As the soldier charged forward with a deafening roar, Theodore stood his ground, his aura flaring. At the last second, he sidestepped and struck the ground with all his might, causing the cracked floor beneath the soldier to collapse.
The massive shadow stumbled, losing its balance. Seizing the opportunity, Theodore dashed toward the throne, using the last of his mana to boost his speed.
"What are you doing, boy?!" the shadow soldier bellowed, trying to pull itself out of the debris.
Theodore reached the throne and placed his hand on its cold, jagged surface. Dark energy surged through him as the throne reacted to his presence. The entire castle trembled, and the torches burned brighter, their purple flames turning a deep crimson.
The shadow soldier froze, its glowing eyes widening in shock. "No... it can't be! The throne only reacts to the one it deems worthy!"
Theodore turned, his expression a mixture of exhaustion and triumph. His voice echoed with authority as he declared, "I told you—I didn't come here to fight you. I came to tame you."
Dark chains erupted from the throne, shooting across the room and wrapping around the shadow soldier. The creature struggled violently, but the chains tightened, glowing with ancient runes.
The shadow soldier's crimson eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and disbelief as he gazed at the boy sitting on the throne, looking more like a child playing king than an actual ruler.
"Okay, tell me," the shadow soldier said, his voice a rumble that echoed through the vast chamber. "How did you know about the throne? How did you gamble everything to sit there without even understanding what it was?"
Theodore rested his chin on his fist, his expression unreadable. "Instinct," he replied coldly. "Something called me here. The moment I entered this realm, I felt it—the pull. And when I saw how desperately you were guarding this throne, I figured it wasn't just a fancy chair. It was the key to ruling this realm. So I gambled. And I won."
The shadow soldier froze for a moment, stunned. A child—no, this boy—had read the situation so thoroughly in a split second? Even at a disadvantage, he had pieced together the puzzle with nothing but intuition and raw wit. The soldier's admiration was begrudging but genuine.
"You may be smart, boy," the shadow soldier admitted, his voice low and dangerous, "but intelligence alone isn't enough to rule. A true king doesn't just outthink his opponents—he overpowers them. And you? You couldn't even fight me on equal ground without relying on tricks!"
The soldier's glowing red eyes burned brighter as his aura exploded outward, shaking the room. The cursed chains binding him rattled violently under the force of his power.
"NEVER!" he roared, his massive frame straining against the magical restraints. The ground beneath him cracked as he struggled to break free, his cursed sword vibrating in its sheath.
Theodore's hands gripped the armrests of the throne tightly, his heart pounding. (Damn it, this isn't over! What do I do?!) His mind raced, adrenaline coursing through him as the soldier broke the first chain with a deafening snap.
The boy inhaled sharply. (Wait... The throne reacted when I sat on it. Maybe... Maybe it responds to my commands.) It was a gamble, but he didn't have a choice. His crimson eyes locked onto the shadow soldier.
"KNEEL!" Theodore's voice rang out like a crack of thunder.
The soldier's body froze mid-struggle. His legs buckled against his will, and he dropped to one knee, his massive sword clattering to the floor. He let out a guttural growl, straining to rise, but the magic of the throne overpowered him.
"What... What is this?!" the soldier snarled, his aura flickering. "Why can't I resist?!"
Theodore exhaled shakily, his own disbelief evident. "It worked..." he murmured to himself. Relief and exhaustion began to flood his body, but there was no time to celebrate.
The soldier glared at him, fury and humiliation written across his features. "This isn't strength. You relied on cunning and a throne's power to win. You're not a warrior—you're a coward."
Theodore stiffened at the words, his lips tightening into a thin line. The sting of truth cut deep.
(He's right...) Theodore thought bitterly. (I didn't win this fight with my own strength. I relied on a trick—again. Just like I always do. Two months of training, and it still wasn't enough. I was arrogant. I thought I could handle anything, but I'm still so far behind...)
The boy's hand curled into a fist, his knuckles white. He hated this feeling of weakness—this reminder that he wasn't as invincible as he wanted to believe.
"Why aren't you celebrating?" the soldier asked, his voice laced with mockery. "You've won. You sit on the throne now. You're the master of this realm."
Theodore's gaze was distant as he replied quietly, "Because I didn't win the way I wanted to. A true ruler wins with their own power, not borrowed tricks."
The soldier tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. "Humans rely on intelligence and cunning all the time. Isn't that what makes you different from beasts? Why does it bother you so much?"
"Because it's not enough," Theodore said firmly, his voice carrying a rare vulnerability. He stared down at his trembling hands. "How can I face gods with nothing but cleverness? How can I demand freedom if I can't even fight someone like you?"
The soldier's glowing eyes narrowed. "Gods?" he rumbled. "Did you just say gods? What nonsense are you spouting now, boy?"
Theodore straightened on the throne, his crimson gaze sharp and unwavering. "You heard me. I plan to challenge the gods themselves one day. Call me insane if you want. I don't care."
The room fell into stunned silence.
The soldier blinked, processing the boy's audacity. Then, to Theodore's surprise, the shadow chuckled—a deep, rumbling sound that echoed ominously through the chamber.
"You're not insane," the soldier said, his voice tinged with admiration. "You're ambitious. I've served six others who ruled this realm before you, each chosen by that shadow book. They all wanted the same things—revenge, domination, to carve their names into history. But you? You're the first to aim higher. To aim for the heavens. Why, boy? Why risk your life for something as intangible as freedom?"
Theodore leaned back in the throne, his expression resolute. "Because being king isn't enough. Being a prince wasn't enough. All my life, I've been controlled—by expectations, by systems, by people who thought they could own me. I'm tired of it. I'll do whatever it takes to break those chains. Even if it means challenging the gods themselves."
The soldier's crimson eyes softened, his aura calming. "Freedom..." he murmured, almost wistfully. "It's been so long since I served someone with a dream like that. I still don't fully understand it, but... it's not a bad goal."
Theodore smirked, his crimson eyes gleaming as he listened to the shadow commander. "What you said isn't wrong," he admitted, stretching his sore limbs. "But taking control of this realm means I've taken on a massive responsibility... one I never asked for."
He exhaled sharply, glancing at his open palms. "The gods want me to play the role of a hero—to fix whatever mess they think I was reborn to stop. But I won't do it. I refuse to be their puppet. And for that, they'll be coming after me soon enough."
The shadow commander tilted his head, his massive armored form looming in the dimly lit chamber. Then, he let out a deep, rumbling laugh. "You intrigue me, boy." His crimson eyes burned with amusement. "A human rejecting the will of the gods... I never thought I'd see the day. In that case, allow me to swear my loyalty to you, my lord."
Without hesitation, the shadow commander drove his cursed sword into the ground. The eerie chains that had once bound him shattered instantly, their energy surging toward him, wrapping around his armored limbs before vanishing into his form.
Theodore arched an eyebrow. "You're serious?"
The shadow commander grinned beneath his helm. "Your eyes tell me everything. What kind of ten-year-old walks into the abyss alone, knowing he might not walk out? You may be young, but the book chose you. And if the book chose you, then fate itself has deemed you worthy."
Theodore remained silent, absorbing his words. Despite his exhaustion, he smirked. "Then I accept your loyalty—"
"Commander." The shadow soldier interrupted, placing his fist over his heart. "Call me Shadow Commander, my lord."
Theodore rolled his eyes but nodded. "Fine. Shadow Commander, I accept your vow."
The moment he spoke, the throne pulsed with an intense dark light, sending waves of energy through the castle. Beyond its walls, the entire Dark Soul Realm trembled. The shadows that lurked in the cursed lands lifted their heads in unison, their hollow eyes staring toward the castle as the realization sank in—a new king had claimed the throne.
The power was overwhelming. Theodore's body swayed, the fatigue of his battle and the immense pressure of the realm's magic pressing down on him all at once. The corners of his vision darkened as dizziness took hold.
"Good..." he muttered, barely holding onto consciousness. "Now let's make this realm mine..."
The world tilted, and before he could stop himself, his body collapsed onto the throne, the weight of his victory pulling him into unconsciousness.
The cursed flames flickered. The castle fell into silence.
The Dark Soul Realm had found its ruler.