Chapter 305: False Memories, Repelling Sephiroth

Following Aerith's introduction, Luode temporarily joined the main party.

Although Tifa, Cloud, Barret, and others still held some reservations about Luode, after Aerith's persuasion they eventually agreed.

Because Luode agreed to help them fight Sephiroth, the Jenova Virus is the biggest representative on this planet, and also symbolizes Sephiroth himself.

That night, Luode followed the main party to an inn to rest.

In Cloud's own room, he told everyone about his previous experiences in Nibelheim and about Sephiroth.

"Wait! You said you went to Tifa's room and even opened her wardrobe?" The two women exclaimed in disbelief, speaking in unison.

"Hmm! At that time I couldn't control my own body." Cloud said.

"Pervert! Excessive!" Aerith and Tifa shouted in unison.

Randomly entering a girl's room and opening her wardrobe—this behavior is truly perverted!

Luode beside them burst out laughing, which could be considered a little Easter egg.

Was this Cloud's choice, or the choice of an evil player? Geez, he opened the wardrobe but found nothing.

Next, Cloud began recounting his experiences, the whole Nibelheim incident, as the party went to investigate the abandoned No. 1 Mako Reactor.

They discovered a strange clone, then Sephiroth's mentality went awry, and afterward Sephiroth locked himself in Hojo's lab, constantly reading books.

His mental state worsened until he finally committed that heinous act, turning all of Nibelheim into a sea of fire.

Everyone else listened with great interest, but only Tifa's face was grim, her eyes filled with anxiety and confusion.

No, no, this is completely unlike her memories, it just doesn't match at all! Back then, Sephiroth indeed came to their village of Nibelheim with a high-ranking Shinra Soldier.

However, the Shinra Soldier accompanying Sephiroth was not Cloud, but another person named Zack.

Tifa had served as their guide back then, and she still remembers everything vividly.

In the Nibelheim incident five years ago, Tifa never even saw Cloud; the events Cloud described, what happened to him, were actually the experiences of another Shinra special forces soldier.

Although he seemed to have personally experienced it, Tifa could still tell something was off, even that in Cloud's memory she herself was killed.

Geez, back in Midgar she had already noticed Cloud's demeanor was off, his mind might be problematic, and he often had hallucinations, like seeing Sephiroth.

What exactly has Cloud been through all these years? Why? Why has he become so abnormal? Why has even his own memory gone awry, while he himself remains completely unaware?

"Cloud! You, you," Tifa began, wanting to speak but hesitating.

She really wanted to tell Cloud everything, but feared her words would once again cause trouble for this childhood friend of hers, making his nerves act up again.

Cloud's condition is serious now! I must find a way to cure his mental illness.

"Don't you feel it's strange? Cloud clearly wasn't present in your hometown five years ago, yet he firmly believes this memory."

"His memory has been altered; what he now recalls is completely false, even merged with another person's memories, taking that person's experiences as his own." Luode said from the side.

"I don't have time to play your memory-searching games; let's just keep it simple and brutal."

"Ah! Mr. Luode, do you mean Cloud has a problem, his mind is troubled? He's taking another person's memories as his own experiences!" Aerith's face changed as she asked.

"Impossible, I clearly went there, my memory is fine." Cloud shook his head and said.

"Cloud! Mr. Luode is right, you really weren't there. I also experienced that event; I, I never saw you, you never returned to your hometown." Tifa said somewhat emotionally.

Hearing this, everyone was shocked, so who exactly among the two of them has a problem?

"Mr. Luode! Since you're a demigod and can still detect your issues, you must be able to heal him—please, Mr. Luode, help him!" Tifa approached Luode, bowed, and pleaded earnestly.

Geez, facing the childhood goddess's request makes me a bit reluctant to refuse, but this is also to counter the Jenova Virus.

Sephiroth's plan—how could I let you pull it off so easily? I must really sabotage it.

"There's some truth to what he said; he indeed went to Nibelheim back then, and was right beside you, Tifa—you just didn't recognize him." Luode said.

"Ah! Hey! What's going on, you've all confused me, so who exactly—whose memory is messed up between the two of them?" Barret asked, bewildered, while Red XIII beside him nodded. "Ah! Mr. Luode, could it be that you mean my memory is also problematic?" Tifa's face changed; could it be that the one who's gone mad isn't Cloud, but me?

"Your memory is fine; it's just that back then Cloud was an ordinary Shinra Company soldier! After enlisting for years, he ended up as a mere grunt returning home, so naturally he had no face to see you." Luode said.

"Impossible, I'm clearly a SOLDIER 1st Class!" Cloud said, frowning, his head hurting again, fragmented images flashing nonstop, a black-haired man continually appearing in his mind.

Even one vision shows him wielding the Destruction Sword, piercing Sephiroth's heart with a single strike.

"Shinra Soldiers are Shinra Company's signature weapon, and SOLDIER 1st Class is the highest combat tier. Every SOLDIER 1st Class has identifiable records, and there has never been anyone named Cloud."

The truth is, Cloud's memories have overlapped with those of another SOLDIER 1st Class, Zack, and you've blended some of his experiences into your own.

Over these five years, you don't remember where you were, right? Let me tell you: you were captured by a scientist named Hojo.

He injected you and Zack with the Jenova Virus, hoping to turn you into new Shinra Soldiers—or monsters.

Later, due to an accident, you and Zack woke up, but you remained unconscious.

Zack carried you, fighting a bloody path through, then faced an ambush by numerous Shinra soldiers, fighting desperately and defeating all enemies.

Before his death, he handed you this Destruction Sword, telling you that you are his living proof, and your subconscious has always been fulfilling his wish.

Because Zack's wish was to leave the Shinra organization, become a mercenary, earn enough money to support Aerith." Luode said.

These false memories partly stem from Cloud closing off his heart, unwilling to face the truth, and partly from Sephiroth's manipulation.

Now Sephiroth has transcended the concept of a physical body; those infected by Jenova, the black-robed ones, and even the black-robed Phyth? can become his vessels.

Unless the Jenova Virus is completely eradicated from the planet, Sephiroth is immortal.

"You, you, how do you know all this?" Cloud asked.

His head suddenly began to throb violently, and even a blurry silhouette appeared before him—a man with silver shoulder-length hair and handsome features.

"Cloud, you must fulfill my mission, you must help me, go seek."

"I'm here, you dare show up? Get lost, old man!" Luode sitting nearby suddenly snorted coldly.

He emitted a sound that could directly shake the soul, instantly dispersing the phantom of Sephiroth in Cloud's mind.

What the hell! I'm sitting here, you dare appear—do you really think I'm made of clay?

Possessing the power of the Soul-Soul Fruit and also a mutated evolved Samsara Eye, Luode's mental strength has reached its peak.

When Sephiroth's mental interference manifests, others can't detect any trace, but he can.

"Ah!" Cloud suddenly clutched his head and let out an anguished cry.

Mr. Luode, just now, just now—what exactly happened?

That guy named Sephiroth, his current life form has already surpassed your understanding.

You can imagine him as being everywhere on this planet, and he has been influencing Cloud.

In the depths of his mind, he was influencing him—just now his spiritual form came again; you didn't notice, but I did, and I drove him away.

Luode placed his hand on Cloud's forehead, dispelling the false memories, allowing Cloud's true self to fully return.

I've healed him; let him rest a while! When he wakes up tomorrow morning, he'll return to normal, becoming the person you know.

Thank you very much, Lord Luode! Alice walked over, bowed to Luode, and spoke.

Luode nodded, rose, and returned to his room.

In an unknown gray expanse, a tall man with silver hair suddenly opened his eyes, his face showing an expression of disbelief.

Someone outside of fate has appeared—indeed, someone outside of fate has appeared! Who is this person? I've never seen him before; how did he appear? (End of chapter)