Chapter 136: The Promise of Eternal Betrayal
šØ Act I: A Portrait Cracks
Ne Job was patrolling the Gallery of Unspoken Promises when Twinkle buzzed nervously.
One portrait shimmered darkly, its canvas cracking, its vow whispering betrayal.
Ao Bing frowned. "That's not loyalty. That's treachery."
Taiyi Zhenren muttered, "Unprofessional."
Lord Xian appeared, grave.
> "Interns, beware. The Mask of Misrule seeks to forge a Promise of Eternal Betrayal. If it rises, every vow will collapse."
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š§ Act II: The Villains' Plot
The Bureau of Misrule had devised their boldest scheme yet.
Their plan: corrupt promises into betrayal, twisting loyalty, kindness, and courage.
- Friendship twisted into treachery.
- Patience twisted into stagnation.
- Courage twisted into recklessness.
Ao Bing clenched his fists. "We'll stop him!"
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted the evidence.
Ne Job whispered, "We must defend promises."
Twinkle pulsed softly.
---
š Act III: The Gallery in Peril
The interns entered the central hall of the Gallery.
Portraits glowed faintly, vows whispering, but one canvas pulsed with shadow.
The Mask of Misrule appeared, his cracked mask shimmering with cruel laughter.
He hissed:
> "The Promise of Eternal Betrayal will undo all vows. The Gallery is mine."
Ao Bing hurled thunderfruit sparks.
Taiyi Zhenren annotated his tricks.
Glimmer giggled nervously.
Ne Job stepped forward.
He whispered, "Promises are not betrayal. They are harmony."
Twinkle hummed faintly.
The canvas trembled.
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š§µ Act IV: The Confrontation
The Gallery erupted in chaos.
Portraits cracked, vows twisted, and shadows whispered betrayal.
Ao Bing stumbled.
Taiyi Zhenren trembled.
Glimmer cried softly.
Ne Job unrolled Miracle #650-P ā the Gallery of Unspoken Promises.
The scroll pulsed.
Remembrance resonated.
The portraits trembled.
Their corruption cracked.
Their glow returned.
The Mask faltered.
His disguise cracked further.
---
š Act V: The Resolution
The Promise of Eternal Betrayal dissolved.
The Gallery glowed.
The vows pulsed with new life.
Ao Bing laughed kindly.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted truth.
Glimmer hugged Ne Job.
Twinkle hummed triumphantly.
The Mask fled into the shadows.
His voice echoed:
> "You may win today. But masks always return."
Lord Xian's voice echoed faintly:
> "Intern Ne Job, you have defended the Gallery against betrayal. Well done."
---
š Epilogue: A New Registry Entry
The next morning, a new entry appeared in the Miracle Registry:
> Miracle #660-B: The Promise of Eternal Betrayal
> Status: Defeated, restored, unresolved.
> Effect: Teaches that betrayal cannot undo promises. Activated through courage and remembrance.
Ne Job added a note:
> "Some miracles are threatened by betrayal. But promises always restore harmony."
Twinkle hummed.
And somewhere in the Gallery, shadows lingered ā but the interns were ready.