Former Ranker's Newbie Life-Chapter 51

“The fuck is this?”

Leading the group was Vickie, who scowled the moment her eyes landed on Do-Jin, more specifically at the faint arcs of mana crackling along his fingers. Maybe she had an instinct for magic, or maybe she just had a sharp enough nose to pick up the residual mana hanging in the air. Either way, she noticed something was off.

“Care to explain why your right hand’s glowing like that, Mr. Customer? See, people like us, we’re a bit jumpy. When a mage starts glowing, our first instinct is to put a blade through ‘em.”

Her fingers slid toward her waist, inching toward the knife she had tucked away. She looked like a viper, coiled and ready to strike. For Do-Jin, who had planned to take them out in one clean ambush, this was a bit of a headache. However, he wasn’t flustered in the slightest. Do-Jin knew exactly how sharp the instincts of rats who burrowed into places like this could be. That’s why he had already set the stage.

Stepping seamlessly into the role he had written for himself, he smirked. “Didn’t take you for the skittish type. Relax. It’s just leftover static from a bit of fun I had back there.” He nodded toward the open cell. “Have you ever heard of electroshock torture? It’s when your muscles lock up so hard, you can’t even scream. You just shake like a broken toy. That’s kinda my specialty.” A spark crackled at his fingertips for effect.

“Fuckin’ hell! Give a girl some warning! I almost threw my damn knife!” Vickie had half a second of genuine panic before she scowled, clearly pissed at herself for reacting.

Meanwhile, Do-Jin casually brought his mana cigarette to his lips, exhaling a thin trail of smoke as he shrugged. “Now that you’re done pissing yourself, how about we stop wasting time and enjoy the show? Like I said, I roughed ’em up a little, so a few of them might be on their last breaths soon. Better have some fun while they’re still twitching, don’t you think?”

For the first time, Vickie didn’t have a quip ready. She just shook her head in something between disbelief and disgust. “I’ve met some vile fucks in my time, but you might just make the top ten.” She tucked her knife away with her eyes getting heavy with something close to pity.

The men eased off their weapons and turned toward the prison cell, or more accurately, the invisible line Do-Jin had baited them into crossing. They were itching to see whatever the hell Do-Jin was talking about. The moment they crossed, he unleashed the spell.

The first explosion wasn’t from the barrels. It came from the table where they’d been playing cards. Splinters shot through the air as the cheap wooden thing shattered and the sudden noise jarred enough to yank their focus. It was only a fraction of a second, but that was all he needed. They didn’t even get the chance to process what was happening before the real fun began.

The orc barrels Do-Jin had scattered on purpose went up in flames, one after the other, perfectly staggered to keep the chaos going.

“The fuck?!”

By now, the bastards had finally caught on that something was seriously wrong. As their instincts kicked in, their swords snapped toward the one person in this hellhole capable of pulling off a stunt like this. Vickie was already moving with her body low to the ground as she shot forward like a goddamn snake.

Flash.

Right then, the light bomb he had set up for this exact moment exploded in a blinding burst. A sharp gasp escaped her, and the sudden light stunned her just long enough for Do-Jin to make his move. He cast the final spell that would end this fight according to plan.

[Liquid Bullets]

The moment the spell was cast, the liquid that had burst from the orc barrels instantly transformed into countless tiny bullets, flooding the entire area in front of Do-Jin.

Liquid Bullets was a water-based spell that created multiple high-speed projectiles, but with the sheer amount of liquid he had deliberately set up beforehand, the speed, volume, and power of the spell had been cranked up to another level. On top of that, Do-Jin specialized in high-speed casting, consecutive spell layering, and overlapping magic, all of which pushed the spell’s destructive force even further.

The narrow clearing of the prison block was drowned in a barrage of high-velocity water bullets.

“Guhhhk!”

“Argghhh!”

“What th—ugh!”

A symphony of wet, meaty splatter mixed with the screams of the unlucky bastards caught in the onslaught. No matter how high-leveled they were, there was no surviving a direct hit from a mage’s spell, especially when it was fueled by the raw magical power of an S-rank weapon.

Once the chaos died down, the only ones left moving in the blood-slicked prison block were five men and one woman. Each of them had been riddled with holes, crimson pouring from the wounds in thick, steady streams.

“W-what the fuck did you just do...?” Vickie’s voice shook, weak and unsteady. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Her outfit, already exposing her midriff, made it painfully easy to see just how messed up she was. There were at least five bullet wounds in her stomach alone. Her thighs and calves were shredded, torn straight through. However, her slim frame had spared her from the worst of it, keeping her from being torn to ribbons. The others were not as lucky.

“Gkk, gghhhh...”

“Hhkk... Khhh—”

They had been too big for their own good. Their oversized bodies had soaked up even more of the bullets, and the results weren’t pretty.

One of them clawed desperately at a tiny puncture in his throat. He used his bloody fingers to try and plug the wound, but it didn’t matter. He was already drowning in his own fluids, choking out wet and ragged gurgles. Another gasped like a dying animal with his chest rising and falling in erratic shudders. Whether his lungs or diaphragm had been punctured, it didn’t matter. There was no way he’d come back from this.

Do-Jin took one last drag from his cigarette, then snuffed it out beneath his boot. Vickie twitched, trying to move, but her body wasn’t responding.

The rest... are already dead.

She wanted to do something, anything, but there was too much blood. The sheer volume of it pooling beneath her was already sending her into shock. She’d thought she could turn the tables by stabbing the mage in the throat. Now, she realized how futile it was.

The cold realization set in. She was going to die right here. Her mind screamed at her to do something, but nothing came.

Before she could stop herself, the words spilled from her lips. “You really think you’ll get away with this? It’s not too late. If you spare me, I can clean this up like it never happened. These guys aren’t important. Nobody’s gonna come looking for them. So just let me go, and I’ll take care of everything, okay?”

Curling in on herself, Vickie clutched her stomach, pressing her arms tight against her wounds, as if she could somehow stop her life force from pouring out onto the floor.

Do-Jin looked down at her and asked, “You’re not even the boss here. How the fuck do you plan on cleaning this mess up like it never happened?”

Vickie let out a shaky breath. “Please... Killing me isn’t gonna change shit. I don’t know what you’re after, but I won’t get in your way. I’ll leave this city and disappear. Just don’t fucking kill me. I’m... I’m bleeding too much. I don’t think I can—”

Do-Jin nodded. “I’ll let you live. But you’re gonna do something for me first. You’re gonna show me and the girls the way out. Make sure we all get out of here in one piece, and I’ll spare your miserable ass.”

Vickie let out a dry laugh, a mixture of pain and disbelief. “Do I look like I can fucking move? I can’t even stand up, let alone guide you. Just let me tell you the way and—”

Her words died in her throat as sheer, blinding pain ripped through her skull. It felt like her brain had just been set on fire. It took her more than a second to process that her hands had just been cleanly severed. Her body seized, but before the scream could escape from her throat, Do-Jin’s boot smashed into her chin, slamming her jaw shut.

The kick wasn’t even that strong, as a regular mage’s footwork wasn’t built for raw damage. But since Vickie was already on the brink of death, she could only writhe in place. Her eyes were wide and her body twitched, but she didn’t make a sound.

Do-Jin crouched beside her and muttered, “Cut the bullshit. You were begging me to let you go, which means you’ve got a way to survive this.” His voice dropped lower, colder. “I’m guessing you’ve got a healing potion stashed somewhere. Drink just enough to keep yourself alive. If you heal too much and start getting ideas, your head’s gonna roll just like those hands of yours.”

Vickie’s breath hitched. She didn’t argue, nor did she hesitate. She simply nodded, her body trembling as she frantically searched her clothes with what little control she had left. After the bottle dropped to the ground, she picked it up with her mouth, twisted the cap off with her tongue, and drank straight from it.

Although it was demeaning, she wasn’t thinking about pride anymore. She just wanted to live.

“Get the women out. Now.”

Do-Jin’s focus shifted. He turned to the women hiding in the cells, motioning them forward. A few of them cautiously stepped out of the shadows, following his command without hesitation. Three of them grabbed the vampire and started dragging her limp body across the floor.

None of them spared so much as a glance at Vickie or the corpses beside her. There was no room for fear or even shock. Instead, their gazes burned with pure, seething hatred, the kind that only came from true suffering.

Do-Jin wasn’t the type to ask what they’d been through. He already knew it was bad.

“Move your asses. I don’t have all day.”

“O-okay! Girls, let’s go! Open the cell doors and get out quietly. No noise. Got it?”

“Yes, sis.”

Whether it was the desperate urge to survive or the fact that they’d had time to process everything, the women moved with a surprising level of control. Even the ones still locked up inside had been watching through the iron bars, listening, waiting. The second they realized this was their chance, they acted fast.

Do-Jin exhaled. At least they’re not panicking.

“Stay quiet and follow my lead,” he said.

The desperate nods were enough of an answer. Do-Jin could feel the weight settling on his shoulders, but he ignored it and pushed Vickie forward into the pitch-black corridor.

They hadn’t made it far before running into a problem. Up ahead, a group of burly bastards lay in wait with their crossbows locked and ready. Hidden by the darkness, they were watching for movement, itching to fire the second anything got too close. Clearly, they had heard the commotion and decided to camp out, waiting for their chance to turn the tables.

Do-Jin reached out and tapped Vickie’s shoulder twice. “Would’ve been nice to get a warning about that.” His voice was cold, sharp.

Without waiting for her answer, he activated Night Vision, pinpointing each hidden figure in the darkness. With precision, he sent his own little greeting. Thin, razor-sharp ice spikes shot through the air, piercing straight through their eye sockets. Three of them dropped without a sound, their skulls neatly pierced by razor-sharp ice spikes. A muffled gasp escaped Vickie’s lips as she sucked in a terrified breath.

“I—I swear, I didn’t know they were there! You have to believe me!”

Do-Jin arched a brow. “So what, I was just supposed to stumble through this pitch-black hallway and hope I didn’t get a bolt to the skull? That wasn’t your plan?”

Vickie flinched. Yeah, she had been hoping for exactly that. But how was this mage seeing in the dark like it was broad daylight? That was total bullshit.

“I’m sorry, okay? I should’ve warned you, should’ve thought ahead. I won’t screw up again, promise! Just put that thing away and let’s fucking move! You saw them, right? They’re already setting up ambushes!”

“Right, that’s why I’m telling you. You better keep me alive now.” Do-Jin leaned in slightly, his voice dropping lower. “If my life’s in danger, guess whose head I’m taking first?”

“Got it.” She complied.

“Good. Now, where’s the fastest way out?”

“There’s a hidden passage ahead. Leads straight into the underground sewer system. If we make it there, we can lose them.”

From the looks of it, there were probably several of these escape routes scattered around the hideout. This was just one of many.

Do-Jin ushered the women through first. Then, without hesitation, he pulled up his inventory and dumped out an entire stash of oil pouches. A few seconds later, flames roared to life, devouring the passage behind them in a fiery blockade. It wouldn’t stop them forever, but it could at least slow them down. He took one last look at the inferno before slipping into the narrow, filthy tunnel without a second thought.

***

“W-we’re alive... We actually made it out!”

The moment they crawled out into the underground waterways beneath Marzia’s territory, the women collapsed, clinging to each other as sobs wracked their bodies. The air stank of stagnant water, but after the hell they had just escaped, this sewer felt like paradise.

Somewhere in the middle of the sobbing, the Elder was sniffling too, clutching her chest with overwhelming emotion. “Oh my, this is like something out of a novel. A righteous knight rescuing innocent maidens from evil... I never imagined I’d get to witness something so beautiful outside the pages of a novel.”

Meanwhile, back at the tunnel entrance, Do-Jin finally stepped out with the glow of flames flickering behind him. Every eye in the room turned toward him, the crying stifled. A cold silence settled over the group, thick with unspoken rage. Their eyes burned with raw hatred, all of it aimed at Vickie, but she didn’t notice.

“Y-you’re really letting me go, right? No funny business? You’re not gonna fry my ass the second I turn around?” she nervously asked, every last ounce of focus burning up as she gauged Do-Jin.

Who could blame her? The guy had just turned five of her crew into human Swiss cheese and picked off an ambush squad in total darkness like it was nothing, all while looking as calm as if he’d just finished a smoke break. There was no room left in her head to worry about anyone else.

Do-Jin tilted his head. “You held up your end, so I’ll hold up mine. Get lost.”

He waved her off, but Vickie didn’t budge. Even as she started moving backward, she kept her eyes trained on him, too paranoid to turn her back.

Then something sharp and jagged drove into her side with a sickening crunch. Her breath caught. Slowly, she turned her head down to see a splintered piece of wood buried deep in her flesh. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be a chunk of an oak barrel. The person holding onto the other end was one of the prisoners.

“You... fucking bitch!” Vickie’s face twisted in fury.

She swung a punch at the woman’s face without a second thought. Until now, this prisoner had been little more than a disposable plaything, barely worth her attention even in moments of boredom. She could’ve sold her off for cash without blinking. But this piece of merchandise had the nerve to fight back.

“AAAAH!” Vickie screamed in agony.

She should have been more careful. The moment she realized one of these worthless bugs had dared to stab her, rage took over. In that blind fury, she had forgotten that her hands were already gone. The second she swung, the unhealed stumps of her wrists smashed against the woman’s face. Pain ripped through her body like an electric shock. She doubled over instinctively, curling in on herself, trying to cradle the fresh agony.

That single moment of weakness sealed her fate.

“Kill her!”

The women pounced, crashing into her from every direction. Vickie had barely recovered enough to stand, but now she was drowning in a wave of rage-fueled violence. They tore into her with splintered wood, shattered glass, rusted metal, and whatever else they could get their hands on. Anything sharp enough to stab or anything heavy enough to bludgeon would suffice.

“AAAAAGH! YOU FUCKING WHORES! GET OFF ME! GET OFF—GAAHK!”

Even half-dead, she was still stronger than them. She lasted longer than one would expect, but that was all she could do. Vickie didn’t fight back or escape. She only prolonged the inevitable.

With a ragged breath and blood bubbling up her throat, her glassy eyes found Do-Jin. Her body trembled from the numerous stab wounds, and her lips twitched as if trying to form words.

“Y-you...” The sound barely made it out. “Promis...”

Do-Jin looked down at her, completely unfazed. “I said I’d let you go. Never said I’d save you.”

Before he could finish clarifying, she was already dead.

lder let out a contented sigh, shaking her head in admiration. “Ahh... nothing like a bit of poetic justice.”

Do-Jin could feel the vampire’s eyes practically sucking in the scene, like she was admiring some sort of masterpiece. It was incredibly irritating, but Do-Jin let it slide and turned his focus to rounding up the women.