enemies and turning it to his own advantage.
Limited control over time: Slowing down time within a small range to avoid critical threats.
Time in the White Space: Five million years surrounded by solitude and madness during meditation, while maintaining his sanity.
Digest Conditions: Nine beings of equal strength to sequence 3 acknowledge him as the emperor and swear loyalty to him.
Above the Sequence: The Old Emperor
Description: Surpassing the level of protection, this entity is untouchable, both literally and metaphorically.
Abilities:
Essence of Selfish Immortality: Cannot be killed as long as he believes he has the right to live.
Law of Absolute Self: The world changes to avoid harming him, and the cosmic laws bend to his will.
Reflection of Fate: Any attempt to harm him rebounds automatically onto the attacker.
Time in the White Space: Ten million years surrounded by solitude and madness during meditation, while maintaining his sanity.
Digest Conditions: Confronting the accumulation of all the madness sealed in the white space for millions of years and finding a way to resolve it.
With these strict conditions, Sam finally succeeded in creating the ability he desired.