Ultimately it was not Sephiroth's intention to technically 'live' through this encounter. All he needed to do was to continue to fight off Cloud's advance until his mortal coil began to become undone, until the very essence of his will started to merge with the Calamity in the window of weakness it had in the wake of the Spawn they had killed. But, he held it as a matter of pride that he did fully intend to finally finish off the perpetual thorn in the side that Cloud had maintained in being for so long.

Til now he had simply put up with it, skillfully playing out the Hero that Cloud had never believed but almost everyone else had.

Cloud's hesitation after skidding to a halt was almost perceived as an insult. He hadn't hit the wall which just meant next time Sephiroth had to try harder. Some habits died hard though when it came to simply playing with his one-time puppet. Sephiroth didn't even seem to need to take a breath before he'd turned and, with his long sword stretched out to the side and down towards the floor, charged at Cloud. Masamune being dragged first up, and then down in two consecutive arcs as he got within range.

Hopefully Cloud would snap out of it and get his guard up, since cleaving him neatly in two would be anti-climatic at best.