Delson Snow Sr. stood tall at the heart of his dominion, his form now exuding a regal brilliance that was as terrifying as it was awe-inspiring. The streets of the Fifth Ring, once bustling with order and discipline, now mirrored his true essence—stark, cold, and unnervingly perfect. The twisted remains of what once were soldiers now stood in perfect formation, their bodies warped into statuesque forms. These shades patrolled with mechanical precision, their movements a mere reflection of the pride Delson held over his dominion.
He stood atop a grand platform, the highest point in the Fifth Ring, his new armor gleaming under the darkened skies. His cape billowed behind him, a royal purple that seemed to shimmer with an unnatural light. His eyes, once filled with the wisdom of leadership, now glowed with a sharp, piercing arrogance. Delson had ascended to something beyond humanity—he had become Pride incarnate.
He looked down at the shades, his lips curling into a self-satisfied smirk. Everything beneath him, everyone around him, existed only to serve his grandeur. He had always believed himself superior to those around him, but now, there was no need to pretend otherwise. The mask of humility he had worn for so long as the leader of the Core 7 was gone. No more false modesty, no more playing the part of the noble hero.
"They are beneath me," he whispered to himself, his voice low and filled with disdain. "They always were."
Delson Sr. reveled in his new power, the strength of Pride coursing through him like a river of molten gold. He felt invincible, untouchable. His every thought, every action was now dictated by the belief that he was the pinnacle of creation. There was no room for doubt, no space for humility. He was Delson Snow Sr., the greatest being to have ever existed, and no one—not even Tel-Nu—could compare to his brilliance.
He turned his gaze toward the horizon, where the once-shining city of Corintopia now lay twisted and corrupted, the fortress of the Sinister 7. The fall of the city had only further cemented Delson's belief in his superiority. It wasn't Tel-Nu who had built this empire, not the other members of the Core 7—it was him. His vision, his leadership, had brought them this far. Without him, there would be nothing.
"I created this world," Delson said, his voice rising in intensity. "I shaped it with my hands, molded it into something greater than the ashes it once was."
He looked down at his hands, clenching them into fists. They pulsed with raw power, shimmering with the essence of Gaia, the very force he had sought to control. Gaia—the ultimate source of energy, the key to his dominance. It had always been within his grasp, always just a step away from becoming his alone. Now, there was nothing stopping him from claiming it.
"I am the only one worthy," Delson whispered, his eyes gleaming with a mad intensity. "The others… they are merely shadows of greatness. But I? I am greatness itself."
He thought of the Sinister 7—his so-called allies. Each of them powerful in their own right, yes, but none of them compared to him. Junna, Cusi, Kira, Cormac, Dmitri, Eshe—they were tools, nothing more. Useful for now, but ultimately expendable. Once Tel-Nu was defeated, once the world was his, they would see their place.
"They don't see it yet," Delson mused, his tone laced with arrogance. "But soon, they will. Soon, the world will know who its true ruler is."
He took a deep breath, inhaling the cold, thin air that swept across his domain. Everything about this world was beneath him—its people, its history, its very existence. Delson Sr. had transcended it all. He was not just a ruler of men, but a god among them. His mind soared with grand visions of what was to come—an empire where only the strong, the superior, could thrive. And no one was more superior than him.
"Tel-Nu," he said, spitting the name like a curse. "You think you can stand against me? Against the force of Pride itself? You are a fool."
Delson's thoughts turned to the inevitable battle with Tel-Nu. The being who had haunted their steps, who had orchestrated the fall of Corintopia. But even Tel-Nu, with all his supposed power, was no match for Delson's newfound might. Tel-Nu might be a god, but Delson believed himself to be more than a god—he was perfection.
The thought filled him with a surge of pleasure, his ego swelling to even greater heights. He relished the moment when he would finally confront Tel-Nu, the moment when he would stand over his fallen enemy, triumphant. It was only a matter of time before the world saw the truth—Delson Snow Sr. was not just their leader. He was their future. Their salvation.
He spread his arms wide, as if to embrace the very skies above, his voice booming across the Fifth Ring. "Bow before me, for I am your king! Your god! I am everything you could never hope to be!"
The shades below stopped in their tracks, turning their hollow eyes upward, watching their master in awe and fear. They could sense the immense power radiating from him, the sheer weight of his presence crushing down on them like a physical force. Delson smiled as they bowed before him, their heads touching the ground in complete subservience.
"Yes," Delson said softly, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "You understand. You always understood."
He turned away from the shades, his gaze once again sweeping over the horizon. Soon, the whole world would kneel before him. Soon, he would take his rightful place as the ruler of all creation. And when that day came, even the stars themselves would bow in reverence.
"I am Pride," Delson whispered, a wicked smile spreading across his face. "And I will never be defeated."