"Gah!" Kruz'Iik yelled as Hjaldi picked him, and the hood fell back, revealing the dirty white hair and face of an old man. Kruz'Iik had to admit, although he let himself be grabbed so he could continue his disguise and not freak out the girl he was trying to help, he hadn't anticipated the force the half-giant would manhandle him with. He almost didn't extend the mental illusion to the rest of his head in time. He grunted and pushed against Hjaldi's grip, but it was futile. He couldn't decide if he wanted to use his powers to defend himself or not, but with Hjaldi's sword at his shoulder, the Ilithid actually felt threatened. This fight was different, as he usually stalled a confrontation long enough so he could implant himself in his foe's mind. It was how Ilithids fought, with illusions and the bending of reality.
As he struggled, a relieved smile came to his mouth when Yun jumped to his defense, but he quickly removed it. "No, save yourself!" He groaned, looking to her with eyes that said he had the situation handle, and then his eyes locked onto Hjaldi's. "You might think yourself right manly for bullying an old hermit, but I'll tell you right now, boy..." He started, and took a second to breathe. "You think I survive around here at my age through physicality? No, this old man's learned some tricks! I have befriended the spirits around here, and we share a powerful bond. Who are you to threaten their friend, a complete stranger, that's who! And of the girl? will you hurt her as well? " He spat, and continued speaking.
Lightning struck in the sky, as if the sky was furious. "I offer this girl, and then you, despite your rudeness, shelter from this storm. Is this how you repay kindness? If you don't want me helping this poor young woman, then strike me down, you savage!" He yelled, and then started breathing heavily with exertion. The exertion was somewhat real, as Kruz'Iik never really used this silly lung system humans had that often. He was smiling internally, however. He had been stalling, exactly as he was supposed to. Hjaldi might have physically restrained him, but Kruz'Iik undetectably entered the barbarian's mind.
Visible to, and ONLY to Hjaldi, Kruz'Iik twisted into his original form, the tentacles running up and down the giant's wrist as they unwrapped from their beard form and his skin and hands returned to their original color and clawed shape. "Strike me down, savage." He beckoned, his voice resonating throughout Hjaldi's head as his tentacle-faced visage seemed to darken, the very destruction of everything the barbarian held dear reflecting in his eyes.