Chapter 148: The Memory of Eternal Regret
đď¸ Act I: A Shattered Reflection
Ne Job was patrolling the Atrium of Resonant Memories when Twinkle buzzed nervously.
The glowing memories flickered, their voices trembling, their guidance echoing with sorrow.
Ao Bing frowned. "That's not remembrance. That's regret."
Taiyi Zhenren muttered, "Unprofessional."
Lord Xian appeared, grave.
> "Interns, beware. The Mask of Misrule seeks to forge a Memory of Eternal Regret. If it rises, every choice will collapse into sorrow."
---
đ§ Act II: The Villains' Plot
The Bureau of Misrule had devised their most insidious scheme yet.
Their plan: corrupt memories, turning guidance into regret, loyalty into betrayal, and courage into fear.
- A memory of friendship twisted into sorrow.
- A memory of patience twisted into stagnation.
- A memory of courage twisted into despair.
Ao Bing clenched his fists. "We'll stop him!"
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted the evidence.
Ne Job whispered, "We must defend memories."
Twinkle pulsed softly.
---
đ Act III: The Atrium in Peril
The interns entered the Atrium's central hall.
Memories glowed faintly, their guidance faltering, as a dark reflection rose from the floor â jagged, shadowed, crowned with broken inscriptions.
The Mask of Misrule appeared, his cracked mask shimmering with cruel laughter.
He hissed:
> "The Memory of Eternal Regret will paralyze all choices. The Bureau will fall."
Ao Bing hurled thunderfruit sparks.
Taiyi Zhenren annotated his tricks.
Glimmer giggled nervously.
Ne Job stepped forward.
He whispered, "Memories are not regret. They are harmony."
Twinkle hummed faintly.
The reflection trembled.
---
𧾠Act IV: The Confrontation
The Atrium erupted in chaos.
Memories twisted into shadowy figures, whispering sorrow, erasing guidance.
Ao Bing stumbled.
Taiyi Zhenren trembled.
Glimmer cried softly.
Ne Job unrolled Miracle #770-M â the Atrium of Resonant Memories.
The scroll pulsed.
Remembrance resonated.
The memories faltered.
Their corruption cracked.
Their glow returned.
The Memory of Eternal Regret trembled.
Its shadow dissolved.
The Mask faltered.
His disguise cracked further.
---
đ Act V: The Resolution
The Memory of Eternal Regret dissolved.
The Atrium glowed.
The memories pulsed with new life.
Ao Bing laughed kindly.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted truth.
Glimmer hugged Ne Job.
Twinkle hummed triumphantly.
The Mask fled into the shadows.
His voice echoed:
> "You may win today. But masks always return."
Lord Xian's voice echoed faintly:
> "Intern Ne Job, you have defended the Atrium against regret. Well done."
---
đ Epilogue: A New Registry Entry
The next morning, a new entry appeared in the Miracle Registry:
> Miracle #780-R: The Memory of Eternal Regret
> Status: Defeated, restored, unresolved.
> Effect: Teaches that regret cannot paralyze guidance. Activated through courage and remembrance.
Ne Job added a note:
> "Some miracles are threatened by regret. But memories always restore harmony."
Twinkle hummed.
And somewhere in the Atrium, shadows lingered â but the interns were ready.