Chapter 18: Become my son!!!

Stan's POV.

"Damn..." I was too careless.

"Hahaha, I'm free!!!" A child's voice echoed around us after Belos released the Collector.

It's really a shame, I really wanted to study the sealing spell used on the Collector by King's father.

*Ouch* The Collector turns to me with a frown.

He had hit the barrier that I quickly placed in the room; I wanted to prevent the inhabitants of the Boiling Isles from sensing the energy fluctuations coming from the castle.

I also wanted to contain the Collector's influence in this location and avoid the major changes he could create in the original timeline.

"Sorry for hurting you, kid." I started walking toward the Collector with my light clones and number 5 floating in a sphere of light created by my light glyph.

"You're the man who's been intimidating my friend for a while, right?" The Collector began floating toward me.

It wasn't long before we were face to face.

"Your friend? That creature is your friend? Haha." I already knew the Collector was being manipulated by Belos, but knowing it and seeing it are two different things.

"STOP MOCKING ME!"

*A tremor* Belos's castle began to break apart and swirl around the Collector.

I could see Belos approaching the Collector, probably trying to avoid being targeted by mistake.

"For such an old being, you react surprisingly childishly." My hands began to glow with blinding light.

I quickly stopped the Collector's act; I didn't want him damaging this castle, since it will be my future base.

"Collector! I like you, how about we play a game?"

"Don't listen to him, he's trying to..." Belos attempted to persuade the Collector, but his voice was suddenly muffled by unknown magic.

This is why titan blood is important for neutralizing the magic of the Collector race. In the original Owl House story, the Collector could manipulate the world and creatures in profound ways.

However, he had limits to his divine power, despite his ability to move a celestial body like the moon with a single finger.

The Collector couldn't use his magic directly on a titan, and I'm currently an entity extremely close to that magical race.

"What game are you talking about? ~" Like a child, the Collector forgot his animosity after hearing something interesting that could amuse him.

"We're going to play 'fight'. If I manage to make you give up during our battle... I want you to become my son!"

"What!!!!" Everyone present had the same reaction as the Collector.

It seemed my proposal had caught everyone off guard.

"Why are you surprised? Although I don't particularly like children, I can't let a sad child live alone and fend for themselves. I can also see that he hasn't played in a long time."

The still-conscious coven heads looked at each other before shrugging.

They're all powerful and already understand that the Collector is an entity capable of destroying them with a simple snap of his fingers.

He literally just made the entire castle shake, and I had to use a light glyph to neutralize his telekinesis.

The only reason the coven heads remain inactive is their understanding of the delicate situation their isles are currently going through.

"You want... me to be part of your family?" The Collector seemed troubled. I smiled at him and nodded.

"Even if I lose, the offer will still stand. So, Collector, do you want to become my son?" I extended my hand toward him.

He looked at my hand then at my face. He seemed to think for a moment before glancing at Philip.

"You hurt my friend. You could also be like the other one, the one who locked me up!"

"Yes, I hurt that man, but he had no intention of freeing you after accomplishing his plan. If you doubt it, you can check his mind, can't you?"

If Eda could send a magic-less teenager into Willow's mind, I think the Collector can do the same, and as I expected, my words planted a seed of doubt in his heart.

"Tell me... tell me he's lying!" The Collector turned to an agitated Belos, unable to move away because of an invisible force holding him in place.

"HE'S LYING! YOU SURELY HEARD, RIGHT? HE JUST WANTED THE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES OF THIS ISLAND, HE'S A BAD PERSON!" Belos started rambling about several things unrelated to the Collector's question.

The overpowered kid stared at him calmly before suddenly striking Belos's forehead with his palm.

The Collector's eyes began to glow before returning to normal.

"LIAR *sniff*"

*BOOM* An explosion of pure energy enveloped the room before I could react.

It seems I won't be able to keep Belos as a slave after all; what a waste of such a brilliant mind.

"You too *sniff*, are you a liar?" The atmosphere around the Collector was clearly becoming dangerous, but I knew I could defend myself and possibly defeat him. So, I was honest.

"I'm not a saint like Belos, but I will never lie to my family. If you want to check, accept my offer."

A silence settled, which seemed to last a moment, before the Collector nodded after wiping his tears.

"Okay, we'll play fight. If you win, I'll become your son, but if I win, then I want to check your mind to know if you're also a liar."

I nodded to show the Collector I agreed before opening a portal to another location. I tried to take him to King's birth island.

"Oh, Lilith, you must restore order here before my return, and take care of number 5 in my absence."

I could no longer feel Belos's presence. So I could leave this place without problem.

Lilith executed a bow before me before affirming her obedience to my order. I could feel that, despite their submission, the coven heads weren't yet faithful subordinates, but that's natural.

I won their allegiance through force and not through nobility or other virtuous means.

I crossed through the portal after nodding and smiling at Number 5, who seemed worried. I could also see an individual who had been hanging back since the beginning of this chaos: the Golden Guard.

He stood there, looking at me with extreme hostility.

I'll have to show him all the atrocities Belos has committed. I really don't want to harm a puppet like him, and especially not an innocent and naive child.

...

Narrator's POV

"Here we are, this place is perfect for us to unleash ourselves." Although Stan said this, he doesn't really think this island will remain standing after today.

"Are there rules in this game?" Although he was clearly in a bad mood, the Collector couldn't really hide the excitement that was beginning to grow in him because of this "game."

"None, except avoiding killing your opponent, and the winner will be the one who makes the other give up continuing the game."

*boom* After Stan's words, the entire island began to crumble, forming several huge rocks that began to fly in the air and swirl.

'It's like in the original story, huh? I'll have to give it my all here too. No one will enter my mind.' A golden aura began to shine around Stan as he flew above the Collector.

An immense light glyph, as large as the island, was projected by Stan, accompanied by several small glyphs swirling around him.

Stan didn't know it, but a silhouette was beginning to appear above him, in response to the excessive use of his artificial heart.

(Image)

The two individuals began to smile at each other without realizing it.

This "fight" was going to decide the fate of the Boiling Isles.