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.

very same expression, he did everything within his power to make their lives miserable and make them

The funny thing was…

never done anything

various expressions on their faces and soon became addicted to

as they were nothing

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

did get

ran down the Prince's spine as he gazed at the young boy who showed such an

more… I want to see

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

"Indeed…"

Bang—!

in front of the

Bang—!

crash against something hard, and he groaned in pain,

"Euakh!"

indeed pay for their

spoke, their voice cold

was at the

"You fu—ahk!"

Bang—!

solid rock of the cave once more, the

rock was extremely dense, and the force of the impact

raced as he tried to struggle, but the grip on his face only tightened, and he felt a strange suction force drawing the energy from his body, draining the power that his majesty had bestowed

"I-impossible!"

Prince gasped, his

can this bastard possess such power? Did His Majesty bestow similar powers

the foreign energy within his body dissipating alarmingly

"N,n..no!"

Bang—!

wall and the Prince's

grip or prevent the loss of his powers. His

Bang—!

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

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

him, and he raised his head

haa... haaa...

a sense of helplessness washing over him. It was the first time he had experienced such vulnerability, unable to do

Prince's hands moved back, his body trembling as he tried to push himself away

as he realized the gravity of the situation. He was defenseless, stripped

Tap. Tap. Tap.

the figure's shadow cast over the Prince. He swallowed hard, his

this is how

Prince thought, his mind a whirlwind

to such a sorry state by this unknown figure... unable to do anything but

Helplessness...

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

you.. who

weakened. He was at the mercy of the unknown

"..."

figure remained silent, their cold gaze never leaving the Prince. The tension in the air was palpable, and the Prince's thoughts

his mind was blank, and

"Ha.. ha.."

He tried to summon his inner strength, to fight

right at that moment that he

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

Power...

collecting them was so that he

what had happened moments before,

Vooom—!

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