Lamorak's frenzied Flame Tongue ripped through the remaining resistance in Sephiroth's protect/shell combo and by the third strike he's left defending what he can without the protection he had constantly for the whole engagement thus far. Since Lamorak is still frenzied, he's not got the time to stop to recast his own Guard spell, and thus can only parry and block where he's able to.

The fire and it's accompanying heat quickly started to choke the air between the two combatants though and it became too much to bear as the fire-y tendrils swept around him. He could feel the scalding through armor and leather, smell the fly-away parts of his hair being singed under the assault. Skin was starting to burn.

"-argh."

He heard King Arthur's name mentioned again just before a Curaga swept through him, Chiaki salving the many burns that Sephiroth was starting to take as damage to his face and chest. Glimpsing where exactly the King piece was on the battlefield was impossible, however, thanks partly to the smoke but not helped by his own position in still being focused entirely on countering Lamorak's attacks where he could; he needed space, right now.

Sephiroth executed Dash towards the nearest person he could make out, be it an ally or an enemy, being confident that Lamorak would come charging still for him. Using the seconds granted by gaining some room, Octaslash was primed and unleashed directly into Lamorak's path.