Deep beneath the Sanctuary, in a place few even knew existed, Delson Snow Sr. stood alone. The bunker was vast, a sprawling underground facility designed for one purpose, to enhance and prepare him for the battle ahead. The air here was heavy with the hum of dormant machinery, and the walls were lined with reinforced metal, capable of withstanding any strain his body and mind might place on them during his training.
Delson moved through the dimly lit space, his footsteps echoing in the otherwise silent chamber. This was the place where he would begin his transformation, where he would elevate himself to face the greatest threat Corintopia had ever known. He knew that his current strength, formidable as it was, would not be enough. Tel-Nu's power defied reason, and Delson had seen firsthand what that kind of strength could do. He would need to become something more, something greater than any human could achieve.
The bunker had been outfitted with the finest technologies and resources the Core Seven could muster. Ancient bio-mech systems, energy amplifiers, and genetic enhancements lay dormant, waiting to be awakened. This was the culmination of Delson's own vision, a place where the boundaries of human potential would be pushed to their absolute limits.
As he approached the central control panel, Delson's mind flickered with thoughts of Tel-Nu. The dark figure had already proven his power in the council chamber, where a simple word had ended a man's life. It was clear that Tel-Nu wasn't bound by the same rules as the rest of them. If Delson was to protect Corintopia, if he was to stand even the slightest chance of defeating Tel-Nu, he would need to transcend his current form.
His fingers brushed over the control panel, activating the systems within the bunker. Lights flickered on, casting an eerie glow over the rows of machines and devices. The hum of power filled the air as the systems came to life, and Delson could feel the energy pulsing through the room.
This was the moment he had been preparing for, the beginning of his transformation. He had no illusions about the risks, what he was about to undertake would push him to the edge of his physical and mental capacity. But there was no other choice. Tel-Nu was a god-tier threat, and Delson would need to rise to that level, or everything he had built would be lost.
As the hum of the machines grew louder, Delson took a deep breath and moved to the center of the bunker. The technology and enhancements surrounding him were only tools, they would aid him, but his greatest strength would come from within. Before he could begin the physical transformation, he needed to quiet his mind, to focus every ounce of his willpower on the task ahead.
Delson lowered himself to the floor, crossing his legs as he assumed a meditative position. The cold metal beneath him grounded him in the moment, and he closed his eyes, shutting out the distractions of the world around him. The low hum of the machines became background noise, fading into the distance as his focus shifted inward.
His breathing slowed, becoming deep and rhythmic, each inhale and exhale drawing him further into a state of calm. The thoughts that had been swirling in his mind, of Tel-Nu, of Corintopia, of the battle to come, began to fade. There was no room for fear, no space for doubt. He had to be in complete control of himself if he was going to achieve what needed to be done.
The world outside the bunker ceased to exist. In this moment, it was just him, the stillness, and the quiet focus of his mind. Delson's thoughts sharpened as he entered a deeper state of meditation, pushing aside all distractions. His mind, like his body, needed to be honed to perfection. Tel-Nu's power was vast, but Delson knew that strength wasn't enough on its own. Clarity of purpose, mental discipline, these would be the keys to unlocking his potential.
As his mind quieted, he began to feel the energy around him. The latent power in the bunker, the dormant machines waiting for his command, it all became part of the flow. He let that energy fill him, slowly but steadily, as his consciousness reached out and connected with the systems in the room. The machines pulsed in time with his breath, their power resonating with his own growing strength.
The transformation wouldn't happen all at once. It would be a process, a series of trials that would push him further than he had ever gone before. But in this moment, Delson understood one thing clearly: he was ready. He had prepared for this, mentally and physically, and now it was time to begin.
The energy around Delson grew steady, a rhythmic pulse that resonated with his inner calm. His breathing remained deep and controlled, each inhale drawing him further into the depths of his meditation. The world outside the bunker, with its chaos and uncertainty, was far away now. In this space, only clarity existed, clarity and the singular purpose of preparing for what was to come.
Time lost its meaning as Delson continued to focus, his mind becoming a quiet, still lake, untouched by the disturbances of fear or doubt. His connection to the energy in the bunker deepened, and though the machines remained dormant, their presence was palpable, waiting for his command.
The transformation he sought would require more than just physical strength. It would demand total control over his mind and spirit, and in this moment, Delson was beginning to achieve that balance. With each passing second, his resolve strengthened, his purpose clear.
There was no turning back. He would rise to meet Tel-Nu, no matter the cost.
And so, Delson Snow Sr. continued to meditate, preparing himself for the path that lay ahead, knowing that soon, the real trial would begin.