The iron staircase seemed endless, winding upward like a steel serpent coiling around the massive structure of Reactor 1 that dominated the night sky. At this altitude, the wind howled, carrying with it industrial dust and the faint, acrid scent of burning Mako.
Aerith's breathing grew heavy. Her boots, designed for city streets, felt like lead weights against the metal grates. She stumbled slightly as she took what felt like her thousandth step.
Without a word, Johnny stopped. He sheathed his sword, and in one fluid, stable motion, he scooped Aerith up into a bridal carry.
"Eh? Johnny?" Aerith let out a small squeak of surprise.
"Hold on," Johnny grunted, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. "We need to move fast. Your legs are slowing us down."
Ivalera fluttered around their heads, sprinkling trails of glowing dust. "Kyaaaaaa! Look at that, Puck! So romantic! Like newlyweds entering their bridal chamber!"
Puck roared with laughter, rolling in the air. "Hahaha! Look at Boss's ears! They're burning up! Oooooh!"
Johnny's face was indeed flushed red, a stark contrast to his fierce expression. "Quiet, you runts. Or I'll use you as Chocobo bait."
Aerith giggled, wrapping her arms around Johnny's sturdy neck. She rested her head against his broad chest. "Oohhh, my darling Johnny... forgive your weak wife. My legs feel like they're about to fall off after walking for hours."
"Don't start," Johnny huffed, though he shifted his grip to make her more comfortable.
Thanks to their earlier "performance" at the logistics warehouse, the crossing from Sector 2 to Sector 1 had been smooth. The false report about the arrival of a "Deepground Commander" had spread quickly. Shinra patrols they encountered actually saluted and cleared the path, assuming they were on a high-level black ops mission.
However, the moment they stepped onto the platform of Sector 1, the atmosphere shifted entirely.
"It's quiet here..." Johnny muttered, gently setting Aerith down as they reached the main connecting bridge. "Nothing but the hum of electricity."
Below them lay Sector 1—the old city, the skeleton of Midgar's beginning. Unlike the other sectors, which were patchworks of new corrugated iron, everything here was ancient concrete, cracked and blackened by soot, and iron eaten away by rust. It created an atmosphere that was bleak, cold, and oppressive. This wasn't a city; it was a giant industrial tomb living in the shadow of the massive plate above.
But the silence was a warning.
In front of the entrance gate to Reactor 1, the metal catwalk was littered with the corpses of elite Shinra troopers. And standing amidst the carnage were three Red Troopers—G-Copies.
They wielded curved Twin-Blades. They stood motionless as statues, as if waiting for a guest of honor.
"Johnny..." Aerith gripped Johnny's sleeve, her face tightening. "The Lifestream here... it feels suffocating. Dense. Something 'wrong' is screaming inside."
Johnny pulled the Dragon Slayer from his back. The sound of heavy metal shattered the silence. "Stay close to my back."
The three G-Copies reacted in unison. Their heads snapped around with a mechanical jerk, and their eyes flared red.
"Aerith," Johnny whispered, his eyes locked on the enemy. "We lure them to the maintenance bridge on the left. It's narrow. They can't swarm us."
"Ready," Aerith nodded, gripping her Guard Stick.
Johnny stepped forward, deliberately letting the tip of his massive sword drag against the serrated iron floor.
SCREEEEEECH...
The ear-splitting sound of metal grinding against metal triggered the creatures' predatory instincts. Without a sound, the three G-Copies launched themselves forward. Their speed was far beyond the previous types—they ran low to the ground, aerodynamic, blades ready to slice.
"Now!"
Johnny and Aerith sprinted, veering into the maintenance bridge flanked by two giant cooling pipes. The path was barely two meters wide.
Once they reached the strategic choke point, Aerith spun around and slammed her staff down.
"Arcane Ward!"
A pattern of purple magic glowed on the iron floor. Johnny jumped into the center of the circle, Aerith right behind him. Johnny dropped into a stance, but this time he pulled his sword back to his hip—a position for thrusting, not slashing.
The first G-Copy lunged, its twin blades crossed for a scissor slash.
"The gift... of the... Goddess..." the creature hissed.
Aerith acted first. ""Eat this! Thundara!"
Purple lightning crackled from her staff, striking the iron floor right in front of the G-Copy's feet. Electricity arced wildly, causing the creature to seize up, stunned for a split second.
That was the opening Johnny needed.
"BRUTAL THRUST!"
Johnny didn't swing. He threw his entire body weight and the mass of the sword into a single, straight lunge. The blunt, massive tip of the Dragon Slayer shot forward like a steam engine piston.
The G-Copy tried to cross its twin blades to block.
KRAAAK!
Useless. The kinetic force of Johnny's thrust was so immense it shattered both enemy blades, punched through the block, and slammed squarely into the creature's chest.
The G-Copy wasn't impaled; it exploded backward from the sheer blunt-force trauma. It flew ten meters back, crashing into the two behind it like a bowling ball made of meat.
"Aerith! Clear them out!" Johnny shouted.
Aerith raised her staff high. Inside the Arcane Ward, her wind magic was doubled.
"Aero!"
BOOM!
A sphere of compressed wind detonated in the center of the narrow passage. The three piled-up G-Copies were blasted violently to the side, slamming into the wall of high-pressure steam pipes.
HISSSSSS!
The pipes ruptured. Jets of superheated steam, hundreds of degrees hot, engulfed them. The creatures screamed—not a human sound, but a monstrous shriek—before their bodies finally melted into purple sludge.
Silence returned. Only the hiss of steam remained.
Johnny lowered his sword, his breath coming in heavy rasps. Sweat dripped from the tip of his nose.
"Good work, Aerith. Your timing was perfect."
Aerith wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Solid work, Johnny."
Johnny walked over to the remnants of purple slime. He crouched, picking up a piece of a pauldron that hadn't fully dissolved.
Etched into the metal was a symbol distinct from the Shinra logo. A single, distorted wing, colored blood-red.
Johnny's eyes narrowed. There was an inscription.
"Genesis..." Johnny muttered darkly. He crushed the piece of metal in his hand until it bent.
He stood up, staring at the massive door of Reactor 1 at the end of the bridge.
"Let's go," he said to Aerith. "Whatever is inside... he's waiting for us."
Johnny and Aerith stepped forward on the iron walkway. Upon reaching the door, they cracked the heavy iron seal open just enough to listen and peek inside.
===============================================================
POV: Zack Fair
Zack Fair was gasping for air, his knees trembling under a weight that felt like it had doubled. Cold sweat mixed with blood ran down his temples.
This time, the "Puppy" energy he usually exuded was gone. He wasn't fighting monsters or robots. Standing before him were the two people he respected most in the world. Two legends.
Genesis Rhapsodos, with his glowing red rapier, and Angeal Hewley—his own mentor.
Behind them, Dr. Hollander—the treacherous scientist who had betrayed Shinra—sneered from behind Genesis's back. Sephiroth was busy slaughtering the remaining G-Copies in the lower sector, and Hojo had already escaped. Zack was alone.
"Genesis! Why are you doing this?!" Zack screamed, his voice hoarse. "Will working with Hollander really stop your degradation?! He's just using you!"
Hollander let out a small, repulsive laugh. "Of course he agrees! Genesis, kill this brat quickly. We need to leave!"
Genesis didn't answer immediately. He raised his rapier to the sky, staring at the reactor ceiling as if reading an invisible script.
"My friend, the fates are cruel..." Genesis's voice echoed, dripping with dramaturgy. "There are no dreams, no honor remains. The arrow has left the bow of the goddess."
Zack groaned in frustration. "What does that mean, Genesis?! Why are you reciting poetry at a time like this?!"
Zack turned his gaze to his mentor. His eyes begged. "Angeal... Please. Don't do this. Join us again. Help me fix this madness!"
Angeal looked down for a moment. His face was hard, conflicted, but his eyes burned with a cold resolve.
"I'm sorry, Zack," Angeal's voice was heavy. "I must find the answer to my own existence. And that answer does not lie with Shinra."
Slowly, Angeal did something that made Zack's heart stop. His hand reached over his shoulder. He drew the Buster Sword.
Zack's eyes went wide. "You... you're going to use it? You said that sword was a symbol of honor... you said you didn't want it to get a scratch..."
"Honor died a long time ago, Zack," Angeal replied coldly. He dropped into a combat stance.
Genesis smiled faintly. "You see, Zack? There are many various theories..."
Suddenly, Genesis pointed his rapier at the iron floor beside Zack.
"Fira!"
A massive explosion of fire destroyed the connecting bridge. Thick smoke billowed up, creating a wall of flame that separated Zack from them.
"The mysterious Gift of the Goddess... what is the meaning behind it? For us, at least..." Genesis continued from behind the smoke.
Amidst the chaos, dozens of winged G-Copies breached the air vents, snatching Hollander and carrying him away into the sky.
"Damn it! Hollander!" Zack tried to give chase, but Angeal and Genesis blocked his path.
Angeal swung the Buster Sword, and Genesis thrust his rapier. A combination attack from two SOLDIER 1st Class. Zack, completely drained of stamina, could only raise his sword in a desperate guard, knowing he wouldn't be strong enough to withstand it.
Just as death felt inevitable, the thick iron door behind Zack exploded open with the deafening sound of metal slamming against metal.
Zack turned, his eyes lighting up at the silhouette of a familiar giant sword.
"JOHNNYYY!"
===============================================================
POV: Johnny
Johnny's hand gripped Aerith's shoulder firmly. In front of them, the massive iron door vibrated violently from the impact of the battle inside. The killing intent leaking through the cracks was suffocating.
"Aerith, listen to me," Johnny's voice was low but sharp. "Whatever happens, do not enter. You cannot be on this floor."
Aerith looked at the door anxiously. "But Zack is in there! I can feel his pain... he's alone, Johnny! I want to help, I can—"
"NO," Johnny cut her off. His tone silenced her instantly.
Johnny knelt slightly so his eyes were level with hers. His gaze was serious—deadly serious.
"This time is different, Aerith. In there, it's not just monsters. It's Angeal and Genesis. They are SOLDIER 1st Class. The peak of this world's military power. Their speed and strength are beyond human logic."
"But you're strong too!" Aerith argued.
"That's not the point," Johnny shook his head. "We are connected, remember? If you get hurt even a little, my focus will shatter. This Lifestream Bond lets me feel your pain. If I have to fight two monsters like that while worrying about your safety, we both die."
Johnny looked up at Puck and Ivalera, who were fluttering nervously. "Puck, Ivalera! Take Aerith to the upper catwalk. Hide her behind the cargo crates. Do not let her come down to the ground floor. That is an order!"
"Aye, Boss!" Ivalera immediately tugged on Aerith's dress. "Come on, Princess, Boss is right. The aura is terrifying!"
Aerith looked into Johnny's green eyes. She saw firmness, but also fear—fear of losing her. Finally, Aerith nodded slowly.
"Alright," Aerith whispered. "I understand. I'll watch over you from above. I'll provide magical support if there's an opening, but I won't come down."
Johnny exhaled in relief. "Thank you."
"Be careful, Johnny. Please... help Zack," Aerith pleaded before running up the iron stairs toward the upper platform with the fairies.
Once he was sure Aerith was safe, Johnny turned back to face the thick iron door. He took a deep breath, letting the adrenaline flood his muscles. He drew the Dragon Slayer the weight of the sword felt perfect in his hands now.
"Alright, gentlemen heroes," Johnny growled. "Let's see how hard your swords really are."
Johnny didn't knock. He kicked the iron door with everything he had.
KRA-KOOOM!
The hinges of the ten-centimeter-thick iron door screamed and snapped. The door flew open, revealing the sight of Zack cornered at the edge of his life.
Johnny stepped inside, dragging his massive sword, sparks trailing on the floor behind him. His eyes immediately locked onto the two legendary figures in front of him.
"Sorry I'm late," Johnny grinned, standing beside Zack. "Traffic downstairs was a nightmare."