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

The funny thing was…

had never done anything wrong to

simply delighted in seeing the various expressions on their faces and

their prey, as they were nothing but

kill the human child immediately, and it was

did get

the Prince's spine as he gazed at the

I want to see

instance was enough to make the Prince want to kill the

"Indeed…"

Bang—!

the Prince, their extended hand

Bang—!

felt his head crash against something hard, and he groaned in pain,

"Euakh!"

pay

their voice cold and

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

"You fu—ahk!"

Bang—!

solid rock of the cave once

rock was extremely dense, and the force of the impact knocked the wind out

grip on his face only tightened, and he felt a strange suction force drawing the energy from his body, draining the power that his

"I-impossible!"

Prince gasped, his mind racing with

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

he felt the foreign energy within

"N,n..no!"

Bang—!

the cave wall and the Prince's

helpless, unable to break free from the assailant's grip or prevent the loss of his powers. His head throbbed

Bang—!

on his face loosened, and he stumbled

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

loomed over him, and he raised his head slowly, his

haaa...

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 with

trembling as he

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

Tap. Tap. Tap.

sound of a footstep echoed through the cave, and the figure's shadow cast over the Prince. He swallowed

is how it

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 anything but

Helplessness...

he'd feel engulfed him, and the Prince's heart

you.. who are

and his body weakened. He was at the mercy of the unknown assailant, and the reality

"..."

in the air was palpable, and the Prince's thoughts raced as

and

"Ha.. ha.."

and his vision blurred. He tried to summon his inner strength, to

right at that

muttered to himself as he recalled the true purpose of collecting

Power...

them was so that he could

what had happened moments before, he had still managed

Vooom—!

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