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.

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

The funny thing was…

had never done anything wrong to

their faces and soon became addicted to receiving such

they were nothing

and it was

did

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

more… I want

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

"Indeed…"

Bang—!

in front of the

Bang—!

something hard, and he groaned in pain,

"Euakh!"

should indeed pay for their

their

at the

"You fu—ahk!"

Bang—!

was slammed against the solid rock of the cave once more, the pain searing

of the

grip 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

"I-impossible!"

Prince gasped, his mind racing with

this bastard possess such power? Did His Majesty bestow similar

deepened as he felt the foreign energy within his body dissipating

"N,n..no!"

Bang—!

wall and the Prince's panic

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

Bang—!

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

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

over him, and he raised his head slowly, his

haaa...

first time he had experienced such vulnerability, unable to do anything as someone stood above him, looking down on

his body trembling as he tried to

gravity of the situation. He

Tap. Tap. Tap.

shadow cast over the Prince. He swallowed hard, his

this is

thought, his mind a whirlwind of

one in control... the one with power and authority. But now, he was reduced to such a sorry state by this unknown figure... unable to do

Helplessness...

he'd feel engulfed him, and

you.. who

his body weakened. He

"..."

palpable, and the Prince's thoughts raced as

and his

"Ha.. ha.."

inner strength, to fight back against the overwhelming sense of

that moment

muttered to himself as he recalled the true

Power...

collecting them was so that

from what had happened moments before, he

Vooom—!

sudden burst of energy, the Prince pressed his hands against the ground, and a