That Chaotic Wave is enough to knock the breath out of the best of them and Sephiroth is no exception. It hits him like a ghostly wave wrapping around his whole self, with just barely enough tangibility to be felt as such. The resulting jar to his balance is caught, though, preventing him from stumbling or crashing to even one knee. No weakness showing. Not now at this end.

Whether it would help to counter or not, Combat Mode was initiated as Sephiroth drew his gaze around their surroundings -noting the flight of stairs that had now vanished- and also preparing something of an internal log for himself of what others were doing while he flipped his sword around finally and drew the handle up and into his right shoulder - his signature ready-stance about as poised as it's ever going to be.

ShinRa Guard followed next, but like with the stats-boost his combat job usually gave, Garland's ability was making it clear why all those other Heroes had failed before; who knew if all those buffs that were flying around would stack up or not.

It was all they could do, to prepare, as it seemed already a Summon was being called upon.