Sephiroth Respect Thread (Part 1)
By CT123 5 Comments
For the best quality, switch to blog format.
Because the original became too bloated to contain it all in one place
Covers Sephiroth, Jenova, and the Sephiroth Remnants because they're all ultimately similar, just that Sephiroth is the strongest among them and can replicate what they've performed.
I'm not pretending to make this for this website specifically, so standards of evidence may vary. I just happen to like the blog format here the best. As my intention is to be as complete as possible, regardless of your standards, I'm pretty sure you'll find something to use in here.
On what qualifies as a feat for the purposes of this collection? As video games seem to be one of those things that lack universal standards?
Things like HP, other stats, and status conditions are obviously gameplay and play no part in evaluation.
What's left of relevance then?
The animations and how they interact with the models are removed from the statistics used to determine game mechanics. In general, I prefer to take the animations and how they interact as being representative of their capabilities unless otherwise clarified to not be so by the developers. Repeated animations that couldn't feasibly be repeated aren't something to concern oneself with either. In consideration to disk space and internal storage/memory, its a bit ridiculous to ask for unique animations to the effect of preserving some arbitrary form of continuity when the animation just exists to represent what came to the development team's imagination.
Doesn't have to be your take, just happens to be mine and elsewhere.
Will/Mental/Spiritual Power Mechanics of FFVII
Here, here, here, and here, the Lifestream is the merged/convergent path of energy (Spirit Energy) of the consciousness/hearts/souls for all living things roaming the Planet. New life born with Spirit Energy and die to return it to the Planet (with some exceptions). Spirit Energy is what makes it possible for the planets to form in Final Fantasy VII. Without Spirit Energy, the planets cannot retain their shape and are destroyed. Shinra's use of Mako Energy will deplete the Lifestream over time and lead to the death of the Planet.
The man could sense the Lifestream trying to erode his spirit– the memories of his former experiences, thoughts and emotions. If he allowed himself be taken into the current, the being he once was would soon disseminate and disappear amongst the spirit energy cycling around the planet.
Lifestream Black 1
Some of the people possessed wounds that even the materia Yuffie had couldn’t heal but, she was sure they would heal gradually if cared for well. The problem was Yuffie herself didn’t have the mental power. Materia was the crystallization of the Lifestream. To withdraw the power from the stabilized crystal, some form of shock is required and this is triggered by the mind waves of the user. As a result of that, the materia user’s mind is significantly weakened.
OTWTAS: The Case of Yuffie
Limit Breaks
When your spirit energy rises to its ultimate limit, for a short while it aligns with and emits from your body. Furthermore, Zack is unusual in that he can copy Limit Breaks, such as taking Aerith’s “Healing Wind” Limit Break from FFVII and turning it into his Limit Break “Healing Wave”. In the same way, Cloud takes his Limit Break “Meteor Rain” from the original Limit Break Zack created based on him called “Meteor Shot”.
Crisis Core Complete Guide
Omnislash
When the limit is reached, his sword is imbued with fighting spirit from the heart for just a moment. In the blink of an eye, 14 hits of damage are dealt one after another…. Cloud then dramatically leaps into the air and brings his sword down for the final slash.
Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega: Cloud Strife Profile p036-041
Final Heaven
Brandishing her right hand, she concentrates her fighting spirit into her clenched fist. With the fist that starts to emanate light depending on the amount of spirit energy gathered, she deals a massive blow to the monster! The spirit energy that is sent into the monster through her fist starts to destroy it from within, crushing it together with a big explosion.
FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania: Tifa Lockhart Profile p042-047
All Creation
After setting up the weapon to break the seal, she focuses her spirit. Before the eyes of the concentrating Yuffie, a large mass of spirit which glows violet, appears. After the spirit energy has formed up sufficiently, it is directed towards the enemy. The released spirit becomes an obi of light and shoots towards the enemy group, engulfing them.
FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania: Yuffie Kisaragi Profile p064-067
Essentially?
The Soul = Will/Mind. Memories/Thoughts/Emotions are essentially the main power-sources in FFVII. The more heightened a characters emotions, the stronger that character will grow and perform.
Accolades
Safer Sephiroth
Sephiroth having neared godhood. Having only a single arm turned into a wing makes one think of a “One-Winged Angel,” which is also the title of his theme song. At the start of development he was tentatively called “Master Sephiroth.”
25th Anniversary Ultimania Vol 2
A legendary member of SOLDIER once revered as a hero.
In the original game, after learning that he was the product of genetic experimentation, he decided he was fated to destroy the planet—and he had more than enough power to do so.
During his stint in SOLDIER, he learned well how to slash enemies with an impossibly-long sword. His fighting prowess is perhaps the only thing he values from the time he considered himself to be human.
Dissidia Museum
It seems like you battle Weiss in the DLC. Why did you choose that character?
Nomura: Since the strongest character, Sephiroth, is already in the game, we wanted to have another formidable boss aside from Sephiroth, so we chose Weiss. I personally am curious as to how a battle would play out for the first time with Cloud versus Weiss. In fact, I even asked the team to add Weiss as a secret boss ever since the PS4 version.
FF7R Famitsu February 2021 Interview
Producer Kitase decided that they couldn’t make any other character stronger than Sephiroth in the world of FFVII.
Final Fantasy VII AC Limited Edition Staff Commentary Summarization
Kitase said that Sephiroth's existence and will is extremely powerful. There is nothing stronger, nothing above him. We had a difficult time deciding on the reason why Sephiroth would appear. Originally there was an idea that the three silver haired men would unite together (and form Sephiroth) but we rejected it because it would be too comical. Kadaj had to be approached in a different way from Sephiroth. I wanted him to be intelligent and cruel, but innocent at the same time, a mentally unstable character.
Final Fantasy VII AC Limited Edition Staff Commentary
Zack was chosen as the main character as a representative of a BC era SOLDIER. Sephiroth is already the strongest in the world so there's no room for growth, and we couldn't possibly see ourselves making a game over type situation where he loses (Nomura)
ge-maga October, 2007 Interview Extracts/Summary
Here, there's no greater threat to the Planet than Sephiroth.
Here, here, here, and here, the Lifestream is the merged/convergent path of energy (Spirit Energy) of the consciousness/hearts/souls for all living things roaming the Planet. New life born with Spirit Energy and die to return it to the Planet (with some exceptions). Spirit Energy is what makes it possible for the planets to form in Final Fantasy VII. Without Spirit Energy, the planets cannot retain their shape and are destroyed. Shinra's use of Mako Energy will deplete the Lifestream over time and lead to the death of the Planet.
[ ν ] – εуλ 0002
...
October
The remains of Sephiroth’s body drift to the Northern Crater. There, he absorbs knowledge from the Lifestream, and with the power of the head of Jenova and his own will, Sephiroth begins to create a new body.
FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania:
Here, Sephiroth has gained the knowledge and wisdom of the Ancients having traveled the Lifestream after Nibelheim. He's additionally gained the knowledge and wisdom of those that came after the extinction of the Ancients.
Here, Sephiroth is able to entirely resist the "voices of the planet" that are "howling in pain". Their words don't reach him, all their moments and memories are like rolling off his back.
The woman had sensed a different presence within the Lifestream cycling around the planet. It was the vehemence of a strong will, one that would never join with the planet. She knew this consciousness. It was the man who had taken her life. A merciless spirit hidden behind a beauteous wall. That spirit was now operating from within the Lifestream.
Lifestream White 1
***Lifestream*** (Pages 216-217) (005.5)
Everything that lives on the Planet returns to the Planet, and new life is born from their life force, which is also the life of the Planet and is called "Spirit Energy." The flowing collective of this spiritual energy is called "the Lifestream." When those who live on the Planet die, their life force returns to the Planet, becomes part of the Lifestream and is eventually allocated into a new life that will grow. This cycle of energy normally allows the Planet to function richly.
...
*Mako poisoning*
The Lifestream is the place to which all life returns, and, as a result, it is overflowing with knowledge. Consequently, when one falls in the Lifestream, the surge of information entering their head exceeds their brain's tolerance level and the danger of their mind shattering becomes high. The state in which one's mind has collapsed like this is called "mako poisoning," and doesn't happen only by falling into the Lifestream, but also through being exposed to mako. Cloud has suffered from this condition on 2 occasions.
Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega
So my spirit will become one with the Lifestream coursing through this Planet. I wonder if father will be there too. Does consciousness have a shape? …No, such a powerful flow of energy would shatter the consciousness of any single human being easily.
OTWTAS: The Case of Shinra
Here, Hojo asserts the power of Sephiroth is beyond science, that science is powerless before his presence. He chooses to assist Sephiroth in deference to that power and the desire to see what Sephiroth can accomplish.
Here, Cloud describes Sephiroth as possessing an incredibly wicked and cruel powerfully strong will.
Q2-2: At what point in time was Project G deemed to be a failure?
A2-2: The verdict on the outcome of project had already been made when Angeal and Genesis were babies.
The Jenova Project was originally started with the aim of creating an Ancient. They didn’t get the data they had expected from Angeal and Genesis, and they were considered failures (although Hollander states in the game that Angeal was a success, at the time Project G was seen to be a complete failure). At the same time Project G was frozen, and abandoned.
On the other hand, Sephiroth showed the anticipated merit, and was deemed a success. Thanks to this Hojo seizes control of the science department, and Hollander loses his position within the department.
...
Q2-3: What are the crucial differences in the experimental processes for those born from Project S and those born from Project G?
A2-3: Put simply, it’s a difference between when the Jenova cells were injected into the body, and the concentration and purity of the Jenova cells.
Sephiroth was implanted with Jenova cells at the embryonic stage. Angeal was born from an ovum from Gillian, who has Jenova cells, and developed in her womb. Genesis was born from a fertilized egg cell unrelated to Jenova, and at the embryonic stage was implanted with genes from Gillian, who has Jenova cells.
In other words, because Sephiroth received Jenova cells with a high level of purity at an early stage of development, he ends up inheriting Jenova’s abilities the best.
...
Q7-1: In DC’s G Reports, it says that “G”, one of the ‘two taboos’, bears an epithet signifying ‘unique’. What does this mean?
A7-1:The ‘two taboos’ refers to Sephiroth and Genesis. In comparison to Sephiroth, the strongest and worst SOLDIER who tried to seize the life of the planet, Genesis was considered a unique SOLDIER who sealed himself away to protect the planet.
Crisis Core Ultimania Scenario Q&A
***Lifestream Relation 3: SOLDIER*** (005.5C)
Shin-Ra's elite soldiers. The Turks scout to gather those who would be capable of handling being injected with Jenova's cells and exposed to mako; those who are gain a massive artificial increase in strength and ability. It is not common to impose this procedure on one against their will, as the resulting changes to their mind and body can be large, and they must be able to bear the experiment's process in order to become a SOLDIER. Those who are selected to become these elite soldiers will join SOLDIER in either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Class, as based on their capabilities. The superior class is 1st Class, but those who reach this rank are few in number. Each class has its own respective uniform, but only those who are 1st Class are allowed to also wear civilian clothes.
(Accompanying screenshot caption)
Sephiroth bloomed on the battlefield and many boys yearned to join SOLDIER. Sephiroth was instrumental in Cloud and Zack having their eyes on joining SOLDIER.
Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega
A SOLDIER: First Class who possessed outstanding merits, was admired as a hero
...
He boasts an outstanding ability even among the 1st Class SOLDIERS, and he is known as the “Silver SOLDIER”.
...
Battling Zack, a colleague with whom he was close. He brushes off Zack’s attacks with such power that one wouldn’t think they were the same rank in SOLDIER.
...
From the very start of the story he has already captivated many as a highly skilled SOLDIER, but it was with the Wutai War that his reputation as a hero was sealed.
FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania: Sephiroth Profile p076-081
SOLDIER
「 FFVII – BC – CC – LO 」
Those who are injected with Jenova cells, and are exposed to high concentrations of mako to be made into the ShinRa Company’s enhanced soldiers. They are armed with superhuman strength and endurance, and although they possess amazing reflexes, it is rare to find people with the strength to handle the operation needed for the adaption, and occasionally those subjects who fail during the research stage fall victim to reckless human experiments. SOLDIERs are ranked from 1st, to 2nd, to 3rd according to combat efficiency, and included within 1st is Sephiroth, the figure ranked highest of all.
...
Jenova
「 FFVII – AC – CC – DC – LO 」
A life form from another planet, which arrived on the planet on a meteorite approx. 2000 years ago. While it is not yet completely clear what it truly is, it is extremely intelligent and has the ability to mimic any other living being. It has an instinctive drive to destroy planets, and is a highly dangerous entity, so as the ‘Calamity from the Sky’ it was sealed by the Ancients. It was excavated by the ShinRa Company and used as a valuable basis of living body experiments, but together with Sephiroth who was created by those experiments it once again came back into action to destroy the planet. Even though most of its physical body was lost during the Jenova War its malevolent will remains, lurking in the Lifestream.
...
Jenova Project
「 FFVII – CC 」
Jenova was a specimen that was mistaken for an Ancient. Based on these early mistaken perceptions, the Head of the Shin-Ra Science Department, Dr. Gast, began conducting experiments to resurrect an Ancient. The main goal of this experiment was to create an Ancient who could inherit the powers of the planet and lead them to riches but the experiment ended up resulting in the revival of the great Calamity.
...
Reunion
「 FFVII – AC 」
One of the properties Jenova possesses is that separated pieces of flesh, called cells, will regenerate back to their original form – working toward the phenomenon of reunification. This is shown by instance(s) when both Jenova, who is practically close to immortal, and the son whom should be called Sephiroth, are resurrected sooner or later even after being destroyed.
FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania:
Super Nova
Limit Breaks
When your spirit energy rises to its ultimate limit, for a short while it aligns with and emits from your body. Furthermore, Zack is unusual in that he can copy Limit Breaks, such as taking Aerith’s “Healing Wind” Limit Break from FFVII and turning it into his Limit Break “Healing Wave”. In the same way, Cloud takes his Limit Break “Meteor Rain” from the original Limit Break Zack created based on him called “Meteor Shot”.
...
Super Nova
In FFVII it is the strongest technique that Safer Sephiroth uses, destroying planets with the power of an expanding sun, the resulting supernova obliterating his enemies. Within Crisis Core, it is one of the answers required to pass the Premium Fanclub’s test.
Crisis Core Complete Guide
Here and here, having your anger pushed to the limit, you can unleash unimaginable power as a Limit Break. Lower Limit Breaks have less power, but can be used more frequently. Higher Limit Breaks have more power, but can be used less frequently.
Something is summoned forth by Sephiroth when both of his hands are raised. A meteor appears, destroying the planets of the solar system one by one. The meteor crashes in the sun, and because of this impact the sun starts to swell. It erupts in a Supernova, everything around is engulfed in the tremendous shock wave.
Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania: Sephiroth Profile p076-081
スーパーノヴァ (オリジナル版)
Supernova (Original Version)
The sentence is under the 3rd pic:
すさまじい爆風と衝撃が、太陽系のすべての惑星に押し寄せる
susamajii bakufuu to shougeki ga, taiyoukei no subete no wakusei ni oshiyoseru
A terrific blast and impact overwhelm all the planets of the Solar System.
Partial translation of FFVII Ultimania Omega p516
1. 両手をかかげ、セフィロスがその場から姿を消す。
Ryōte o kakage, sefirosu ga sono ba kara sugata o kesu.
With both hands up, Sephiroth disappears from the spot.
2. 超新星爆発が発生。宇宙間を 青色の閃光が走り抜けたのち……。
Chōshinsei bakuhatsu ga hassei. Uchū-kan o aoiro no senkō ga hashirinuketa nochi…….
A supernova explosion occurs. After the blue flash ran through the space...
3. すさまじい爆風と衝撃が、太陽系のすべての惑星に押し寄せる。
Susamajī bakufū to shōgeki ga, taiyōkei no subete no wakusei ni oshiyoseru.
Huge blasts and shocks hit all the planets of the solar system.
4. 爆風が太陽系全体を包みこみ、超新星の 光が銀河系のかなたまで明るく照らす。
Bakufū ga taiyōkei zentai o tsutsumi komi, chōshinsei no hikari ga gingakei no kanata made akaruku terasu.
The blast envelops the entire solar system, and the light of the supernova shines brightly into the galaxy.
Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega p516
I'm not advocating their wiki, I'm just noting that they bothered to get the relevant text translated for the raw. If you want to fact check it yourself, this is why I cite my sources.
スーパーノヴァ (インターナショナル版)
Supernova (INTERNATIONAL VERSION)
First pic -> 両手をかかげ、セフィロスがその場から姿を消す (kanjis like 場 are a bitch to read with this picture...)
Rising both of his hands in the air, Sephiroth disappears from the place.
Second pic (Probably the most important here) -> 背景の雲がこまかく割れ、破片が宇宙空間へと吸いこまれていく
The Clouds in the Background disappear like broken glass, the fragments are sucked into Outer Space.
Third pic -> 太陽系の星々の位置を表した星図が映し出され
The position of each Planet in the Solar System is displayed on the Star Map (? Don't know if there's a real scientific term for that).
The rest of the pictures go back to just description like before, nothing interesting.
Partial translation of FFVII Ultimania Omega p516
スーパーノヴァ (インターナショナル版)
Supernova (INTERNATIONAL VERSION)
左ページのつづき
Continuation from the left page
First Pic -> 流星はさらに、太陽系最大の惑星JUPITER(木星=mokusei/Jupiter's name)に接近。
The Meteor approaches more and more from the Solar System's Largest Planet, Jupiter.
Second Pic -> ガズ惑星である木星の中心をつらぬく。
The Meteor runs right through the Giant Planet's core.
Third Pic -> 巨大な穴の闇いた木星は四方八方へ光を放ち、大爆発。
Light errupts from the giant hole in Jupiter, huge explosion ensues.
...................... Honestly the only thing it does is describe what happens in the pictures. Nothing new, it's just a description.
Partial translation of FFVII Ultimania Omega p517
You don't have to like/love my home forum, I'm just supplying the translation as a resource *shrugs*
I'd love someone to translate the whole thing. See if the dude that did the partial is on the mark. I can supply the text of the raw below for that purpose if anyone out there can bother. Pretty sure I got it all correct from Capture2Text.
スーパーノヴア
sūpānovua
Super Nova
異次元空間をも破壊し 絶望を贈る
i jigen kūkan o mo hakai shi zetsubō o okuru
Destroy different dimension space and give despair
The Supernova will destroy the dimensional space and bring despair
Dissidia Final Fantasy: Sephiroth EX Mode Super Nova Description
Again, I'm not advocating their wiki, I'm just noting that they bothered to get the relevant text translated for the raw. If you want to fact check it yourself, this is why I cite my sources.
Also been an attack since his Pre-Nibelheim days.
I don't want a single one of you calling it an illusion. Not a single source from WoG has ever alluded to it being an illusion. I've gathered those sources. They just describe it as it is shown to occur.They've had every chance in the world in more than 2 decades to call it an illusion via officially released media in exposition and have only ever done the opposite.
If your forum of choice calls it an outlier, that's fine.
Just don't perpetuate fanon lies~
International Version (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4)
Japanese Version
Black Materia/Meteor
Imgur Gallery Here
**The Black Materia: Meteor** (005.3A)
It is the Ultimate Destructive Magic; it calls to planets [-- meaning meteor-like rocks --] drifting in outer space and pulls them down to the Planet. It was one of the magicks given to the Ancients, but due to it harnessing enough power to destroy the Planet itself, the Ancients feared it could prove dangerous and sealed it away by their own hands. After falling into the Lifestream, Sephiroth learned of Meteor from the Cetra's firsthand knowledge of it, and set into motion a plan to gain mastery over the life of the Planet.
(Accompanying screenshot caption)
When the Planet is hurt, the spiritual energy that is the Planet's very life will automatically gather in that spot. Sephiroth planned to make use of this by intentionally harming the Planet and gaining dominance over its energy.
Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega p214-215
Meteor was destroyed directly above Midgar and the Planet escaped destruction. It was the power of the Lifestream bursting out of the Planet that saved it. That very moment when the powerful Ultimate White Magic “Holy” won against the the equally powerful Ultimate Black Magic “Meteor”, people could only think of it as the Planet protecting itself and didn’t know how much effort Cloud and his party had put in to help.
OTWTAS: The Case of Shinra
While Tseng was incapacitated, Aerith was killed, and the Black Materia was now in Sephiroth’s possession. He used it to summon the Ultimate Black Magic, Meteor. It was said that upon impact, everything on the Planet would be gone within three to seven days.
Ultimately, it was meaningless whether the planet was destroyed in 3 days or in 7 days, the people needed some ray of hope to cling onto, something to focus on.
OTWTAS: The Case of Shinra
Meteor Crisis
「 FFVII – AC – DC 」
Meteor, summoned by Sephiroth, had the ability to destroy the planet. During the short delay toward impact, Holy was summoned. In order to protect the planet, the whole Meteor was destroyed thanks to the gathered lifestream. The landing site of Meteor, Midgar, was nearly destroyed due Meteor & Holy’s conflict. After the crisis, Midgar couldn’t be used as a place to live, so people moved to the suburb Kalm and the newly constructed city Edge.
FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania:
Black Materia
The materia needed to activate the ultimate black magic “Meteor”, and the counterpart to the White Materia. Due to its incredible power, the Ancients transformed the materia into a temple and made it so no one would be able to leave with it. In “FFVII” Sephiroth sought this materia, and Cloud’s group attempted to stop him, but in the end Sephiroth obtained it and cast Meteor.
Crisis Core Complete Guide
Jenova
The “life form excavated from the earth” mentioned in the “Ancients Project Outline” document in Scene 03-18 refers to “Jenova”, an intelligent life form known as the “calamity from the skies” which crashed into the Knowlespole on a meteorite approximately 2000 years before. Jenova has an instinctive drive to destroy planets, and utilising its abilities to inject a virus into its target and transform them into monsters, and to mimic other forms according to its opponent’s thoughts, it drove the Ancients to near extinction. It was later sealed away by a counter-attack by the Ancients, and remained dormant in the ground until it was exhumed 30 years ago.
Its relation to Sephiroth is like that of a parent and child, and in “FFVII” it continued to work with Sephiroth to summon Meteor and destroy the planet. After the final battle it was defeated by Cloud’s team and lost its physical body, but its mimetic legacy lived on within the Lifestream, and in “AC” it created remnants such as Kadaj.
Crisis Core Complete Guide
Here, Aerith discusses the sort of power required to use the Black Materia.
Here, Sephiroth mentions his desire to become one with the Planet. Here, Sephiroth discusses that he intends to use Meteor to inflict a fatal wound to the Planet and absorb all the energy it gathers at the epicenter to heal it's wound. He intends to become a 'god'.
Here, Aerith notes the Black Materia calls upon "small drifting planets" (not sure what the raw says on the matter) to do the deed.
Here, a full view of the crater left behind by Jenova's impact on the Planet. Here, its speculated the wound left by Meteor's impact won't be as "small" as the one left behind by Jenova.
Here, we see Meteor is in transit to the Planet. Here, we're told it couldn't have taken it longer than a week to get there (probably shorter, but I can't think of a way to narrow down the time frame). Here, we learn that the party has about 1 week before Meteor impacts the planet.
vs Huge Materia/Shinra No. 26 (Final Fantasy VII; Meteor Crisis)
Here, Shinra plans to deal with Meteor by blasting it out of the sky by detonating it with Huge Materia (a single Huge Materia houses 330 times more energy than normal Materia). Here, when normal Materia gets near Huge Materia some kind of reaction should occur. Here, Materia as rare as Huge Materia is sure to have a special consciousness enclosed in it. Here, Summons as powerful as Bahamut Zero are born from the power of the Blue Huge Materia.
Here and here, we see the efforts of what 0 to 4 Huge Materia can accomplish against Meteor (it accomplished little towards their goal, albeit causing it significant damage to the Meteor's surface).
vs Holy (Final Fantasy VII; Meteor Crisis)
Here, the power of Meteor as it begins to near Midgar.
Here and here, Holy vs Meteor. The intervention of Holy on its own is too late, Meteor will hit the planet before Holy can overcome Meteor. Here and here, Aerith commands the Lifestream to help subdue Meteor long enough for Holy to destroy Meteor.
Reunion (Regeneration/Ressurection/Mental Manipulation/Possession)
Reunion
「 FFVII – AC 」
One of the properties Jenova possesses is that separated pieces of flesh, called cells, will regenerate back to their original form – working toward the phenomenon of reunification. This is shown by instance(s) when both Jenova, who is practically close to immortal, and the son whom should be called Sephiroth, are resurrected sooner or later even after being destroyed.
FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania:
***Sephiroth's will and Jenova's will*** (Page 53)
The Sephiroth clones seen in various locations continue gathering for the Reunion. Seemingly, the will of Jenova as a human is the result of it consuming Sephiroth's spirit; in actuality, Sephiroth is controlling Jenova.
(Accompanying screenshot caption)
Sephiroth's voice is heard through his "mother," Jenova, as applied through its cells in the Sephiroth Clones.
...
***As for those which have been chased so far*** (Page 163)
Before the battle with Jenova-DEATH, the words of one of the Sephiroth Clones in line for the Reunion offers an indication of the truth: those who carried Jenova's cells were given the mission of bringing the Black Materia to their master, Sephiroth. The fact of the matter is that the "Sephiroth" Cloud saw in various places was not Sephiroth himself, but rather the body of Jenova from the Shin-Ra building mimicking his form.
...
**Jenova Relation 2: The Reunion* (005.1B)
Due to its amazing regeneration capabilities, Jenova's divided cells reunite to become one again. 5 years ago, Sephiroth fell into the Lifestream holding the head of Jenova, going to the Northern Crater, where the Planet's energy is concentrated, and where he would begin the Reunion -- and assuring his restoration -- by focusing through Jenova's cells. This regeneration was to be carried out by way of the Reunion, as the scattered Sephiroth Clones (-->P.213) would begin migrating toward the Northern Crater.
(Accompanying screenshot caption 1)
The Reunion is an ability of Jenova, but Sephiroth instructs the Sephiroth Clones in the role of their master.
(Accompanying screenshot caption 2)
The main body of Jenova began migrating from the Shin-Ra headquarters because of the Reunion. The Jenova cells in Cloud received the call of the Reunion the same as those of the mimicked form.
...
**Jenova Relation 3: The Sephiroth Clones** (005.1C)
5 years ago, immediately after Sephiroth fell into the Mt. Nibel mako reactor, Jenova's main body -- which had been left behind -- was utilized by Hojo for an experiment. This plan -- which Hojo intended to use to prove his Jenova Reunion Theory -- was called "the Sephiroth Clones Project." The experiment's procedure -- which involved injecting cells taken from the headless body of Jenova into the subjects and exposing them to mako -- doesn't differ from the manufacturing procedure for SOLDIERs. The largest difference is that SOLDIERs are selected from a prime field, being strong of mind and body and able to withstand the experiment uninfluenced by Jenova's cells, whereas the Clones' fragile minds leave them as "portions" of Jenova. The subjects of the Sephiroth Clones Project were the survivors of the Nibelheim incident, with absolutely no thought given to sorting them as with SOLDIER, and -- being unable to maintain their egos -- they lose the ability to live a normal human life.
With the Sephiroth Clones, as part of the experiment, an identification number was engraved somewhere into their bodies. Cloud was a Sephiroth Clone, but received no number due to the "failure work" (referenced in the article below). Cloud's obsessive drive to chase Sephiroth and settle everything over the thoughts of him taking his hometown -- at any cost to and an indifference for himself -- is much the same as that of the Jenova cells.
(Accompanying screenshot caption)
After Sephiroth reduced Nibelheim to ashes, it was reconstructed and the movements of the Sephiroth Clones observed, though with little concern for their well-being.
...
*Successful work, failure work*
As for the mentally and physically strong, carrying Jenova's cells inside their bodies will not cause them to receive Jenova's influence, and they will not become a puppet of Jenova like the Sephiroth Clones, but will instead become a SOLDIER possessing strength far beyond that of a normal human being. In Zack's case, he had already successfully received the SOLDIER procedure previously, and undergoing experimentation as a Sephiroth Clone did not make him into a puppet of Jenova; he retained his normal human behavior to the end. However, unlike Zack, the residents of Nibelheim were perfect in the role of Sephiroth Clones for Hojo's experiment. As for Cloud, like the other residents of Nibelheim -- [who all became perfect] Sephiroth Clones -- being unable to withstand the SOLDIER treatments, he could not retain himself and his mind completely collapsed. When reunited with Tifa in Midgar, though, the coherence of being normal would return to him and he would gain a personality that essentially let him be his own person, even if confusion would come of it.
Also noteworthy is Sephiroth's unique case. Until the secret of his birth was known, he had legendary strength of which he was proud, but 5 years ago, he began walking a different road from that of humans. However, he was unwilling to be placed under Jenova's control and became the leader himself, with its actions falling under his control in the end. This fact resulted in Sephiroth gaining a new sense of strength.
(Accompanying screenshot caption)
Even without awareness of the Reunion as a Sephiroth Clone, Cloud was still drawn to it like the other Clones.
Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega
The man could sense the Lifestream trying to erode his spirit– the memories of his former experiences, thoughts and emotions. If he allowed himself be taken into the current, the being he once was would soon disseminate and disappear amongst the spirit energy cycling around the planet. The man thought this unacceptable. The planet was to be his to rule, and to become a part of that system would be nothing short of defeat.
The man sensed a large flux in the Lifestream. A sign of another, different defeat. When the Lifestream erupted onto the surface of the planet, the man thought that Cloud was no doubt certain of his victory. Cloud was the one who had twice sent the man into the Lifestream. The man knew that if one could hold onto some core of their spirit, then one could remain a separate entity, independent from the planet’s system. Cloud. The man decided to make Cloud that core. And he wanted to let Cloud know of that. I’m still thinking of you. And I’ll show you the proof of that as well.
Lifestream Black 1
When the people who were trying to escape, or those left unable to do anything but stand still, were enveloped by those streams, he decided to leave them with his stigma. If Cloud noticed that stigma, the man was certain that he would never disappear. As long as Cloud remembers me, I can continue to exist. Within the Lifestream, and on the surface. Even if my spirit disseminates, even if just one fragment of a memory courses around the planet, in the end I can count on Cloud’s consciousness to bring me back, the man thought.
Lifestream Black 2
Soon the man thought to himself; I want Cloud to know this is my doing. I want the humans to know this is my doing. For that he needed a body. There were things he wanted to say in his own voice. Things he wanted to shatter by his own hand.
He had decided he would use his Mother’s power. With a fragment of Mother’s body, I too can get a body again, the man thought. And so firstly, he tried to manifest on the surface as just a spirit, but his attempt failed. He had already returned the memories of his own appearance to the planet, and so he was not able to produce an image of himself. So the man found memories of a suitable appearance from the Lifestream, and with that form produced an image. It was the form of a boy. Soon the man remembered that being on the surface was incomparably more limited than the freedom of being a spirit. He created two more agents to do his work. These three were separate entities, and at the same time he himself. These three, created by the strength of the man’s will and detached from the system of the planet, were both at once a part of reality and monsters out of fantasy.
The man thought of the future. As my servants are looking for Mother, if they come across someone who knows me, then from that spirit I can learn of who I once was. And with Mother’s further assistance, I can become fully real. Even if there’s something lacking, it doesn’t matter. Cloud will make me complete.
— That will be the beginning, the man thought.
Lifestream Black 3
The woman discovered that there was a growing number of spirits within the Lifestream who refused to be absorbed by it. While they were different from the man’s spirit, they rejected the Lifestream due to the same emotion. Hatred. Their feelings towards the planet were steeped in hatred, just like that man’s. This is the result of his influence reaching the surface, she thought. The woman drew closer to the souls that had just entered the Lifestream, spirits filled with hate, and tried to heal them.
...
She released those thoughts and dissolved them into the Lifestream. Having lost the core of their emotions, the surface animosity disappeared. The woman had found a solution, however more and more spirits steeped in spite appeared, and it was too much for her to bear. She rushed through the Lifestream in search of other souls to help her.
...
She had more spirits on her side now, but even so the hatred borne by that man did not decrease. She then thought of Cloud, living in his reality up on the surface. In order to reduce the hatred lingering in the Lifestream, she would have to remove the hatred flooding the real world.
Lifestream White 2
Here, Cloud Strife explains how Hojo's creation of the Sephiroth clones was just like that of the procedure that produces Shinra's SOLDIER's. He further explains the combination of Sephiroth's Will, Jenova's Cells, and his own "weak" will is what allows for himself and those like him to get swept up in the Jenova Reunion.
Here, here, and here, Hojo explains how Sephiroth usurped the Jenova Reunion for himself so that he might be able to control the movements of Hojo's Sephiroth Clones.
vs Kadaj (Advent Children Complete)
Here, by merging with the few remains of Jenova's "Head" that remained, Kadaj was able to fully revive Sephiroth per the plans Sephiroth had made within the Lifestream after his previous demise.
vs Kidnapped Children of Edge (Advent Children Complete; Kadaj)
Here, here, and here, Kadaj has the children afflicted with Geostigma drink the water he spread his magic miasma into. Those that did drink it ended up acting as his mind controlled thrawl and were granted some measure of superhuman strength.
vs Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova Body)
Here, Sephiroth manipulates Cloud Strife into fixating on the Black Materia/Meteor.
Here, Sephiroth manipulates Cloud Strife into handing over the Black Materia to him.
Here, Cloud Strife is compelled to attack Aerith Gainsborough by Sephiroth.
Here, Cloud Strife is mentally coerced by Sephiroth to once more handover the Black Materia to him. Cloud Strife refers to Sephiroth as "Master".
Here, after being further mentally broken down by Sephiroth's illusion of the Nibelheim incident, Sephiroth once more tries to control Cloud Strife into receiving the Black Materia and handing it over to him. Sephiroth appears to be manipulating everyone's sensory perception in order to prevent the group from hearing Tifa Lockhart shouting at all.
vs Sephiroth Clone No. 9 (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova Body)
Here, even as Sephiroth Clone No. 9 is dying and beginning to diffuse into the Lifestream (I think? I'm pretty sure that's what it was doing flying off randomly at the end), the Clone can think of nothing other than acquiring Sephiroth the Black Materia.
vs Sephiroth Clone No. 49 (Final Fantasy VII Remake; Unknown)
Here, Sephiroth possesses the resident Sephiroth Clone of the Sector 7 Slums to assault Cloud Strife. Upon grasping Cloud's ankle, Sephiroth via the Clone proceeds to show Cloud a vision of the Jenova Reunion that once took place at the Northern Cave in the future of the timeline.
vs Sephiroth Clone No. 2 (Final Fantasy VII Remake; Unknown)
Here, Sephiroth possesses the resident Sephiroth Clone of the Sector 5 Slums to persuade/taunt Cloud about how the Jenova Reunion is nothing to fear.
Divine Proclamation
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII Remake; Unknown)
Here, here, and here, Sephiroth defeats Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith, and Red XIII with his Divine Proclamation that he summons during his final phase. There are no survivor nor do we see the shape their bodies are left in if they survived at all.
Here, Divine Proclamation can't retain its summons when Sephiroth suffers enough injury and fatigue from his battle with Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith, and Red XIII/Nanaki. Seems to suggest he needs to consciously exert his power to maintain it in order to throw it around in battle.
Negative Lifestream/Geostigma
Geostigma
「 AC 」
A mysterious illness which spread following the Meteor Crisis. It causes black spots to appear on the skin of the sufferers. There is no cure, and sufferers are gradually weakened by random attacks of pain, eventually proving fatal. This is a condition brought on by the overworking of the body’s immune system, trying to purge Jenova’s cells that have entered the body. And even more terrifyingly, the spiritual energy of the dead afflicted with Geostigma will separate from the normal cycle of life and join the Negative Lifestream — Jenova’s mimetic legacy lurking in the Lifestream — and contribute to its power to corrode away the planet.
FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania:
When the Lifestream erupted onto the surface of the planet, the man had already surrendered his inconsequential memories to the planet. Memories from when he was a boy, of his few friends, of the battles when he was still unaware, of his life in bygone days– all these became a part of the inundation, encased around Meteor, and finally receded. At the same time, the core of his spirit, and those memories deeply related to it, moved from torrent to torrent, and traveled around the land, from city to city. When the people who were trying to escape, or those left unable to do anything but stand still, were enveloped by those streams, he decided to leave them with his stigma.
Lifestream Black 2
Despite mankind’s troubles, life on the planet had returned to normal. The man became aware of the increase in spirits— they could be called the darkness of the heart— melding with the Lifestream. He cherished that lingering darkness. Even more so when he considered that the stigma he had left on the surface was what created it. He thought that he could possibly enjoy himself with that. Filling the Lifestream with this darkness.
The man hid himself within the life on the planet and traveled around the world, branding even more people with his stigma. On the surface there were many people who no longer had their normal lives, and at the man’s temptation the dark parts of their hearts grew even larger.
Lifestream Black 3
The woman discovered that there was a growing number of spirits within the Lifestream who refused to be absorbed by it. While they were different from the man’s spirit, they rejected the Lifestream due to the same emotion. Hatred. Their feelings towards the planet were steeped in hatred, just like that man’s. This is the result of his influence reaching the surface, she thought. The woman drew closer to the souls that had just entered the Lifestream, spirits filled with hate, and tried to heal them.
...
She released those thoughts and dissolved them into the Lifestream. Having lost the core of their emotions, the surface animosity disappeared. The woman had found a solution, however more and more spirits steeped in spite appeared, and it was too much for her to bear. She rushed through the Lifestream in search of other souls to help her.
...
She had more spirits on her side now, but even so the hatred borne by that man did not decrease. She then thought of Cloud, living in his reality up on the surface. In order to reduce the hatred lingering in the Lifestream, she would have to remove the hatred flooding the real world.
Lifestream White 2
vs Cloud Strife (Advent Children Complete)
Here, Sephiroth's Negative Lifestream spreads itself out across Midgar and into Edge.
Whisper Manipulation
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII Remake; Unknown)
Here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, the various means by which Sephiroth attacks Cloud Strife and company with the Whispers acting as magical projectiles for them to counter with their respective styles of combat (Aerith = Fir/e/a/aga and Sorcerous Storm, Tifa = her Limit Break Somersault and Punches, Barret = Maximum Fury, and Red XIII/Nanaki = Normal Physical Attacks).
Barrier
Here, Sephiroth created a barrier protecting the Northern Crater right after having summoned Meteor.
vs Highwind (Final Fantasy VII; Meteor Crisis)
Here, Sephiroth's Barrier violently repels the approaching Airship.
vs The Sister Ray (Final Fantasy VII; Meteor Crisis)
On huge pillars, constructed almost overnight in Sector Eight, sat a dangerous looking weapon, a cannon hastily flown in from Junon. Scarlet, Head of the Department for weapons research, was responsible for overseeing the development of this super weapon, naming it “Sister Ray”, which seemed like a funny name, considering this weapon was their last defense against Sephiroth. Sister Ray was connected to all of the Mako reactors surrounding Midgar by a pipeline system, and the power was further amplified by means of a Huge Materia.
OTWTAS: The Case of Shinra
Here, Rufus Shinra plans to destroy Sephiroth with the Sister Ray and moved it to Midgar to do so as it was useless in Junon without its Huge Materia. Here, the Sister Ray fires Mako powered shells.
Here, the Sistser Ray begins to charge itself to fire on the Diamond WEAPON and Sephiroth's barrier.
Now, let's compare its performance vs the pair, shall we?
Here, the Sister Ray punches through the Diamond WEAPON with little resistance or loss of momentum. It continues its flight towards its main target at the Northern Crater.
Here, Sephiroth's barrier manages to hold off the Sister Ray's firepower for several seconds before succumbing to the full impact. The Sister Ray's momentum is entirely depleted by the effort and travels no further.
What has the Sister Ray accomplished before this and what can Huge Materia do?
Here, the Mako Cannon in Junon powered by Huge Materia took the head off the Sapphire WEAPON.
Here and here, we see the efforts of what 0 to 4 Huge Materia can accomplish against Meteor (it accomplished little towards their goal, albeit causing it significant damage to the Meteor's surface).
vs Degraded Genesis Rhapsodos (Crisis Core; Nibelheim)
Here, Sephiroth blocks Degraded Genesis' "Fir/e/a/aga" with a barrier. Here, an example of what Genesis can accomplish with his "Fir/e/a/aga".
Telekinesis
vs Cloud Strife (Advent Children Complete)
Here, Sephiroth manipulates the weather via Telekinesis.
Here, Sephiroth appears to start the collapse of the top of the ShinRa HQ Building via Telekinesis. Sephiroth's ensuing sword slash produces a shockwave sufficient to destroy and scatter the collapsing top of the ShinRa HQ Building.
vs Holy (Final Fantasy VII; Meteor Crisis)
Here, Holy is the Ultimate White Magic that has a chance to act as counter to the Ultimate Black Magic Meteor. Meteor, WEAPON, or even the humans living on the Planet might disappear if Holy is summoned. Here, Sephiroth is holding back Holy from doing its job after Aerith successfully summoned it.
Here and here, Sephiroth's telekinesis hammers Cloud and friends with overwhelming power while he simultaneously keeps Holy at bay with his Will. The Party seems to overcome his telekinetic pressure/hold in order to initiate combat.
As for the power of Holy?
**The White Materia: Holy** (005.3B)
The only means of opposing Meteor, the Ultimate White Magic was passed down amongst the Ancients. It is said that when an Ancient learns of Holy in the Forgotten Capital, prays at the water altar and their mind then links to the Planet, Holy is thereby put into operation. Passed down through the Ancients' generations, the White Materia came to Aerith from her mother, Ifalna, and she kept it hidden in a ribbon in her hair. How exactly Holy applies its power once invoked and in operation is not definite. It is simply known that "all that is bad for the Planet will disappear."
(Accompanying screenshot caption)
As evidence of the Planet accepting Aerith's prayer, the White Materia laying on the water bed shines a pale green color. However, Holy's movement was being held back by the wicked will of Sephiroth, who had called Meteor.
Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega p214-215
Meteor was destroyed directly above Midgar and the Planet escaped destruction. It was the power of the Lifestream bursting out of the Planet that saved it. That very moment when the powerful Ultimate White Magic “Holy” won against the the equally powerful Ultimate Black Magic “Meteor”, people could only think of it as the Planet protecting itself and didn’t know how much effort Cloud and his party had put in to help.
OTWTAS: The Case of Shinra
Here, Holy pushes the Highwind out of the Planet's core and high into the atmosphere as a side effect of its own propulsion to counter Meteor. Here and here, Holy vs Meteor. The intervention of Holy on its own is too late, Meteor will hit the planet before Holy can overcome Meteor. Here and here, Aerith Gainsborough commands the Lifestream to help subdue Meteor long enough for Holy to destroy Meteor.
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII; Meteor Crisis)
Here, Sephiroth may or may not have used telekinesis to dismantle the platform Cloud Strife and company had been fighting Jenova SYNTHESIS on top of. Just as likely caused by her death throes.
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII Remake; Unknown)
For reference?
Here, Sephiroth absorbs the power of Meteor as some kind of power up before the final battle. Sephiroth displays both manipulation of the debris of the destroyed cityscape and the weather via his telekinesis.
Because why not kill the illusion of power growth by having the party fight the original game's final boss at comparable or higher power to the last time they had to do so. Its not like they had over a month more of preparation or anything.
Here, Sephiroth tosses the Shinra HQ Building and other assorted skyscrapers/debris at Cloud Strife and company via telekinesis.
vs Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII Remake; Unknown)
Here and here, Sephiroth chucks a large hunk of concrete debris at Cloud Strife. Tifa Lockhart and Aerith Gainsborough match and overpower his telekinesis via Limit Break Somersault or Sorcerous Storm respectively.
vs Northern Crater Meteorite (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova SYNTHESIS)
***Jenova-SYNTHESIS*** (Page 204)
The forms of Jenova that have been fought up to this point (BIRTH, LIFE, DEATH) were parts of the body which escaped from the Shin-Ra building. In regard to Jenova-SYNTHESIS, this form that was arranged to be fought inside the Planet, it is the head of Jenova that Sephiroth had in hand five years ago and the other parts Shin-Ra had, their Reunion complete. As such, its appearance differs from the previous forms: the image of this form's upper body has become strong, it being the closest to perfection.
...
***Jenova*** (Pages 210-213) (005.1)
An intelligent lifeform from somewhere in space. Approximately 2000 years ago, it crashlanded at the North Pole ["Knowlespole" in the English localization of the game] (the vicinity of Icicle Lodge's ["Icicle Inn" in the English localization] present location), negatively affecting the Planet; it came to be feared as "the Calamity from the Skies" by the Ancients, who still existed in great numbers at that time. Vicious, extremely aggressive and cunning. Having no thoughts of creating anything following bringing destruction, it only follows its instincts to incite ruin, utilizing its mimic ability (-->P.211) to infect other living organisms with its virus. In addition, due to its abnormal resilence, even if dismembered, its cells will call out to one another, seeking to reunite into their original form (-->Reunion/P.211). The scar Jenova's landing left on the Planet remains even to the present day, being now known as "the Northern Crater."
(Accompanying screenshot caption)
The parts that are seperated from the main body are still able to function as extensions. That is what those monsters called "Jenova" are that Cloud and company fight during the journey.
*Professor Gast and the Jenova Project*
Approximately 2000 years ago, Jenova collided with the Planet, and although the Ancients were nearly reduced to extinction, some Ancient survivors managed to seal Jenova underground in a deep sleep. However, Jenova would awaken because of Gast's guidance of Shin-Ra's Science Department.
...
***The WEAPONs*** (Page 215) (005.4)
The WEAPONs, created by the Planet itself, exist for the sake of acting as a self-defense mechanism [for the Planet]. Once, when the Planet had been injured after Jenova collided with it, Jenova became an impediment [to the Planet healing], and the Planet manufactured the WEAPONs to remove the creature by force. However, because the survivors of the Cetra succeeded in sealing Jenova away, the Planet mixed the WEAPONs with the natural mako within the Northern Crater and put them to sleep for a long time; until they -- perceiving the crisis to the Planet -- awakened simultaneously with Sephiroth calling Meteor. Regarding everything as a threat to the Planet, humans and civilizations became targets of the WEAPONs' destruction, though they faced opposition in Cloud and his friends.
(Accompanying screenshot caption)
Within the Northern Crater, where the Lifestream swells, the WEAPONs were put to sleep. Their faces are visible within the enormous mako which formed within the crater.
Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega
[ Approximately 2000 years before FFVII ]
·An extraterrestrial life form that will later be named Jenova crash lands on the planet while traveling through space on a meteorite. The indigenous Cetra race gather at the impact site in an effort to heal the massive wound to the planet, but are soon confronted by Jenova. The creature nearly wipes out the entire Cetra race before it is defeated and sealed in a geological stratum. Enormous creatures later called Weapons were created by the planet to combat Jenova, but with the creature defeated by the few surviving Cetra, the Weapons are placed in stasis within the crater formed by Jenova’s meteor. The impact crater will eventually become known as the Great Northern Crater.
...
Jenova
「 FFVII – AC – CC – DC – LO 」
A life form from another planet, which arrived on the planet on a meteorite approx. 2000 years ago. While it is not yet completely clear what it truly is, it is extremely intelligent and has the ability to mimic any other living being. It has an instinctive drive to destroy planets, and is a highly dangerous entity, so as the ‘Calamity from the Sky’ it was sealed by the Ancients. It was excavated by the ShinRa Company and used as a valuable basis of living body experiments, but together with Sephiroth who was created by those experiments it once again came back into action to destroy the planet. Even though most of its physical body was lost during the Jenova War its malevolent will remains, lurking in the Lifestream.
...
Reunion
「 FFVII – AC 」
One of the properties Jenova possesses is that separated pieces of flesh, called cells, will regenerate back to their original form – working toward the phenomenon of reunification. This is shown by instance(s) when both Jenova, who is practically close to immortal, and the son whom should be called Sephiroth, are resurrected sooner or later even after being destroyed.
FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania:
Here and here, the Cetra were informed by the Planet of the wound/crater left in the Northpole by Jenova's arrival and that Jenova fell from the sky creating it. 1000s of Cetra gathered to heal the wound to the Planet, but it still only healed itself after many years due to the severity of the wound. The snow in the north never melts and the land around the wound withered due to the Lifestream being expended in order to heal the Planet. Thereafter Jenova went about her Cetra extinction spree, taking the forms of dead loved ones to deceive them and infect those it came into contact with the virus that drove them mad and transformed them into monsters.
Here, in response to Jenova, the Planet created the 8 WEAPONs in order to see Jenova destroyed. Before they could be deployed, Jenova was sealed away by the remaining living Cetra and the Planet has kept the WEAPONs on standby as it watches the sealed Jenova just in case Jenova rouses once more. The Planet cannot fully heal so long as Jenova exists.
Here and here, a full view of the crater left behind by Jenova's impact on the Planet and discussed how the impact from her arrival pushed the up the land to form "Gaea's Cliffs".
Telepathy
*Jenova's mimic ability*
Jenova has a mimic ability which allows it to read the memories and feelings of others, then adjust its appearance, speech and behavior accordingly to imitate what it has seen. Jenova once used this ability to get close to the Ancients and infect them with its virus, which killed many of them. This ability is not limited solely to Jenova itself, for those who have its cells within them possess it as well, though in an incomplete form. Immediately prior to the start of the game, when Cloud's mind was shattered, he ran into Tifa and seemed to immediately return to "normal" (-->P.13); this was because the mimic abilities of the Jenova cells inside Cloud read her mind, seeing her memories of him, which were then combined with his own ideal vision of himself, fashioning a new personality for him.
(Accompanying screenshot caption 1)
According to Ifalna, the Ancients infected with the virus lost their sanity and turned into monsters.
(Accompanying screenshot caption 2)
As Sephiroth said in the Whirlwind Maze, when Cloud met Tifa, he formed a new personality.
Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova Body)
Here, Sephiroth communicates to Cloud Strife and company via telepathy.
Here, Sephiroth communicates to Cloud Strife that he is traveling north past the snow fields.
vs Cloud Strife and Aerith Gainsborough (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova Body)
Here, here and here, Aerith Gainsborough communicates to Cloud Strife telepathically in his dreams after a member of the party had to knock him out for attacking her. She informs him of her future plans and location in order to stop Sephiroth's attempt summon Meteor.
Here, Sephiroth senses the communication Cloud Strife and Aerith Gainsborough had and telepathically remarks she'll be a problem they need to stop soon.
vs Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII Remake; Unknown)
Here, Sephiroth communicates with a sleeping Cloud Strife telepathically by using the Whispers.
Here, Sephiroth invades an unconscious Cloud Strife's mind to taunt him.
Here and here, Sephiroth communicates with Cloud Strife via telepathy to taunt him.
Illusion Creation
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova Body)
Here and here, Sephiroth employs an illusion to mask himself as Tifa Lockhart while simultaneously hiding the fact he was mauling the party members that had not been in possession of the Black Materia.
Here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, Sephiroth creates the illusion of the events that played out in Nibelheim with Zack Fair from 5 years ago for Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockhart, and random party member X.
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII Remake; Sephiroth Clone Possession)
Here, Sephiroth in possession of one of the Sephiroth Clones and Jenova's body masks himself as Jenova Dreamweaver and alters Cloud Strife and company's perception of the ShinRa HQ Building Presidential Office into an entirely different location.
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII Remake; Unknown)
Here, Sephiroth conjures an illusion of the Nibelheim Incident for Cloud to view before appearing before him as yet another illusion. Could also arguably be Cloud's PTSD.
Here, Sephiroth creates the illusion of their surroundings being set ablaze and being present to converse with Cloud. Upon being attacked, the illusion is broken and Sephiroth continues to communicate with Cloud via Telepathy.
Here, Sephiroth appears before Cloud Strife as an illusion. This may or may not be an illusion controlled by Sephiroth, but rather a hallucination induced by Cloud's broken mind. Here, by Tifa Lockhart touching Cloud Strife, everyone is now able to see the vision of Sephiroth that Cloud Strife sees (kind of like what happened when Aerith Gainsborough was grabbed by Cloud Strife towards the start of the game).
Here, Sephiroth conjures an illusion of the future in which Meteor is descending upon Midgar while simultaneously terrorizing Cloud Strife with images of harm coming to Barret Wallace and Tifa Lockhart at Sephiroth's hands.
Clairvoyance
vs Cloud Strife, Aerith Gainsborough, and Tseng (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova Body)
Here and here, the Lifestream warns the party of the "Evil Conscious" that lurks within the Temple of the Ancients and shows them the recent past of when it first arrived. Sephiroth appears to sense both Tseng and Cloud Strife and company viewing his interaction with Tseng from the future. Sephiroth is seemingly non-corporeal/intangible until he manifests before Tseng and he's spotted.
Here, Sephiroth talks to both Tseng in the past and Cloud Strife and company in the present about his motives while splitting off into another astral projection.
Here, Sephiroth spies on Cloud Strife and company from the location they had previously been watching his actions in the past.
Dimensional Manipulation
vs Singularity's Dimensional Walls (Final Fantasy VII Remake; Unknown)
Here, Sephiroth cuts into the fabric of space/time and opens a portal to the “Singularity”.
vs Ifrit's Dimensional Walls (Crisis Core; Pre-Nibelheim)
Here, upon summons, Ifrit drags Zack Fair into its own dimension.
Here, Sephiroth intercepts and slices through Ifrit's thrown fireball after breaking his way into Ifrit's dimension.
Time Manipulation
vs Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII Remake; Unknown)
Here and here, Sephiroth shows/sends Cloud to the Edge of Creation, a time seven seconds before the Planet's demise.
Here, Sephiroth appears to freeze time local to Cloud. May or may not be an illusion or hallucination too.
Teleportation
vs Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova Body)
Here and here, Sephiroth teleports to where Cloud and company are located.
Here, Sephiroth teleports away from Cloud and company to ambush them.
Here, Sephiroth teleports Cloud, Tifa, and random party member X to where his real body is after screwing with Cloud's head via illusions.
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII Remake; Unknown)
Here, Sephiroth teleports while fighting Cloud Strife and company.
vs Post-Modeoheim Zack Fair (Crisis Core; Nibelheim)
Here, Sephiroth teleports while fighting Zack Fair.
Flight
vs Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova Body)
Here, here, here, here, and here, are just some examples of Sephiroth flying away from Cloud and company at high speed.
vs Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII Remake; Sephiroth Clone Possession)
Here and here, some examples of Sephiroth using flight to ascend and descend into the sky away from and towards Cloud and company.
Intangibility
vs Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova Body)
Here, Sephiroth floats up through the ship's hull and floor.
vs Cloud Strife, Aerith Gainsborough, and Tseng (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova Body)
Here, Sephiroth appears to sense both Tseng and Cloud Strife and company viewing his interaction with Tseng from the future. Sephiroth is seemingly non-corporeal/intangible until he manifests before Tseng and he's spotted.
Astral Projection
He had decided he would use his Mother’s power. With a fragment of Mother’s body, I too can get a body again, the man thought. And so firstly, he tried to manifest on the surface as just a spirit, but his attempt failed. He had already returned the memories of his own appearance to the planet, and so he was not able to produce an image of himself.
Lifestream Black 3
vs Cloud Strife, Aerith Gainsborough, and Tseng (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova Body)
Here, Sephiroth talks to both Tseng in the past and Cloud Strife and company in the present about his motives while splitting off into an astral projection.
Enhanced Senses
The man could sense the Lifestream trying to erode his spirit– the memories of his former experiences, thoughts and emotions. If he allowed himself be taken into the current, the being he once was would soon disseminate and disappear amongst the spirit energy cycling around the planet. The man thought this unacceptable. The planet was to be his to rule, and to become a part of that system would be nothing short of defeat.
The man sensed a large flux in the Lifestream. A sign of another, different defeat. When the Lifestream erupted onto the surface of the planet, the man thought that Cloud was no doubt certain of his victory.
Lifestream Black 1
Heartless Angel
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII; Safer Sephiroth)
Here, Safer Sephiroth uses Heartless Angel on Cloud Strife and company.
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII; Bizarro Sephiroth)
Here, Bizarro Sephiroth uses Heartless Angel on Cloud Strife and company.
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII Remake; Unknown)
Here, Sephiroth uses Heartless Angel on Cloud Strife and company.
vs Post-Modeoheim Zack Fair (Crisis Core; Nibelheim)
Here, Sephiroth uses Heartless Angel on Zack Fair.
Summoning
Pre Nibelheim
vs Post-Modeoheim Zack Fair (Crisis Core; Nibelheim)
Here, Sephiroth summons four Huge Materia.
Here, Sethiroth's four summoned Huge Materia attack Zack Fair with some kind of light shockwave.
Blizzard Materia
Fire Materia
Thunder Materia
Support Materia
Post Meteor Crisis
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Advent Children Complete; Sephiroth Remnants [Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo])
Shadow Creepers
Here, Loz and Yazoo summon a number of Shadow Creepers to attack a Geostigma Inflicted Cloud Strife.
Here, Kadaj unsummons a large number of Shadow Creepers.
Here, Yazoo summons Shadow Creepers. They go on a rampage throughout the crowd.
Here, the Shadow Creepers job to Denzel, a fire hydrant, and a spray of water.
vs Cloud Strife (Advent Children Complete)
Here, Cloud Strife swats a pair of Shadow Creepers.
Here, Cloud Strife swats another Shadow Creeper.
Here, Cloud Strife swats yet another Shadow Creeper.
Here, Cloud Strife takes out a trio of Shadow Creepers lunging at Denzel by chucking his sword like a boomerang.
vs Tifa Lockhart (Advent Children Complete)
Here, Tifa Lockhart sends a Shadow Creeper flying with a kick then has to jump into the air as she's pursued by an additional 3 Shadow Creepers she briefly fends off before they give up and go after Denzel.
Magic
Here, magic is performed by tapping into the knowledge and wisdom of the Ancients held within Materia. Anyone with this knowledge can freely use the powers of the land and the Planet.
Pre-Nibelheim
Blizzaga (FFVII and Crisis Core)
vs Nibelheim (Final Fantasy VII; Nibelheim)
Here, Sephiroth sets Nibelheim ablaze.
vs G Assailant (Crisis Core; Pre-Nibelheim)
Here, Sephiroth kills a G Assailant with Thund/er/ara/aga.
Post Nibelheim
Here, Sephiroth has gained the knowledge and wisdom of the Ancients having traveled the Lifestream after Nibelheim. He's additionally gained the knowledge and wisdom of those that came after the extinction of the Ancients.
vs Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII; Safer Sephiroth)
Here, Safer Sephiroth protects himself with Wall.
vs Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII; Safer Sephiroth)
Here, Safer Sephiroth uses Break on Cloud Strife.
Here, Safer Sephiroth uses Deen on Cloud Strife and company.
Here, Safer Sephiroth uses Death Sentence on Cloud Strife.
Here, Safer Sephiroth uses Dispel on Cloud Strife and company.
Here, Safer Sephiroth uses Flare on Cloud Strife.
Here, Safer Sephiroth uses Pale Horse on Cloud Strife. The attack inflicts Frog, Sadness and Small on those it connects with.
Here, Safer Sephiroth uses Shadow Flare on Cloud Strife.
Here, Safer Sephiroth uses Slow on Cloud Strife and company.
vs Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII; Bizarro Sephiroth)
Here, Bizarro Sephiroth uses Bizarro Energy to heal himself from harm.
vs Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII; Bizarro Sephiroth)
Here, Bizarro Sephiroth uses Aurora Fence on Cloud Strife and company (I'm not sure what this attack is supposed to do. Just here for completion).
Here, Bizarro Sephiroth uses Blizzaga on Cloud Strife.
Here, Bizzaro Sephiroth uses Firaga on Cloud Strife.
Here, Bizarro Sephiroth uses Graviga on Cloud Strife.
Here, Bizarro Sephiroth uses Stigma on Cloud Strife and company. The attack inflicts Poison and Slow on those it connects with.
Here, Bizarro Sephiroth uses Sleep.
Here, Bizarro Sephiroth uses Slow.
Here, Bizarro Sephiroth uses Stop.
Here, Bizarro Sephiroth uses Thundaga on Cloud Strife.
Here, Bizarro Sephiroth uses Quaga on Cloud Strife.
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova SYNTHESIS)
Here, Jenova SYNTHESIS uses Absorb on Cloud Strife.
Here, Jenova SYNTHESIS uses Biora on Cloud Strife and company.
Here, Jenova SYNTHESIS uses Ultima on Cloud Strife and company.
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova DEATH)
Here, Jenova DEATH uses Red Light on Cloud Strife.
Here, Jenova DEATH uses Silence.
Here, Jenova DEATH ues Tropic Wind on Cloud Strife.
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova LIFE)
Here, Jenova LIFE uses Aqualung on Cloud Strife and company.
Here, Jenova LIFE uses Blue Flame on Cloud Strife.
Here, Jenova LIFE uses Blue Light on Cloud Strife.
Here, Jenova LIFE uses Reflect.
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII; Jenova BIRTH)
Here, Jenova BIRTH uses Gas on Cloud Strife.
Here, Jenova BIRTH uses Laser on Cloud Strife.
Here, Jenova BIRTH uses Tail Laser on Cloud Strife and company.
Here, Jenova BIRTH uses W-Laser on Cloud Strife.
vs Cloud Strife and Friends (Final Fantasy VII Remake; Unknown)
Here, Sephiroth uses Aeroga on Cloud Strife.
Here, Sephiroth uses Blizzaga on Cloud Strife.
Here and here, Sephiroth uses Boundless Void on Cloud Strife and Tifa Lockhart or Aerith Gainsborough. Here, Sephiroth uses Boundless Void on Cloud Strife and proceeds to assault him with attacks with his Masamune.
Here, Sephiroth uses Firaga on Cloud Strife.
Here, Sephiroth uses Firewall on Cloud Strife and company.
Here, Sephiroth uses Frostspike on Cloud Strife and company.
Here, Sephiroth uses Shadow Flare on Cloud Strife and company.
Here, Sephiroth uses Thundaga on Cloud Strife and company.
Here, Sephiroth uses Thunderstorm on Cloud Strife and company.
Here, Sephiroth uses Windwail on Cloud Strife.
Here and here, Sephiroth uses dark energy enhanced feathers as projectiles to harm and restrain Cloud Strife (though the attacks are unnamed, the Ultimania apparently calls them both 滅刃 and 影斬 respectively).
Post Meteor Crisis
vs Cloud Strife (Advent Children Complete (Loz and Yazoo)
Here, an exhausted and wounded Cloud Strife endures the final suicidal magic attack (comprised of Comet, Flare, and various explosive spells) from the combined forces of Loz and Yazoo.
vs Cloud Strife (Advent Children Complete; Kadaj)
Here, Kadaj attacks Cloud Strife with magic. Cloud Strife easily manages to dodge and lunges at Kadaj to begin their battle.
vs Sector 5 Church (Advent Children Complete; Kadaj)
Here, Kadaj attacks a large stone pillar with magic, shattering it and causing it to topple over.
Here, Kadaj attacks Cloud Strife with magic, misses, and blows up Aerith's Sector 5 Church flower bed.
vs Rufus Shinra (Advent Children Complete; Kadaj)
Here, Kadaj attacks Rufus Shinra with magic, misses, and causes a large explosion to occur in the building they had been occupying.
vs Petrified Ancient Tree (Advent Children Complete; Kadaj)
Here, Kadaj snaps a petrified tree located in the Ancient Capital of the Ancients with magic.
