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

The funny thing was…

done

faces and

as they were nothing but his

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

and he did get

brief moment, shivers ran down the Prince's spine as he gazed at the young boy

want more… I

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

"Indeed…"

Bang—!

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

Bang—!

head crash against something

"Euakh!"

pay for

their voice

he realized he was at

"You fu—ahk!"

Bang—!

the solid rock of the cave once more,

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

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

"I-impossible!"

his mind

this bastard possess such power? Did His Majesty

as he felt the foreign energy

"N,n..no!"

Bang—!

cave wall and

or prevent the loss of his

Bang—!

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

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

assailant's presence loomed over him, and he raised

haaa...

Prince's breathing 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

body trembling as he tried to push himself away from

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

Tap. Tap. Tap.

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

this is how

mind a whirlwind of

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

Helplessness...

had never thought he'd feel engulfed him, and the Prince's heart

you.. who

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

"..."

air was palpable, and the

and

"Ha.. ha.."

to summon his inner strength, to fight back against the overwhelming sense of helplessness that

that moment that he recalled

didn't I think of that?" Prince Solbaken muttered to himself as he recalled the true purpose of collecting those who had entered

Power...

purpose of collecting them was so that

setback from what had happened moments before, he

Vooom—!

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