Theodore stepped through the swirling portal, and the air instantly changed. A suffocating weight bore down on him, the atmosphere thick with malice. The landscape before him stretched endlessly—a realm of jagged, obsidian mountains and a sky so dark it seemed to swallow light. Two moons hung ominously above, one glowing a sinister blood-red, the other a pitch-black void that seemed to radiate despair. In the distance, a massive castle loomed, its spires jagged like teeth. Giant skeletal heads flanked its gates, and purple and black mist coiled around it like living tendrils.
"This is starting to get interesting," Theodore muttered, a smirk tugging at his lips. His red crimson eyes glinted with determination as he began walking forward. The jagged rocks beneath his boots seemed to hum with malice, and the shadows clinging to every crevice seemed to shift and whisper as he passed.
He could feel it—eyes watching him from the darkness, an oppressive energy closing in from all sides. The whispers grew louder, unintelligible yet venomous, as though the shadows themselves cursed his presence.
Finally, Theodore stopped. He spread his feet, planted firmly in the rocky ground, and raised his hand, channeling his dark magic. His aura flared, crackling like black lightning around him. "Enough games!" His voice boomed across the landscape, amplified by his spell. "Show yourselves and fight me!"
Theodore's challenge echoed into the distance. For a moment, silence followed, heavy and unnerving. Then the whispers returned, louder now, like a chorus of hissing voices. A dense mist began to gather, swirling and spreading across the ground, obscuring Theodore's view. The temperature dropped sharply, and the weight of malice in the air became almost unbearable.
From the mist emerged a horde of shadowy figures, their forms shifting and amorphous. Millions of them closed in, their hollow eyes glowing with malevolent light. They formed a vast, writhing crowd that surrounded Theodore completely, blocking any chance of escape. Their voices overlapped in a cacophony of curses and laughter, mocking him.
Theodore clicked his tongue. "Damn it," he muttered, his jaw tightening. "A trap."
Summoning his aura, he conjured a sword of pure dark energy, its edges crackling with malevolent power. With a roar, he charged into the crowd, swinging his blade with precision and ferocity. The first swing sliced clean through a shadow—but instead of falling, it reformed instantly, its smoky body untouched.
"What?" Theodore growled, spinning and slashing again. But no matter how many times his blade struck, it passed through the shadows as though they were nothing but mist.
The shadows laughed in unison, their haunting voices taunting him. They closed in, their forms twisting grotesquely, some growing larger, others splitting into multiples. Theodore's frustration boiled over. He swung wildly, his strikes more forceful but still ineffective. The laughter grew louder, a deafening chorus that grated on his nerves.
The shadows began to rise, swirling upward in a vortex of darkness. They formed a massive tornado, trapping Theodore in its center. The wind howled around him, the shadows' voices echoing in his ears, each one a hiss of mockery and malice.
Theodore roared in fury, slashing at the swirling mass, but it was useless. His blade couldn't touch them, and their laughter only grew louder. His frustration surged, feeding the shadows, and they grew larger, their forms more distinct and menacing.
Then, an idea struck him. They feed on my anger, he thought, smirking. Let's see how they handle something they don't expect.
Theodore dismissed his sword, letting it vanish in a crackle of dark energy. He crossed his arms and began to laugh—loud, bold, and defiant. His laughter echoed through the vortex, cutting through the cacophony like a blade.
The shadows faltered, their swirling motion slowing. Their laughter stopped, replaced by a confused murmur. Theodore's laughter grew louder, more mocking. "What's the matter?" he taunted. "Not so funny now, is it?"
The vortex collapsed, the shadows scattering in disarray. Theodore was flung backward by the force, slamming into a jagged rock. He groaned but continued laughing, his voice ringing out defiantly.
The shadows regrouped, their confusion turning to rage. They lunged at him, but Theodore was ready. He summoned his aura again, this time shaping it into a bow of dark energy. He nocked an arrow and fired at the nearest shadow. The arrow pierced its form, and the shadow screeched, recoiling in pain.
Theodore's eyes gleamed with triumph. "So, you can feel pain." He fired again, aiming for their limbs rather than their cores. One by one, the shadows faltered, their movements slowing as they clutched their wounds. Some began to cry, their hollow voices breaking into wails of anguish. The sound spread through the crowd, their malice unraveling into sorrow.
But before Theodore could act further, a guttural roar cut through the air. A shadow twice the size of the others emerged from the mist, its form solid and imposing. It wielded a massive, jagged sword, and its crimson eyes burned with intelligence.
"You dare toy with us?" it snarled, its voice deep and resonant. "Do not be fooled by their weakness. They are shadows, born of hatred and vengeance. I will not allow you to corrupt them with your tricks."
Theodore smirked, recognizing the authority in its tone. "So, you're the leader." He dismissed his bow, stepping forward confidently. "I didn't come here to fight you. I came to tame you. Obey me, and you'll have a master worthy of your loyalty."
The shadow leader loomed before Theodore, its massive form radiating pure malice. Its jagged sword pulsed with dark energy, and its crimson eyes glared down at the boy who dared challenge it.
"Do you truly think a child can defeat me?" the leader sneered, its voice deep and echoing. "You're overconfident, small one."
Theodore smirked, though his muscles tensed. He could feel the weight of his ten-year-old body. His physical endurance was far from ideal, and every swing of his sword drained more stamina than he liked. But his pride wouldn't allow him to back down. He gripped his dark energy sword tightly, the crackling aura around it intensifying.
"I don't need to be fully grown to prove I'm stronger than you," Theodore retorted.
The leader roared in response, charging forward with its massive blade raised. The ground quaked under its heavy footsteps, the force of its presence alone sending shockwaves through the air. Theodore's instincts screamed at him to move, and he rolled to the side just in time as the massive sword slammed into the ground. The impact shattered the earth, sending jagged rocks flying in all directions.
Theodore barely regained his footing when the leader spun, its blade slashing horizontally. He raised his sword to block, but the force behind the attack was overwhelming. The impact sent Theodore skidding backward, his boots digging deep grooves into the rocky ground. His arms throbbed from the sheer power of the strike.
"Not bad," Theodore muttered through gritted teeth. "But I'm just getting started."