---
Chapter 268: The Mirror of the Eternal Crown
---
Act I: A Chamber of Sovereign Radiance
The Gallery opened into a chamber where radiant crowns floated above pedestals of light, each shimmering with authority and dignity. The air was regal yet solemn, as though every breath carried the weight of responsibility.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing with a dignified hum, its rhythm echoing the pulse of sovereignty.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it feels like power itself is watching us."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here does not rule. It bears."
At the center stood a mirror framed by luminous crowns, its surface shimmering with eternal responsibility.
It spoke in a voice firm and commanding:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal Crown. I hold what bears, what endures in responsibility, what carries truth into stewardship."
---
Act II: The Weight of Responsibility
The interns gazed into its surface.
Visions unfolded, showing truths carried by crowns.
- Ao Bing saw battles where courage meant leading others even when fear pressed heavily.
- Taiyi Zhenren saw scrolls preserved in royal archives, wisdom safeguarded by duty.
- Ne Job saw miracles crowned in silence, inscribed into the Registry as crowns eternal.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the chamber's dignity.
The mirror whispered:
> "To guard me, you must bear without fear."
---
Act III: The Mask's Intrusion
From the shadows, the Mask of Misrule hissed.
> "Crowns are mine to corrupt. I will twist responsibility into tyranny, and stewardship into despair."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal Crown, trying to fracture its authority into domination.
Ao Bing staggered. "The crown weighs too heavily!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls scatter into decrees of cruelty!"
Ne Job steadied them. "Crown is not tyranny. It is stewardship."
---
Act IV: The Trial of Crown
The Mirror of the Eternal Crown spoke:
> "Intern, to protect me, you must bear."
Ne Job gazed into its regal surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of burdens too great to endure.
He whispered:
> "I bear. Even when shadows corrupt, I endure. Even when despair waits, I carry forward."
The mirror glowed brighter, its crowns steady.
Twinkle pulsed strongly, harmonizing with responsibility.
Ao Bing's fists steadied.
Taiyi Zhenren's scrolls aligned.
The Mask recoiled, his corruption faltering.
---
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 beneath oppressive weight!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom dissolves in decrees of cruelty!"
Ne Job stood firm. "Crown is not tyranny. 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 Gate, Eternal Tower, Eternal Anchor, Eternal Bridge, Eternal Labyrinth, Eternal Flame of Truth, Eternal Spiral, Eternal Compass, Eternal Lantern, Eternal Seed, Eternal River, Eternal Mountain, Eternal Tree, Eternal Star, Eternal Dawn — 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, crown and truth united.
---
Act VI: The Mirror's Gift
The Mirror of the Eternal Crown calmed, its surface shimmering with radiant responsibility.
It whispered:
> "Intern, crown is not chaos. It is stewardship eternal. Guard it well."
Ne Job bowed.
Twinkle pulsed softly.
The Gallery shimmered, regal 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.