Devour

[Species: Paru

Health Points: 30/30

Endurance Points: 40/40

Stats:

-Strength: 1

-Agility: 1

-Perception:2

-Vitality:3

-Endurance: 4

Additional Stats:

-Attack: 1

-Defense: 355

Skill(s):

-Devour

]

'Huh. I'm guessing the Goddess went through the trouble of making this like a game so I can understand it easily.'

[Correct.]

'Skill, Devour... I'm guessing that's the reason why nibbling on this mineral made the Parus' shells this way. Though it's not actually a Skill, is it? There's no magic involved.'

[Correct.]

[The "Skill(s)" are only a way to communicate abilities brought upon by very specific and rare genetic combinations.]

'Mmm... Would speech be a Skill?'

[It would not be, except if you wanted it to be counted as such.]

'So basically things that Humans don't have, huh? Would echolocation count as a Skill?'

[Yes.]

'I see.' The Paru turned around, gazing at his numerous brethren. 'Cool.'

The Paru used its numerous limbs to step forward and,

[A Quest has been issued.]

[Quest: "Off The Boulder".]

[Objective: Step off the Kyrio meteorite and stand on the ground in the next three hours.]

[Reward: 3 Stat Points.]

[Penalty: None.]

'Kyrio meteorite. Is that the meteorite's name, or is the mineral called Kyrio?'

[The mineral is referred to as such.]

[It is one of the toughest minerals in the universe.]

'Hence the 355 Defense Stat, huh? Cool. Three Stat Points is huge... As long as they don't go to Defense. Fine, I'll go along with your Quest.' The Paru turned away. 'Going through the crowd is probably not the best option. I'll go on the opposite-'

[A Side Quest has been issued.]

[Side Quest: "First Meal".]

[Objective: Devour a Paru.]

[Reward: "Enhanced Devouring" Skill.]

[Penalty: None.]

'Want me to eat a brethren? Since you're telling me to do it, then they probably won't attack after I kill one of them, right? Enhanced Devouring... Sounds good. I'll do it.'

The Paru awkwardly walked with its numerous limbs. The closest brethren was about ten meters away. Or at least, it looked like ten meters. 

'Mmm...'

Even once the distance was closed, there was no reaction from the closest brethren. It was solely focused on biting off pieces of the Kyrio below and swallowing it.

'Should be easy enough but... Let's check to make sure.'

They bumped shells.

'No reaction... Let's go for the kill then. No. Before that...'

The Paru moved around a bit, getting familiar with the way its own body moves.

'What feels like my neck can be extended, but not by a lot. I can also retract into the shell and disappear, though being then turned upside down would be the death of me. My finger limbs, the pincers, can move a bit more freely than the rest. These pincers and fangs are the only weapons I have. Seems more than enough. Alright, Rei. Let's get the first kill.'

Rei extended his left pincer towards the Paru's head. The latter didn't react.

He waited for the Paru to extend its head forward in an attempt to eat the shattered pieces of Kyrio below and,

Cut-

Purple blood squirted out as the Paru's head was sliced off.

Its body fell, twitching only for a moment.

'Cool.'

Rei looked around. There was no reaction by any of the surrounding Parus.

'A peaceful bunch. Good for me. Shouldn't I eat all of them while I'm at it?'

[There would be no merit in doing so.]

'Right. Eating the same thing over and over again won't lead to new changes... Plus my body is the same as theirs.'

The Paru's circular mouth filled with some of the sharpest fangs in the universe moved closer and,

'Tastes just like lobster. Very nice. Could eat these just for fun.' Rei thought to himself as he gobbled up the Paru, body and shell.

[Congratulations!]

[You have cleared the Side Quest "First Meal"!]

[You have obtained the Skill "Enhanced Devouring".]

'What does that mean exactly? I won't need to eat as much of something to gain a skill or for my body to change?'

[Correct, but there is more than that.]

[Your ability to assimilate the Devoured's genes is strengthened.]

[The result from the Devouring is now more under your control.]

'Oho. That is indeed important. Wouldn't want to become a strong alien, only to gain a shrimp's arm after Devouring one. Very cool. Now, since I got this Side Quest while walking away from the crowd, I suppose that means you want me to get off this meteorite by crossing through the crowd, right?'

The System did not answer.

'I'll take silence as a -Yes- then. With the time limit on the Quest, it might just be about directing towards the shortest route... Either way, let's do it.'

The Paru walked forward, passing by hundreds of Parus. Despite their particular ability, they were all similar. Exactly the same.

'They're blessed with something amazing yet too dumb to do anything with it. I get why that Goddess gave me this body now.' Rei stared at the Parus mindlessly eating. 'Oh well. They look happy enough.' 

He walked and walked. A slight feeling of annoyance started settling in.

'I hope there's a lot to eat on this planet. Or, at least, stuff to do...'

After passing the last of the Parus, it didn't take long before Rei started walking on a decline.

'Gotta be careful going downhill. All these limbs are kind of confusing to use properly at the same time. This is a good Quest though. Gives me time to figure this out better.'

 Indeed, by the time Rei stepped off the Kyrio meteorite, he had become quite proficient in walking with his new body. 

'Alright, now what...?'

His front limb touched the reddish ground and,

[Congratulations!]

[You have cleared the Quest "Off The Boulder"!]

[You have obtained the Skill 3 Stat Points.]

[You can assign the Stat Points to any Stat of your choosing.]

'Mm... Show me my Status Window again-'

Before Rei could finish his sentence,

Are you that fucking stupid?-

Do I have to explain to you everything?-

'That's...'

The Paru's eyes widened.

'A woman's voice?'