Kaden lay sprawled on the cold, damp forest floor, his body paralyzed and his mind racing in a whirlwind of fear and fury. A glowing notification hovered persistently before his eyes:
[System is detoxifying poison: 21% detoxified…]
It had to be when Mr. Duke placed his hand on his shoulder. That was the moment Kaden thought that he must have been poisoned. Summoning all his strength, he managed to tilt his head slightly, just enough to see Mr. Duke standing in front of him. The man's twisted smile sent a shiver down Kaden's spine.
"You… you bastard," Kaden rasped, his words slow and slurred, the effects of the paralysis poison making it nearly impossible to speak.