They Wanted a Hero. They Made a Monster: Born at the Bottom
Copyright© 2026 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 16: The Hero Exception
Pairs of green eyes fixed on Evan.
There were thirteen Werewolves, ranging from an adolescent at LV26 to a leader at LV42.
The stupid dogs looked ready to vent their anger over the prey they had just lost.
Almost every one possessed [Haste]. Evan probably could not outrun them.
Fortunately, he had never intended to try.
Prime Puffcap, transform.
The Puffcap curled into a ball.
[Rolling Charge LV5]
Evan had acquired the skill as a by-product while pursuing [Chitinous Shell]. After extracting proficiency from Roller Beetles day after day, Rolling Charge had reached LV5 before the shell itself.
The nearly forgotten skill finally had its moment.
Evan rolled toward the stairs to the Ninth Stratum.
The forty Puffcaps behind him opened fire with Spore Cannon.
The Werewolves were agile enough to evade the straight-flying projectiles. Only one unlucky animal took a blast that destroyed a forepaw.
That was enough. The bombardment opened a route.
One stubborn gray Werewolf charged on all fours through the barrage and slashed at Evan.
[Dodge LV6]
The rolling Puffcap hopped, passed directly over the Werewolf’s face, and plunged into the stairway.
Safe.
The Werewolf tumbled to the ground. Before it could rise, seven or eight Spore Cannons struck together and reduced it to mangled flesh.
Evan had crossed the boundary, but only the prime Puffcap could follow him.
None of the remaining combat Puffcaps possessed Rolling Charge.
Once Evan entered the passage, the Werewolves turned on the troops left behind.
Forty Puffcaps were no match for twelve Werewolves in a direct battle. They wounded only three before being wiped out.
Evan did not truly regret their loss. He had brought the units to protect his body and would have sacrificed them as bait if necessary.
He had not expected them all to die after crossing only one stratum.
He could only hope the rest of the journey would be less unfortunate.
Without the trailing Puffcaps, the Mycelial Network could no longer provide vision. Evan had to perceive his surroundings through [Airflow Sense] and [Mana Sense].
It was much less convenient.
The Ninth Stratum was the most revolting place Evan had ever seen. Tumorous growths covered every surface, and the monsters resembled failed experiments in engineering flesh.
Fortunately, mushrooms lacked a sense of smell. The sight alone told him enough about the likely odor.
The journey through the Ninth Stratum was otherwise uneventful. After resting there for a while, the adventurers continued safely to the Eighth.
When Evan attempted to follow, he encountered an unexpected problem.
[Native monster Level Exceeded: Passage Denied]
The unsolicited message startled him. Worse, an invisible wall appeared.
Nothing stood before him, yet the closer he moved to the stairs, the greater the pressure became. It felt ready to crush him.
Was this one of the dungeon’s rules?
A native monster. So the dungeon considered him part of its family?
This family was not warm at all.
No!
He still wanted to see the sun once more.
Had any reincarnated soul ever suffered as much as he had?
[Hero: Restrictions Lifted]
What?
Evan had been ready to force his way through with Rolling Charge. Instead, the invisible pressure vanished.
Was this another Hero privilege?
He took two more steps. The resistance was truly gone.
What sort of obsolete system took so long between two related checks? It had nearly frightened him to death.
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