---
Chapter 180: The Mirror of the Eternal Light
---
Act I: A Chamber of Radiance
The Gallery opened into a chamber where the walls glowed with pure brilliance, no shadow daring to linger.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing with steady rhythm, its hum resonating like a beacon.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it feels alive."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here does not waver. It shines."
At the center stood a mirror blazing with unbroken light, its surface radiant and clear.
It spoke in a voice warm and resolute:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal Light. I hold what illuminates, what guides, what endures beyond darkness."
---
Act II: The Weight of Illumination
The interns gazed into its surface.
Visions unfolded, showing light that carried truth across ages.
- Ao Bing saw battles where courage was born in the glow of comrades' resolve.
- Taiyi Zhenren saw scrolls illuminated, wisdom preserved in clarity.
- Ne Job saw miracles shining brightly, guiding the Registry even in shadow.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the brilliance.
The mirror whispered:
> "To guard me, you must shine without fear."
---
Act III: The Mask's Intrusion
From the shadows, the Mask of Misrule hissed.
> "Light is mine to corrupt. I will twist illumination into blindness, and blindness into chaos."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal Light, trying to fracture its brilliance into searing confusion.
Ao Bing staggered. "The glow blinds me!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls blur in the glare!"
Ne Job steadied them. "Light is not blindness. It is guidance."
---
Act IV: The Trial of Light
The Mirror of the Eternal Light spoke:
> "Intern, to protect me, you must shine."
Ne Job gazed into its radiant surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of being consumed by brilliance.
He whispered:
> "I shine. Even when shadow surrounds me, I illuminate. Even when broken, I endure."
The mirror glowed brighter, its brilliance steady.
Twinkle pulsed strongly, harmonizing with the light.
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 light into blindness, scattering the interns into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "My courage fades in glare!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom dissolves in confusion!"
Ne Job stood firm. "Light is not blindness. It is truth carried forward."
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 — joined with Eternal Light.
Their glow struck the Mask's illusions.
Blindness became clarity.
Deception dissolved.
Twinkle hummed, resonating with the Miracle Registry.
Ao Bing laughed, fierce and kind.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted every illumination restored.
Ne Job stood firm, light and truth united.
---
Act VI: The Mirror's Gift
The Mirror of the Eternal Light calmed, its surface shimmering with radiant brilliance.
It whispered:
> "Intern, light is not chaos. It is guidance 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 light today. But shadow always waits."
The Gallery fell silent.
The mirrors glowed.
And Ne Job walked on, ready for what lay ahead.