They Wanted a Hero. They Made a Monster: Born at the Bottom
Copyright© 2026 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 30: Attacking Is Strictly Forbidden
The two marauders charged in from outside the cave, giving Vera’s party no time to react.
Grunbar laughed as he used Charge, aiming directly for Fiona in her mage’s equipment.
Faced with the ambush, Fiona was still trying to understand why her detection spell had failed to warn her.
Vera roared and drew his curved sword. His body slid as smoothly as if he were skating across ice, carrying him in front of Fiona to intercept the Dwarf.
The broad-bladed ax struck the curved sword in a shower of sparks.
Vera fell into a disadvantage the instant their weapons met. The ax blade pressed steadily down until it nearly touched his collarbone.
Only by bracing the flat of his blade with both hands did Vera stop the ax from cleaving him in two.
“Nice weapon, boy. That should fetch a fine price.”
At such close range, Vera could smell the alcohol on the Dwarf’s breath.
“Fiona!”
Hearing her name finally jolted Fiona out of her panic. She cast several strengthening spells on Vera in rapid succession.
[Power Boost]
[Agility Boost]
[Endurance Surge]
Empowered by the spells, Vera retreated with a flourish of his blade and forced the Dwarf several steps back.
Having failed to gain the advantage, Grunbar immediately cursed at his partner, who was idling behind him.
“Half-Ear, what the hell are you watching for? Deal with the brat holding the wand!”
“What’s the hurry? Loading a crossbow takes time.”
Nash approached with a crossbow in his hands, but did not fire. Instead, he pulled a small packet from his coat and threw it at Fiona.
Vera saw it flying toward them, yet no arrow came from Faye to intercept it.
“Faye?”
He had no choice but to step forward and pierce the packet with his sword. Pale blue powder burst through the air.
Vera covered his nose and hurried backward with Fiona. When he looked toward Faye, he found her lying on the ground, unable to rise.
“Paralytic Sap extracted from a Flower Fey on the Seventh Stratum. A trace is enough to leave someone unable to move. Effective, isn’t it?”
Smiling, Nash aimed the crossbow and pulled the trigger. He loved watching his prey panic.
Fiona hurriedly tried to cast a spell, but the mana shield barely began to form before collapsing in midair.
“What a novice. You can’t even recognize Spellbane Flower powder.”
“Coward!”
With no other choice, Vera stepped in front of Fiona and turned his blade sideways to deflect the bolt. The impact left both his hands numb.
That was the opening Grunbar had been waiting for!
The muscles in both his arms bulged, and hot breath blasted from his nostrils.
The Dwarf swung the broad-bladed ax in a full arc toward Vera’s waist.
Vera barely managed to press his curved sword against his body before the blow hurled him out of the cave.
It did not kill him, but it left him with only a thread of life.
Once Vera fell, Fiona was merely a mage who could no longer cast spells. Two quick blows knocked her unconscious.
The entire battle had remained under the two marauders’ control.
That was not entirely the fault of Vera’s party. All their combat experience concerned monsters, and the items they carried were meant for the same foes.
A marauder’s tactics, tools, and skills were all designed to fight people.
With the advantages of surprise and higher levels, and a habit of choosing inexperienced targets, Nash and Grunbar almost never failed.
Grunbar raised his ax to finish the three adventurers one by one, but Nash stopped him.
The Dwarf asked impatiently, “What? They’re twins, so now you want to have some fun?”
Disgust crossed Nash’s face. “What are you talking about? When have I ever touched filth without elven blood?”
Grunbar had no patience for such inexplicable superiority. Nash himself was a mixed-blood bastard.
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