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.

occasions, just to see that very same expression, he did everything within his power to make their lives miserable and make them beg him

The funny thing was…

had never done anything wrong to

the various expressions on their faces and soon became

as they were nothing but his

human child immediately, and it

did get that

as he gazed at the young boy who showed such an

more… I

to make the Prince want

"Indeed…"

Bang—!

materialized in front of the Prince, their extended hand lashing out and grasping

Bang—!

felt his head crash against something hard, and he groaned in pain,

"Euakh!"

pay for their

figure spoke, their voice cold and

at the mercy of an unknown assailant, and he tried to

"You fu—ahk!"

Bang—!

solid rock of the cave once more, the pain

rock was extremely dense, and the force of the impact knocked the wind

but the grip on his face only tightened, and he felt a strange

"I-impossible!"

Prince gasped, his

Did His Majesty bestow similar powers upon

he felt the foreign energy

"N,n..no!"

Bang—!

the cave wall

free from the assailant's grip or prevent the loss of his powers. His head throbbed with pain, and he struggled to maintain

Bang—!

Prince's head was slammed against the wall once more, but this time, the grip on his face loosened, and he stumbled

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

over him, and he raised his

haa... haaa...

helplessness washing over him. It was the first time he had experienced such vulnerability, unable to do anything as someone

his body trembling as

raced with fear and uncertainty, as he realized the gravity of the situation. He was defenseless, stripped of his powers, and at the mercy of his

Tap. Tap. Tap.

sound of a footstep echoed through the cave, and the figure's shadow cast over the Prince. He swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on the figure's cold gaze. His breathing grew shallower, and his chest tightened with

this is how it

his mind a whirlwind of

control... the one with power and authority. But now, he was reduced to such a sorry state by this unknown figure... unable to do anything but watch as

Helplessness...

engulfed him, and the Prince's heart

who are

a way out, but his mind was foggy and his body weakened. He was at the mercy of the unknown assailant, and the

"..."

cold gaze never leaving the Prince. The tension in the air was palpable, and the Prince's thoughts raced as he

and his body

"Ha.. ha.."

Prince's breathing grew shallower, and his vision blurred. He tried to summon his inner strength,

right at that

muttered to himself as he recalled the true purpose

Power...

so that he could fuel

what had happened moments

Vooom—!

pressed his hands against the ground, and