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.

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

The funny thing was…

done anything wrong

on their faces and soon

their prey, as they were nothing but his

reason why he didn't kill the human child immediately, and it was precisely so that he could see that very expression

did get that

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

want more… I want to see

the Prince want to kill the

"Indeed…"

Bang—!

of the Prince,

Bang—!

something

"Euakh!"

pay for their

figure spoke, their

he realized he was at the

"You fu—ahk!"

Bang—!

was slammed against the solid rock of the

the force of the

felt a strange suction force drawing the energy from his

"I-impossible!"

gasped, his mind racing

such power? Did His Majesty bestow

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

"N,n..no!"

Bang—!

impact against the cave wall and the Prince's

to break free from the assailant's grip or prevent the loss of

Bang—!

more, but this time, the grip on his face

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

loomed over him, and he raised his

haaa... haaaa...

him. It was the first time he had experienced such vulnerability, unable to do

hands moved back, his body trembling as he

mind raced with fear and uncertainty, as he realized the gravity of the situation. He was defenseless,

Tap. Tap. Tap.

the figure's shadow cast over the Prince. He swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on the figure's cold gaze.

this is

his mind a whirlwind of

one in control... 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 at the mercy of the unknown assailant, and the reality of his

"..."

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

blank, and his body felt

"Ha.. ha.."

grew shallower, and his vision blurred. He tried to summon his inner strength, to fight back against the overwhelming sense of helplessness that threatened

that

muttered to himself as he recalled the

Power...

so that he

the setback from what had happened moments before,

Vooom—!

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