Within period of sixteen, Zack and Cloud satisfied once again towards the September 0002 while you are protecting the fresh new city of Junon out of Genesis’s attack. Nibel, sufficient reason for Tifa as their book from slopes. Cloud hid their identity from the townspeople, embarrassed off their incapacity to participate SOLDIER, regardless of if the guy did check out his mother just who inquired about their the existence which have Shinra. [14]
If the journey hit the fresh new reactor, Sephiroth receive Teacher Hojo’s studies which have humans mutated for the monsters called makonoids, and you will Jenova, just who Sephiroth mistakenly considered his mommy. Genesis knocked Cloud aside and you can Tifa assisted your back to area, no matter if nonetheless didn’t select their name. [14] When Cloud regained awareness, he was disheartened more than his shortage of electricity. Sephiroth closed themselves regarding the Shinra Manor’s cellar for some sleepless days, immersing during the Teacher Gast Faremis’s web log, and discovered their dark past, as well the brand new gifts regarding the Cetra together with guaranteed home. On the page, supported of the his newfound hatred to have humanity. [10] [14] [9]
Affect observed his mother’s death regarding the resulting fire, and you may hurried returning to the fresh reactor so you can confront Sephiroth, interested in both a seriously injured Tifa and a scarcely aware Zack. Cloud picked up Zack’s Buster Blade, caught Sephiroth offguard regarding reactor core, and you can impaled your prior to focusing Tifa. When a wounded Sephiroth emerged throughout the reactor key, Affect attacked him, serious about avenging the newest fatalities away from his mommy and all of the fresh new townspeople Sephiroth had murdered. Whether or not impaled toward une, Cloud summoned this new power so you’re able to overpower your having sheer devotion. Using the katana while the good lever, Affect raised Sephiroth up and hurled him into the mako pit below prior to collapsing. [10] [14]
Tests and you can fleeing Shinra [ ]
Affect and you may Zack, and also other survivors on urban area (apart from Tifa who was simply rescued by the Zangan just before Shinra turned up), became Teacher Hojo’s test subjects. Inserting them with Jenova’s cells and you may presenting these to mako, Hojo made an effort to take to his Jenova Reunion Principle on them, flipping her or him to the Sephiroth Clones, some one whoever wills will likely be over-ridden by 
the Sephiroth’s. Just like the Zack had opted due to an equivalent techniques within the SOLDIER, their human body resisted the new studies, if you are Cloud succumbed and you can set up a severe case of mako toxicity. Hojo branded both failures, place them in good cryogenic sleeping county, and you will remaining him or her in their pods regarding Shinra Manor basement. [14]
Few years after (December 19, 0006) Zack broke from their confinement and you will aided a vegetative Affect stay away from, offering him an effective SOLDIER uniform to put on while the his old attire was basically over loaded having mako. Considering the experiments, Cloud try mentally damaged, weakened and you will delirious, however, in their journey adopting the escape from Nibelheim, Zack told the latest unreactive Affect on his lives with his arrangements for both of these in order to become mercenaries in Midgar. Regardless of if Cloud is actually struggling to take part in the situations, he was introduce whenever Zack beaten Genesis. [14]
Immediately after many months from running, the pair arrived external Midgar when you look at the Sep 0007. The newest Shinra forces swept up and you will Zack battled to defend each other Affect and you will himself against challenging amounts. Zack is gunned down, nevertheless the Shinra pushes forgotten the newest catatonic Cloud. Cloud restored certain sense and you may crawled over to Zack, who entrusted the new Buster Sword to him, informing their heritage tend to survive inside Affect, just before perishing. Buster Blade available, Affect trudged of with the Midgar. [14]
Which, together with Tifa’s recollections away from him and his individual ideal visualize away from themselves as good SOLDIER, created an alternate group of memory having an accompanying image
Because of the upheaval considering new Nibelheim Experience, his mako toxicity (and further infusion regarding Jenova tissue), and you will Zack’s dying, Cloud happy Zack’s thoughts and assaulting efficiency on the their own. Therefore, Cloud is triggered believe he had joined SOLDIER and you may try Sephiroth’s lover in the place of Zack, along with his very own recollections, the guy grabbed Zack’s place; in the altered memory, Zack never ever resided. [10] [9]