This meme originates from the climactic boss fight in the 2013 action game Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, where the protagonist Raiden pummels Senator Armstrong with a flurry of rapid-fire punches to absolutely no effect. Set to the high-octane track 'It Has To Be This Way,' specifically the lyrics 'Standing here, I realize,' the scene became a viral sensation years after the game's release. It is typically used as a visual metaphor for an individual's frantic but ultimately useless efforts against a much larger, indifferent, or invincible force. The meme often highlights the absurdity of persistent failure, paired with Armstrong's smug, unbothered expression as he absorbs the blows thanks to his 'nanomachines.'