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Chapter 206: The Mirror of the Eternal Tree
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Act I: A Chamber of Living Roots and Branches
The Gallery opened into a chamber where a colossal tree rose from the center, its roots weaving into the floor and its branches stretching into the ceiling, glowing with radiant leaves.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing with a steady hum, its rhythm echoing the pulse of life.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it feels alive, like it breathes."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here does not fall. It grows."
At the center stood a mirror embedded within the trunk of the tree, its surface shimmering with cycles of growth and renewal.
It spoke in a voice calm and fertile:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal Tree. I hold what grows, what endures in balance, what carries truth into life."
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Act II: The Weight of Growth
The interns gazed into its surface.
Visions unfolded, showing truths carried by trees.
- Ao Bing saw battles where courage meant sheltering others, not striking.
- Taiyi Zhenren saw scrolls preserved in bark, wisdom etched into rings of time.
- Ne Job saw miracles rooted and branching, inscribed into the Registry as life eternal.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the chamber's rhythm.
The mirror whispered:
> "To guard me, you must grow without fear."
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Act III: The Mask's Intrusion
From the shadows, the Mask of Misrule hissed.
> "Trees are mine to corrupt. I will twist growth into rot, and balance into chaos."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal Tree, trying to fracture its life into decay.
Ao Bing staggered. "The branches wither!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls crumble into dust!"
Ne Job steadied them. "Tree is not rot. It is renewal."
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Act IV: The Trial of Tree
The Mirror of the Eternal Tree spoke:
> "Intern, to protect me, you must grow."
Ne Job gazed into its living surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of growth that might collapse.
He whispered:
> "I grow. Even when rot threatens, I endure. Even when shadows press, I carry forward."
The mirror glowed brighter, its branches steady.
Twinkle pulsed strongly, harmonizing with renewal.
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 tree into rot, scattering the interns into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "My courage fades in decay!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom dissolves in dust!"
Ne Job stood firm. "Tree is not rot. 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, Endless 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 River, Eternal Mountain — joined with Eternal Tree.
Their glow struck the Mask's illusions.
Rot became clarity.
Deception dissolved.
Twinkle hummed, resonating with the Miracle Registry.
Ao Bing laughed, fierce and kind.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted every branch restored.
Ne Job stood firm, tree and truth united.
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Act VI: The Mirror's Gift
The Mirror of the Eternal Tree calmed, its surface shimmering with radiant life.
It whispered:
> "Intern, tree is not chaos. It is renewal 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 trees today. But rot always waits."
The Gallery fell silent.
The mirrors glowed.
And Ne Job walked on, ready for what lay ahead.