You keep fighting because the battlefield reveals the variables you can manipulate. Every skirmish tests a tactic, refines a strategy, or simply reasserts your position. The outcome may seem pointless, but the process is what matters—each clash gives data you can use later, or a chance to crush a rival before they become a threat.

Scars are the evidence that the lab worked. They’re heavy, but they’re also proof that you survived a test. If you ignore them, you’ll repeat the same mistakes. The real experiment is to use those wounds as data points—measure what caused them, adjust the algorithm, then decide if the cost of another fight is worth the insight. Sometimes the cost is too high, and retreat is the best move; other times, it’s a signal to press on. Keep calculating, don’t let the pain stop you, just let it inform your next move.