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…

had never done anything

simply delighted in seeing the various expressions on their faces and soon became addicted

they

reason why he didn't kill the human child immediately, and it was precisely

did get

down the Prince's spine as he gazed at the young boy who

more… I want

make the Prince want to kill the

"Indeed…"

Bang—!

nowhere, a dark figure materialized in front of the Prince, their extended hand lashing

Bang—!

something hard, and

"Euakh!"

should indeed pay for their

spoke, their voice cold

as he realized he was at the mercy of

"You fu—ahk!"

Bang—!

slammed against the solid rock of the cave

the force of the

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

"I-impossible!"

Prince gasped, his mind racing with

can this bastard possess such power? Did His Majesty bestow

as he felt the foreign energy within his body dissipating

"N,n..no!"

Bang—!

the cave wall and the

the assailant's grip or prevent the loss of his powers. His head throbbed with pain, and he struggled

Bang—!

against the wall once more, but this time, the grip on his face loosened, and

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

him, and he

haaa... haaaa...

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 a cold,

Prince's hands moved back, his body trembling as he tried to push himself away

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

Tap. Tap. Tap.

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

is

mind a whirlwind of

he was reduced to such a sorry state by this unknown figure... unable to do anything but watch as his fate hung

Helplessness...

never thought he'd feel engulfed

you.. who are

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

"..."

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

and his body felt

"Ha.. ha.."

summon his inner strength,

at that moment that he

himself as he recalled the true purpose of collecting those who had

Power...

purpose of collecting them was so that he

from what had happened moments before, he had still managed to collect

Vooom—!

pressed his hands against the ground, and a