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Chapter 193: The Mirror of the Eternal Crown
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Act I: A Chamber of Sovereignty
The Gallery opened into a chamber where golden light cascaded from above, forming shapes of crowns that hovered in silence.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing with a regal hum, its rhythm steady and commanding.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it feels heavy with authority."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here does not bow. It rules."
At the center stood a mirror crowned with radiant sigils, its surface gleaming with dignity and weight.
It spoke in a voice firm and sovereign:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal Crown. I hold what governs, what endures in command, what carries truth into order."
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Act II: The Weight of Authority
The interns gazed into its surface.
Visions unfolded, showing truths carried by crowns.
- Ao Bing saw battles where leadership turned chaos into unity.
- Taiyi Zhenren saw scrolls decreed by rulers, wisdom preserved in law.
- Ne Job saw miracles entrusted to divine order, inscribed into the Registry as decrees eternal.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the crown's weight.
The mirror whispered:
> "To guard me, you must bear authority without fear."
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Act III: The Mask's Intrusion
From the shadows, the Mask of Misrule hissed.
> "Crowns are mine to corrupt. I will twist authority into tyranny, and order into chaos."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal Crown, trying to fracture its sovereignty into oppression.
Ao Bing staggered. "The crown crushes me!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls bend into decrees of ruin!"
Ne Job steadied them. "Crown is not tyranny. It is responsibility."
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Act IV: The Trial of Crown
The Mirror of the Eternal Crown spoke:
> "Intern, to protect me, you must rule."
Ne Job gazed into its sovereign surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of bearing too much weight.
He whispered:
> "I rule. Even when burdened, I endure. Even when challenged, I carry truth."
The mirror glowed brighter, its crown steady.
Twinkle pulsed strongly, harmonizing with sovereignty.
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 crown into tyranny, scattering the interns into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "My courage fades under command!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom dissolves in decrees!"
Ne Job stood firm. "Crown is not tyranny. It is truth carried in responsibility."
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, Endless 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 — joined with Eternal Crown.
Their glow struck the Mask's illusions.
Tyranny became clarity.
Deception dissolved.
Twinkle hummed, resonating with the Miracle Registry.
Ao Bing laughed, fierce and kind.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted every crown restored.
Ne Job stood firm, sovereignty and truth united.
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Act VI: The Mirror's Gift
The Mirror of the Eternal Crown calmed, its surface shimmering with radiant dignity.
It whispered:
> "Intern, crown is not chaos. It is responsibility 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 crowns today. But tyranny always waits."
The Gallery fell silent.
The mirrors glowed.
And Ne Job walked on, ready for what lay ahead.