“Eh? Who’s talking?” What? How can I talk? I heard my voice but I’m a shrimp. Do they have vocal cords?

[Your special psychic power permits you to speak as usual. You don’t even need to learn a language to speak with intelligent life forms. You directly talk to the brains of people and creatures.]

“Thanks, but who are you?” Wasn’t I the only one killed by the God?

[I’m the super-duper System who’s going to help you!]

“Ho… Yeah, the powerful dumbass talked about you before dumping me in this cold water.” I spoke.

[Don’t refer as such to my creator. I can inflict a punishment on you if you’re badmouthing God.]

“What will you do? Take my humanity away? Send me into another world that I don’t know about without even explaining what the fuck exists on this planet? You’re too late! The white bearded, wrinkly old man did it before.” I cursed. This System is his child, right? So, I can rightfully tell it to fuck off!

[WARNING! You’re going to become a God. An almighty God doesn’t resort to slanders. One more insult and I’ll deduct one point of your psychic power.]

“You and your dad are fuc… What did you say? I’ll be a God? Seriously, a God? When? Moreover, what is psychic power?” Is it related to the weird pulsations I’m feeling right now? Maybe the child is better than the progenitor…

[Yes, my only purpose is helping you become a God. A powerful being who’ll rule this world thanks to your psychic power. You’re right, the weird pulsations you’re perceiving are coming from living beings. These pulsations are made up of mana consistently released by the mana circuits situated in the brains of living beings. All living beings absorb mana from the environment, however, only a few can use it thanks to their abilities like knights, magicians or, in our case, parasites. Only knowing how to actively use his mana circuits enable people to use abilities.]

“Wait, you’re reading my mind? I’m sure I didn’t ask about the pulsations loud.”

[Yes, I read your mind. Any problem? I can do all I want on this planet.]

“If you can do whatever you want, why don’t you give me the power to be a God?” Is he dum… Wait! You can indeed listen to my inner monologue. I don’t get why you don’t simplify our lives.

[A proper God doesn’t become strong thanks to an overwhelming outsider's help. I’ll give you tasks to achieve. You’ll unlock more functions from the System depending on your progress.]

“Yeah, figure it will be too easy if you help me…”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

[I’m not providing you upgrades for free… And you’re flat broke right now.]

“Yeah, let’s go work in a tavern or a brothel with my tentacles. I’ll make a fortune.”

[Your sarcastic remark doesn’t touch this pure System. Now, you need to move before you die from attrition or, even worse, a predator.]

[New mission: Absorb the mana from Saltwater Fish x5]

Strangely, I instinctively know how to move my tentacles and use them to swim. I can swim fast in the water! I’m a turbo shrimp! As a human, I was swimming slower… Was I that thrash?

“So how can I hunt these fish? Are they easy to kill?”

[First, you don’t need to kill it. This System does not recommend killing non-sentient life forms. You only need to absorb their mana through your tentacles.]

“Why can’t I use the mana existing all around me?” This would be soooooooo convenient. I don’t want to make a hentai with some fish and my tentacles.

[Your tastes in fap-materials are weird. About your question, you can’t because you’re a parasite. You have paramount power if you have enough power. The only downside is your inability to draw mana from non-living things. Now, swim towards the mana pulsations. I detected one Saltwater Fish before you.]

I need to grow fast if I want to change my look. Being a shrimp till the last day of my life isn’t a path for me. I began swimming to the nearest mana pulsation. I think I swim faster than a fish, so it will be easy to overpower him.

[Actually, you’re only faster than a Saltwater Fish. You’ll augment your speed after absorbing enough mana.]

Great, I’m a little shrimp in a big pond… Sooner or later, I’ll be the biggest shrimp in this pond!

[You’re seriously weird.]

After moving for two minutes, I approached the Saltwater Fish. I can see something else than blue everywhere at last. I don’t even know how deep I am in the sea. This is still illuminated, so I guess I’m not too deep. I see it! This is a little fish looking like a… goldfish? A big grey goldfish with bulging eyes. I’m able to see white lights coming from his head. There’s a little white organ pulsing in its head. It’s so tiny.

[You can see the brain of the Saltwater Fish because it’s leaking mana. You only need to immobilize it and absorb the white lights. The fish is going to be absent-minded and weak after your drain. Nevertheless, it will remember what happened and can keep living without long-term consequences.]

I felt something tugging on my soul. I listened to this sensation and a purple orb appeared in my mind. After touching it, I got a notification.

Congratulation! You won a skill.

Drain:

Channeled skill,

You will drain the target from its mana. The target will weaken and become scatterbrained (temporary effect). Only usable when your tentacles are near the brain of the target.

“System, did you hear what I heard?” This game-like development slightly baffled me.

[This is a gift brought by your reincarnation, a sort of consolation package for loser since this wasn’t your time to die. You kept your soul too, therefore you’re as strong as a Saltwater Fish. They are the staple food for all species in the ocean. Usually, a Parasite Shrimp is weaker than anything but other shrimps and plankton. This would be impossible to live without these gifts. Your chance of survival without it is 0%.]

“Great… How much is my chance now?”

[5%. Yet the System is currently working at upgrading your chance of survival without being biased to you.]

“I’ll let it to you. If I die, you’re useless and you will cease to exist too!”

[The System is working… Please accomplish your task.]

I just need to catch a big goldfish and wrap it up with my tentacles. What possibly go wrong? It’s not like it will bite my tentacles or hit me with its fins, right? I don’t want to die because a stupid-looking fish is deadlier than I.