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Chapter 262: The Mirror of the Eternal River
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Act I: A Chamber of Flowing Currents
The Gallery opened into a chamber where radiant rivers coursed across the floor, weaving into streams of light that flowed endlessly. The air was alive with movement, as though every breath carried the rhythm of continuity.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing with a flowing hum, its rhythm echoing the pulse of passage.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it feels like everything is carried forward, never still."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here does not stop. It flows."
At the center stood a mirror framed by luminous currents, its surface shimmering with eternal movement.
It spoke in a voice calm yet unstoppable:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal River. I hold what flows, what endures in passage, what carries truth into continuity."
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Act II: The Weight of Continuity
The interns gazed into its surface.
Visions unfolded, showing truths carried by rivers.
- Ao Bing saw battles where courage meant moving forward even when currents pulled against him.
- Taiyi Zhenren saw scrolls preserved in flowing ink, wisdom carried downstream to new generations.
- Ne Job saw miracles coursing in silence, inscribed into the Registry as rivers eternal.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the chamber's continuity.
The mirror whispered:
> "To guard me, you must flow without fear."
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Act III: The Mask's Intrusion
From the shadows, the Mask of Misrule hissed.
> "Rivers are mine to corrupt. I will twist continuity into erosion, and passage into despair."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal River, trying to fracture its currents into chaos.
Ao Bing staggered. "The waters drag me under!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls scatter into drowning floods!"
Ne Job steadied them. "River is not erosion. It is continuity."
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Act IV: The Trial of River
The Mirror of the Eternal River spoke:
> "Intern, to protect me, you must flow."
Ne Job gazed into its flowing surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of currents too strong to endure.
He whispered:
> "I flow. Even when shadows surge, I endure. Even when despair waits, I carry forward."
The mirror glowed brighter, its rivers steady.
Twinkle pulsed strongly, harmonizing with passage.
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 river into erosion, scattering the interns into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "My courage fades in drowning floods!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom dissolves in chaotic currents!"
Ne Job stood firm. "River is not erosion. 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, Eternal Seed, Eternal Mountain, Eternal Tree, Eternal Star, Eternal Dawn — joined with Eternal River.
Their glow struck the Mask's illusions.
Erosion became clarity.
Deception dissolved.
Twinkle hummed, resonating with the Miracle Registry.
Ao Bing laughed, fierce and kind.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted every river restored.
Ne Job stood firm, river and truth united.
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Act VI: The Mirror's Gift
The Mirror of the Eternal River calmed, its surface shimmering with radiant continuity.
It whispered:
> "Intern, river is not chaos. It is passage eternal. Guard it well."
Ne Job bowed.
Twinkle pulsed softly.
The Gallery shimmered, flowing once more.
The Mask of Misrule retreated into the shadows, his voice echoing faintly:
> "You may resist rivers today. But erosion always waits."
The Gallery fell silent.
The mirrors glowed.
And Ne Job walked on, ready for what lay ahead.