Reincarnated as Parasitic Tentacle - Chapter 10: Interlude

Warning This fiction contains:

Graphic Violence Profanity Sensitive Content

Summary – Level 1:

Delve is an isekai litrpg that follows an average guy who just happened to wake up in a forest one day. He wasn’t summoned to defeat the demon lord or to save the world or anything like that, at least as far as he can tell. The only creature there to greet him was a regular old squirrel.

Soon enough, he meets other people, only to discover that he can’t speak the language, and that not everybody immediately trusts random pajama-wearing strangers they met in the middle of the wilderness. Things generally go downhill from there, at least until the blue boxes start appearing.

Delve is a story about finding your way in a new, strange, and dangerous world. It’s about avoiding death, figuring out what the heck is going on, and trying to make some friends along the way. It’s not about getting home, so much as finding a new one.

Did I mention that there will be math?

Summary – Level 2:

Okay, but what are you in for, really?

Well, this story is supposed to be realistic, or at least, as realistic as a fantasy litrpg can be. The main character doesn’t instantly become an all-powerful god and murder-hobo his way across the universe. Delve is, at its heart, a progression fantasy, but that progression is meant to feel earned. The numbers in this story actually mean something. Everything is calculated, and if you find a rounding error, I expect you to tell me about it. That said, if math isn’t your cup of tea, there is plenty more that the story has to offer. Characters are meant to feel real, and progression isn’t only about personal power; it’s also about allies, connections, and above all, knowledge. Figuring out how the system works is a significant theme.

...

What, you want more details? Okay, fine, but this is going to get a bit spoiler-y. Are you sure?

Yes!

Really sure? I mean, this summary is practically half as long as the first chap–

Now!

Okay, okay!

The main character becomes a magic user, but he takes a route that is not very popular in adventurer culture, namely that of a support. There is a full magic system with various spells, skills, and abilities, but our MC decides that aura magic is the way to go, and that the only stat worth investing in is mana regeneration. Most people at the Adventurer’s Guild think that this makes him a bit of a dumbass, but he’s playing the long game. We’ll see how that works out for him, won’t we?

Because of his build, the MC levels up fast, at least compared to normal people. There are no cheats, though, and he is limited in other ways. There are some clear and pretty obvious downsides to his build. That’s what makes it fun, no?

Morals? Our MC has them. Again, we’ll see how that works out for him. Realism, remember? Would you be okay with killing someone and looting their body? I sure hope not.

POV? The focus is on the main character, but there will be occasional varying perspectives from people around him, or involved in the events related to the main plot. It isn’t going to jump all over the place.

Tech is standard medieval stasis. No smartphones, but the MC does have a technical background. Computers and their programming might be involved. There might even be a bit of uplifting down the road, who knows? Anyway, it isn’t the focus. He isn’t going to invent the gun in chapter 1 and change the face of warfare.

Romance is not a major focus. Friendships are more the name of the game, though there will be some characters in romantic relationships.

There is exploration, though not as much of the geographical nature as you might expect. It is more about exploration of the system and the culture.

The pace is slow and detailed, sometimes verging on slice-of-life. The action is meant to be realistic and grounded in the numbers, and it is intended to have meaning beyond simply punching things until they stop moving.

The general tone of the story is grey, and some parts can get quite dark. People die. Sometimes, people with names, but not anywhere near GoT level. There is plenty of light, too, though, to balance the darkness. The world is dangerous, but overcoming that danger is why we’re all here, isn’t it?

Anyway, if you’ve made it this far through the summary, you clearly like words. I hope you enjoy the story!

Ding! Congratulations, received 7 billion red envelopes!

Ding! Congratulations, you have received 50 million yuan.

Ding! Congratulations, you have won a Lamborghini Daniel.

Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained 51% of the shares of a listed company.

Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained a first-grade building from Tomson.

Ding! Congratulations, get the skill fighting king.

Ding! Congratulations, you have acquired the skill Tian Lai Singing Voice.

…… ……

Lin Fan: 7 billion red envelopes? When should I order?

Street reporter: How long can you earn 1 million?

Lin Fan:…

Street reporter: Why do you keep blinking?

Lin Fan: Didn’t you ask me how long it takes to earn 1 million?

PS: Welcome to read my book “Super Red Envelope Fairy Group” and “The Heavens Red Envelope Chat Group”.

I am going to die.That’s how the game goes.The less I know, the better—a hardcore otome game where the tragic villain, Johan Von Matilda, is fated to fall by his own daughter’s sword.A mere stepping stone for the protagonist to win the main heroine’s heart.And now? I’m him.“…Are you kidding me? I won’t let my daughter become a simp with no personality!”The problem is, I am just a healer with money and influence; my daughter hates me and is obsessed with him.The protagonist is obviously the one with unlimited plot armor. Blessed with Schrodinger’s Cat—an overpowered skill that makes him literally unkillable.Ding![System: Gambler’s Gambit Initiating…][All choices lead to a different ‘ending’… Choose wisely.][Earn points based on your choices. Points can be used to gamble.]“Hahaha! Be prepared to be broke, system! People don’t call me the Gacha God for nothing!”[Quest 3 Triggered: Fate had another plan][1. Actually become a traitor and betray the kingdom] (Rewards: 5,00,000 points)[2. Start twerking aggressively towards attacking Selene] (Rewards: 1 Million points)[3. Kill yourself dramatically: Yell to Leonard that “they will come after you too old friend” and bite your tongue.] (Rewards: A massive civil war will break, killing millions all over the world)[4. Beg for mercy while calling Leor your father. Kneel and ask if he’s proud.] (Rewards: Two million points and a possibility of survival.)[5. Accept your fate] (Rewards: Death)“...WTF!!”Yet a devious grin appeared on his face.This time, he will decide the ending, no matter what.“What?”“She’s still alive?”“…Wait. This isn’t how it was in the game. Why is the protagonist… changing?”[Warning: Even though at face it appears like any normal webnovel, I will warn ya there are many uncomfortable things and strong topics, grimdark stuff, and tragedy, more like Reverbed Inanity, but with dark humor, not everyone can read it with straight face, so be prepared, but I think even if you never read books like this, you will like this, cause it's done in a pretty fresh way.]

The rule had always been this way: the strong over the weak, the rich over the poor. Mark knew this, he'd even experienced it.After his boss fired him for discovering the affair with his girlfriend (who also worked at their small gaming company), Mark vowed never to be humiliated like that again. He wanted to rise above everyone, to become the world's top player, the one who made the rules and decided everyone's fate. But that was wishful thinking. He was just a heavyset, nerdy guy with some programming skills and a large appetite. What else did he have going for him?Hit hard by this reality, jobless and dumped, Mark withdrew into gaming, which also became his source of income. One day, after leaving a bad review for a game he played and streamed, he received a strange reply from the game's creator. Suddenly, Mark found himself transported to Aetherium, the world of that same game, as Magnus Lancaster, the young lord of a crumbling territory.Now, with this new beginning, he vowed never to be weak again, never to leave his fate in someone else's hands.