Starting off with a massive punch aimed at The Collector, Daisy buried him beneath a massive but also heavy fist of wood and leaves. Just like that, she got a hold of him. But the only thing he would do was smile and grin as if he was unfazed. Despite cracking multiple bones of his and having him spew out blood, or rather, the dark purple liquid that would ooze out of his wounds, he kept that smile of his. She was incapable of wiping that grin off his smug face. At no point did he feel threatened and at this rate he never will.

Suddenly, he maneuvered onto that arm of hers and sprinted towards her. Though she could hold him down just in time, he still had something he wanted to relay to her.

"Why not become a part of my collection? Or maybe we can strike a deal that benefits us both! Those collections of mine are quite amazing and could get you pretty much anything you want!", he shouted to grab her attention.

Daisy remained silent and decided to toss him into the air. While he was midair, she prepared for another attack. Clouds gathered at those massive hands of hers and condensed into one massive spear made of compressed clouds and air. With one quick motion, she struck him down as she shoved the spear into him. Exploding into a massive shockwave, it nearly blew Daisy out of that tree-beast she had created.

Somehow, The Collector prevailed. Though he was a bloody mess crushed beneath that powerfull attack of hers, he started regenerating. As if to mock her, he threw dirt that wouldn't reach at her. Symbolizing that her attacks are as effective as throwing dirt at her, he ridiculed her while breaking out into laughter. Finally, he ignited the beast within her control and snuck off.

"You really piss me off!", she thought as she kept uprooting trees. Massive growth to the roots created a chaotic system of enhanced roots stretching towards the skies. On top of the now stands Daisy as she's using another root to drag her enemy up into the skies. The beast stops burning as it too becomes a part of the root system.

As he was dragged to the top, he sneered, "Oh? So you're finally mad? Was wondering what could get you riled up!"

As such, she began her assault on him. This time, she focused on spotting his Devil Seed and destroying it instead of retrieving it like she would do with other Demons.

The Collector knew what she was up to and start running and climbing his way down. Daisy quickly caught up and launched her first attack. With one of the roots bending to trip him, she struck him down into another root. Directly after, she fires a fireball to incinerate him only for him to evade.

1000 meters. They had to make it down 1000 meters to get to the ground.

Daisy kept running and climbing down. At some point she simply decided to fly directly towards him to slash him with air blades. Only succeeding once, she cut off a leg. Before he could tumble down, he simply regenerated that leg of his and kept going. Quite swiftly he kept going further down. He turned around to laugh at her but couldn't spot her. Right behind him, she formed a rifle out of clouds and fired an air-bullet. It spun and barely grazed him as he had dodged in time.

"Is that all? Is that really all you're capable of?"

It just made Daisy even angrier as she continued fighting a battle she can't win. At this point it's just her trying to buy time and keeping The Collector entertained in hopes of someone aiding her in battle. Even the battle among the clouds is just a ploy to keep the one she couldn't beat occupied.

"Your ability to collect... It's awfully similar to what Zs do with Devil Seeds. How'd you do that?", she asked as the roots crumbled and fell. With them midair, all she had left in her was just one attack. After that she'd have to retreat.

"Oh? So you do want something?"

"Only answers... Your collection ability... You collect Devil Seeds and summon the Demons within by pushing them out, right? It allows for remote controlled Demons, right?"

He nodded.

"Then that could work on Dream Catcher's, right? Instead of having them permanently turn into Demons, they could remain people and control these Demons, right?"

"It's not that simple. The only thing I'm doing with Devil Seeds is separating them from their hosts to keep them intact so that no one can destroy them. To prevent people from turning into Demons, you'd need a partial transformation. Isolated from yet attached to the host. I could pull that off but it's quite unlikely that there won't be side effects."

Daisy started to waver as she once had a comerade that turned into a Demon mid battle after sacrificing himself for Elena. Thinking back, she tried to shake off her hatred for Elena.

Back then, she had just turned 17. Elena not only was a year younger than her, but also had less experience as a Dream Catcher. Still, Daisy had asked her to participate in a battle against a Fusion. Though they mostly held their own, tragedy struck right before they could defeat the Fusion. Campanella was a rather weak Fusion consisting of only three Demons. It was so weak that it would occasionally split into its three Demons to seperate the group of five fighting it.

"Rouge! Soul! Deal with the ones running off! Me, Elena, and Felix will deal with its core!", Daisy commanded. Two fragments had run off from the Core Demon, Campanella. As such, only Campanella remained at the epicenter of the domain.

This battle took place within Daisy's domain, a world of clouds, and massive trees interconnected by roots. As such, Elena wouldn't know where to strike without causing havoc. Destroying just one root may mean the collapse of this system while destroying another simply means the end of that one root.

"We can take it out by cutting the roots directly beneath it!", Elena shouted as she jumped forward. Because this Demon was just an incosistent mess of several black and purple fluids and solids in form of an axolotl, it was hard to trap or hold onto. Elena believed that removing its footing would render it helpless and immaturely cut the branch right beneath it.

"Hey, Elena! Run away!", Felix yelled. It was too late as the system started collapsing.

Sadly, it ammounted to nothing as a massive part of the system collapsed. Roots below them would fall upwards as gravity was reversed. Causing chaos within the entire domain allowed the demon to slip away as it swiftly maneuvered onto the collapsing roots.

One of the roots struck Elena and dragged her down. As she was being dragged down, Campanella created tendrils stretching right towards Elena trying to impale her. However, Felix, with a greatsword in hand and charging his weapon with electricity, jumped towards Elena to block the attack. However, these tendrils simply maneuvered around him piercing his throat while pumping him with dark magic.

Before it could dig deeper, Elena had freed herself from falling with a part of the root while Rouge and Soul were coming closer as they too were falling. Daisy froze in place as everything escalated with just one action. Back then, Elena was rather hot-headed as she had recovered from the trauma of losing several friends and family. That aspect of hers died with this mistake.

As such, even Daisy started falling as Felix was lost within the chaos. The aftermath was a tragedy as Rouge and Soul had beaten Campanella on their own while Felix had disappeared. He was just a year younger than Elena and less experienced than her but still far more useful than Elena ever was to Daisy.

For a week, Daisy contemplated whether or not she should cast Elena aside. "Had she just followed orders no one would have died. I guess this is why they call her “a cursed child”. Her being incapable of following orders probably got her friends killed!", were repeated over and over within Daisy's mind. The decision was up to her. At the time her team consisted of Rouge, a senior that believed she was capable of leading people, Soul, who is too careless to lead for, Felix, a junior who had joined them a year prior, and Genjo, a junior who had joined them just two months ago and was too weak to partake in the battle.

Another fight had ensued as Genjo couldn't stand being around her any longer.

"It's your fault!", he yelled as he kicked her while she lied on the ground. Elena wouldn't say anything and just take the beating.

"Come on! Say something!", he yelled as he got on top of her. "Cursed child!"

Beating her bloody with his fists, no one intervened. Rouge left the house whenever such fights started. Soul was indiffirent and wouldn't intervene no matter what. Daisy ignored it until a few minutes passed and break it up or wait until Genjo's fit of rage had met its end.

Elena never complained. She'd always get up, quietly left the house to cry outside as she ran off and be back an hour later. However, this time, no one opened the door for her. Not even Daisy would do so as she couldn't bear seeing Elena. Whenever Daisy did see her, she'd be reminded of her own failure and the anger she's been bottling up for so long. They went from living together while being best friends to keeping their distance and only coming in contact to discuss important matters.

The battle had to continue. Now that she has her answer, she grabbed The Collector by the throat and flew towards space. Before she could leave the atmosphere, she came to a sudden halt. Both her right arm and her right knee were infused with spiritual power as her next move would be her last.

She let go and flew past him as he started falling.

"Oh? Trying to strike me as soon as I land? Has she not heard of terminal velocity? I'll just stop accelerating at some point and the impact-" Something was pushing him. He wouldn't stop accelerating as something would push him as he kept falling. Friction would start burning him but not roast him as his body was far stronger than that. He could finally stop Daisy and felt delighted as prepared for the final strike. Kneeing him in the stomach, he flew back up leaving the atmosphere in the process. That strike applied so much pressure that it not only crushed whatever his internal organs may be but also wreaked the area around Daisy.

"That should at least hold him off for a bit. I was aiming at the sun so at best, that will take him out. At worst-"

Something crashed right behind her.

"My ability is to collect. I can take whatever I want even if it is within a domain!", he uttered as he slowly got up with a body regenerating from being battered. He had retrieved the book Daisy had stolen from him. Filling it with air, he simply stopped his flight out of the atmosphere by using it as fuel for flight.

"You're such a coward. I thought you had something in you that would make this battle worth my time. Instead you simply were trying to deceive me to head off to space!", he shouted as he stepped closer. Daisy was tired and her whole body was aching as she's starting to feel the side-effects of using these pills.

Someone stands in his way as he steps closer. King had come to aid her in battle. He only had two months of experience yet he believed that this was enough to fight with someone that Daisy can't defeat on her own.

"Get out of the way!", The Collector yelled as he impaled King with a quick and sudden strike to the stomach. Going right through him, The Collector scoffed at his weakness. Believing to have killed King, he foolishy allowed the person he presumably had killed, to shove their hand into his mouth. Biting the fingers off, he also pulled King off his arm and cast him aside.

"Every single one of you is simply boring! At least that knight gal had the guts to defy me and not give up until the end even after I had shown her what had become of her childhood friend!", he yelled. "At least she was a decent meal and did more than simple superficial damage!"

Before he could do anything. King struck him again with his longsword. However, it simply shattered upon coming in contact with The Collectors neck.

"Oh?", The Collector said as he had the impression that the one fighting right now had been killed. "Superior regeneration that allows one to simply get up as if nothing had happened. Interesting!"

Their battle dragged on as King only had his swords as weapons. Everything else he could be capable of he still had to learn. As such, this battle was just one that would drag on forever as it was simply King's blades clashing with The Collector and shattering. The best thing King could do was create small cuts that barely breached skin. Not even digging far enough to draw blood. Every couple of strikes, The Collector would return the favor by striking him in the ribs always breaking a few of them and sending him flying. King only bought time for anyone else to enter the battlefield.

"Is that all. I was expecting more from someone as fearless as you!"

King only kept attacking but started speeding up. Finally, for the first time, he drew blood by shoving his right hand into The Collector's mouth and cutting up his gums. Though it was only a small amount of blood, he still considered this a victory.

The Collector thought this was worth praising but opted for biting his fingers off first and showering him with praise later. Kicking King down, he kneeled to get on the same level as King.

"Why not become a Demon?", he asked.

King was perplexed by that question of his but was considering it.

"You'll be a lot stronger and be as free as I am! So why not become one?"

"I'll have to consider...", said King. He thought about becoming stronger to protect Hyperion. Becoming a Demon that is as sentient as The Collector would certainly help in doing so.

However, it moved The Collector. Never before had anyone thought about his offer. They simply believed it to be a waste out of their personal beliefs or the repercussions that follow with this deal.

"Since you're the only one that considered becoming a Demon. I'll let you and whoever you want to protect live as long as you're considering this deal. I'll even help you at times!", The Collector promised. "Maybe we even could be friends?"

Daisy couldn't hearing whatever they were talking about and thought about ditching King when she gets the chance. However, she can't bring herself to do something like that. Knowing that The Collector would simply play with King a little longer, she used this brief amount of time to recover just a little more of her strength.

Trying to test how far King can go before he aggravates The Collector, he asked, "Then let's spar!"

The Collector's eyes lit up. Helping King up, he radiated joy. Finally, he found someone that understands him. As such, he'll do anything to stay alive and keep that friend of his alive.

"Ok, I'll start using magic too, okay?"

King nodded.

As such, the battle began anew with a lot less pressure and a lot more joy. Though he shouldn't be enjoying this battle, he still can't help it. It was somewhat thrilling as he made progress. His goal to protect Alpha finally is coming to fruition. Having someone as powerful as The Collector to spar and fight with finally gives him the hope he needed.

Summoning a longsword mimicking that of King's, The Collector readied himself for battle. King threw one of his longswords into the air filling it with magic. As such, several more grew out of the one longsword. Several hundred longswords rain onto the battlefield.

Finally, King ran directly towards his target with two swords in his hands. Trying to aim for the legs, he failed to deliver a blow as The Collector jumped over it and shattered those blades. While The Collector went for a strike to his arms but was blocked by shard growing into another blade. Jumping away, King threw two longswords at The Collector which were deflected by just two wild swings by The Collector.

Going in once more after a short breather, he handled his weapons a lot better. Trying to gain the upper hand by being chaotic, he used his legs and arms to throw, swing, and parry. Rather chaotic, he often lost his balance but would recover before he could fall by summoning more swords. Dislodging the longsword stuck in the ground directly behind The Collector, he intended to strike him with that one. However, King was lifted off the ground by a longsword placed beneath his leg. Throwing him off, The Collector proved that random actions do not equal unpredictability. They left him wide open and rather helpless.

"That girl is recovering," he whispered into King's ear. "Act along if you don't want her to catch on."

He nodded.

Striking him in the stomach, The Collector left a deep wound within King. King struggled to remove the blade as it wouldn't budge. Just in time, Daisy lifted The Collector off his feat with just one vine emerging beneath him. Now, King can use what he deemed to be his trump card. The reason why King shoved his hand into The Collector's mouth, was to bring his magic into The Collector's bloodstream. Though it didn't do as much damage as he had expected, it still created internal bleeding.

Recovering quite quickly while Daisy still lied on the ground incapable of doing anything, he drew his sword once again. Spotting The Collector's book, she quickly threw King off his feet and launched him behind her. Collecting her instead of King, he assured King that he would do her no harm.

"There are four more Dream Catchers from France about to get here. Act injured and afraid and we can meet again in the future."

After a couple minutes of awaiting these four french Dream Catcher's, they finally spotted him within the rubble and swords. These four were rather fancy-looking for people that supposedly were about to engage in battle. One in white, another one in gold, one in blue, and the last one in red...

"Are you okay? We heard you were fighting with someone else. What happened to her?", asked the girl in white.

King nodded to the first question but hesitated on the second.

"She... For some reason he took her with him!", he claimed. "What about the others? The two girls up ahead and the guy with a divine key?"

"They're fine. Don't worry about them. Just point out where he went and we'll take care of the rest, okay?" The girl in white would ask no more questions. Understanding of the situation he was trying to portray, she gently put her right hand on King's head.

"You did well. A rookie as formidable as you are is amazing. Good job!" Showering him with praise, she smiled at him. King pointed out where The Collector had gone and they followed immediatly after by taking off and flying away.