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Chapter 278: The Mirror of the Eternal Seed
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Act I: A Chamber of Hidden Potential
The Gallery opened into a chamber where radiant seeds floated in the air, each glowing faintly with the promise of growth yet unseen. The air was quiet but expectant, as though every breath carried the weight of beginnings waiting to unfold.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing with a subtle hum, its rhythm echoing the pulse of potential.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it feels like everything here is waiting to awaken."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here does not bloom. It begins."
At the center stood a mirror framed by luminous seeds, its surface shimmering with eternal promise.
It spoke in a voice soft yet fertile:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal Seed. I hold what begins, what endures in potential, what carries truth into growth."
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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 seed-vaults, wisdom safeguarded for generations yet to come.
- Ne Job saw miracles germinating in silence, inscribed into the Registry as seeds eternal.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the chamber's promise.
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 failure, and potential into despair."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal Seed, trying to fracture its promise into dust.
Ao Bing staggered. "The seed rots before it sprouts!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls scatter into barren soil!"
Ne Job steadied them. "Seed is not failure. 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 fertile surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of beginnings too fragile to endure.
He whispered:
> "I begin. Even when shadows rot, I endure. Even when despair waits, I carry forward."
The mirror glowed brighter, its seeds steady.
Twinkle pulsed strongly, harmonizing with growth.
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 failure, scattering the interns into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "My courage fades in barren soil!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom dissolves in rotting husks!"
Ne Job stood firm. "Seed is not failure. 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 River, Eternal Mountain, Eternal Tree, Eternal Star, Eternal Dawn — joined with Eternal Seed.
Their glow struck the Mask's illusions.
Failure 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 promise.
It whispered:
> "Intern, seed is not chaos. It is beginning eternal. Guard it well."
Ne Job bowed.
Twinkle pulsed softly.
The Gallery shimmered, fertile once more.
The Mask of Misrule retreated into the shadows, his voice echoing faintly:
> "You may resist seeds today. But failure always waits."
The Gallery fell silent.
The mirrors glowed.
And Ne Job walked on, ready for what lay ahead.