He could feel Sephiroth's concern for him mounting, and he was certain that if the ex-General was in human form, it would involve plenty of hovering. As it was, he was concentrating on fighting off the Kishin Eggs that were starting to press in on him in significant numbers. He slashed the Masamune, pushing his own soul wavelength to get passed this. Was he having a heart-attack?

He felt the bite of claws in a glancing blow that was deflected by his spaulder, but he shook it off as the pressure seemed to increase with their soul wavelengths, though he didn't assume it was the reason. Grunting, he was forced to give ground for the first time in the battle, keeping the Kishin Eggs at bay because of the long reach of his sword which seemed to sing on a different note.

What was wrong? Their resonance was better than ever, the madness not even coming close to touching them. Their confidence was unbeatable, and yet, why was it getting so hard to breathe? He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to draw in a breath even if it sent pain through his entire being before his eyes caught on a strange glow from his chest that was only getting brighter as the Kishin Eggs closed in again. He blinked when a ghostly black orb emerged, absorbing light around it yet still shifting. That looked like the Black Materia, but how...?!