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Chapter 225: The Mirror of the Eternal Seed
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Act I: A Chamber of Beginnings
The Gallery opened into a chamber where countless seeds of light floated in the air, each glowing faintly with potential. Some pulsed softly, others shone brightly, as though waiting to sprout into something greater.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing with a gentle hum, its rhythm echoing the pulse of growth.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it feels like everything starts here."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here does not end. It begins."
At the center stood a mirror framed by radiant seeds, its surface shimmering with eternal potential.
It spoke in a voice soft yet resolute:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal Seed. I hold what begins, what endures in growth, what carries truth into creation."
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Act II: The Weight of Potential
The interns gazed into its surface.
Visions unfolded, showing truths carried by seeds.
- Ao Bing saw battles where courage meant planting hope even in barren soil.
- Taiyi Zhenren saw scrolls preserved in germination, wisdom nurtured by patience.
- Ne Job saw miracles sprouting into silence, inscribed into the Registry as beginnings eternal.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the chamber's growth.
The mirror whispered:
> "To guard me, you must begin without fear."
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Act III: The Mask's Intrusion
From the shadows, the Mask of Misrule hissed.
> "Seeds are mine to corrupt. I will twist beginnings into false promises, and growth into decay."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal Seed, trying to fracture its potential into emptiness.
Ao Bing staggered. "The seeds rot before me!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls dissolve into dust!"
Ne Job steadied them. "Seed is not decay. It is promise."
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Act IV: The Trial of Seed
The Mirror of the Eternal Seed spoke:
> "Intern, to protect me, you must begin."
Ne Job gazed into its glowing surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of beginnings that might fail.
He whispered:
> "I begin. Even when growth falters, I endure. Even when shadows resist, I carry forward."
The mirror glowed brighter, its seeds steady.
Twinkle pulsed strongly, harmonizing with creation.
Ao Bing's fists steadied.
Taiyi Zhenren's scrolls aligned.
The Mask recoiled, his corruption faltering.
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Act V: The Clash
The Mask screamed, hurling shards of deception.
Illusions tried to twist seed into false promise, scattering the interns into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "My courage fades in decay!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom dissolves in barren soil!"
Ne Job stood firm. "Seed is not false promise. It is truth carried eternal."
The awakened mirrors — Patience, Friendship, Courage, Sorrow, Endless Paths, Forgotten Names, Silent Echoes, Shattered Promises, Hidden Truths, Eternal Doubt, Living Light, Boundless Hope, Unbroken Unity, Eternal Harmony, Final Resolve, Infinite Resolve, Last Question, First Dawn, Endless Return, Forgotten Future, Silent Dawnfall, Eternal Song, Endless Silence, Forgotten Flame, Eternal Return, Eternal Choice, Hidden Dawn, Eternal Oath, Eternal Memory, Eternal Threshold, Eternal Light, Eternal Shadow, Eternal Balance, Eternal Dawnfire, Eternal Storm, Eternal Ocean, Eternal Sky, Eternal Flameheart, Eternal Songfire, Eternal Silenceflame, Eternal Starfall, Eternal Horizon, Eternal Root, Eternal Crown, Eternal Gate, Eternal Tower, Eternal Anchor, Eternal Bridge, Eternal Labyrinth, Eternal Flame of Truth, Eternal Spiral, Eternal Compass, Eternal Lantern — joined with Eternal Seed.
Their glow struck the Mask's illusions.
Decay became clarity.
Deception dissolved.
Twinkle hummed, resonating with the Miracle Registry.
Ao Bing laughed, fierce and kind.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted every seed restored.
Ne Job stood firm, seed and truth united.
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Act VI: The Mirror's Gift
The Mirror of the Eternal Seed calmed, its surface shimmering with radiant beginnings.
It whispered:
> "Intern, seed is not chaos. It is promise eternal. Guard it well."
Ne Job bowed.
Twinkle pulsed softly.
The Gallery shimmered, stable once more.
The Mask of Misrule retreated into the shadows, his voice echoing faintly:
> "You may resist seeds today. But decay always waits."
The Gallery fell silent.
The mirrors glowed.
And Ne Job walked on, ready for what lay ahead.