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Chapter 286: The Mirror of the Eternal Gate
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Act I: A Chamber of Thresholds
The Gallery opened into a chamber where radiant gates stood tall, each shimmering with light that marked passage between realms. The air was solemn yet inviting, as though every breath carried the weight of transition.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing with a resonant hum, its rhythm echoing the pulse of passage.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it feels like every step could lead into another world."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here does not remain. It opens."
At the center stood a mirror framed by luminous gates, its surface shimmering with eternal thresholds.
It spoke in a voice calm yet commanding:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal Gate. I hold what opens, what endures in passage, what carries truth into crossing."
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Act II: The Weight of Passage
The interns gazed into its surface.
Visions unfolded, showing truths carried by gates.
- Ao Bing saw battles where courage meant stepping through into danger without hesitation.
- Taiyi Zhenren saw scrolls preserved in gateways, wisdom carried across boundaries of time.
- Ne Job saw miracles crossing in silence, inscribed into the Registry as gates eternal.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the chamber's passage.
The mirror whispered:
> "To guard me, you must cross without fear."
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Act III: The Mask's Intrusion
From the shadows, the Mask of Misrule hissed.
> "Gates are mine to corrupt. I will twist passage into exile, and crossing into despair."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal Gate, trying to fracture its thresholds into walls.
Ao Bing staggered. "The gate closes against me!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls scatter into sealed vaults!"
Ne Job steadied them. "Gate is not exile. It is passage."
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Act IV: The Trial of Gate
The Mirror of the Eternal Gate spoke:
> "Intern, to protect me, you must cross."
Ne Job gazed into its threshold surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of crossings too final to endure.
He whispered:
> "I cross. Even when shadows seal, I endure. Even when despair waits, I carry forward."
The mirror glowed brighter, its gates 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 gate into exile, scattering the interns into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "My courage fades in sealed doors!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom dissolves in locked vaults!"
Ne Job stood firm. "Gate is not exile. 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 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 Gate.
Their glow struck the Mask's illusions.
Exile became clarity.
Deception dissolved.
Twinkle hummed, resonating with the Miracle Registry.
Ao Bing laughed, fierce and kind.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted every gate restored.
Ne Job stood firm, gate and truth united.
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Act VI: The Mirror's Gift
The Mirror of the Eternal Gate calmed, its surface shimmering with radiant passage.
It whispered:
> "Intern, gate is not chaos. It is crossing eternal. Guard it well."
Ne Job bowed.
Twinkle pulsed softly.
The Gallery shimmered, open once more.
The Mask of Misrule retreated into the shadows, his voice echoing faintly:
> "You may resist gates today. But exile always waits."
The Gallery fell silent.
The mirrors glowed.
And Ne Job walked on, ready for what lay ahead.