After what seemed like an eternity, I stood again upright after the lacerating pain went away. While I was spasming from the reward of this benevolent system, I scattered sand all around me, forming a small hole where I’m standing right now.

[Upgrade successful, mind’s deterioration stopped thanks to the improvement of your mana circuits. Congratulation, you will not die in the upcoming week, User!]

“Next time, explain that I will suffer so much that I want to die before dumping the process on me, dumbass!” I yelled.

[The User’s mind has maybe been affected sooner than expected. A new upgrading session is recommended.]

“No, thanks! My mind is well-preserved. I’m truly grateful for your help.” I quickly added.

[No need. You gained this reward thanks to your own efforts. Everything’s in the norm, then.]

“Sure… Mind telling me why my instinct told me to drain 5 more Saltwater Fish?” I asked. This is weird to have two separate voices speaking in my head. Am I slowly growing insane?

[It isn’t your instinct, it’s more like your parasitic part talking. You’re no longer a human, but a Mental Parasite. As such, your nature is to drain mana from living beings, but you aren’t only sucking mana. You inspect your victim’s mana circuits and their brain structure. After enough information has been collected, you will evolve, taking advantage of their strong points or things that you don’t yet possess. In the case of Saltwater Fish, this System expects you to create fins based on theirs. You can stimulate your body using the mana you drained, evolving your body, developing new abilities,… However, this consumes a lot of your own mana, thus forcing you to drain more powerful beings.]

“If a single Mental Parasite is this strong, are they controlling this entire world?” They’re overpowered! After a long time, they could literally be the perfect predator, disguising as its prey to hunt.

[They are too weak. When they’re in their infancy stage, the entire ocean species are their predators. You are especially lucky, being a mutant one with a human mind and helped by this almighty selfless System. Even if they evolve enough, they will only look like humans, but with their animalistic behavior still present, they’ll get quickly spotted, therefore easily killed. Moreover, people don’t quite like getting their mana drained without their consent.]

“Life sucks!” I sighed. “What’s my next task? You said you thought of a way to protect me without interfering too much, breaking your purpose.”

[This System can’t directly help you. I’ll give you a reward that could help you. It all depends on how much you achieve. I scanned the entire ocean and found potential underwater caves where you can settle. Your only task is to choose one in the appointed area.]

“So, I just need to go there and choose a cave? Are you a real estate agent?” It can do what he wants? Like, does he even follow rules?

[I have rules to behold! I’m allowed to act as I see fit if I don’t directly disturb the species of this world. Including farming, breeding, manufacturing, and other hobbies I enjoy. Nevertheless, this doesn’t concern you. As I said before, pay attention to potential threats during your journey. You will find undersea mountains and islands under which you’ll find caves north of your position. Your research area is 100 km long.]

“Let’s go, this is ONLY 100 km long.” I grumbled.

Before searching for a place to settle, I should hunt five more of these Saltwater Fish. My hunting technique works very well. I departed from the seabed I damaged toward the next mana pulsation coming from these stupid goldfish-like fish. They don’t swim near the seabed and prefer swimming in an open environment, truly a benefit for my shrimpedo dash.

After two hours moving north, I drained 5 more Saltwater Fish. Despite my perfect hunting method, one of them bite hard enough on my tentacle and ate a piece of it. It was less painful that I expected, but I lost some of my mana healing my injured tentacle. It used as much mana as I drained from this combative fish.

Drain successful

Mana circuits’ structure of Saltwater Fish learned.

[Translucent fins] gained.

Do you want to spend 1 psychic point to evolve?

Yes/no

I need to pay?! “Does this cost much system?”

[This is a lesser upgrade, so it costs next to nothing. This System will sell you a psychic point counter for 0.80 psychic point, this is a bargain for you!]

“Yes, I’ll evolve.”

Evolving…

I sensed some tingles coming from the side of my abdomen. It soon stopped.

Process successful.

You can now swim faster.

I’m able to perfectly use my fins, moving as I see fit. This is a weird feeling, but it’s like I was born with it. Wait… Why did the system sell me the counter? It forced me to buy its crap, I did not answer in the affirmative to it! Furthermore, I have a counter, but I don’t own any more psychic points. The system sold it for the rest of my psychic points. “YOU SWINDLER!” I shouted.

[Keep it down, you wouldn’t like some sharks or mermaids looking here for hunting purpose. I proposed to sell you my state-of-the-art psychic points counter, you said yes, so I deducted the price. You should prepare some more, by the way. It provided you with healing capability because you used 0.2 point to fix your tentacle after your godly shrimp and fish fight. You wouldn’t want to die from a minor injury…]

You have less integrity than this shitty God! Whatever, it’s no use crying over spilled milk. I need to drain some mana and convert it into mine. After all, it healed my tentacle… The system said one point is cheap, but will I need to drain Saltwater Fish by the hundreds for more? I need a more powerful prey.

[Saltwater Fish don’t need a lot of mana for living, but bigger and smarter species do. However, you’re not strong enough to hunt bigger preys. There are probably other lesser species like Saltwater Fish that have the same level of strength as yours.]

“You’re right. I might find useful abilities from other species who are staying near the corals and seabed. First things first, I need to accomplish your mission and own a place where I can stay and hide.” I have a lot on my plate, but I can’t rest if I don’t want to die.