Chapter 30: A rightful failure

Ever contemplated on failure?. Like, was it you to fail? Not enough effort? Or it's just meant for everyone but you?. Well either way there are people out there who classify this as 'Excuses' since after all, you received the same resources and time as those who passed but it still hurts, right?.

"We have all failed in our lives at one point but that's not important, what is though is standing back up and trying again." Is how their ranting would often go, but if don't get back up I'm qualified as a long-term failure by the very people who say those words.

It greatly annoys me since you aren't in my situation right now but here they are screaming in my head to 'get up' don't let your self and family or some shit. Sure they may be right in their own way but still, can you blame me for harboring anger towards such? To some it will be a 'Yes' laced with mockery and scorn with their own reasoning on why I'm wrong calling me a failure while some may reply with a 'No' filled with understanding or indifference.

But either way despite your answer, I'm tired and I don't want to get up now. So, please for those yelling at me, shut up.

'This really has no chill.'

After being assaulted for who knows how long, I'm starting to think this place has no concept of time, I was able to catch a break. Partially.

During this one-sided massacre, Orion taught me the joys of dodging, parrying, and countering since I needed all of those to avoid getting a one-way trip to hospital, which, for those who aren't aware, doesn't exist here so I hope you feel my pain. He also taught me the futility in running away, why? And how? I hear sadist ask, its because he's faster and will always catch up, ALWAYS.

During me joyous(?) time here, I was able to learn that suicide did not help. Though I did die I would come back immediately just in time to receive Orion's welcome, and he explained why, I am meant to die only by Orion's hands, literally, and he must have to intention to kill me. I found out the last part on my own by trying to get him to kill me, which was painful and granted no reward.

Anyway despite my failures, I was now able to barely keep up, 1/15 times mind you, but still got hit despite my efforts. Dodging and countering needed me to at least keep up, which is a no, parrying was my only option most of the time. But to call it parrying is not accurate, to parry is to essentially deflect an attack, instead what I was doing was parrying his force and despite it still being parrying it was mainly an attempt to risk my limbs and some parts of my body to reduce shock and physical trauma.

So basically I was getting his to break and destroy specific parts of my body while letting the others receive no damage and since I heal upon impact it was pretty solid, I did consider the possibility of losing the sense in those parts due to the pain remaining, but I could care less at the moment since he never stopped.

But sadly it didn't last long, Orion was aware of what I was doing so he decided to increase his tempo, not his speed but he decreased the intervals between his attacks and as such my other plan of moving around become quite difficult since I would have to focus on both movement and defense, normally it would work but his speed wasn't something I could handle.

So, I more or less maintained one location until I then had to move. The problem was by increasing his attacks he was able to keep me in one spot for longer, so I had to defend myself and since I healed when the next attack landed it was partially in my favor at the beginning. Until I realized that the pain begun stacking up.

Before, the pain was unable to stack since I would switch between my limbs giving time for the pain to at least become bearable, but now I had to use all limbs without rest leading to the intolerable pain becoming worse and worse and yeah. My movements became slow, and my headaches became worse, and I could barely breath, my body was literally slowly dying, well it felt that way.

At the sight of my staggering and heavy breaths along with my un-coordination Orion stopped.

"Your idea was good but not efficient, well I can't blame you since you can't keep up, but you too should have adapted once more just like I had done once I realized your method of defending. Don't rely so much on one tactic, you have an above average flexible body you should have found a way to use it, and I only used my fists during this fight nothing more, if I increased my range of attacks how do you think you would fare?"

Honestly he was gentle(?) during this fight. The fact he only used his fists, not elbows, not legs nor knees he was being considerate, but more than that he never once used any technique nor martial art and he maintained the same speed through out. Let alone increasing range of attacks, even if he only used fist techniques and martial arts, I would have died several times over.

And worst of all thins is just physical prowess, no mana enhancements involved nor use of an element. Even if I had access to my element I doubt I would beat him.

Although the time wasn't much I was able to feel the pain across my body lessen but my head still hurt a lot, my sight became hazy, my limbs felt weak even though they healed, I could barely raise them, and my breathing was rough. If I couldn't even follow his movements when I was in perfect condition, I can't imagine my survival as of now.

Although my obscene output also applies to my physical strength, my body has to be able to handle it. My training is mainly done to improve the accuracy and precision of my element since even now, grasping space and contorting it to my will is still vague to me so I try to understand as much of it as possible.

Almost like he knew my thoughts Orion's next sentence shut me up. "The way you train with you element isn't right, sure it might help but you are making absolutely no progress at all, solve that on your own."

It amazed me how he knew what I was doing for my training but then again it really didn't surprise me for some reason. But he continued none the less.

"I want you to improve your physical capabilities as well from now on, you're wasting your potential with such an output. But start from the basics as well as improve your stamina and endurance, the next time we meet I won't be so kind as to limit myself this much."

Even though he kept the same tone and face through out his ranting, the last bit sounded like he was talking to corpse. Naturally his words put me to thought but my head was hurting so I'll think later.

I was about to waste my time by engaging Orion in pointless conversation, but he still continued, but this time with....happiness?

"Anyway it time to send you off."

I honestly guessed his reason for his happiness was my getting out of his sight, but I remembered that I'm only to die twice here to be able to leave.

Looking at the sadistic smile emerging on his face I knew he was happy that he gets to kill me, so I made my last-ditched effort at survival only to see the face of my patriarch afterwards.

I was scared, horrified, and frightened but all I could say was, "I didn't even see him move that time." Despite my rough breathing and pale face.

"Go mad in hell child, now tell me what happened."

The annoying geezer begun his ranting.