Death Gives You Points Who Knew

The last thing I remembered was a wall of fire. The next thing I knew, I was floating.

Not falling, not flying, just… floating. In white. 

"Oh, no," I groaned, or tried to. My voice felt like a distant echo. "Not this again."

The familiar, smooth-as-silk voice, resonating from everywhere and nowhere at once, rippled through the pure emptiness.

"Welcome again, Alex. Or shall I call you now the Systems Trader? Or perhaps, the Sect Master of the Heavenly System Sect?"

"Hah?" I spluttered, or tried to splutter. "Why am I here again? Did I die? Is this the afterlife? Because if it is, you really need to invest in some decor."

The Facilitator chuckled, a sound like a thousand tiny bells chiming. "Amusing. And yes, Alex. You are, for all intents and purposes, deceased. Again."

"Deceased?!" I shrieked, the panic rising. "How?! I just got my Qi! I just got wings! I was about to become a real Sect Master! I can't be dead! What about the tournament? What about the Heavenly System Sect? What about the Qilin?"

"Do you truly believe a Ninth Layer cultivator, even one with a few minor 'systems,' could survive a direct, full-power flame attack from a Second Layer legendary beast like the Crimson Qilin?" the Facilitator asked, its voice laced with a hint of cosmic exasperation.

"You are, as you so eloquently put it, just a 'funny cultivator.' Your body was… incinerated. Rather thoroughly, I might add."

"Incinerated?" I gulped. "So, no more me? No more me in a cool white robe? No more me trying to fly without crashing?" A wave of genuine, existential sadness washed over me. This was even worse than the banana peel. At least then, I didn't have a sect to worry about.

"Indeed. However," the Facilitator continued, and I clung to that "however" like a drowning man to a life raft. "As before, your unique status as a Systems Trader, and the… unforeseen circumstances of your demise, have flagged you for special consideration."

"Special consideration?" I repeated, hope flickering. "Like, a do-over? A respawn?"

"Precisely! Or, rather, a choice. You see, your presence in that realm, your 'systems,' they are… desired. You must return."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," I interrupted. "Desired by whom? And 'must return'? Is this a request or a command?"

"Let's call it a strong suggestion from… interested parties," the Facilitator replied, its voice a little more formal now, a hint of something vast and powerful behind it.

"Very well, Alex. You have some options. Consider them carefully."

A shimmering, translucent panel materialized before me, looking suspiciously like a cosmic choose-your-own-adventure menu.

[RETURN OPTIONS:]

[Option A: Immediate Return (Arena)] - Cost: 0 Points.

(You will return to the exact moment of your demise in the arena. You will likely die again from the Crimson Qilin's flames. High probability of immediate re-demise. Not recommended for long-term survival.)

[Option B: Return to Heavenly System Sect (Current State)] - Cost: 0 Points.

(You will return to your Heavenly System Sect's current location, at the moment of your demise. The Qilin's attack may still be ongoing, or its aftermath. Your disciples may or may not have survived. High uncertainty. Moderate probability of re-demise.)

[Option C: Return with Additional Resources (Arena)] - Cost: 0 Points.

(You will return to the exact moment of your demise in the arena. You will return with a significant influx of 'points.' However, the Qilin's attack is still ongoing. Moderate probability of re-demise, but with new tools.)

I stared at the options. Option A was basically a "suicide by Qilin" button.

Option B was a gamble on my disciples' survival, and I'd still be in the middle of a disaster zone.

Option C… return with additional points? That sounded promising!

"Hah! What is that?" I asked, my voice filled with a sudden surge of excitement.

"Return with additional points? How many points?"

The Facilitator's voice seemed to gain a hint of its earlier amusement.

"You will return with 10,000 points. A substantial sum, for a 'funny cultivator' such as yourself."

Ten thousand points! My eyes (or whatever passed for them in this state) widened.

"But look," the Facilitator continued, a note of caution in its voice.

"Even with 10,000 points, and whatever 'systems' you acquire, it might be useless. Or it's useless against a Qilin. A Second Layer beast is a force of nature. Your 'systems,' while unique, operate on a different principle. They are not designed to fight beings of that magnitude directly."

"Useless against a Qilin?" I repeated, my excitement dimming slightly.

"So, even with 10,000 points, I can't just buy a 'Qilin-Slaying System'?"

"Such a system would likely cost Hundred thousand of points, Alex. And would still only grant you a fighting chance, not guaranteed victory," the Facilitator replied dryly.

"The Qilin is a legendary beast. A force of nature."

I paced mentally. So, 10,000 points wouldn't turn me into a Qilin-slaying Cultivator. But it would give me options. It would give me a fighting chance. It would give me hope. And it would give me the power to potentially save The Sect Master, and my disciples.

"Okay," I said, a new determination hardening my resolve. "Okay, let me go there. With the points. I'll take Option C. I'll take the 10,000 points. I'm not going to let a glorified fiery lion-unicorn burn my new home to ashes. And I'm definitely not going to let it my pizza-loving disciples."

The Facilitator chuckled, a sound that seemed to shimmer with approval.

"A wise choice, Alex. Your resolve is… commendable. Prepare for re-entry. And try not to get incinerated again. It's quite messy."

Before I could retort, the blinding white space swirled. 

The last sensation was the familiar hum of my [Minor Kinetic Shield] as I felt myself being pulled back into reality, into the terrifying chaos of a city consumed by fire.