"To every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Newton said that one. What I'm saying is that to every action, there is a cost, maybe one that is beneficial, maybe one that you're willing to pay, but… Every action will have a consequence" – and astute philosopher

…

The first ten times Alex had died, he'd been unable to fight back

…

The next ninety went much the same.

If Alex hadn't become numb to death, he sure had at this point.

…

The 106th time it was night instead of the evening.

…

The 150th, there were two moons in the sky, both a dull, lifeless gray. Both looking down at him with pity…

At this point, he was able to survive ten minutes.

But the result was the same.

…

…

…

By the 300th time, Alex had reached a level of training that a soldier might.

For the first 50 times, he had simply tried to remember his opponent's moves and counter them.

By the 150th, he had realized the slight differences in his opponents every time he faced them.

By the 200th, he had realized the futility of his earlier approach.

By the 300th time, Alex had been met with a measure of success under the red sky.

But the result remained the same.

…

1065th time.

'Are those three moons in the sky.'

Alex looks to his waiting opponents.

'Why do they have a tail?'

Alex twists and looks at his own buttock.

He sighs.

'This…'

He then approaches his waiting opponents and his now fighting father.

'Just another thing to incorporate into my fighting style.

…

2000th time

Those four peaceful cycles, once comprising of almost the entirety of his being, that he had lived now felt foreign to Alex's brain.

Alex turns around and sees the manor.

'I wonder if it can even be called that at this point.'

Alex looks at the twisting spires that make up the walls, shakes his head, and looks back to his opponents.

At this specific run, he had experienced multiple body, and probably species, types. With his past experiences, even though his skin now seemed blue, it didn't seem to phase him.

'I wonder how much longer I can hold my sanity through this.'

…

2001st time

This was the first time that Alex tried to escape.

Needless to say, his blood stained the ground.

…

2050th time

Alex returned to fighting his opponents.

…

????? time

Alex, his eyes devoid of any light or spark, slays his opponents. He looks to the unrecognizable anthropomorphic creature that is his father and smiles. Blood drips down his fists, tipped in claws, and blade.

Then lightning strikes him.

…