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.

within his power to make their lives miserable and make them beg him for

The funny thing was…

never done anything

the various expressions on their faces and soon became addicted

they were nothing but his

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

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

want more… I want to

make the Prince want

"Indeed…"

Bang—!

materialized in front of the Prince, their extended hand lashing out

Bang—!

Prince felt his head crash against something

"Euakh!"

should indeed pay for

spoke, their voice cold and

he realized he was at the mercy of an unknown assailant, and

"You fu—ahk!"

Bang—!

solid rock of the cave once more, the pain searing

dense, and the force of the impact knocked the wind

his face only tightened, and he felt a strange suction force drawing the

"I-impossible!"

gasped, his mind racing

bastard possess such power? Did His Majesty bestow similar powers

deepened as he felt the foreign energy within his body dissipating

"N,n..no!"

Bang—!

impact against the cave wall and the

prevent the loss

Bang—!

wall once more, but this time, the grip on

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

and he raised

haaa...

felt a sense of helplessness washing over him. It was the first time he

Prince's hands moved back, his body trembling as he tried

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

Tap. Tap. Tap.

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

is

Prince thought, his mind a whirlwind of

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

Helplessness...

had never thought he'd feel engulfed him,

who are

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

"..."

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

mind was blank, and his body felt

"Ha.. ha.."

inner strength, to fight back against the overwhelming sense of

was right at that moment that

himself as he recalled the true

Power...

collecting them was so that he could fuel

had happened moments

Vooom—!

energy, the Prince pressed his hands against the ground, and a darkish green