For the past two months, Johnny had been training Cloud in swordsmanship techniques. Cloud proved capable of following his instructions well, but he had to undergo repeated field practice.
And this was also an advantage for Johnny because for the past two months, he just sat around and only helped during emergencies.
Not bad, he still got paid by Tseng, Reno, or Rude, but someone else was doing the extermination of these monsters.
There were three main skills Johnny taught. Cloud, enthusiastically, named the three techniques based on Johnny's own moves: Braver, Triple Slash, and Focused Thrust.
Even though the names were similar, the execution was very different. Cloud's three skills didn't yet possess the raw, brutal destructive power of Johnny's.
If Johnny used Ground Braver, he would take a solid stance, stomp his foot, and deliver one almighty vertical slash focused on a single target, leveling the ground around it. Meanwhile, Cloud's version of Braver was more acrobatic; he jumped, spun his body in the air, and delivered an area-of-effect (AOE) slash toward a crowd of enemies.
If Johnny's Septuple Slash was a dance of death capable of mercilessly tearing through seven enemies in a row, Cloud's Triple Slash was only able to slash three times consecutively. Even so, for two months of training, Cloud's achievement was already very extraordinary.
The final difference was in penetration power. Johnny's Brutal Thrust was designed to pierce, destroy organs, and completely impale the enemy's body. Whereas Cloud's Focused Thrust was focused more on a quick stab that provided a knockback effect to maintain distance.
On top of an old stone pillar in Sector 7, Johnny sat cross-legged while exhaling cigarette smoke. This was one of his new hobbies. Initially, he just imitated Uncle Izo—the blacksmith—and his father because he thought blowing smoke after a fight looked cool. However, he knew the fatal risk very well: if Aerith ever smelled tobacco on his clothes, his fiancée would finish him off without mercy.
He remembered being scolded severely; what was intended just to look cool at the church instead became a dispute, especially the lingering smell and worries about health. Because of that, Johnny's jacket pocket was now always full of breath-freshening mints.
Johnny's eyes narrowed, observing his student down below. Cloud was surrounded by five Ringmaws.
The 15-year-old boy took a deep breath. He darted forward, splitting the monster formation with Triple Slash, making three Ringmaws stagger. When one tried to bite from the side, Cloud used Focused Thrust, stabbing the monster's snout and pushing it back into its friends. As a finisher, Cloud jumped high, his sword spinning in the air, then slammed the ground with Braver.
The five Ringmaws lay lifeless.
Johnny clapped his hands slowly from atop the rock. The improvement was very rapid. Though in his heart, Johnny knew this young man wasn't ready yet if he had to face heavy-class monsters like the Queen Grastrike or the Zenene from before.
Cloud stood panting in the middle of a puddle of monster blood. He smiled in satisfaction, before finally a sound was heard that broke his spirit.
CRACK.
The standard Shinra sword in his hand cracked severely, bending in the middle. Cloud's face instantly went pale.
"Damn... forgive me Mentor, I broke your sword," Cloud muttered weakly, his shoulders dropping.
Johnny jumped down from the rock, landing with a heavy thud. He laughed softly, a thin puff of smoke escaping his lips. He picked up Cloud's bent scrap sword, weighed it in one hand, then threw it to the ground as if it were just a wooden twig.
"This sword is Crap, Cloud, relax. At least it was useful," Johnny said casually. "A good sword will choose its master. When you're ready to stop being a lowly trooper and find the right reason to swing a sword, I'll have Izo forge a sword that won't break by your Braver. Or maybe a standard Shinra sword but with higher quality."
Cloud's eyes sparkled slightly hearing the offer. He sat on the carcass of a Ringmaw to catch his breath, looking up at the Midgar steel plate covering the sky.
"Mentor..." Cloud called out hesitantly. "With those three skills... do you think I'm worthy of taking the SOLDIER exam? I want to get in soon, so I can become as strong as Sephiroth."
Hearing the names 'Sephiroth' and 'Shinra', Johnny's jaw hardened slightly. His memory of Hojo's rottenness towards Aerith, and Sephiroth's face that was identical to Griffith's... He hit Cloud's shoulder hard with his large, rough hand.
"I told you, SOLDIERs are just dogs. Do you want to end up the same as Angeal and Genesis?" Johnny said in a heavy, low tone.
"You think Sephiroth is great because he can slice a building? True strength isn't measured by how many enemies you can cut down with Septuple Slash. True strength is... when your sword does not hesitate to bleed in order to protect what is behind your back."
Cloud fell silent, absorbing those words. The atmosphere became quiet and slightly emotional... until Johnny suddenly glanced at his watch.
The Black Swordsman's eyes instantly widened in panic.
"Crap. Looks like I have to get back to the church."
Without warning, Johnny threw his cigarette butt to the ground, crushed it under his boot, and hurriedly flapped his leather jacket to chase away the smell of smoke. He frantically reached into his pocket, took out a handful of mints, and immediately swallowed five pills at once.
Cloud stared at his mentor with a furrowed brow. He sniffed the air. "Mentor... don't tell me you're hiding the smell of cigarettes from Miss Aerith?"
Johnny forcibly shoved a mint into Cloud's mouth. "Chew this. And shut your mouth. This is a man's secret. If she ever finds out, the punishment is more terrifying than entering a Zenene's cage!"
Cloud coughed slightly chewing the spicy candy, then laughed awkwardly. "I understand. If Tifa knew I often go on missions with you and skip guard duty because of sword practice with you, she would definitely hit me harder than those monsters did."
Johnny sighed in relief, smiling at Cloud.
===============================================================
A few days later, the tranquility of the workshop was broken by the sound of hurried footsteps.
"Mentor Johnny! Mentor!"
Cloud Strife ran in, nearly crashing into a stack of used tires. His face was flushed, his breathing ragged, but his eyes sparkled with an overflowing mix of fear and pride.
"What is it, Cloud? Chased by a monster?" Johnny asked casually while putting down his wrench. "Are you buying spare parts or is there a morning order at the barracks?" Johnny asked.
"No! No, Mentor," Cloud took a deep breath. "I was selected! A field mission! And not just any mission... I'm going to Nibelheim! My hometown!"
Johnny's heart seemed to stop. Nibelheim. That was Cloud's hometown, but today his instinct somehow felt something bad. He tried to keep his expression flat. "Oh? What mission?"
"Inspection of the old Mako Reactor at Mount Nibel," Cloud explained passionately. "There's machine damage and wild monsters. And do you know who the leader is? Sephiroth! And Zack is coming too!"
Cloud clenched his fists in front of his chest. "I'm going home, Mentor. I'm going to show the people in the village, to Tifa... that I've become a Shinra trooper. And I've practiced swordsmanship. I'll be on a team with legendary heroes!" Cloud proudly held his new sword on his back, a "Standard Shinra Sword" bought by Johnny, but this time of better quality.
Cloud teared up. "Thank you so much, Mentor. Thank you for your guidance all this time."
Johnny stared at Cloud. In Cloud eyes, Sephiroth was his idol. How many times had he explained about SOLDIER, the degradation of Angeal and Genesis, which initially made him doubt, but he still wanted to become a SOLDIER.
"Congratulations, Cloud," Johnny said, his voice slightly hoarse. He patted Cloud's still-skinny shoulder. "That's... a big achievement."
In the afternoon, Johnny sped on his motorcycle to Sector 5. His heart was restless. He needed to see Aerith.
Upon arriving at the Church, the usually peaceful atmosphere felt tense. The afternoon sunlight pierced through the roof gaps, illuminating the expanse of yellow lilies, but the air felt static. Aerith was standing among the flowers, hugging herself.
"Johnny..." Aerith called without looking back.
Johnny walked closer. The Lifestream bond between them; Johnny could feel what Aerith was feeling. A subtle but painful vibration. A sorrow.
"You feel it too?" Johnny asked quietly.
Aerith nodded, turning to look at Johnny with anxious green eyes. "There's something in the West. Something cold... and lonely. The Planet is whispering, but its voice is terrified."
Suddenly, Puck and Ivalera—their two little companion fairies—flew out from behind the flowers in a panic. They weren't playing around. Puck tugged at the hem of Johnny's pants, while Ivalera hid behind Aerith's hair, her small body trembling violently. They squeaked nervously, as if a giant disturbance was lurking from afar.
"Cloud and Zack..." Johnny said, his voice low. "They are assigned there. To Nibelheim. With Sephiroth. I have a bad feeling, Aerith."
Aerith covered her mouth with her hand. The air in the church seemed to freeze for a moment. Aerith's and Johnny's dreams, and the instinct of the Cetra, converged on a single conclusion: This departure would not go smoothly.
"We can't forbid them from going, right?" Aerith asked softly.
"They are Shinra soldiers. It's their duty," Johnny answered, clenching his fists. "But my feeling is bad. Very bad."
Amidst the fading afternoon light, Johnny and Aerith stood side by side. Aerith held Johnny's hand, channeling a silent prayer. "May they be safe..." Aerith whispered. "May Zack and Cloud come home."