Chapter 54: A Shattered Victory

Jin remained kneeling in the ruins of the battlefield, his body battered and broken. The once-mighty Founder was gone, erased from existence, but his final words still echoed in Jin's mind.

"Your sister… She is still alive."

The weight of those words pressed down on him heavier than any battle wound. A sister? He had no memories of one. His past had always been shrouded in mystery, lost in the abyss of time. Could the Founder have been lying? Or was this yet another secret hidden from him?

Jin's vision blurred as blood dripped from the deep wounds covering his body. He barely had the strength to keep himself conscious.

A distant voice called out to him.

"JIN!"

Through the haze of pain, he recognized the voice—Kaelros. Footsteps rushed toward him, and moments later, familiar figures appeared at his side.

Kaelros, Lysander, Ardan—all of them bore signs of battle, their armor cracked, their bodies covered in injuries, but their eyes were filled with concern as they surrounded Jin.

"He's still alive," Kaelros muttered, kneeling beside him. His usual stoic demeanor was replaced by an expression of genuine worry.

"Dammit, we need to get him out of here," Ardan said. His hands glowed faintly with healing energy, but Jin's injuries were beyond simple magic.

Lysander placed a hand on Jin's shoulder. "Jin, stay with us. You did it. The Founder is dead. The war is over."

Jin forced a weak smile. "Yeah… I guess we won."

Jin exhaled slowly, his body finally giving in. His head tilted forward as darkness began to take over his vision. The pain, exhaustion, and weight of battle were too much.

"Jin! Stay awake!" Kaelros gripped his shoulder tightly.

But Jin couldn't fight it anymore. His body was done.

As his consciousness faded, he could still hear the echoes of the Founder's voice.

"Your sister… She is still alive."

With that final thought, Jin collapsed into the abyss of unconsciousness.

Jin's mind drifted in darkness. He wasn't sure how much time had passed. Was it minutes? Hours? Days?

Then, he heard it—a soft, familiar voice.

"Wake up, Jin."

His eyes shot open.

A blinding light filled his vision, forcing him to blink. Slowly, the world around him took shape. He was lying in a grand chamber, unlike anything he had ever seen. White marble walls shimmered with an ethereal glow, and golden runes pulsed faintly across the ceiling.

He tried to move, but pain immediately surged through his body, forcing him to groan.

"You're finally awake," a calm voice spoke.

Jin turned his head and saw Kaelros, standing at the foot of the massive bed he was lying in. His silver armor had been repaired, and his arms were crossed as he watched Jin.

"You were out for five days," Kaelros continued. "I wasn't sure you'd wake up at all."

Jin took a deep breath. "Where… are we?"

"A hidden sanctuary," another voice answered. Lysander stepped forward, his usual composed expression slightly softer than usual. "After the battle, we brought you here to recover. We had no other choice. Your injuries were… severe."

Jin clenched his fists. "The Founder… he's really gone?"

Kaelros nodded. "You killed him. We watched his body vanish before our eyes. The Ranker Association has fallen into chaos without him. The war is over."

Jin closed his eyes for a moment. He should have felt relieved. The battle was done. The world was free from the Founder's control. But instead, an uneasy feeling lingered inside him.

His sister.

Kaelros seemed to sense Jin's thoughts. "You were mumbling in your sleep. You kept repeating the words 'sister' over and over."

Jin hesitated, then finally said it out loud. "The Founder… before he died, he told me I had a sister."

The room fell silent.

Kaelros and Lysander exchanged glances.

Jin narrowed his eyes. "You knew, didn't you?"

Kaelros exhaled. "Not exactly. But we suspected something."

Jin sat up slightly despite the pain. "Tell me everything."

Kaelros crossed his arms. "There were always rumors. Whispers about another like you. Someone with the same… unnatural power. But no one could ever confirm it. If the Founder was telling the truth, then whoever she is, she has been hidden for a long time."

Jin's mind raced. His sister. Someone else who carried the same power—the same Abyssal blood.

Lysander stepped closer. "If she's alive, then she's in danger. The Founder may be dead, but his influence didn't die with him. There will be others seeking her out."

Jin clenched his fists. "Then we need to find her first."

Kaelros smirked slightly. "I figured you'd say that."

Jin exhaled. His body was still weak, but his determination burned brighter than ever. The war may have ended, but a new journey was beginning.

Somewhere out there, a lost sister awaited.

And Jin was going to find her.

No matter what.