"Holy—! A goblin!" Ian yelled instinctively, recoiling in shock at Dadua's grotesque features.
The insult struck a nerve.
"You punk!" Dadua's face twisted with rage as he lashed out, his open hand slapping Ian across the face with a force that rattled the boy's head. The impact sent stars dancing across Ian's vision, his cheek burning from the strike.
Dadua wasn't just some common thug. He had once made a contract with a god, gaining a slight boost in strength, though he hadn't improved much since then - he still had more strength than average humans nonetheless.
It took Ian a moment to regain his senses. His eyes flickered as the stars cleared from his vision, revealing Dadua grinning maliciously.
"Heh, back with us now, boy?" Dadua taunted, leaning in closer, his breath rancid. "You've got some fire in you. I like that. Makes things… fun."
