As the group pursued Hojo, they came into a huge facility which showcased the professor's treasure and Shinra's biggest secret, the remains of the extraterrestrial known as Jenova.

They then proceeded until Cloud felt that stinging sensation in his head as he slowly moves towards the lifeform of Jenova.

Tifa: Cloud...

Y/N: dude, what are you doing?

As Cloud slowly walks, right in front of him was Sephiroth. The blonde haired ex-SOLDIER shook his head and assumed he was hallucinating.

Cloud: no...

Y/N and Tifa went to help their friend, but Y/N too also felt the sensation and gasped as he saw the One-Winged Angel himself.

Y/N: it can't be... you're dead, spirit!

Sephiroth smirked as he drew out his Masamune sword and pointed at Y/N. Then Cloud let out a scream and charged towards his nightmare as he drew his Buster Sword and clashed with the silver haired heartless angel.

Sephiroth: hmm... not yet

Sephiroth knocked Cloud back and sliced the floor, causing the structure to collapse as he disappeared, separating the group in the process.

As the dust settled, Y/N regained consciousness and analyzed his surroundings.

Y/N: what the hell is this?

The SOLDIER Assassin looked around to see test pods containing Hojo's experiments of Unknown Entities made from Jenova cells. Y/N got up and made his way to look for a way out. He could not find Barret, Red XIII or Cloud anywhere until he found the two girls on the floor.

Y/N: Aerith! Tifa!

Y/N knelt next to them and hold their heads until they regained consciousness, making the Assassin sigh in relief.

Y/N: you're okay

Aerith: barely a scratch

Tifa: but where are Red, Barret and Cloud?

Y/N: must've drifted somewhere when the structure collapsed. Let's go find them

Y/N led the the two girls through the lab until they stumble upon some Hellhounds and Unknown Entities.

Y/N: time for a fight

The trio proceeded to battle the strange creatures despite the numbers game advantage for the enemies, but the trio managed to fight off and defeat the creatures. Then a door opened.

Tifa: that must be the exit

The three went through the door and it automatically closed on them.

Aerith: that's strange

Then Professor Hojo's voice was heard over a PA system.

Hojo: ah, I see you three went through the 1st ward of the Drum, how fascinating

Y/N: what is it you want, Hojo?! Answer me!

Hojo: I'm just running some experiments for my research, so I can organize the pros and cons

Tifa: where is the way out?

Hojo: you can't leave the drum just yet, you have three more wards to get through. The 2nd ward is next for your other friends. Go play now

Y/N: Barret and Cloud must be somewhere, but it looks like the 2nd ward's door is locked

Aerith: what's this?

The flower girl saw and pulled on a lever, which made a platform bridge rise and open from their location to the center of the room.

Y/N: wow, way to go Aerith!

Aerith giggled.

Aerith: I found a way across for us

Tifa: thanks, you're a smart one

The trio made their way across the platform bridge and stopped at a station with four levers.

Y/N: okay, which lever to pull?

Tifa then saw a communication device next to the levers.

Tifa: hold on, let me call Cloud

The bartender used the device and made contact.

Tifa: Cloud, are you there?

The former SOLDIER has also found another device and also made contact.

Cloud: Tifa, you guys okay?

Tifa: we're fine, are you three at the 2nd ward?

Cloud: yeah, but the door is locked

Tifa: we're at the station, hang tight until the door opens

Tifa nodded at Y/N and the Assassin pulled on the lever to open the door to the 2nd ward.

Y/N: not only the door is opened, but they have some more of Hojo's experiments waiting for them

Cloud: we'll let you know once everything is all clear

(Time skip)

With the rest of the wards all cleared, Professor Hojo has gathered every data he needs for his conniving research.

Y/N, Tifa and Aerith made their way through a tube until they heard the sound of metal scratching.

Y/N: shh... something's coming

The sound got louder until the three saw a huge mechanical sword centipede or the Swordipede.

Y/N: run!

The three managed to got out in time before the mech got them. Then they got in position for battle.

Y/N: looks like Hojo is not done just yet

The three went all out against the flying mechanical creature, attacking it with much of their arsenal as they can. Then as the power of the Swordipede went below 50%, the mech went haywire and flew through the wall to where Cloud and Barret are. The two men managed to defeat and destroy the machine, causing it to explode.

(Later)

The party finally united and rode the elevator up to the upper floor as Hojo managed to get away. As they got out, they saw a mysterious black liquid with a weird glow.

Y/N: what is this?

Cloud: better not touch it, we don't know where it came from

Red XIII: best we do is to follow the trail to see where it leads

The six followed the ominous trail which brought them to another elevator.

Barret: where does this lead to?

Red XIII: the president's office, then the roof

As the elevator opened, they saw a puddle of the same ominous liquid.

Y/N: nowhere to go, but up

Aerith: once we ride up, there is no turning back now

Cloud: we're ready to do this

The party rode the elevator up to the president's office and saw more of the same liquid.

Barret: hmm, I wonder where that bastard is hiding

Tifa: and Sephiroth?

The party looked around to see that the office was ransacked as they saw a broken section of the of the window. Then they heard a voice.

???: help me!

The six went outside to follow the source of the voice until they saw President Shinra himself hanging from a ledge.

Shinra: help me... please

Barret: well well well

Shinra: pull me up! I'll give you all the money you want! I have gil! Plenty of it!

Barret: thing is, I don't want your money

Barret then grabbed the president and pulled him up to safety.

Shinra: let me live please. I know you want something more

Barret then threw the president to the floor.

Barret: you're gonna get on TV and tell 'em. Tell them what you did to Sector 7 - that it was you who killed all those people! Then you gonna tell them the truth about Avalanche. That Avalanche is not Wutai or anyone's puppet! That we fight for the people, the planet! That we fight to hold Shinra to account for their crimes! The filthy sewer rats... who brought down a goliath! You tell them that

Shinra: is that really all you want? Your names to be cleared? That is what matters to you? More than shutting down the reactors? Than the planet's future?

Then the president pointed a pistol.

Shinra: you're lying to yourself. Truth, honor, justice, freedom! Vain indulgences, each one. Picture the world without Shinra, without mako.

The president looks to play the reverse guilty card on Barret, using the people as the pawns.

Shinra: I'll give you one last opportunity to consider what your moral principles are really worth, but do remember that I have little time

Barret: what about you Mr. President? What are your principles?

Shinra: what principles? Were you even listening? I take advantage of whatever I can and discard what I can't. Their is no room for guilt

As the president was about to pull the trigger, he was stabbed from the back by Sephiroth, which shocked the party. As 

Barret: you son of a bitch!

As the gunner was about to attack Sephiroth, the Whisperers blocked him while he aimed for a shot, but then he was caught off guard as Sephiroth impaled Barret with his sword.

Tifa: Barret!

Red XIII, Aerith and Y/N ran over to check on the big man while Cloud was frozen and traumatized as he saw Sephiroth retreat and then disappeared.

Then right in front of the party was an ominous entity.

Red XIII: this is...

Aerith: the source. Of everything

The ominous entity or the source of everything is known as the Jenova Dreamweaver.

Jenova Dreamweaver

Tifa: what's happening?!

Red XIII: it's an illusion. Stay calm

With Barret out of commission and their minds playing tricks due to Sephiroth's influence, Y/N, Tifa, Cloud and Aerith proceeded to clear their heads as they fight the Jenova Dreamweaver.

To be continued...