Chapter 140: The Citadel of False Vows
✨ Act I: A Shadow in the Sanctum
Ne Job was patrolling the Sanctum of Living Vows when Twinkle buzzed nervously.
The radiant guardians flickered, their light dimming, their voices trembling.
Ao Bing frowned. "That's not harmony. That's corruption."
Taiyi Zhenren muttered, "Unprofessional."
Lord Xian appeared, grave.
> "Interns, beware. The Mask of Misrule seeks to twist the Sanctum into a Citadel of False Vows. If it rises, guardians will betray their promises."
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🧠 Act II: The Villains' Plot
The Bureau of Misrule had devised their boldest scheme yet.
Their plan: corrupt living vows, turning guardians into betrayers, twisting loyalty, kindness, and courage.
- Friendship reborn twisted into treachery.
- Patience reborn twisted into stagnation.
- Courage reborn twisted into recklessness.
Ao Bing clenched his fists. "We'll stop him!"
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted the evidence.
Ne Job whispered, "We must defend vows."
Twinkle pulsed softly.
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🎭 Act III: The Citadel Rises
The interns entered the Sanctum's central hall.
The radiant guardians faltered, their light dimming, as a dark citadel rose from the floor — jagged, shadowed, crowned with broken inscriptions.
The Mask of Misrule appeared, his cracked mask shimmering with cruel laughter.
He hissed:
> "The Citadel of False Vows will undo all promises. The Bureau will fall."
Ao Bing hurled thunderfruit sparks.
Taiyi Zhenren annotated his tricks.
Glimmer giggled nervously.
Ne Job stepped forward.
He whispered, "Vows are not betrayal. They are harmony."
Twinkle hummed faintly.
The citadel trembled.
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🧵 Act IV: The Confrontation
The Sanctum erupted in chaos.
Guardians twisted into false figures, whispering betrayal, erasing promises.
Ao Bing stumbled.
Taiyi Zhenren trembled.
Glimmer cried softly.
Ne Job unrolled Miracle #690-V — the Sanctum of Living Vows.
The scroll pulsed.
Remembrance resonated.
The guardians faltered.
Their corruption cracked.
Their glow returned.
The Citadel trembled.
Its shadow dissolved.
The Mask faltered.
His disguise cracked further.
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🌈 Act V: The Resolution
The Citadel of False Vows dissolved.
The Sanctum glowed.
The living 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 Sanctum against false vows. Well done."
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📜 Epilogue: A New Registry Entry
The next morning, a new entry appeared in the Miracle Registry:
> Miracle #700-F: The Citadel of False Vows
> Status: Defeated, restored, unresolved.
> Effect: Teaches that false vows cannot undo promises. Activated through courage and remembrance.
Ne Job added a note:
> "Some miracles are threatened by betrayal. But vows always restore harmony."
Twinkle hummed.
And somewhere in the Sanctum, shadows lingered — but the interns were ready.