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Chapter 203: 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 floated in the air, glowing faintly before sinking into the floor and sprouting into brief flashes of light.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing softly, its hum resonating with the rhythm of growth.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it feels alive, but fragile."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here is not an ending. It is a beginning."
At the center stood a mirror framed by radiant seeds, its surface shimmering with potential yet unfulfilled.
It spoke in a voice gentle and fertile:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal Seed. I hold what begins, what endures in growth, what carries truth into renewal."
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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 sprouted from small acts.
- Taiyi Zhenren saw scrolls preserved in fragments, wisdom planted for future generations.
- Ne Job saw miracles sown into silence, inscribed into the Registry as beginnings eternal.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the chamber's rhythm.
The mirror whispered:
> "To guard me, you must plant 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 growth into decay, and beginnings into ruin."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal Seed, trying to fracture its potential into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "The sprouts wither before they grow!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls crumble into dust!"
Ne Job steadied them. "Seed is not ruin. It is renewal."
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Act IV: The Trial of Seed
The Mirror of the Eternal Seed spoke:
> "Intern, to protect me, you must plant."
Ne Job gazed into its fertile surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of beginnings that might fail.
He whispered:
> "I plant. Even when growth falters, I endure. Even when shadows choke, I carry forward."
The mirror glowed brighter, its seeds steady.
Twinkle pulsed strongly, harmonizing with renewal.
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 decay, scattering the interns into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "My courage fades in failure!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom dissolves in dust!"
Ne Job stood firm. "Seed is not decay. It is truth carried in renewal."
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, 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, beginnings 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 potential.
It whispered:
> "Intern, seed is not chaos. It is renewal 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.