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.

occasions, just to see that very same expression, he did everything within his power to make their lives miserable and

The funny thing was…

done

in seeing the various expressions on their faces

their prey, as they were nothing

human child immediately, and it was precisely so that he could see that very expression

did

Prince's spine as he gazed at

want more… I

make the Prince want to

"Indeed…"

Bang—!

nowhere, a dark figure materialized in front of the Prince,

Bang—!

crash against something hard, and he groaned

"Euakh!"

pay

figure spoke, their voice cold

at

"You fu—ahk!"

Bang—!

of the cave once more, the

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

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

"I-impossible!"

gasped, his mind racing with

such power? Did His Majesty bestow similar powers upon someone

felt the foreign energy

"N,n..no!"

Bang—!

the cave wall and the Prince's panic

break free from the assailant's grip or prevent the loss of his powers.

Bang—!

slammed against the wall once more, but this time, the grip on his

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

he raised his

haa... haaa...

washing over him. It was the first time he had

hands moved back, his body trembling as he tried to push himself away from

of the situation. He was defenseless, stripped of

Tap. Tap. Tap.

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

is how

thought, his mind a whirlwind of

But now, he was reduced to such a sorry state by this unknown figure... unable to do anything

Helplessness...

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

you.. who are

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

"..."

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

mind was blank, and

"Ha.. ha.."

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

that

as he

Power...

them was so that he could fuel

the setback from what had happened moments before, he had

Vooom—!

the ground, and a darkish green hue began to