Former Ranker's Newbie Life-Chapter 16

When the five Magic Circles were completely destroyed, the flow of mana that had stained the floor black came to a halt. With nowhere left to flow, it stopped moving entirely. Meanwhile, the black mana was now surging and growing denser with each passing second, so rapidly that the difference was noticeable almost immediately.

Sisala’s face stiffened as she watched the phenomenon unfold.

“The mana isn’t thinning out. No... it’s actually getting thicker. It looks like there’s another source where this black mana is being generated.” Sisala immediately grasped the meaning of the phenomenon as soon as she saw it, a testament to her insight as a Yellow Mage.

“What we destroyed was the part of the mechanism responsible for circulating and activating the generated mana. That’s why, with each one we took down, the flow shifted toward the other Magic Circles.”

“So... this is really bad, isn’t it?”

After a moment’s pause, Sisala’s face turned pale, and she let out a panicked cry. “When it was circulating, it was already like this! But now that the circulation is cut off, the power will keep accumulating. And when that kind of unstable power builds up—”

“I know,” Do-Jin interrupted calmly. “If it just keeps accumulating, it’ll stagnate. And when it stagnates to the point where the pressure exceeds its limit, it could very well explode.”

Sisala’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water before she began spitting out words in rapid succession. “Wh-what are you thinking?! I mean, obviously, you have a plan, but this is way too dangerous! Whatever you’re trying to do, it’s reckless! We’re not just dealing with a disrupted circulation in a large Magic Circle here... It’s completely severed! Which means we’re standing right inside a ticking time bomb that could blow at any second!”

She wasn’t wrong. The moment all five Magic Circles were destroyed, this dungeon had effectively turned into a time bomb. If the clock ran out, the mana that could no longer circulate would go berserk. Even if the explosion didn’t kill them outright, the foul energy would corrupt them to death.

It sounded absurdly unfair, an insane mechanic, even. But in truth, dismantling the situation wasn’t difficult at all. The solution was simply to brute-force their way to the core and clear the dungeon within the time limit. If that approach wasn’t feasible, retreating for now and returning later was always an option.

The key factors were path and time. Could they find the path to the core and finish within the time limit? Or could they remember the way out and escape before the clock hit zero?

Running away is the safer choice... but if we do that, the entire Danumine Gorge will be contaminated. That would seriously tank our score.

In hidden dungeons, the rewards varied depending on how the dungeon was cleared. If they weren’t at the level they’d aimed for, they might have taken the safer option. But with Do-Jin now above Level 30, there was no reason not to go for the best possible outcome.

However, there was one problem that needed addressing first.

I can’t drag her into something this dangerous.

Do-Jin looked at Sisala and asked, “Sisala, do you remember the way out?”

“Of course! I might suck at magic, but I’ve got a great memory. Follow me!” Sisala, who had been anxiously pacing, grabbed Do-Jin’s hand and began leading the way.

True to her word, her memory was as sharp as a tack. Without a single misstep, she retraced their path through the maze-like dungeon and found the exit.

“There! There are the stairs!”

With a bright expression, Sisala ran toward the staircase. Even then, she kept a firm grip on Do-Jin’s hand, refusing to let go. But just as they were about to reach the top of the stairs, he pulled his hand free and gave her a firm shove, pushing her out of the dungeon.

“Do-Jin! What are you...?!”

Unlike Do-Jin, who had exceptional reflexes, Sisala stumbled and fell as she lost her balance.

"Sorry, but I can’t just leave the Magic Circle to run rampant like this," Do-Jin murmured.

“What are you...” Sisala spun around with a fiery glare, quickly piecing the situation together.

However, Do-Jin was faster. His hand moved swiftly, clutching the dungeon’s iron key. With a boom, the dungeon entrance slammed shut in an instant.

[Sisala Omen’s Favorability has decreased by 3 points, dropping to 27.]

[Sisala Omen’s Favorability has decreased by 3 points, dropping to 24.]

[Sisala Omen’s Favorability has decreased by 1 point, dropping to 23.]

Well... damn. Do-Jin stared at the ominous messages, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.

Even though the sound was completely sealed off, he could practically hear Sisala’s enraged screams through the wall.

BOOM!

Actually, he really could hear some faint vibrations rippling through. It was likely from a spell she’d hurled at the door, not that it would do her any good. There was no way a 4-Star Mage’s magic could break through.

It’s a bummer about the favorability, but there was no other choice.

Sisala was safe for now, but that wouldn’t have been the case if she’d stayed. Do-Jin knew all too well that, unlike players, NPCs didn’t get a free pass when it came to death. And he wasn’t free from the consequences of their deaths either. Painful experiences had drilled that lesson into him.

“Well... let’s get this over with.” Shaking off the bitter memories, Do-Jin turned and headed toward the dungeon’s core.

Time was on his side. Not only had the time limit been generous, but his quick progress had given him even more breathing room.

“So that’s how it was supposed to look.”

What had been wide open in his previous life was now blocked by a solid stone gate. Before approaching the gate, Do-Jin pulled out a vial of holy water and took a swig. He’d been drinking it periodically throughout the dungeon, but now was the time to refill every possible buff he could stack.

“Alright, time to move.”

Just as he was about to dive in without hesitation, Do-Jin froze.

[Sisala Omen’s Favorability has increased by 10 points, rising to 33.]

The favorability that had plummeted earlier had not only recovered but surpassed its original level. She had been absolutely fuming. So what the hell had made her favorability shoot up? Sometimes, Do-Jin couldn’t wrap his head around the favorability system.

Still, a boost was a boost. There was no point in overthinking it. Trying to fully grasp the emotions of these LOST NPCs and the systems tied to them was a surefire way to give himself a headache.

Let’s just focus on what’s in front of me. With that thought, Do-Jin once again used the dungeon key.

Rumble.

The massive stone gate creaked open, and thick black smoke immediately poured through the gap, even before the door had fully opened. It was the stagnant mana, generated and concentrated by the central Magic Circle.

If I had been even a few levels lower, I wouldn’t have survived long enough to even try this, he thought.

Intelligence wasn’t just for casting spells; it also boosted magic resistance. If he hadn’t raised his Intelligence with his level-ups, the sheer corruption and density of the mana here would have overwhelmed him.

What a goddamn sight.

As the door swung wide, the scene inside came into view, and it was nothing short of grotesque.

The central Magic Circle, carved with countless intricate stars, was far more elaborate than any of the others he’d destroyed. Scattered throughout its design were real human hearts, though they’d been treated to prevent decay, giving them the appearance of plastic models. Nonetheless, these were unmistakably the hearts of people who had been killed to harvest them.

Beneath those hearts was the handiwork of some hack mage, a shoddy Magic Circle. It seemed to be continuously amplifying the hatred of the victims, corrupting pure mana and churning out the vile, polluted energy that filled the room.

“Honestly, this’ll be a pain in the ass... but I have no choice.”

For the first time since his regression, Do-Jin felt a genuine sense of tension. And yet, the thrill of it made his blood race. His brain, recognizing the danger, pumped out a cocktail of hormones, fueling a familiar yet exhilarating rush.

Bathed in that mix of dread and anticipation, he unleashed his golden mana and used the book.

[Grimoire of Truth]

Using Psychokinesis, he lifted bottles of holy water from his inventory and slammed them to the ground. They shattered instantly, flooding the floor with a surge of sacred liquid.

The central Magic Circle began to writhe as it reacted to the mana of its intruder and the holy energy soaking into the ground. It squirmed like a living, breathing organism. The black mana condensed further, forming the shape of a vengeful spirit.

"Save me!" The wretched voice, thick with resentment, rang out.

The sound alone was enough to make Do-Jin’s chest tighten, but he couldn’t falter now. If he did, the boss of this hidden dungeon would fully manifest, and there’d be no stopping the Magic Circle’s rampage in time. Failing to stop it in time would mean disaster.

Gritting his teeth, Do-Jin steadied his trembling Magic Circuits and forced his focus back. He moved his lips, preparing his next move, his best possible counter.

[Frozen Arrow]

Every drop of holy water he’d hoarded up until now had been for this moment to turn an ordinary Tier 1 freezing magic spell into something extraordinary. The holy water soaking the ground shimmered and rose, forming arrows of pure ice.

Without hesitation, Do-Jin fired the first arrow. An ordinary Frozen Arrow wouldn’t have even scratched the mana barrier corrupted by the spirit’s malice. But arrows forged from holy water? Those tore straight through.

The barrier cracked. It didn’t shatter completely, but fragments of the arrows pierced through, landing inside the Magic Circle. It was enough. He’d brought more than enough holy water to keep this up. He fired again and again, his Magic Circuits practically screaming as he unleashed an unrelenting barrage.

The Child of Resentment, furious at being interrupted, let out a blood-curdling scream. “Die! You’ll die too!”

However, Do-Jin didn’t flinch. First three arrows shot out, then five more, and finally six in quick succession, each one hitting its mark dead-on with a deafening boom.

The half-formed boss lashed out with a massive arm. The grotesque, blackened limb stretched unnaturally, whipping toward him like a shadowy tendril.

Do-Jin’s eyes narrowed. In a split second, he redirected his Frozen Arrows mid-flight, aiming them straight at the creature’s arm. Three arrows struck the same spot, forcing the arm to bend and falter. Do-Jin leaned back just in time, dodging the attack by a hair. At that moment, his final volley of arrows pierced the weakened central barrier, shattering it completely.

Do-Jin’s mana reserves were now running on fumes. The boss had been far tougher than expected, draining him faster than he’d anticipated.

I’ve got enough left for maybe three more arrows. That’s it.

If he was even a second too late, the broken defenses would regenerate, and the entire plan would go up in smoke. These three arrows had to end it here and now. Rather than thinking about the logistics, he relied on the sheer instinct honed from countless battles. Instead of aiming for the boss, he targeted the Magic Circle itself.

Three Frozen Arrows, forged from holy water, struck in unison. They severed the critical strokes responsible for the mana’s circulation and sealed the crucial points of the Magic Circle. It was a textbook method of dismantling a spell, replacing mana spikes with frozen arrows.

The Child of Resentment let out a guttural scream, like a child being strangled. Its body swelled, shrank, and swelled again in a violent, chaotic cycle. The polluted mana filling the core of the chamber followed suit, surging wildly.

“Ugh!” Do-Jin, exposed to that raging storm of power, couldn’t escape unscathed.

Was I too naive...? 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

He hadn’t expected such intense resistance from the Magic Circle during its destruction. If he had even a sliver of mana left, he might have been able to endure it.

[The trait "Mana Affinity" has been created.]

Just as his vision began to blur, a single message appeared in his mind. The intense stimulation triggered Do-Jin’s Magic Circuits, which had been tempered by the pure mana of the Ten Thousand Archive after his class change. They evolved, becoming sturdier, and awakened a new trait.

His Magic Circuits expanded and strengthened, boosting his magic resistance. Though it wasn’t much, a small reserve had appeared. Do-Jin squeezed every last drop of that newfound mana, pulling up the holy water pooled on the ground and spraying it into the air. Then he overlaid it with Light. The glowing mist floated around him, creating a faintly breathable space that resisted the corrupted mana.

Within that sanctuary, Do-Jin stared at the Child of Resentment as its form began to crumble, and at the sacrificial hearts strewn across the Magic Circle, rotting away into nothing in an instant.