It was very hard at the time, to keep the pride at Cloud's use of the mega-elixir, not to spread out too far in a smile on his face but it turned out that it was short-lived. Sephiroth's eyes narrow again and his expression turned back to it's standard level of all-serious as Artemicion revealed his use of -guess what- a Black Crystal!

Those things should have been hunted down right when they had first gone missing. It would have saved them all no end of trouble, all considered. It makes Sephiroth feel doubly sour as he recognizes that he's one of only a handful who remember when those Crystals had gotten out into the wider world in the first place. Oh how little they had known then.

As Jade, in particular, works to shore up as many others' stats as possible Sephiroth takes those few moments in which others are spending their attacks to cast protection of his own. ShinRa Guard, first on himself and then consecutively on one or two others who were nearby; aiming for those who he knew weren't Crystal Knight equipped, or part of the small group who had enhanced gear.

Shortly after Duster's kick, there was an opening.

Now wasn't the time for hesitation no matter how something of an ache deep in Sephiroth's bones followed that rush of palpable energy that charged his frame; priming for a Deathblow. A second later he rushed Palitutu himself, Masamune up and poised, the blade flashing as it came down and up for that first smooth uppercut slash after which Hellsgate came down.

Making a point to jump back a distance, after the maneuver, so that others could get in.