The Author's POV

In most cases, the protagonist of a story would appear right at the moment when something terrible was about to occur to their loved ones or friends. And just in the nick of time, he'd save them.

It always ended up like that…

So, why?

Bang—!

Why did that never happen to me?

Bang—!

Why was it that I always arrived a tad bit too late?

Bang—!

Just a fraction…

If only I had arrived a couple of seconds earlier…

just a few seconds…

Bang—!

"Why couldn't you wait a few more seconds?"

My hand moved on its own. I just pulled it back and repeatedly smashed it against the wall of the cave.

Debris and dust flew everywhere, but I didn't care and just continued to smash the demon's head against the side of the cave.

In the meantime, power started to flood my body as the laws within it started to increase. I started to use that very same power that was flooding my body.

I wasn't supposed to use them…

Every part of my body was tearing apart at the usage of the laws, but I didn't care…

It was because I kept holding back that such situations were happening, and I couldn't forgive myself for it.

At the same time, I couldn't forgive them.

They were just as guilty as I was, and they needed to die.

As a result, I made the decision to stop holding back and use everything that I had, even if it meant risking my body.

Everything…

Thump—!

Only when there were no more walls did I finally stop and throw the demon to the ground.

"You… why didn't you wait for a few more seconds?"

I stepped forward and lowered my head. Staring straight at the demon, my already numb mind became an even number, and whatever color was left of the world started to fade.

"Tell, me… why?"

***

Helplessness.

The feeling or state of being unable to do anything to help yourself or anyone else. It was a word and an expression that Prince Solbaken had heard many times in his life.

Over the course of his life, he had been exposed to a number of situations in which he had seen other people give in to the sensation of helplessness, and he had become accustomed to it.

To the point where he even found a peculiar sense of satisfaction in it.

see that very same expression, he did everything within his power to make their lives miserable

The funny thing was…

never done anything wrong to

on their faces

as they

immediately, and it was precisely so that he could see that very expression on

he did

ran down the Prince's spine as he gazed at

I want to

one brief instance was enough to make the Prince want

"Indeed…"

Bang—!

materialized in front of the Prince,

Bang—!

crash against something hard, and he

"Euakh!"

should indeed pay

figure spoke, their voice

he realized he was at the mercy of an unknown assailant, and

"You fu—ahk!"

Bang—!

the solid rock of the cave once more, the pain

of the

tried to struggle, but the grip on his face only tightened, and he felt a strange suction force

"I-impossible!"

his mind racing

such power? Did His Majesty bestow similar powers

energy within his body dissipating

"N,n..no!"

Bang—!

wall and the Prince's panic

was helpless, unable to break free from the assailant's grip or prevent the loss of his powers. His head

Bang—!

but this time, the grip on his face loosened, and he stumbled to the

"Keugh... Cough.. kahh...!"

over him, and he raised his

haaa... haaaa...

him. It was the first time he had experienced such vulnerability, unable to do anything as someone stood above him, looking down on

trembling as he

of the situation. He was defenseless, stripped of his powers, and at the mercy of his unknown

Tap. Tap. Tap.

of a footstep echoed through the cave, and the figure's shadow cast over the Prince. He swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on the

this is

mind a whirlwind of

and authority. But now, he was reduced to such a sorry state

Helplessness...

had never thought he'd feel engulfed him, and the Prince's

who are

He was at the mercy of the

"..."

never leaving the Prince. The tension in the air was palpable, and the Prince's thoughts raced as he tried to devise

and his body

"Ha.. ha.."

and his vision blurred. He tried to summon his inner strength, to fight back against the overwhelming sense of helplessness

that moment that he

Why didn't I think of that?" Prince Solbaken muttered to himself as he recalled

Power...

so

moments before, he had still managed to

Vooom—!

burst of energy, the Prince pressed his hands against the ground, and a darkish green hue began to emanate