A soldier lunged at Knox, but as soon as Knox’s hand touched the soldier’s head, he was instantly evaporated into ashes. The crackling flames barely died down before more soldiers charged, meeting the same fiery fate. “Why are you all attacking me!” Knox shouted, his voice echoing with frustration and fatigue. No one answered; the soldiers continued their relentless assault, each attack draining his already dwindling mana reserves further.

Despite the growing exhaustion, Knox pushed on, each step heavier than the last. His vision blurred, but he refused to falter. The path before him was littered with charred remains, a testament to his desperate defense.

After what felt like an eternity of fighting and struggling to maintain his strength, Knox finally saw the tent where the leader was supposed to be. Relief washed over him at the sight of Elara standing outside, but his relief was short-lived. Her face was a mix of fear and confusion, her eyes wide as she took in the scene. The leader of the camp stood beside her, his demeanor calm and composed, a stark contrast to the chaos surrounding them.

Knox’s heart sank at the sight of Elara’s troubled expression. ‘What had they told her?’

The leader turned to Elara, speaking in a low voice, too quiet for Knox to make out the words. But whatever he said caused Elara’s eyes to widen further, her hand instinctively reaching for her weapon.

“Elara!” Knox called out. His voice was hoarse from shouting. He staggered forward, desperation lending him a final burst of energy. “It’s me, Knox! What did they tell you?”

The leader stepped forward, raising a hand to halt the advancing soldiers. “Enough,” he commanded, his voice calm yet authoritative. He turned his gaze to Knox, a smirk playing on his lips. “You should be grateful, Knox. She’s finally seeing your true colors.”

“Elara, please, you have to believe me,” Knox pleaded, his eyes locking onto hers. “I didn’t come here to fight you.”

Elara tightened her grip on her weapon, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. “Then why... why did they say you’re the Harbinger of Destruction? Why are they so afraid of you?”

Knox took a shaky step forward, his flames flickering weakly around him. “I can explain everything, just... just give me a chance. Don’t let them turn you against me.”

The leader chuckled softly, shaking his head. “You see, Elara, this is what happens when you trust a demon. He brings nothing but death and destruction.”

Knox’s rage flared, his flames burning brighter for a brief moment. “I am not a demon! You don’t know what I’ve been through, what they’ve taken from me!”

Elara hesitated, torn between the conflicting emotions warring within her. Knox could see the doubt in her eyes, the flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, she still believed in him.

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“Elara, please,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I need you to trust me.”

Time seemed to stand still as Elara made her decision.

“Then... then, did you destroy the East district?” Elara asked cautiously, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger.

Knox froze, his heart sinking. “Y-yes, b-”

Her eyes darkened, filled with betrayal and resolve. “Then you're guilty.”

Before Knox could react, Elara lunged at him with blinding speed. Weakened and exhausted, he was no match for her in his current state. She moved behind him with practiced precision, and with a swift, powerful swing, she severed both his arms. Knox collapsed to the ground, a scream of pain tearing from his throat.

Desperately, he tried to heal the stumps of his arms, but his mana reserves were nearly depleted. He could only manage to stop the bleeding, the searing pain almost overwhelming him. “Elara... please...” he gasped, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Elara stood over him, her expression hardening. “You lied to me, Knox. You destroyed so many lives. I thought you were different.”

Knox looked up at her, his vision blurring with tears. “I didn’t want to... I didn’t have a choice. Please, you have to understand...”

The leader stepped forward, his eyes cold. “Enough of this. He’s dangerous, Elara. You’ve seen what he’s capable of. He must be executed.”

Elara hesitated, her eyes locked onto Knox’s. The pain and desperation in his gaze made her waver, but the memories of the destruction and death he caused were too vivid, too fresh. She turned away, unable to look at him any longer.

“Take him away,” she said quietly, her voice breaking. “Make sure he can’t hurt anyone else.”

Knox watched as the soldiers approached, their faces grim. As they bound him and dragged him away, he felt a crushing sense of defeat. He had lost everything—his power, his allies, and now the one person he thought might understand him. The world around him seemed to close in, and for the first time in a long time, he felt truly alone.

The soldiers roughly cuffed Knox's ankles with heavy, enchanted restraints. As soon as the metal clicked into place, he felt his connection to the system severed once more. The familiar surge of power and mana within him vanished, leaving him feeling weak and vulnerable.

He stumbled as they pulled him to his feet, his body protesting every movement. The pain in his severed arms throbbed mercilessly, and his vision swam with each step. The soldiers flanked him on either side, their grips like iron, ensuring he couldn’t escape.

Elara watched in silence, her face a mask of conflicting emotions. As they led Knox away, she couldn’t shake the image of the man she had come to know over the past months. The Knox she saw now, broken and defeated, seemed worlds apart from the harbinger of destruction they accused him of being.

The camp leader stood beside her, his expression satisfied. “We’ve finally captured the monster responsible for so much death and chaos. Justice will be served.”

Elara nodded absently, her eyes still fixed on Knox’s retreating form. Deep down, a part of her hoped there was some explanation, some truth she had yet to uncover. But the weight of his confession and the evidence of his actions were too heavy to ignore.

Knox was dragged into a reinforced tent, where they shackled him to the floor, ensuring he couldn’t move. The magical cuffs glowed faintly, a constant reminder of his severed connection to the system. He slumped against the restraints, his strength fading fast.

He looked up as the tent flap opened, revealing the camp leader and Elara standing at the entrance. The leader stepped forward, his eyes cold and unyielding. “You will be tried for your crimes, Knox. The council will decide your fate.”

Knox’s head hung low, his voice a mere whisper. “Do what you must. I’ve already lost everything that mattered to me.”

Elara’s gaze softened for a moment, but she quickly steeled herself. She couldn’t afford to let sympathy cloud her judgment. Not now, when so much was at stake.

As they left the tent, the camp leader turned to her. “You did well, Elara. Your loyalty to our cause is commendable.”

She nodded, though her heart felt heavy. “Thank you, sir. I just hope this is the right path.”

The leader looked at her reassuringly. “It is. We must protect our people from those who would do us harm. Knox’s actions cannot go unpunished.”

Elara forced a smile, but doubts lingered in her mind. As she walked away, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to Knox’s story than they realized. And if there was, what it would mean for all of them.