Reincarnated as the disaster prince

Theodore darted forward, his small size giving him an advantage in agility. He aimed for the leader's legs, hoping to unbalance the towering shadow. His blade struck true, slashing across the shadow's thigh, but it barely flinched. The wound closed almost instantly, its smoky form regenerating.

"You'll have to do better than that, boy," the leader growled, swinging its blade in a wide arc.

Theodore ducked, feeling the rush of air as the blade whooshed inches above his head. Before he could counter, the leader's free hand shot out, slamming into his chest and sending him flying. Theodore crashed into a jagged rock, the impact knocking the wind out of him. He gasped for air, coughing as he struggled to rise.

"Pathetic," the leader spat, stalking toward him. "Your body is weak. You lack the strength to face me."

Theodore's mind raced. He's right—physically, I'm at a disadvantage. But strength isn't everything.

As the leader swung its blade down in a crushing overhead strike, Theodore rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding death. He thrust his hand forward, releasing a blast of dark energy aimed at the leader's chest. The explosion forced the shadow to stagger back, giving Theodore a moment to breathe.

Realizing brute force wouldn't win this fight, Theodore shifted his strategy. He focused his aura into his legs, enhancing his speed. He darted around the leader, striking at its limbs in quick succession. Each slash left a brief flicker of light before the wounds regenerated.

The leader growled in frustration. "Stop running, coward!" It swung wildly, its massive blade carving through the air, but Theodore was too fast.

"I'm not running," Theodore taunted, his voice steady despite the strain. "I'm making you waste energy."

The leader snarled, but its movements grew more aggressive, each swing heavier and more reckless. Theodore continued to dodge, his youthful agility allowing him to narrowly avoid the devastating attacks. But each movement taxed his stamina, and his breaths grew heavier.

The leader seemed to sense his growing fatigue. "You're slowing down, boy. Let's see how long you last!"

With a roar, the shadow unleashed a wave of dark energy, the ground beneath Theodore erupting in a violent shockwave. He was thrown into the air, his body slamming down hard. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to rise, his limbs trembling.

Theodore gritted his teeth, his frustration mounting. His body ached, and every breath felt like fire. I can't outlast him like this… I need to outthink him.

Then, inspiration struck. Theodore's sharp eyes darted to the leader's massive sword, now glowing faintly with its dark energy. That blade… it's absorbing my attacks and healing him. If I can sever his connection to it, I might have a chance.

Gathering his strength, Theodore feigned weakness, letting his shoulders slump and his movements slow. The leader laughed, raising its sword triumphantly.

"Finally giving up?" it mocked.

As the blade came down, Theodore sidestepped at the last moment, the sword embedding itself into the ground. Before the leader could pull it free, Theodore surged forward, his aura flaring. He placed his hand on the blade and poured his dark magic into it, disrupting its energy. The sword cracked, and the leader howled in fury.

"You dare touch my weapon?" the leader roared, swiping at Theodore with its clawed hand. The boy ducked, rolling away as the blade shattered into pieces.

The leader staggered, its form flickering as the connection to its sword was severed. "What have you done?"

Theodore stood, his aura blazing around him. "Leveling the playing field," he said with a smirk.

The leader roared, charging at Theodore with unrelenting fury. Without its sword, it relied on raw strength, its fists slamming into the ground and creating craters with each strike. Theodore weaved between the attacks, using his speed and smaller size to his advantage.

But the relentless assault was taking its toll. Theodore's legs felt like lead, and his vision blurred from exhaustion. One of the leader's strikes clipped his shoulder, sending him sprawling. He cried out in pain, clutching his arm as blood seeped through his torn sleeve.

"You're finished!" the leader bellowed, raising both arms for a final, crushing blow.

Summoning every ounce of his remaining strength, Theodore thrust his hand forward, conjuring a massive spear of dark energy. The weapon crackled with power, its edges sharp and deadly. As the leader's fists came down, Theodore hurled the spear with all his might.

The spear pierced the leader's chest, erupting in a burst of black lightning. The shadow let out a deafening roar, its form flickering and distorting. It staggered back, clutching the spear as its body began to unravel.

Theodore forced himself to his feet, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "You've lost. Bow to me, or be destroyed."

The leader fell to its knees, its crimson eyes dimming. "You… you have proven yourself," it rasped. "You are strong… stronger than I imagined."

Theodore exhaled, his aura fading. He stood tall despite his battered body, his voice firm. "Then serve me. All of you."

The surrounding shadows, who had watched in stunned silence, knelt as one, their malice replaced with reverence. The leader bowed its head, its voice a low growl. "We are yours to command, my lord."

Theodore smirked, hiding the exhaustion threatening to topple him. He had done it—he had earned their loyalty, not through strength alone, but through strategy and unyielding resolve.

The Dark Soul was now his.