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

The funny thing was…

done anything wrong

on their faces and soon became addicted to

as they

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

and he did

that brief moment, shivers ran down the Prince's spine as he gazed at the young boy who

want more… I want to

one brief instance was enough to make the Prince want

"Indeed…"

Bang—!

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

Bang—!

head crash against something hard, and he groaned

"Euakh!"

should indeed pay for

their voice cold and

he was at the mercy of an

"You fu—ahk!"

Bang—!

was slammed against the solid rock of the cave once more, the pain searing

force of the impact knocked the wind out of

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

"I-impossible!"

his

such power? Did

he felt the foreign energy within

"N,n..no!"

Bang—!

cave wall and the

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

Bang—!

against the wall once more, but this time, the grip on

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

and he raised his head slowly,

haa... haaa... haaaa...

became more labored, and he felt a sense of helplessness washing over him. It was the first time he had experienced such vulnerability, unable to do anything as someone

his body trembling as he tried

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

Tap. Tap. Tap.

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

is how it

thought, his mind a whirlwind of

But now, he was reduced to such a sorry state by this unknown figure... unable

Helplessness...

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

who

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

"..."

gaze never leaving the Prince. The tension in the air was palpable, and the Prince's thoughts raced as he tried to devise a plan to regain control of the

and

"Ha.. ha.."

inner strength, to fight back against the overwhelming sense of helplessness that threatened

that moment that he recalled

that?" Prince Solbaken muttered to himself as he recalled

Power...

was so that he

setback from what had happened moments before,

Vooom—!

pressed his hands against the ground, and