Lord: Sequence Master

Rosen stood before his self-portrait, meticulously examining it. The manifested version of himself was indistinguishable from the real one in every way. It could eat, drink, feel touch, taste, and smell—all sensory functions were intact.

When wounded, it bled, and its hair and nails grew just like a real body. Even if it were killed, it would leave behind a flesh-and-blood corpse, which would remain for at least a day before gradually dissipating.

In earlier times, self-portraits made by painters even had independent personalities. However, after numerous incidents where self-portraits betrayed and replaced their creators, the practice of giving them personalities was banned. Now, unless a painter actively infused their spiritual energy into the self-portrait, it would remain lifeless, like a puppet.

Rosen infused spiritual energy into the self-portrait, and instantly, it felt as though he had stepped into another body.

Controlling two bodies simultaneously proved more challenging than expected.

However, mastering this skill was essential for any painter. Being able to operate in two bodies at once was a foundational ability.

It took Rosen two days to adjust to controlling both bodies. Once he became accustomed to it, he was ready to transform his self-portrait into a natural-born skill.

Using the divine brush supernatural essence, Rosen merged it with the self-portrait. Once again, he sensed the golden tree of the artist sequence in the spirit world. Like before, a golden leaf descended, fusing with the self-portrait, elevating it into a natural-born ability.

The self-portrait now had the additional feature of evolving alongside Rosen as his sequence level increased.

Having spent nearly three years working meticulously in the void studio, Rosen was feeling the effects of his prolonged focus.

His speech became slurred, his back wouldn't straighten, and worst of all, a creeping sense of depression weighed on him.

Realizing the severity of his mental state, Rosen sought help from the Doctors' Guild, consulting a psychologist.

For most supernatural beings, mental health issues were a serious concern. Psychological problems often manifested in a person's spiritual energy, and if left unchecked, could weaken one's essence. In severe cases, mental instability could lead to mutations in their supernatural source, eventually turning them into monsters.

As expected, healthcare for the supernatural was an expensive business. After leaving the Doctors' Guild, Rosen's mood worsened.

The consultation, including a single therapy session and a course of medication, cost him 5,000 spiritual crystals.

The medication was meant to replenish his body and increase dopamine production to stabilize his mood. However, the consultation offered little beyond generic advice for managing stress and anxiety.

Despite the high cost, Rosen had no choice but to follow the prescribed treatment. Ignoring his mental health could have devastating consequences.

Rosen's new routine included:

Morning visits to a maid café for casual conversations with the waitresses.

Afternoon sessions at an underground arena to vent through combat.

Evening sparring matches with Stephanie back at Rose Castle, lasting late into the night.

Combined with the medication, Rosen felt rejuvenated within a week. His energy returned, and he felt as though he were eighteen again.

With his painter sequence complete at Sequence 8, Rosen now shifted his focus back to his noble sequence and hunter sequence.

Progressing in the noble sequence would require him to develop his divine domain, but before he could focus on that, Rosen decided it was time to leave the Blazing Shadow Duchy.

His identity as a painter had drawn attention after spending millions of spiritual crystals. Many in Shadowfire's capital knew of him by now. Anyone interested in his affairs could trace his origins back to Redstone City and his status as a fallen hereditary noble.

This brought up a troubling question—where did the money come from? It wasn't something Rosen could answer without raising suspicion.

In recent days, even during his casual conversations at the maid café, one waitress had subtly tried to probe for information. Clearly, someone was watching him. His three years in the painter's guild had shielded him from this attention, but it wouldn't last forever.

Rosen could adopt his hunter persona, Lynn Wells, by wearing the Actor's Mask to obscure his identity. However, his plans to develop a divine domain would require resources that his hunter identity couldn't easily access. Staying in the Blazing Shadow Duchy would only complicate matters.

There was also another reason Rosen wanted to leave—he had no real attachment to Shadowfire.

Little Rosen's memories were tied to Redstone City, filled with more pain than happiness. Though Rosen had lived in this world for nearly four years, three and a half of those were spent in hiding—in his library, his void gallery, or hunting in spirit realms. In the few remaining months, he had only trained or hunted.

He had no home, no friends, and no real connection to the Blazing Shadow Duchy.

The psychologist had recommended two more days of treatment, but Rosen chose to leave instead. Under the cover of night, he donned the Actor's Mask and changed identities.

By the next morning, Rosen had secured a ticket for a long-distance voyage to the Blue Whale Kingdom.

The Blue Whale Kingdom was a superpower and the overlord nation of the Blazing Shadow Duchy, blessed with abundant supernatural resources.

Uniquely, the Blue Whale Kingdom wasn't an island but a floating nation composed of hundreds of void whales, each containing vast internal spaces. These whales roamed the spirit world and the deep seas, making the Blue Whale Kingdom a mobile sea-based superpower.

While it was difficult for foreigners to settle in the kingdom, nobles from the World Government could settle there without issue.

Another reason for Rosen's decision was that the Blue Whale Kingdom was about to relocate near the coast of Shadowfire. At any other time, securing a ticket for such a long-distance voyage would have been difficult.

Three days later, the merchant ship Oceanic Anthem set sail, with Rosen boarding early in the morning. By noon, the ship had left port.

The cargo area of the Oceanic Anthem was heavily guarded, carrying years' worth of supernatural resources from Shadowfire to the Blue Whale Kingdom for trade.

The passenger cabins were vast, with most passengers falling into two categories:

A small minority hoped to settle in the Blue Whale Kingdom.The majority were merchants sent by noble houses to rotate duties.

The Blue Whale Kingdom attracted immense wealth through trade, especially from neighboring nations. Though the kingdom's official economy revolved around noble trade, Rosen kept a low profile aboard the ship, intending to avoid trouble before reaching his destination.

(End of Chapter)