“Finally, I'll be able to wipe the leaders of the Aetherians from the face of the earth,” Knox screamed, his voice echoing through the camp. “You pests that forced your system and your ways of living on us!”

As his words reverberated, one of the Elders on the far left, his face still shrouded by his hood, responded in a calm, almost pitying tone, “Poor thing... To have been a child born from a Human and Aetherian.” His voice, in stark contrast to Knox's rage, was a whisper in the storm.

Knox stood frozen, his mind a whirlwind of confusion. “Born from Human and Aetherian... What in the world does that even mean!” he demanded, his voice trembling with a potent mix of anger and bewilderment.

The Elder’s eyes, barely visible beneath the hood, seemed to pierce into Knox’s soul. “You, Knox, are a hybrid, the product of two worlds meant to be at odds. This power you wield, the torment you feel, stems from the conflict within you. You are both and neither, a bridge and a chasm.”

Knox’s mind raced, his fury mounting as he processed the revelation. His whole life, his identity, the source of his suffering and strength—it was all a lie, built on the foundation of a forbidden union. His hands trembled with the force of his emotions, the flames around him flickering wildly.

“Lies!” he spat, his voice raw. “You’re trying to confuse me, to weaken me before I destroy you.”

The Elder shook his head slowly, a sad smile playing on his lips. “The truth is often more painful than lies, Knox. But it is the truth you must face if you are to understand the full extent of identity.”

Knox's eyes blazed with an inferno of fury, the flames around him growing hotter and more erratic. “I don’t need understanding,” he snarled. “I crave revenge.”

The elder in the middle raised her arm, her palm facing toward Knox. In an instant, all the flames around him vanished, snuffed out as if they had never existed. Knox's eyes widened in shock as he felt his connection to the system wane, his source of power temporarily dimmed.

"What... What have you done?" Knox growled, his voice laced with desperation and fury.

The middle elder stepped forward, her face calm and resolute. "We have suppressed your power, Knox. Your flames and your strength all stem from a connection you barely understand. You may think you have mastered it, but there are forces in this world far beyond your comprehension."

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Knox stumbled, feeling an unfamiliar weakness wash over him. It was as if his very essence was being temporarily drained, leaving him vulnerable. He glared at the elder, his rage boiling beneath the surface. "You think you can stop me with this trickery? I don't need the system to end you."

The elder's gaze was steady, unwavering. "This is not trickery but a reminder of the balance that exists in our world. You are powerful, yes, but you are not invincible. Your rage blinds you, Knox. It consumes you, making you a puppet of your hatred."

Knox clenched his fists, his body trembling with the effort to summon his flames. But nothing came, no searing heat, no burst of fire. He felt exposed, as if a part of him had been stripped away. "You will not lecture me," he spat. "I will find a way to reclaim my power, and when I do, I will reduce you all to ashes."

The elder lowered her arm, her expression softening with a touch of pity. "We do not seek your destruction, Knox. We seek to help you understand. The path you are on leads only to your ruin. You must learn to control the fire within, not let it control you."

Knox's eyes blazed with fury. Without a moment's hesitation, he lunged at the middle elder, his intent to strike her down clear in his expression. But before he could reach her, the elder on the right stepped forward with surprising speed, intercepting Knox's attack.

A shimmering barrier of energy appeared between them, stopping Knox in his tracks. The elder on the right, his face shadowed by his hood, pushed Knox back with an invisible force that sent him stumbling.

"You think you can simply attack us without consequence?" the elder on the right intoned, his voice calm yet assertive. "We are not so easily defeated."

Knox snarled, regaining his balance. "You may have suppressed my flames, but you haven't taken my strength," he spat. He swung his fist at the barrier, but it held firm, shimmering under the force of his blow.

The elder in the middle watched him with a sorrowful expression. "Knox, your rage blinds you. Every step you take down this path only brings you closer to your destruction."

Knox's face contorted with anger. "I don't need your pity or your advice. I'll find a way to reclaim my power, and when I do, I'll destroy everything you hold dear."

The elder on the left, his face still hidden by his hood, spoke softly. "Your power is great, Knox, but it is not limitless. Your hatred consumes you, leaving you vulnerable. If you continue down this path, you will find nothing but ruin."

Knox roared in frustration, slamming his fists against the barrier. "Silence! I will not be lectured by those who cower behind their magic and their words."

The elder on the right effortlessly maintained the barrier, his gaze steady. "We do not seek to cower but to protect. If you cannot see that, then you are truly lost."

Knox stepped back, his eyes burning with a mixture of rage and desperation. He could feel the temporary suppression of his powers waning, his connection to the system slowly returning. "This isn't over," he growled.

He prepared to launch another attack, his determination undiminished. But deep down, a part of him knew that the elders were right. His rage was his greatest weapon but also his greatest weakness. And until he could control it, he would always be vulnerable.

The elders stood firm, their expressions a blend of sorrow and resolve. They knew the battle was far from over, and the fate of their world rested on the choices Knox would make.