Jingwei leaned back slightly, his arms crossed, his All-Seeing Eyes glowing faintly as he addressed Jin. "What exactly do you need me to find?"
Jin's expression was cold and focused. "I need you to trace the event from the day Jiangshi appeared at the funeral. I need to know what exactly happened—to me, to the orbs, and to Shenlog's body."
Jingwei nodded. His eyes began to glow, a radiant white energy emanating from them. Faint traces of the past started replaying within his vision, like a series of moving images projected across his mind. The room darkened slightly as the power of his All-Seeing Eyes activated, showing him the moments Jin had requested.
"I see it," Jingwei murmured, his tone tinged with awe. "You… you summoned him. The Warrior Griffin. You called him forth using your Artitech ability. You said it yourself: 'Artitech: Warrior Griffin.' He appeared, wielding a long sword, and destroyed the orbs with precision before bowing to you as his master."
Jin's eyes narrowed as he processed Jingwei's words. He gave a single nod, his voice calm. "Thank you, Jingwei. That's exactly what I needed to know."
Jingwei stepped back, his glow fading, his breathing slightly labored from the strain. "I hope it helps," he said before turning to Drake. "We should head out now. The Crescent Island Dragon Temple awaits."
Drake, already packed, gave a confident nod. "Let's go."
Jin walked away from the bustling streets, leaving behind the noise of the city and the Sentinels' reconstruction efforts. His steps were deliberate, carrying him to a secluded location far from any prying eyes. The area was barren and silent, a flat expanse of land surrounded by towering cliffs. He stopped in the middle, the wind whispering around him as he prepared himself.
For the first time, Jin willingly reached deep into his soul and called forth the power of the Artitech ability, just as Jingwei had described. He took a deep breath and spoke the words with absolute clarity.
"Artitech: Warrior Griffin."
The air around him grew dense, charged with an otherworldly energy. A powerful gust of wind erupted, kicking up dust and debris in a swirling vortex. Smoke billowed out of nowhere, its thickness obscuring everything around him. The smoke was laced with an aura so intense that it sent a shiver down Jin's spine. The temperature dropped, and a faint hum filled the air, growing louder with each passing second.
Out of the smoke stepped Griffin, his presence commanding and divine. His armor gleamed with an ethereal light, intricately designed with symbols of ancient warriors. A long sword rested in his right hand, its blade faintly glowing with an aura of power. His piercing eyes locked onto Jin as he knelt on one knee, bowing deeply.
"Master," Griffin greeted, his voice deep and resonant. "I am at your service."
Jin stared at him for a moment, awe flickering across his usually stoic expression. He stepped forward. "Griffin… what happened the day you appeared? Why were you summoned?"
Griffin raised his head slightly, his expression unwavering. "It was your will, Master. Your desire to protect the Free World from destruction. I was chosen from the Unlimited Collection assigned to you. I am thankful to have been called to serve."
Jin's brow furrowed. "Unlimited Collection? What is that?"
Griffin nodded, gesturing upward. "Look to the sky, Master. The Collection is yours to command."
Jin hesitated, then tilted his head upward. What he saw left him speechless. Suspended in the sky, hidden until now, was a vast, endless collection of ancient warriors, each radiating unique energy signatures. Their names and abilities shimmered faintly above them, their ranks and power levels indicated by glowing markers. Some were marked A-rank, others S-rank, and a select few bore the title God Slayer like Griffin.
Jin's gaze lingered on them, his thoughts racing. "Grandfather… how strong were you, really? To create something like this?" he muttered under his breath, a rare note of admiration in his voice.
Griffin remained silent, letting Jin process the revelation. Jin turned his attention back to him, his eyes narrowing as he studied the warrior before him. "Your power level is marked as 'God Slayer, S+ Rank.' That's impressive. You're strong."
Griffin inclined his head. "My strength exists to serve you, Master. Call on me whenever you need. I am here to fight by your side."
Jin let out a slow breath, his voice softer. "Thank you. I'll need all the help I can get."
Before disappearing, Griffin offered one final remark. "Now that you have activated me, I am always with you, Master. Even in the shadows, I stand ready to protect you."
Jin nodded, dismissing Griffin with a wave of his hand. The smoke and aura dissipated, leaving Jin alone once more in the barren landscape. He stood there for a long moment, staring at the sky where the Unlimited Collection had been revealed.
"I'll need all of you soon," he murmured, his hands clenching into fists. "Jiangshi… your time is coming."
With that, he turned and began walking back toward the city, the weight of his new discovery settling over him like a mantle of responsibility.