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.

expression, he did everything within his power to make their lives miserable and

The funny thing was…

done anything wrong to

delighted in seeing the various expressions on their faces and soon became addicted to receiving such reactions

prey, as they

human child immediately, and it was precisely so that he

did get that

shivers ran down the Prince's spine as he gazed

want more… I want

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

"Indeed…"

Bang—!

of the Prince, their extended hand lashing out and

Bang—!

crash against something hard, and he groaned in pain,

"Euakh!"

indeed pay for their

their voice cold

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

"You fu—ahk!"

Bang—!

of the cave once more,

dense, and the force of the impact knocked the wind out

only tightened, and he felt

"I-impossible!"

his mind

possess such power? Did His Majesty bestow similar

energy within

"N,n..no!"

Bang—!

cave wall and the Prince's panic

loss of his

Bang—!

once more, but this time, the grip on his face loosened, and he stumbled to the hard ground, coughing and

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

loomed 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

back, his body trembling as he tried to push

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

Tap. Tap. Tap.

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

is how it

Prince thought, his mind

with power and authority. But now, he was reduced to such a sorry state by this unknown figure... unable to do anything but watch

Helplessness...

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

who

find a way out, but his mind was foggy and his body weakened. He was at the

"..."

silent, their cold gaze never leaving the Prince. The tension in the air was palpable, and the Prince's

mind was blank, and his body felt heavy with

"Ha.. ha.."

vision blurred. He tried to summon his inner strength, to fight back against

was right at that moment

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

Power...

collecting them was so that he could fuel

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

Vooom—!

hands against the ground, and a darkish green hue began to emanate