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.

did everything within his power to make their

The funny thing was…

done anything wrong to

seeing the various expressions on their faces and soon became addicted to receiving such

their prey, as they were nothing but

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

did get

that brief moment, shivers ran down the Prince's spine as he

I

instance was enough to make the Prince want to kill the young boy's

"Indeed…"

Bang—!

nowhere, a dark figure materialized in front of the Prince, their extended hand lashing out

Bang—!

his head crash against something hard,

"Euakh!"

should indeed pay for their

spoke, their voice

Prince as he realized he was at the mercy of an unknown assailant,

"You fu—ahk!"

Bang—!

solid rock of the cave once more, the pain searing

dense, and the force of the impact

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

"I-impossible!"

his mind racing

possess such power? Did His Majesty bestow

fear deepened as he felt the foreign energy within his body dissipating alarmingly with

"N,n..no!"

Bang—!

against the cave wall and the

to break free from the assailant's grip or prevent the loss of his powers. His head throbbed with

Bang—!

wall once more, but this time, the grip on his face loosened, and he stumbled to the hard ground, coughing and

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

and he

haaa...

Prince's breathing became more labored, and he felt a sense of helplessness washing over him. It was the first time he had experienced such vulnerability,

as he tried

and uncertainty, as he realized the gravity of the situation. He was defenseless, stripped of his powers, and

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Prince. He swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on

is

his mind a

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 his fate

Helplessness...

that he had never thought he'd feel engulfed

who

his mind was foggy and his body weakened. He was at the mercy of the unknown assailant, and the reality of

"..."

Prince. The tension in the air was palpable, and the Prince's thoughts raced as he tried to devise a plan

was blank, and his body felt heavy with

"Ha.. ha.."

He tried to summon his inner strength, to fight back against the overwhelming sense of helplessness that threatened to

right at that moment that he recalled

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

Power...

so that he could fuel his

the setback from what had happened moments

Vooom—!

Prince pressed his hands against the ground, and a darkish green hue began to