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.

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

The funny thing was…

had never done anything

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

prey, as they were nothing but his

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

and he did get that

as he

I want to

one brief instance was enough to make the Prince

"Indeed…"

Bang—!

in front of the

Bang—!

crash against something hard, and he groaned in

"Euakh!"

indeed pay for their

spoke, their voice cold and

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

"You fu—ahk!"

Bang—!

rock of the cave

of the impact knocked the

Prince's heart 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!"

his mind racing with

power? Did His Majesty bestow

as he felt the foreign energy within his body dissipating alarmingly

"N,n..no!"

Bang—!

impact 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—!

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

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

he raised

haaa...

him. It was the first time he had

hands moved back, his body trembling as

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

Tap. Tap. Tap.

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

is how it

thought, his mind

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

Helplessness...

feel engulfed him, and the Prince's heart

who are

find a way out, but his mind was foggy and his body weakened. He was

"..."

palpable, and the Prince's thoughts raced as he tried to devise a plan to regain control

was blank, and his body felt

"Ha.. ha.."

inner strength, to fight back against the

at that

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

Power...

was so that

setback from what had happened moments before, he had still

Vooom—!

against the ground, and a darkish green hue