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 and make them beg

The funny thing was…

never done anything wrong to

expressions on their faces and soon became addicted to receiving such reactions from

they were

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

he did get

spine as he gazed at the young boy who showed

more… I want to see

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

"Indeed…"

Bang—!

of the

Bang—!

against something hard, and he groaned

"Euakh!"

should indeed pay for

figure spoke, their

realized he was at the mercy of an

"You fu—ahk!"

Bang—!

solid rock of the cave once more, the

dense, and the force of

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

bastard possess such power? Did His Majesty bestow similar powers

energy within

"N,n..no!"

Bang—!

against the cave wall and the

the loss of his powers. His head throbbed with pain, and

Bang—!

this time, the grip on his face loosened,

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

over him, and he

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 stood above him, looking down on him

body trembling as he tried to push

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

Tap. Tap. Tap.

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

is

mind

was reduced to such a sorry state by this unknown figure... unable

Helplessness...

he'd feel engulfed him, and

you.. who are

and his body weakened. He was at the mercy of the

"..."

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 his body

"Ha.. ha.."

breathing grew shallower, and his vision blurred. 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

as he recalled the true purpose of collecting those who

Power...

was so that he could fuel his

from what had happened moments before,

Vooom—!

Prince pressed his hands against the ground,