Everyone in the room let out loud objections.
Well, some just collapsed. I was only silent myself. I was livid. In fact, I wanted to scream myself. The host was going mad with laughter, since none of us could possibly know of a single phrase of any alien language to even give one of the options. It's genuinely cheating on the host's part. Soon, however, a sudden pulse knocked the air out of everyone's lungs. I wasn't affected as poorly as the others, however, I was still able to stand.
The host raised it's hands, and had gone to the center of the stage "Ladies and gentlemen, calm down! This is quite fair. Everyone knows this information. And if not, then the higher ups are bored. So what? You all don't NEED to get to the end. Here, I know Jack's team is much more capable, so we'll let him answer. We have all the time in the WORLD for him to respond. Maybe his team can even pull through with.. Slight losses."
The center podiums drew further apart, revealing a vertical expansion, which shifted outwards and turned into a weapon with a laser. It pointed directly at me. I racked my brain. I knew I could die and come back by now, however, that wasn't something I was particularly wanting to do right now. I wanted to take that host down. I wanted to slit it's fucking throat and rip out it's eyes.
This game wasn't fun anymore. I glared at the host as he smugly looked at me. My heart beat faster as I thought about ripping it limb from limb.
I tried to regain my composure but as I thought more about the host and the sick games, I couldn't keep it in, I put my hand in my pocket and held the dagger, lowering my head as I felt the texture of the handle. "Hey..."
"OH! He speaks-"
"Go the fuck to hell, bitch."
I leaped over the stand, pulling the dagger out and slashing the host across it's face. I had barely missed the neck, but I kept my arm moving. The host was caught off-guard, my blade collided with it's skin again. Then again. It raised it's arms, and I stabbed it again. Letting out a brutal scream, before suddenly, everything went dark.
/-----------\
Take 2 now complete!
\-----------/
A familiar sight. I was back, so.. Maybe it wasn't actually fake? I really cannot be allowed to forget this mechanic ever again. Those stupid higher-ups… Killing me before I've had my fill? Goddamn bastards. I hit the dull void with my balled-up fist.
/-----------\
You have been killed by instantaneous brain deletion.
Short Weapon Mastery Lv. 1 now claimed!
Enhanced Limbs Lv. 2 now claimed!
Connected Conscious Lv. 3 now claimed!
Due to extensive use, Advanced Eye Lv. 3 is now rewarded!
Volume 5 achieved! You can now access hidden skills!
You can now access Character Profile!
10 Bonus Credits acquired! Want to distribute?
Yes? No?
\-----------/
Ah, a lot of questions answered now. I claim Features I acquire by dying. I can get Bonus Credits from leveling up and dying as well. It's a shame I couldn't kill the host before I died, however. I tapped on the floating TV, another one popped up.
/-----------\
Strength: 3 [|||]
Speed: 6 [ ]
Stamina: 4 [ ]
Intelligence: 10 [ ]
\-----------/
Ah, so, if every stat is really x2… Enhanced limbs was quite op, then? What idiots, how could they give me such an awesome skill? However, now was not the time to get cocky. I quickly moved the TV, just to see the other one, and I did forget one thing. I dragged the screen up, and saw one last message
/-----------\
-The time between Take end and begin is moderate. Return is in 00:01:02-
\-----------/
Ah, I see. Why did it take longer now?
I sighed, or, did what I could in this void.
I raised my right hand up to the smaller TV and pressed on strength 3 times, and stamina twice. I thought for a moment, before putting one credit into intelligence, and the rest between the physical stats.
/-----------\
Strength: 3+3 [|||]
Speed: 6+3 [ ]
Stamina: 4+2 [ ]
Intelligence: 10+2 [ ]
Confirm?
Yes. No.
\-----------/
I tapped on "yes", looking back to the now only TV in the void, tapping on "Advanced Eye Lv.3"
/-----------\
Advanced Eye Lv. 3
As compensation for losing your right eye forever, you now have the power of two eyes within your left one.
(Your vision is perfect! You have depth perception! You have the ability to notice slight mistakes easier! Your right eye looks undamaged!)
Can be leveled up through natural usage of all abilities. (Cannot get xp faster using normal xp bonuses)
Lv. 3 improvements: Even smaller details can be spotted. You have one more color cone. You can zoom in your eye by 2x.
\-----------/
Ah, now this was a much better improvement. I can zoom in, see more colors? And I can notice even smaller details. Maybe that last one isn't so great, but this skill is also like a cheat. How wonderful! It even seems like I didn't get a resistance skill from dying, either. What an odd way to go, however.. "Instantaneous brain deletion," how horrible.
I waited patiently.. And another message popped up
/-----------\
[Preparing your second Rewind..!]
\-----------/
My vision faded to black, before I woke up once more. This time, I am making the most of the Take.