In the skies above the Marine Dojo, Sephiroth judged that his opportunity had arrived when Vice Admiral Momousagi joined the battle.
As he fought, he used Emotion Release to slip a coded signal into his Conqueror's Haki through his brain waves and broadcast it.
The signal had no "explicit meaning," and it spread over a wide area without any specific target.
Even if York was monitoring him, he would see nothing amiss.
[(A coded signal resembling crackling static)]
The three Praying Hands lurking silently in the ruins received the signal and read its intent.
[Sixth, capture.] [Confirmed.] [Confirmed.]
Sephiroth had begun plotting against the "Vegapunks" when Shining became a Shichibukai.
The "Praying Hands" were, to a certain extent, "in the know."
After all, Bondrewd was a professional fall guy. If they ever needed to "fish someone out" of the World Government's hands, they would need his "cooperation."
York's code was "Sixth (No. 6)."
[Silent mode disengaged. Moving toward target.]
The three Praying Hands units led by "Sham" remained under Optical Stealth, carefully keeping their distance from York.
To avoid a situation where "York was attacked as soon as Momousagi left," the Praying Hands were waiting for their moment.
The aerial battle gradually intensified, while York's group of three began straying from the front plaza and moving deeper into the ruins.
"-So noisy-"
As Golden Lion and Sephiroth traded fierce slashes, Momousagi's Flying Slashes interrupted them.
Faced with three Flying Slashes, Golden Lion immediately activated his power.
"Lion's Might: Earth Roll-!"
A massive surge of earth swept toward Momousagi, obscuring her vision. At the same time, Golden Lion sent a Slash Wave imbued with Conqueror's Coating straight at Sephiroth.
-Whooom!
The high-speed Slash Wave prioritized quick execution over killing power. There was almost no charge-up,