Reincarnated as the disaster prince

The quiet of the dorm room was broken only by the soft glow of moonlight streaming through the window. Theodore, still reclining in bed after the events of Daunt Village, glanced at Belial with a curious expression.

"Belial," he began, his voice quiet but probing, "how did you find me in the forest? You appeared just in time. Too perfect to be a coincidence."

Belial's usually composed demeanor faltered for a moment, his crimson eyes widening slightly. He sighed deeply, the sound filled with hesitation.

"Well, my lord… we're connected."

Theodore arched an eyebrow. "Connected? What do you mean?"

Belial hesitated again but decided to speak. "The day you defeated me in the Skullhead Mountain trial, when you fainted from exhaustion… I made a contract with you while you were unconscious. That's how we're connected."

"A contract?" Theodore's tone betrayed his surprise.

"Without my permission?"

"Yes," Belial replied honestly, his expression unreadable. "It was necessary. Through this bond, I can sense your presence and your energy. When you were in danger, I felt it immediately and came to your aid."

Theodore frowned but eventually nodded. "I see. That's… convenient, I suppose."

As he was about to lie back and dismiss the matter, a strange feeling washed over him. It was faint at first, like a whisper on the edge of his senses, but it grew stronger, sending chills through his body.

Belial noticed immediately. "My lord, do you feel discomfort?"

Theodore waved dismissively. "It's not pain. It's… familiar, almost like—"

Before he could finish, the air in front of them began to crack. A jagged line of light appeared, splitting the space apart. The room was frozen in time as fragments of reality seemed to pause mid-air, creating a surreal, fractured effect. From the rift, a shadowy portal formed, and an old man stepped through.

The old man's presence filled the room, his black suit immaculate despite his bald head and wrinkled features. His piercing gaze, devoid of warmth, landed first on Theodore, then shifted to Belial. This time, there was no mocking smile,only a grim seriousness.

"Fufufu Belial," the old man said in a deep, commanding tone. "It's been a while, hasn't it, brat?"

Belial's crimson eyes narrowed into a glare, his lips curling in disdain. "A long time," he spat. "After my long punishment and you sealing me away, old man."

The tension between the two was suffocating, their animosity palpable. Theodore glanced between them, confused but intrigued.

"Belial," the old man said calmly, his voice dripping with authority, "that punishment was for your own good. You disobeyed our god, after all."

Turning to Theodore, the old man's eyes softened, though his expression remained serious. "I'm here for you, little believer. Let me borrow you for a moment."

Before Theodore could respond, a massive shadowy hand emerged from the portal, wrapping around him in an instant. The hand lifted him effortlessly as he struggled, pulling him through the portal and into the unknown.

"Don't you dare harm my lord!" Belial roared, stepping forward as if to attack.

The old man laughed darkly. "And what will you do, little brat? Start another war?" He paused, leaning closer to Belial, his tone dropping into a whisper. "Or is this rage because he reminds you of him?"

Belial's entire body tensed.

The old man smiled knowingly. "THAT person is dead, Belial. You'd do well to remember that. Don't project your failure onto this child. He's not your former lord."

Belial's fists clenched tightly, his nails digging into his palms as he looked away in frustration.

The old man straightened, his grin fading. "Good. Now behave yourself." With that, he stepped into the portal, which closed behind him with a thunderous crack.

Belial stood in the silence that followed, his eyes burning with fury. "Damnit," he hissed under his breath. "One day, I'll kill that old man myself."

Theodore landed on his feet with surprising ease, the massive hand dissolving into thin air. He took a moment to study his surroundings, recognizing them immediately.

The God of Shadow's temple was just as he remembered,grand yet unsettling. The marble floor shimmered with black veins, reflecting the light of magical torches that lined the walls. Pillars inscribed with ancient, cryptic runes rose to impossible heights, and the six statues of cursed hybrids stood sentinel, their grotesque forms casting eerie shadows. The temple floated in a void of endless stars, as though suspended in space itself.

The old man stood before him, his arms crossed. His expression was stern, his usual mocking air replaced with genuine anger.

"Kid," he began, his voice heavy, "do you have any idea what you've done?"

Theodore blinked, caught off guard. "Done? Did I do something wrong?"

The old man scoffed, his tone sharp. "You've challenged the gods. Do you understand the war you've just sparked?"

Theodore's confusion deepened. "What are you talking about? All I've done is follow your orders. You gave me this power and told me I could use it however I wanted."

"Fool!" the old man snapped, rubbing his temples in frustration. "I gave you power to pursue the throne, not to pick a fight with the gods themselves! What reason could you possibly have to challenge them? What did they ever do to you?"

Theodore opened his mouth to reply but hesitated. The hatred he felt toward the gods was undeniable, but where had it come from? He tried to remember. "They… interrupted my death. But… that can't be all, can it?"

The feeling was there, deep in his chest—a loathing that felt ancient, familiar, as though it had existed long before him.

The old man studied him carefully, his frown deepening. "I knew it," he muttered to himself. "The cycle continues, no matter how I try to stop it."

"What cycle?" Theodore demanded.

The old man didn't answer, instead murmuring to himself, "Just like Belial. Stubborn, reckless… the same defiance, the same arrogance."

"Explain yourself!" Theodore shouted, his frustration boiling over.

The old man sighed, waving him off. "Forget it. It's nothing. For now." He straightened, his expression softening into a smirk. "Are you ready to become stronger?"

Theodore's anger simmered, but he nodded. "Yes. Make me stronger."

The old man's smirk widened, his shadowy aura intensifying. "Then let's begin."