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Chapter 10 - The end, In more ways than one
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Reno spotted Zack and Cloud coming up the stairs and fired two blasts. Zack and Cloud struck the blasts back at Reno with their weapons. Reno dived out of the way as the two pulse blasts destroyed the pillar he had hidden behind. Elena looked at Reno as the blasts had been volleyed back at him before looking back to see Sephiroth. Before she could fire Sephiroth had dived forwards and slashed once. The pillar fell in half but Elena had managed to move but not far enough. Sephiroth had cut a swathe through Elena's internal organs. Elena collapsed "No!" shouted Tseng raising his rifle and shooting at Sephiroth. Tseng discarded the rifle and drew a baton similar to Reno's and attacked. Reno charged into Cloud knocking him to the ground. Cloud fired his pistol and the round narrowly hit Zack who then shot Rude as he ran forwards to help Reno. Rude continued to charge ignoring the bullet wound. Zack continued to fire hitting Rude but causing no hindrance. Zack rolled to the side and cut the charging bald man in two. Rufus jumped to his feet rifle raised. Sephiroth batted Tseng aside and saw Rufus taking aim. Lightning burst into his palm and he fired but it was already too late. Rufus fired. The room was lit up by a blue ball of energy from his rifle. Zack's vision had been drawn to the light and it was too late when he figured out what it was. The round hit Zack directly in the chest. He cried out in pain as he stumbled back crashing into the wall, blood dripping from the chest wound. Rufus was hit from behind by the lightning immobilising him. Tifa jumped to her feet and ran to Cloud's aid. Sephiroth attacked Tseng slicing him in two. Reno twirled around striking Tifa in the throat making her collapse. Zack slid down the wall slowly watching his friends fight, he wondered if any of them had noticed him dying. He looked up and saw Sephiroth running towards him. "It's too late" said Zack coughing as Sephiroth knelt next to him. Sephiroth spun hitting a pulse blast back at Rufus who was back on his feet. Rufus was grazed by the pulse blast and it spun him like a ballerina. "No such thing" said Sephiroth removing his gloves "What are you going to do then?" asked Zack, he knew that Sephiroth knew that it was too late "I'm going to cure you" said Sephiroth. Blue sparks erupted in his palm
"You know that it's too late" gasped Zack "Now go fight" Sephiroth sent the sparks into Zack, it closed the wound and fixed what it could. Zack got to his feet shakily. "You help Cloud, I'll take Rufus" said Zack stumbling forwards. Rufus looked up and saw Zack running towards him. Rufus held the rifle with one hand "Too easy" he laughed and fired. There was a loud click as the firing pin dropped. Rufus looked up fearfully "Oh shit" he said. Zack twirled slicing the rifle in half then decapitating Rufus. Zack and Rufus collapsed, the running had really taken it out of Zack.
Sephiroth kicked Reno in the face before twirling and stabbing the Turk through the chest and impaling him against the office wall "You have caused much suffering" said Sephiroth "Now you die" Sephiroth ripped the sword upwards cutting Reno in half.
"Now we just have the president to deal with" said Cloud. The president was sat in shock looking at Rufus' body. Sephiroth walked over to the president, bloody weapon glinting in the light from outside. Zack was knelt facing the president, standing up was too much. "You almost killed my friends, you are responsible for the suffering of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people that live beneath the plate" said Sephiroth "You have killed too many people"
"You dare lecture me about killing and suffering" said the president getting to his feet "You happen to be one of the biggest mass murderers on this planet"
"I will pay for what I have done" said Sephiroth "But first" he raised his sword "You must take the trip to hell" Sephiroth stabbed the President. The president gasped holding onto the sword blade. Sephiroth twisted it "You will lead the way for all the others who will be following you to the fiery depths" said Zack with a smile "You will no longer rule over this city" said Cloud leaning on his sword
"You are now another statistic on this city's bloody record" said Tifa hugging Cloud but looking at the president. "Now you are the one on the end of Soldiers training" said Sephiroth and ripped the sword out of the president before setting him on fire. Sephiroth ignored the screaming and looked at Zack who had collapsed. Sephiroth ran over to him and checked his pulse "Zack!" shouted Sephiroth but Zack was already gone. Sephiroth sat down on the floor looking at Zack. Sephiroth had seen so much death but none of it had ever effected him but now one of his friends had died, one of his only friends, and it effected him in ways he never thought was possible. "I'm sorry Sephiroth" said Tifa putting her arm around Sephiroth's massive shoulders. Sephiroth got to his feet and shook his head, he could mourn later now he had to finish his work.