Chapter Text 正文
“Sephiroth!” Cloud called out, running to the wire fence, but it was no use.
「萨菲罗斯！」克劳德呼喊着奔向铁丝围栏，却只是徒劳。
Far above them, Sephiroth’s winged figure was growing smaller and smaller against the backdrop of the pillar and the night sky. There was no stopping him.
高空中，萨菲罗斯的羽翼身影在支撑柱与夜空的映衬下渐行渐远，无人能阻其离去。
Cloud thought of the other man’s intent look before he left and had to repress his shiver.
克劳德想起那人临行前专注凝视的眼神，不禁打了个寒颤，强自按捺住战栗。
At least he was on their side this time.
所幸这一次，他终究是站在己方阵营的。
Pressing his gloved fist against the fence, lips pressed into a grim line, he said, “Looks like he’s got a headstart on us. Let’s go.”
戴着护手的拳头重重抵在铁栅栏上，嘴唇抿成冷硬的线条，"看来他捷足先登了。我们走。"
Tifa and Aerith nodded at him, faces determined, and they made their own way to the pillar through the undercity station, finding it deserted and empty. Even though he knew that it couldn’t have taken long, it still felt like an eternity to him.
蒂法与爱丽丝朝他点头，面容坚毅。三人通过下城车站前往支柱时，发现整座站台空无一人，死寂笼罩。尽管明知对方行动时间不长，但对他来说却仿佛已过去永恒。
Finally they arrived at the bottom of the pillar. They heard a familiar gravelly voice from somewhere higher up, shouting, “Come on. That all you got?” It was followed by the exchange of gunfire, man versus helicopter.
他们终于抵达支柱底部。上方某处传来一个熟悉的沙哑嗓音，正在大喊："就这点本事？"紧接着是人与直升机之间的枪战交火。
It was Barret, ducking behind the metal railing of the staircase to avoid the returning hail of bullets. He didn’t seem to notice them. A level below him Wedge was hit by a small explosion that sent him flying out of the pillar. He fired his grappling hook, but the metal plate it attached to soon started to buckle and he came crashing down at their feet where he clutched his arm painfully. They immediately rushed to him, Cloud helping to turn him over on his back.
是巴雷特，他正躲在楼梯金属栏杆后躲避回扫的弹雨。但他似乎根本没注意到那些子弹。下方一层处，威吉被小型爆炸击中，整个人被气浪掀出立柱。他发射了抓钩枪，可固定抓钩的金属板很快开始扭曲断裂，他重重摔在他们脚边，痛苦地捂住手臂。众人立即冲上前去，克劳德帮忙将他翻身仰躺。
When Wedge saw who they were, he immediately tried to strain up. “It’s Shinra! They are trying to take the pillar down. But also, just now…” He shook his head. “It’s the craziest thing. I’m not sure if it was a hallucination, but I think I saw an angel before I fell down…”
威吉看清来人后，立刻挣扎着要起身。"是神罗！他们想摧毁支柱。但刚才还有……"他摇摇头，"太诡异了。我不确定是不是幻觉，但摔下来之前好像看见天使了……"
“Well… you are not wrong,” Cloud said. He knew if he looked up, he would see Sephiroth with his large wing spread out as he skillfully weaved between whirring helicopters and orange streaks of gunfire. “Rest now. I’ll take it from here.”
呃…你没看错。"克劳德说。他知道此刻抬头就会看到萨菲罗斯展开巨翼，灵巧地穿梭在嗡嗡作响的直升机群与橙色曳光弹之间的身影。"先休息。这里交给我。
He left Wedge behind with Aerith and Tifa to get patched up, Wedge’s words still ringing in his ears about how Biggs had covered for his escape and they needed to get back to him as soon as possible…
他把威吉留给爱丽丝和蒂法包扎，耳畔仍回响着对方关于比格斯如何掩护自己逃脱、必须尽快回去救援的嘱托……
As he ran up the winding metal staircase, he found countless corpses riddled with bullet holes, others charred and barely recognizable. The majority of them seemed to be members of the Neighborhood Watch rather than infantrymen. It didn’t surprise him; slum-dwellers were poor and had to make do with what they had. They didn’t have a big company to back them up with the latest weapons and technology. The higher up he went, the more bodies of troopers and remains of broken machines there were, bearing the clear signs of having been skewered or slashed by the Masamune.
当他沿着螺旋金属阶梯向上奔逃时，无数布满弹孔的尸体映入眼帘，另有些焦黑得难以辨认的残躯。大部分死者似乎是社区自卫队成员而非正规步兵。这并不令他意外——贫民窟居民本就穷困潦倒，只能靠手头有限的资源自卫。他们没有大企业撑腰，无法获得最新式武器和科技支援。越往高处攀爬，士兵尸体与机械残骸便愈发密集，那些支离破碎的金属残片上赫然残留着被正宗刀贯穿或劈砍的痕迹。
Cloud shook his head. Sephiroth worked fast, there was no doubt about that. Sometimes dark forms would speed down through the air at high velocity just outside the radius of the staircase—loud screams that abruptly cut off when the figures presumably hit the ground in piles of crushed organs and broken bones. It made Cloud think of Sephiroth, slipping between the twisting beams of the metal structure to grab unsuspecting troopers before taking them outside and dropping them to the ground. It was enough to make a shiver run down his spine—and for a moment, he almost felt bad for them.
克劳德摇了摇头。萨菲罗斯的行动效率毋庸置疑。偶尔有漆黑身影高速坠向阶梯外围的虚空，凄厉的惨叫往往在触及地面的瞬间戛然而止——那些躯体想必已化作支离破碎的骨肉残渣。这景象让克劳德联想到萨菲罗斯在金属梁架间鬼魅般游走，将毫无防备的士兵拖出护栏抛向深渊的场景。寒意顺着他的脊梁攀爬而上，有那么一瞬，他几乎要为这些敌人感到悲哀。
There appeared to be only a few people left who were still resisting, and Cloud did not hesitate to assist them. They along with the infantrymen were all talking or reporting about the flying apparition outside whose sudden appearance seemed to be turning the tide of the battle which Shinra had clearly been winning up until then. “S-Sephiroth—it’s General Sephiroth—” a hysteric young trooper said into his comm, looking to be on the verge of hyperventilating and collapsing.
仍在负隅顽抗的只剩寥寥数人，克劳德毫不犹豫地加入了他们。众人和步兵们都在议论或汇报着外界那个飞行幽灵，它的突然现身似乎正扭转着战局——此前神罗明明已胜券在握。"塞、塞菲罗斯——是塞菲罗斯将军——"一名情绪失控的年轻士兵对着通讯器喊道，看上去随时会因过度换气而晕厥。
And although chaos and confusion were rife around this new addition to the battlefield, making many wonder why the famed general wasn’t fighting on Shinra’s side but in fact seemed to be helping the watch members instead, they were hardy slum-dwellers and not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. It also gave them new hope, the fire in their eyes matched only by the firearms in their hands, and even despite himself it stirred something inside Cloud’s chest, too. Even though he knew it was dangerous; even though he knew good things didn’t happen, at least not to him. It still made him think that maybe they could win this after all, despite the impossible odds. He soon left them behind to proceed upstairs, lending some of their fire to drive him on.
尽管战场上突然出现的这位不速之客引发了不小的混乱与猜疑——为何声名显赫的将军没有站在神罗阵营，反而在协助哨兵们——但贫民窟的居民们素来坚韧务实，断不会对雪中送炭之举挑三拣四。他的到来点燃了众人眼中的希望之火，与手中紧握的枪械交相辉映，连克劳德胸腔深处也不由自主地涌起一阵悸动。纵然深知世事险恶，纵然笃定幸运从不眷顾自己，至少在这一刻，他恍惚觉得或许他们真能逆转这看似无望的战局。将那份炽热信念化作前进动力后，他转身离开人群，朝着上层区域继续进发。
He took care of all the troopers, helitroopers, Slug-Rays and other Shinra creations that blocked his way. A grunt left him when he was hit by an energy blast, blue sparks crackling over his skin, but he pushed the pain back and swung his Buster Sword. He wouldn’t let anything stop him or slow him down.
他一路斩开所有拦路的神罗士兵、直升机空降兵、电浆射线炮台与其他战争机器。能量冲击波灼伤皮肤时，他闷哼一声，蓝色电火在周身噼啪炸响，却仍咬牙挥动破坏剑将痛楚逼退。没有什么能阻挡他的脚步，哪怕片刻迟疑都不容许。
But he did stop then, mid-step up the staircase, when he caught flickers in the periphery of his vision. His head turned.
但当他踏上阶梯时，余光中忽明忽暗的异样却令他骤然驻足。他侧首望去。
At first, Cloud wasn’t sure what he was seeing.
起初，克劳德不确定自己看见了什么。
It looked like a meteor shower, like stars falling from the sky, almost beautiful if not for the fact of how utterly jarring, incongruent and wrong such a sight was in the middle of a warzone.
那看起来像是流星雨，仿佛群星正从天穹坠落。若不是身处战场中央，这幅景象本应美得惊心动魄，可此刻却如此突兀、违和、令人悚然。
But there they were, balls of fire that streaked the night sky as they hurtled through space on their way down to the earth, leaving bright impressions on the back of his eyelids and momentarily taking his breath away with their unearthly, unreal beauty.
但那些火球确实存在，它们划破夜空，拖曳着炽烈的尾迹朝地表俯冲，在视网膜烙下灼目的残影。转瞬即逝的异世之美摄人心魄，连呼吸都在刹那间被掠夺。
Then he realized with a sudden chill that they were helicopters. He soon spotted the figure that lithely jumped from the top of one to the other, the Masamune flashing as he sliced off the spinning rotors, raising his other hand with purpose while the helicopter underneath him spiraled downwards to its certain destruction. Somehow Sephiroth seemed to be grabbing the flying vehicles with some kind of invisible force, metal hulls shuddering in response to the motions of his hand as he sent them into collision courses that consumed them in plumes of violent flames.
随即他浑身发冷地意识到，那些是军用直升机。很快他捕捉到那个在机舱顶部轻盈跃动的身影——正宗刀寒光连闪，螺旋桨被利落削断。银发武士高举左手催动念力，足下的直升机便旋转着坠向必毁的终局。金属外壳随着他指尖的牵引诡异地战栗，被无形之力攫住的飞行器相互撞击，化作暴烈的火云吞噬苍穹。
They stood absolutely no chance against him. Black hulls careened downwards in bursts of fire wherever Cloud looked, burning bolides that lit up the night and destroyed everything in their path, indiscriminately landing in the emptier areas around the pillar as well as the residential ones, crashing through buildings and leaving black, glowing scorch marks on the ground in their wake, some of the metal beasts only fully exploding when they hit hard concrete. There was the cacophony of people running around and screaming as they tried to dodge both collapsing buildings, and the structures of broken glass and screeching, twisting metal that rained down on them.
他们在他面前毫无胜算。克劳德目光所及之处，黑色飞行器如同燃烧的陨石般在夜空中横冲直撞，拖曳着火焰坠向大地。这些无差别攻击的金属凶兽不仅撞击着支柱周围的空旷区域，更是直插居民区，贯穿楼宇时在地表犁出焦黑的灼痕。部分机体直到撞上钢筋混凝土后才彻底爆炸。人群在尖叫中奔逃，既要躲避崩塌的建筑，又要闪避漫天坠落的碎玻璃与扭曲金属——整个世界充斥着刺耳的刮擦声。
It was almost like something that might be written in the scripture, about the end of the world, when the sky and the stars would all come falling down.
这场景恍若圣典记载的末日预言——当群星陨落，诸天倾覆之时。
For a moment, Cloud just stood there, captivated and paralyzed by the awe and fear that coursed through his veins and left him trembling.
克劳德呆立原地。震慑与恐惧在他血管里奔涌，令他浑身战栗，仿佛被某种无形力量钉在了原地。
But the sky wouldn’t fall. Not today.
但天不会塌——至少今天不会。
Snapping out of it, he thought again of the panicking people and their screams, and felt a deep spark of anger. It was just like the other man not to care for collateral damage or the fallout of this cataclysmic battle. Gathering all the fury and air in his lungs, he shouted—“Sephiroth!”
他猛地回过神来，脑海中再度浮现出人群惊慌失措的惨叫声，胸腔里燃起一团暴怒的火焰。那个男人向来如此，根本不在乎这场惊天对决会带来多少附带损害。他将满腔怒火与空气尽数吸入肺腑，嘶声咆哮——"萨菲罗斯！"
He saw the man had heard him from the angle of his head, even as he continued moving, flying past a helicopter, orange sparks flying as his Masamune carved a deep line in the side of the black metal hull.
从对方偏头的角度判断，那男人显然听见了这声怒吼。但银色身影仍在高速移动，从一架直升机旁掠过的瞬间，漆黑金属机身上骤然爆出橙色火花——正是正宗刀划过机舱留下的灼热伤痕。
Encouraged, Cloud continued, “Don’t just focus on fighting! Think of the civilians—you are going to destroy us all at this rate!”
克劳德受到鼓舞，继续喊道："别光顾着战斗！想想平民——照这个速度打下去我们全都要完蛋！"
He kept his voice angry, stern, authoritative, though he didn’t think Sephiroth would actually listen to him. Why would he? Why should he even care?
他刻意让声音裹挟着怒意，严厉而威严，尽管他觉得萨菲罗斯根本不会听他的。那人为什么要听？他凭什么要在乎？
That winged figure continued fighting, cutting through metal as easily as through flesh, and Cloud had to swallow back his bitter disappointment. But then…
带翼身影仍在战斗，斩断钢铁如同切开血肉般轻松。克劳德咽下喉间苦涩的失望，然而就在这时……
Sephiroth lightly set a foot down on the corpse of his most recently slain metal beast, using it as a stepping stone to jump even higher into the air, wing unfurling magnificently behind him. The wind whipped waves through his hair and it trailed behind him like a silver banner. He lowered his eyes, which seemed to glow even brighter than usual, gloved right hand raised horizontally in front of him, palm down, fingers slightly spread, as he seemed to concentrate.
萨菲罗斯轻盈地踏在最新斩杀的金属巨兽尸骸之上，将其作为跳板再度凌空跃起，背后的单翼恢弘舒展。疾风将他的银发掀成波浪状的旌旗，猎猎飘扬于身后。他低垂双眸——那对瞳孔此刻似乎比平日更为灼亮——戴着黑手套的右臂平举至身前，掌心朝下，五指微张，凝神聚气。
For a moment nothing happened, and the whole world seemed to tremble and hold its breath in anticipation.
刹那间万物凝滞，整个世界仿佛在颤栗中屏息以待。
Then, slowly, the air started to shiver as light began to form in patches, like foam webbed on the surface of a tranquil sea, growing and flowing together and coalescing into a giant dome that covered the whole undercity. It put the Barrier Sephiroth had cast in Don Corneo’s mansion to shame. This was on a completely different level entirely. Something like this should have been impossible, and yet...
紧接着空气开始缓缓震颤，光斑如平静海面泛起的泡沫般浮现，生长、流淌、汇聚成笼罩整个贫民窟的巨型穹顶。这般壮景令他在科雷欧宅邸施展的屏障相形见绌，完全是云泥之别。此等神迹本应超脱凡人所能企及，然而......
More than fifty-thousand people were kept safe within the diameter of the large dome of light that spanned out above them.
直径覆盖整片区域的光之穹顶在众人头顶延展，庇护着穹顶之下五万余人的性命。
They seemed to have noticed this as well, as they stopped running and stared up instead, watching as the helicopters crashed and burst into flames on top of the shield, which faintly shimmered green upon contact. They were like meteorites entering the atmosphere, burning and being abraded into tiny, harmless pebbles long before they could reach the onlookers below.
显然人们也意识到了这点，他们不再奔逃，驻足仰望着直升机群如陨星突入大气层般撞在护盾表面。那些机械残骸在接触屏障的瞬间便燃起熊熊烈焰，护盾表面在撞击处泛起微弱的绿光，而直升机早在坠落地面之前就焚毁殆尽，化作无害的金属碎屑簌簌飘落。
In their faces he could see the same awe and fear that he felt in his heart.
他在人们脸上读到了与自己胸腔里震颤着的相同情绪——敬畏与恐惧。
Then he remembered the mission he was on and tore his eyes away from the beautiful, otherworldly figure that still hovered in the air, limned in red and gold.
随后他猛然记起自己的任务，强迫自己将视线从空中那道美丽而非凡的身影上撕开。那人仍悬浮在原处，周身笼罩在红金交织的光芒中。
He wouldn’t slack off just because Sephiroth appeared to be doing the lion’s share of the work. He continued up the stairs, and tried not to think of Biggs, Jessie or Barret… They may have seen the man earlier, but anything could have happened since then.
即便萨菲罗斯看似承担了大部分防卫工作，他也不能就此懈怠。青年继续向台阶上方奔去，努力不去想比格斯、杰西和巴雷特此刻的处境......虽然众人早前见过那位英雄，但战场瞬息万变，谁都无法预料此刻会发生什么。
As he reached the next level, he swiftly dealt with the Slug-Rays with a few swings of his sword combined with Thundaras that sparked at his fingertips and traveled along the length of his blade to hit the whirring machines with blue lightning that left them smoking and twitching on the ground. Ducking underneath a twisted beam that seemed to have fallen over, he ran up the next set of stairs—finding a figure that was slumped over against the wall on the next floor.
他抵达下一层时，剑刃裹挟着指尖跃动的中阶雷电魔法，几道凌厉剑光便解决了盘旋的射线蛞蝓。蓝白色电流顺着剑身蜿蜒而下，击中嗡嗡作响的机械体，让它们冒着黑烟抽搐倒地。弯腰避过头顶一根坍塌的扭曲钢梁后，他疾步冲上楼梯——在上一层发现了倚墙瘫坐的人影。
“Biggs!” he said, rushing over to the man’s side. He crouched down to inspect him. He looked to be in bad shape, bruises all over his body, blood seeping through his khaki shirt. At least he still seemed to be conscious, smiling faintly when he saw who it was. It was a ghost of his usual broad and confident grins.
“比格斯！”他喊着冲到男人身边蹲下查看。对方伤势极重，卡其色制服浸满血迹，裸露的皮肤遍布瘀伤。万幸人还清醒，见到来者后勉强扯出个虚弱的微笑，往日那自信灿烂的笑容如今只剩一抹苍白的影子。
When he asked about Wedge, Cloud reassured him that he was alright. Then Biggs grabbed his hand, his grip surprisingly strong considering his state as he asked Cloud to protect the pillar, to not let any of their deaths and sacrifices be for nothing. Cloud stared at him, before lifting his other hand and putting it on top of Bigg’s in a grip that was just as tight.
当比格斯问起威吉的状况时，克劳德安抚他说同伴安然无恙。重伤者突然死死攥住他的手腕，气若游丝却字字千钧地恳求他守护支撑柱，别让同伴的牺牲付诸东流。克劳德凝视着他，将另一只手覆上对方青筋暴起的手背，回以同样坚定的力道。
As he did, he wondered when he had gotten so attached. Looking at Biggs, the way he seemed to have difficulty breathing, the air rattling out of his lungs, he thought that this was why he tried to keep his distance from people—they always left or died.
他这样想着，疑惑自己何时变得如此依恋。望着呼吸困难的比格斯，听着空气在他肺叶里发出咯咯声响，他终于明白自己为何总与人保持距离——他们总会离开或死亡。
But Cloud had always had trouble letting go, even when he should. Even when it would be the easier thing to do.
但克劳德始终学不会放手，即便该放手时，即便放手才是更轻松的选择。
His grip tightened. It had be painful, but Biggs didn’t complain about it.
他攥紧的手掌定然让对方吃痛，但比格斯对此毫无怨言。
Instead he smiled and said, “There’s a guy out there who’s making the kinds of fireworks I’ve never seen before. He looks an awful lot like my childhood hero. You know him?”
他只是微笑着开口："外面有个家伙做出了我从未见过的烟花式样。他长得特别像我童年崇拜的英雄。你认识他吗？"
Cloud hesitated, before saying, “Yes.”
克劳德犹豫片刻，答道："认识。"
“He a friend of yours?”
“他是你朋友吗？”
Cloud just nodded, even though it wasn’t true. It would take too long to explain, and it was better to give the other man some hope to cling on to—it could make all the difference with wounds like these.
克劳德点了点头，尽管这不是事实。要解释清楚需要太长时间，而让这个重伤之人保留些希望或许更好——对于这种程度的伤势而言，心理支撑往往能创造奇迹。
Biggs laughed, though it sounded ragged. “You are full of surprises, merc.”
比格斯笑了，尽管气息有些破碎。"你这佣兵总能给人惊喜啊。"
Then he asked Cloud to take care of the Leaf House in the Sector Five slums for him. When Cloud told Biggs to do that himself, Biggs correctly guessed that Cloud wasn’t a fan of kids. This seemed to surprise him as he claimed that Cloud had much in common with them. Then he placed a gentle hand on Cloud’s head, startling him.
接着他拜托克劳德帮忙照看五号贫民窟的绿叶之家孤儿院。当克劳德让比格斯自己去做时，对方精准猜中了他不擅长应付小孩的事实。这个推论似乎让比格斯很惊讶，他坚称克劳德明明和孩子们有很多共同点，最后竟将手掌轻轻按在克劳德头顶，把少年惊得浑身僵硬。
“Don’t look so scared,” Biggs teased. “The sky won’t drop on our heads. Not today.”
“别这么紧张，”比格斯调侃道，“天不会塌下来的，至少今天不会。”
Cloud nodded, eyes serious. “Not on our watch.”
克劳德点点头，眼神凝重。"我们绝不会让这种事发生。"
“That’s the right attitude.” There Biggs smiled, and it looked a little more like his usual grins.
"就该是这个态度。"比格斯终于露出微笑，那笑容开始像他平日标志性的咧嘴笑了。
His strength seemed to be quickly waning though and he only said, “Go. Be a hero and kick those Shinra guys’ asses. We are all depending on you. Don’t disappoint us, Cloud.”
但他的气力似乎正在迅速流逝，只是说道："去吧。当个英雄，把神罗那些混蛋打得落花流水。我们都指望你了。别让我们失望啊，克劳德。"
Cloud, his name, and not merc or any variation thereof. He inhaled sharply, “I—”
他喊的是克劳德，本名，而非佣兵之类的称呼。克劳德倒抽一口气："我——"
But Biggs had lost consciousness by then, head lolling forward.
但比格斯此时已失去意识，脑袋向前耷拉着。
Cloud stared at him, before shaking himself out of it. “This isn’t over yet,” he said, like a promise. In a way, it was.
克劳德盯着他看了一会儿，才猛然回过神来。「这事儿还没完，」他像立誓般说道。某种意义上，这确实是一句誓言。
He left to climb up the ladder leading to the next level. He went up, up, up this way, letting none of the helitroopers stop him. They could be annoying to deal with, buzzing like flies around his head, but they never flew too far out of reach, well aware that if they left the relative safety of the pillar they would be fair game to someone much more dangerous and powerful than them.
他转身爬上通往上一层的梯子，一路向上攀行，不让任何一架武装直升机阻挡自己的脚步。这些恼人的铁苍蝇总在他头顶嗡嗡盘旋，却始终不敢飞离支柱太远——它们心知肚明，一旦离开支柱的庇护范围，就会沦为比它们强大得多的掠食者的活靶子。
More and more it dawned on Cloud that they actually had a chance of winning, and he kept reminding himself of this as he climbed higher and higher.
克劳德愈发清晰地意识到，他们真的有赢的可能。他不断用这个念头鞭策自己，在钢铁骨架间越攀越高。
That was when he was hit by the beam of a white searchlight. His hand came up to shield his eyes, blinded for a moment as a familiar drawl resounded from the loudspeakers.
就在这时，一道雪白的探照灯光束突然将他笼罩。他抬手遮挡刺目的光线，某个熟悉的拖腔正通过扩音器在夜空中回荡。
It smoothly talked bullshit about how Shinra knew all about Avalanche’s evil plans to blow up the pillar and they should surrender and run now while they still had the opportunity.
那个声音流畅地胡扯着，说什么神罗早已洞悉雪崩炸毁支柱的邪恶计划，劝他们趁早放弃抵抗赶紧逃命。
All a smokescreen act, that dark, velvety voice murmured in his ear.
那抹暗哑如天鹅绒的嗓音在他耳畔低语，一切不过是场烟雾弹表演。
With those words in mind, Cloud raised his eyes, immediately recognizing that fiery red hair through the windshield. In the same moment, the red-haired Turk seemed to also realize who exactly it was standing under the bright circle of white.
克劳德默念着这句话，抬眼望去，透过挡风玻璃瞬间认出了那头标志性的火红发色。与此同时，红发的塔克斯成员也赫然意识到，站在刺目白炽光圈下的究竟是何人。
Cloud only caught how the other guy almost lazily drawled, “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the First Class SOLDIER,” lips curving into a mean, dangerous, bloodthirsty smile, and then rapid gunfire was nipping at his heels as he sped up the stairs. He threw himself behind a wall of metal pipes, the gunfire letting up after a few moments, but picking up again whenever he tried to move away. On and on this went. All the while more taunts were thrown his way from the red-haired Turk who seemed to be playing with him like a cat chasing a mouse.
克劳德只听见对方近乎慵懒地拖着长音道："哎呀呀——这不是一等兵战士么"，那人嘴角扯出一抹阴鸷、危险、嗜血的笑意。下一瞬，子弹便如附骨之疽般咬上了他的脚后跟，逼得他加速冲上楼梯。他闪身躲进金属管道构筑的掩体后，枪声暂歇数秒，可一旦试图移动，弹雨便再度倾泻而下。这般猫戏老鼠的拉锯战持续了许久，红发塔克斯的讥讽声更是不绝于耳。
“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” came the dark sing-song voice, making Cloud grit his teeth. Impatience licked underneath his skin, and he wasn’t sure how long his temporary barricade could hold out anymore when he spotted a figure coming up the stairs.
"出来吧，出来吧，无论你在哪儿——"黑暗中飘来阴恻恻的吟唱，克劳德咬紧牙关。焦躁感在血管下灼烧，临时构筑的屏障已摇摇欲坠。就在此时，他瞥见一道身影正拾级而上。
It was Tifa. His eyes widened. Of all the reckless things...!
是蒂法。他瞳孔骤缩。真是鲁莽至极——！
“Well, look at that,” the red-haired Turk said gleefully, a sadistic gleam in his eyes.
“哎呀，瞧瞧这是谁，”红发塔克斯成员眼中闪烁着施虐般的快意光芒，声音里透着股幸灾乐祸。
Somehow the helicopter swerved, the gunfire going wild, and Cloud jumped out from behind the pipes. Tifa mirrored him as they reached for each other, the hail of bullets flashing orange underneath their feet and ricocheting off the metal. Cloud caught her hand in a firm grip and pulled her behind the nearest corner, letting the beams of the railing act as a shield as he sternly turned to Tifa. She only grinned and cheerfully called him a hypocrite when he told her she was crazy.
直升机突然急转向，弹道轨迹瞬间偏离。克劳德从管道后纵身跃出，蒂法也默契地同步行动。两人在金属甲板上方交织的橙红色弹雨中奔向彼此，子弹不断在脚下迸溅出火花。克劳德一把攥住她的手，拽着她躲进最近的掩体。他用栏杆作掩护，板着脸转向蒂法。可当他责备她太过疯狂时，姑娘只是笑眼弯弯地反呛了句伪君子。
That was when Sephiroth landed on the helicopter, rocking it hard. The gunfire went wild again. Both Turks had identical expressions on their faces that could only be eloquently translated as ‘oh shit’.
就在这时，萨菲罗斯降落在直升机上，机身剧烈摇晃。枪声再度胡乱响起。两名塔克斯成员脸上浮现出如出一辙的表情，用最生动的语言翻译过来就是——"我操"。
The red-head smiled then, dark cheer coloring his demeanor even as his eyes seemed to grow serious for the first time since Cloud had known him in their brief acquaintance. “Let’s do this, partner. Been itching for a challenge anyway,” he said to the other Turk, before smirking. “Until then, Blondie!”
红发男子竟在这时笑了，周身洋溢着阴郁的快活气息，然而那双眼睛却自克劳德与他短暂相识以来，首次显露出认真的神色。"上吧搭档，反正早就想找点刺激了。"他对另一名塔克斯成员说完，又冲克劳德扯出个痞笑。"回见啊，金发小妞！"
Rotors spinning fast, the helicopter turned in a sharp swerve as they tried to shake Sephiroth off. The red-haired Turk appeared to be crazy as he actually laughed and whooped breathlessly, apparently thrilled by this whole thing.
螺旋桨高速旋转着，直升机在空中急转试图甩脱萨菲罗斯。红发塔克斯成员简直像疯了一样，居然喘着粗气大笑欢呼，显然对这场惊险追逐兴奋不已。
Sephiroth let them have a headstart, pausing briefly to look back at Cloud and Tifa. Cloud didn’t thank him, and Sephiroth didn’t seem to expect him to, lips quirking up. His feet touched the floor only for a moment before he threw himself backwards in a graceful arc. Cloud was entranced by the stretch of his long throat for a moment, the glide of his endless, gleaming silver hair as he fell backwards in a seemingly suicidal act. Then his wing flapped powerfully and he was flying off again in a swirl of feathers, taking chase after his target. And then it was the Turks who were the mice running from the cat.
萨菲罗斯放任他们先行撤离，驻足片刻回望克劳德与蒂法。克劳德没有道谢，银发人亦未显露期待之意，只是唇角微扬。他足尖轻点地面的刹那便以优雅弧线后仰，修长脖颈延展的弧度与凌空坠落时如银河倾泻的闪耀银发摄住了克劳德的心神——这看似自毁的举动实则暗藏玄机。随着黑翼猛然振翅，羽旋纷飞间他已再度腾空追击目标。此刻狼狈奔逃的老鼠，换成了被凶猫穷追不舍的塔克斯众员。
Cloud watched them for a moment, then he and Tifa continued the journey upwards. At his prompting, she informed him that Aerith had gone to find Marlene and bring her to safety on her request, with Wedge accompanying her to show her the way.
克劳德目送片刻后，与蒂法继续向上层进发。经他询问，少女告知艾瑞丝已应玛琳所求前去寻她并护送其至安全地带，威吉随行为她引路。
The railing shuddered with a loud explosion, and they looked up to see Jessie a few stories up, walking out of the billowing smoke. In front of her was one of the pale, smaller one-manned helicopters with a trooper sitting inside it. They watched her smirk, eyes glinting, before she threw her hand grenade at the windshield. Cloud could only think no as the flames consumed the both of them.
栏杆随着剧烈的爆炸震颤起来，他们抬头望去，看见杰西从几层楼高的滚滚浓烟中走出。她面前是一架浅色的小型单人直升机，舱内坐着一名士兵。他们看着她露出冷笑，眼中寒光一闪，随即将手榴弹掷向挡风玻璃。克劳德脑海中只来得及闪过一个不字，火焰便吞噬了她与敌方驾驶员的身影。
He and Tifa wasted no time rushing to the next floor, only to find their path blocked. Exchanging only a glance, they soon became motion and the deadly flash of fists and blade, mowing their way through more troopers and Slug-Rays. It was so much easier without the helicopter hounding them, considering they already had their hands full with these soldiers and the Shinra machinery. Sentry Guns were positioned on the other side, and the closer they got to the top the better-equipped and higher-skilled the troopers became, far more so than the usual grunts. Nonetheless, between the two of them, the blue crackling of Thundara and the red flames of Firaga, they quickly took care of any opposition.
他和蒂法片刻不敢耽搁地冲向下一个楼层，却发现去路被阻。两人仅交换了一个眼神，便化作疾影与刀光拳风，一路杀穿更多士兵与蛞蝓射线机。没有直升机纠缠后战斗轻松了许多——毕竟光是应付这些士兵和神罗机械就足以让他们焦头烂额。哨兵枪被架设在另一侧，他们越接近顶层，士兵的装备就越精良、战斗素养也越高，远非寻常杂兵可比。尽管如此，凭借两人的默契配合，辅以雷霆魔法跃动的蓝光与爆燃魔法的赤焰，他们依然迅速扫清了所有障碍。
And then they were running past burning debris, finally making it to the higher level where they had seen Jessie. They pulled her out from underneath the beams, the burning wreckage of the helicopter somewhere behind her, illuminating her figure in orange and red. Cloud scooped her up in his arms, then gently put her down on the ground again in a spot where she could lean back against the wall.
他们开始穿越燃烧的残骸狂奔，终于抵达了先前望见杰西的高层平台。众人将女孩从横梁下拖出，直升机燃烧的残骸在她身后发出橙红光芒，勾勒出她蜷缩的身形。克劳德将她打横抱起，又轻轻安置在墙边可供倚靠的空地上。
“My hero,” she said, though it was more a rasp. A faint smile played on her lips.
「我的英雄啊。」她气若游丝地说道，唇角却浮起虚弱的笑意。
She then proceeded to tell them her last wish, how she had wanted them to all have pizza at her mom’s place again. Tifa began crying then, and it seemed only to grow worse when Jessie teased and joked with her as always, as though she wasn’t currently dying. But she wasn’t, she couldn’t, not after all they had already gone through, and Cloud told her as much. He told her that she would live, and they would all have that pizza. Jessie owed him besides.
她开始絮絮叨叨地诉说临终愿望，说好想再和大家去妈妈家的披萨店聚餐。蒂法闻言顿时泣不成声，而当杰西像往常那样逗她玩笑时，泪水更是决堤般涌出——仿佛此刻濒死的不是自己。但不会的，绝不能是，历经如此多磨难后命运不该如此残酷，克劳德斩钉截铁地说道。他承诺女孩定能活下去，披萨之约必将实现，更何况——杰西还欠着他的债呢。
That startled a small laugh out of her, though it was soon followed by a coughing fit that tinged her lips red. Before they could fuss too much over her, she asked, “I saw… an angel out there. He looks a lot like a dead war hero… Do you suppose he’s here to... take me away?”
这句话让她不由得轻笑一声，随即却引发了一阵咳嗽，唇边渗出殷红。没等众人过分担忧，她喘息着问道："我看到......外面有个天使。长得特别像那位已故的战争英雄......你们说......他是不是来带我走的？"
“No,” Cloud immediately said. “He’s here to make sure we all live. He’s here to protect the pillar.”
不可能。"克劳德斩钉截铁地说，"他是来守护所有人性命的。他来保护支柱。
“Is that right?” The smile on Jessie’s lips was almost dreamy, her eyes seeming to grow more and more distant. “You‘ll have to... introduce us and tell me how you… know each other…”
是吗？"杰西唇边挂着恍惚的微笑，瞳孔逐渐失去焦距，"那你可得......给我们引见......说说你们......怎么认识的......
“It’s a long story,” Cloud said.
“说来话长，”Cloud 说。
“That’s fine. I love stories…” Jessie’s eyes closed then, and Tifa muffled her sob with her hand.
“没关系。我最爱听故事了……”杰西说完这句话便闭上了眼睛，蒂法用手死死捂住哽咽。
“She’s not dead yet,” Cloud said, placing his hand around Tifa’s back and letting her cry into his shoulder. He pressed her closer, even knowing that he always held on too tight. His grip had to be bruising, but she didn’t seem to mind, at least for the moment. “She’ll live.”
“她还有救。”克劳德揽住蒂法后背，任她靠在自己肩头哭泣。他将她搂得更紧，明知自己总是不懂拿捏力道。这样用力的怀抱肯定会在她身上留下淤青，但至少此刻她并不在意。“能活下来的。”
She had to. 她必须活下来。
When Tifa calmed down a little and started to complain about Cloud crushing her, they both got up and made their way up the stairs, only one goal in their minds: to make it to the top.
当蒂法情绪稍缓，开始抱怨克劳德快把自己肋骨勒断时，两人一同踏上楼梯。螺旋阶梯盘旋而上，心中只剩下一个目标：抵达顶层。
Once there, they heard a familiar roar of fury. Barret was on the open rooftop, gun-arm extended as he shot round after round at the helicopter hovering above. He soon had to jump behind cover though when bullets rained down on him in response.
刚抵达顶层，熟悉的暴怒咆哮便传入耳中。巴雷特正站在露天平台上，机械臂不断向头顶盘旋的直升机倾泻子弹。很快对方还以颜色，子弹如雨点般倾泻而下，迫使他翻滚躲进掩体后方。
Tifa recklessly ran out into the open area, nearly getting punctured by multiple bullets. Cloud cursed and immediately rushed after her. He placed his own body in front of her, sword held up protectively, and made sure he had the helicopter’s attention before running behind the gas containers where Barret was hiding, pulling the gunfire to him and away from Tifa, allowing her to swiftly follow in his steps unhindered.
蒂法不顾一切地冲进开阔区域，险些被数发子弹击中。克劳德咒骂着立刻追上去，用肉身挡在她面前举剑作盾，确认吸引到直升机注意后便冲向巴雷特藏身的燃气罐后方，将弹雨引向自己远离蒂法，让她得以紧随其后畅通无阻。
He stopped her skidding slide into their temporary hideout with his own body, holding her for a moment before she regained her bearings.
他用自己的身躯截停了她滑向临时藏身处的冲势，在她恢复平衡前紧紧搂住了一瞬。
“What took you so goddamn long?” was all Barret said, in lieu of a greeting.
巴雷特省略了问候，劈头就是一句："你们他妈怎么这么久？"
More bullets were buried in the large gas bottles behind them and they started running before they could get caught in the big explosion. The shockwaves radiated outwards, heat pressing against their skins. Cloud’s ears were still ringing when he got up again, eyes sharp as he turned slowly, checking out their surroundings and not liking the fact that they were standing on the rooftop without any cover now.
更多子弹嵌进身后巨型燃气瓶的瞬间，他们赶在爆炸前拔腿狂奔。冲击波向外扩散，热浪灼烧着他们的皮肤。克劳德起身时耳畔仍在嗡鸣，他缓缓转身用锐利的目光扫视四周——此刻暴露在毫无遮蔽的屋顶上，这让他倍感不安。
He watched the helicopter still up in the air, circling around them before drawing closer. The side door slid open, the red-haired Turk standing on its threshold.
他注视着仍在空中盘旋的直升机，只见机体绕着他们盘旋数周后开始逼近。侧舱门豁然开启，红发的塔克斯成员伫立在舱门口。
Cloud tightened his grip on the Buster Sword. “You…”
克劳德攥紧了掌中的破坏剑。"你……"
The other man just grinned, amused. “Seems like we’ll be getting our rematch sooner rather than later, eh, Blondie?”
那个男人只是饶有兴致地咧嘴一笑。"看来咱们的再战要比预期来得更早啊，金发小子？"
With these words he suddenly dropped down, Cloud raising his blade to block the strike of his mag rod, made heavier by his body weight and the pull of gravity. Above him, the Turk cocked his head. “Hmm, not bad.” Cloud remembered how nimble the other man had been in Aerith’s church, so it wasn’t entirely unexpected when the man crouching on the broad of his blade flipped over Cloud’s head to lightly land on his feet behind him with almost feline grace.
话音未落对方突然纵身跃下，克劳德立即横举剑刃格挡袭来的磁力棍——对方借助体重与重力加速度使这一击格外沉重。悬停在他上方的塔克斯成员歪了歪头："哼，还不赖。"克劳德清楚记得这人在爱丽丝教堂展现出的灵活身手，因此当那个蹲在自己宽阔剑身上的男人以近乎猫科动物般的优雅姿态翻越头顶、轻盈落至背后时，他并未完全感到意外。
As Cloud turned around, a taunting smile only briefly touched the other man’s lips before he rushed at him. Cloud swung his sword at him—but missed, the crafty Turk sliding easily underneath the blade’s edge and coming out the other side unharmed. “Thanks,” he threw back at Cloud with a wink, not even slowing down a little, and Cloud made to run after him when the ground before him was riddled with bullet holes.
克劳德转身之际，对方唇角仅短暂掠过一丝嘲弄笑意便猛然冲来。他挥剑劈砍却落了空——那狡猾的塔克斯成员灵巧地从剑刃下滑行而过，毫发无损地脱身。"谢了，"那人边疾驰边回头朝克劳德眨眼，速度丝毫未减。克劳德正欲追击，面前地面却骤然被弹雨撕裂成蜂窝状。
Jaw clenching, he looked up to the dark shape in the sky. Of course there was still the helicopter to consider, the red-haired Turk’s partner sitting in the pilot’s seat.
他咬紧牙关仰视天际的黑色轮廓。自然不能忽视仍在盘旋的直升机，驾驶舱内坐着红发塔克斯的搭档。
The steady gunfire created an impassable wall, but Barret was already on it, his own bullets ricocheting off the underside of the helicopter, creating a small break that Cloud used to dash across the rooftop.
持续扫射的机枪编织出无法穿越的屏障，但巴雷特已然架起枪械反击。他射出的子弹从直升机底部反弹开来，制造出短暂空隙，克劳德趁机跃过这片弹幕冲过天台。
By then, the red-haired Turk had already waltzed over to the control console and begun typing on the keyboard, humming cheerfully to himself as though he wasn’t dooming fifty-thousand people to their deaths—and it wasn’t just them either, counting in the topside residents. A female, automated voice announced that the plate separation had been authorized and it was awaiting confirmation now. Cloud saw panels sliding apart, revealing a button. It quickened his steps as he approached the other man from behind, Buster Sword coming down on him before he could press the button and ruin all of their efforts; all of the hopes and dreams of everyone that were resting on Cloud’s shoulders.
那时，红发的塔克斯成员早已踱步至控制台前，一边哼着欢快的小调一边敲击键盘，仿佛他并非在宣判五万人死刑——若算上地面居民，人数远不止于此。机械女声宣告护罩分离程序已授权，正等待最终确认。克劳德看见操作面板向外滑开，露出了红色按钮。他加快步伐从背后逼近对方，在男人即将按下按钮摧毁众人努力前挥下破坏剑——所有压在克劳德肩头的希望与梦想，此刻皆系于这一剑。
The Turk seemed unsuspecting, relaxed, but then he whipped around lightning-fast, his mag rod extended. He easily bore the brunt of Cloud’s sword, deceptively strong despite his lithe frame.
塔克斯成员看似毫无防备，姿态松弛，却在瞬间以闪电之势转身，磁力警棍横亘身前。修长身躯爆发出惊人的力量，竟稳稳架住了沉重剑刃。
“Now, now, can’t you wait a little?” he drawled, pale blue eyes glinting coldly in contrast to the almost friendly tone of his voice. “I’ll have all the time in the world to play with you later, if you want to play.”
别急嘛，"男人拖着长音说道，淡蓝眼眸泛着寒光，与近乎友善的语调形成鲜明对比，"要是想玩，之后有的是时间陪你玩个痛快。
Cloud rolled his jaw. “No, thanks.”
克劳德磨了磨后槽牙："谢了，没兴趣。"
He put more of his weight forward, but the other man threw him back a few steps in a sudden burst of strength. Next, he lightly tapped the mag rod on his shoulder, tutting mockingly.
他加重了前倾的力道，对方却突然发力将他向后推开了几步。接着那人将磁力棍轻敲肩头，发出嘲弄的啧啧声。
“You’ll have to do better than that, Mister former SOLDIER First Class.”
就这点本事吗？前·一级特种兵先生。
Standing there, he just looked so damn relaxed, as though Cloud wasn’t even a challenge, even despite the result of their last fight. Tifa and Barret soon ran up to him, flanking his form.
那人气定神闲地站着，仿佛克劳德根本不值一提——尽管上次交手时分明是对方落败。蒂法与巴雷特很快冲到他身边，三人形成了夹击之势。
He spared a glance to the side where Sephiroth appeared to be locked in battle with dozens of helicopters some distance away. Cloud had already been wondering how the Turks managed to get away from him let alone survive, but it seemed like Shinra had sent more reinforcements upon hearing that its beloved general had returned.
他瞥了眼远处正被数十架直升机团团围住的萨菲罗斯。克劳德早就好奇塔克斯是怎么从他手中逃脱的，现在看来神罗公司得知爱将回归后派出了更多增援。
After a quick scan of the situation—Sephiroth seemed to be handling himself well enough, more metal hulls catching fire and falling like stars underneath him—he noticed that Shinra hadn’t sent any SOLDIERs. Not surprising since a lot of them had died in the war and most of the others had deserted, though he couldn't quite remember why anymore…
快速扫视战场——萨菲罗斯游刃有余地应对着，更多燃烧的金属残骸如流星般在他脚下坠落——克劳德注意到神罗并未派出特种兵。这不奇怪，毕竟他们大多战死沙场，幸存者也多半叛逃了，虽然关于叛逃的原因...他的记忆已然模糊不清。
There was also the SOLDIER code of honor to consider; they wouldn’t actually participate in something like this. That was more the Turks’ area of expertise—but then his mind jumped back to the control room in the sewers and Sephiroth’s mad talk of burning villages, the Wutai War having been nothing more than an act of terrorism hiding behind a thin veneer of legitimacy—
此外还要考虑神罗战士的荣誉准则——他们实际上不会参与这类任务。那更像是塔克斯的专长领域——但紧接着他的思绪又跳转回下水道控制室里萨菲罗斯那些焚烧村庄的疯狂言论，五台战争不过是裹着合法外衣的恐怖主义行径——
Cloud pushed it back, telling himself to focus, the leather of his gloves creaking as his hands tightened on the hilt of the Buster Sword. Tifa and Barret flanked him, and the three of them looked at each other for only a moment before turning forward again to face their enemy. So much depended on them. They couldn’t fail now.
克劳德强压下杂念，告诫自己专注当下。他紧握破坏剑的皮革手套发出咯吱声响，蒂法和巴雷特分列两侧，三人短暂对视后再度将目光投向共同的敌人。太多重担压在他们肩头，此刻绝不能失败。
Cloud bared his teeth. “Press it.” It was a dare as much as it was a threat.
克劳德咧开嘴露出森森白牙："按下去啊。"这既是威胁，亦是挑衅。
That only caused the Turk to smile wider. “Oh, don’t you worry about that. I will,” he promised, still tapping the mag rod on his shoulder. Then he was off like a shot, from this moment to the next, leaving streaks of blue lightning in the night air as he swung his stick, incredibly fast—
这话反而让塔克斯的笑意更浓了。"噢，这就不劳费心了。我自然会按，"他信誓旦旦地说着，磁力棒仍在肩头轻叩。话音未落人已如离弦之箭蹿出，挥舞的短棍在夜幕中划出蓝色电光残影，速度快得惊人——
They barely managed to dodge his attack in time, each of them skidding away. Cloud barely got his bearings before he had to raise his sword to defend himself against a flurry of attacks. It looked wild, but the strikes snaked past his guard to hit him with deadly precision in his most vulnerable spots, zapping him with high-voltage electricity in bursts of bright pain that he had to grit his teeth against.
他们勉强在最后一刻躲开攻击，各自向两侧滑开。克劳德刚调整好身位就不得不举剑格挡疾风骤雨般的攻势。对方的攻击看似毫无章法，实际每道电光都精准绕过防御屏障，直击少年最脆弱的神经节点。高压电流在体内炸开的剧痛让他咬紧牙关，爆裂蓝光在视网膜上烙下灼烧印记。
When he finally pulled himself together enough for a counterattack, sword swinging heavily, the Turk just nimbly danced out of the way, laughing. Cloud eyed him warily. His limbs were numb, hands shaking involuntarily from muscle spasms. It was bad, and he knew he couldn’t get caught by that blue lightning too often.
当克劳德终于凝聚起反击力量挥剑劈砍时，塔克斯成员却如跳华尔兹般轻盈避开，作战靴在地面划出优雅弧线。对方甚至有余裕发出轻笑声。少年握紧震颤不止的剑柄，作战服下的肢体正不受控地痉挛——他很清楚自己这副被魔晄改造过的身体，承受不了多少次这种神经脉冲攻击。
The other man just smiled lazily at him, the mag rod spinning easily, skillfully in his hand. Cloud had a feeling that he hadn’t really been serious the last time, though he seemed a little more so now, his eyes a little sharper, his smiles gaining more of an edge—that was, if he ever really got serious at all.
另一个男人只是懒洋洋地冲他笑着，磁力棒在掌中娴熟地打着转。克劳德有种预感——虽然对方此刻眼神锐利了几分，笑意也愈发锋利，仿佛终于多了些认真劲，但若真要较起真来，这家伙上次根本就没动真格。
The strangest thing, however, was how he seemed to have lost all interest in Cloud, merely treating him like any other target. It was a jarring contrast to his sadistic glee during the chase from earlier, making Cloud wonder if all Turks were talented actors like him. Or maybe just psychopaths.
然而最诡异的是，那人仿佛对克劳德完全失去了兴趣，只把他当作普通目标对待。这与先前追逐战中流露出的施虐快感形成强烈反差，让克劳德不禁怀疑所有塔克斯成员是否都像他这般擅长演戏。又或者，单纯是群疯子罢了。
Tifa and Cloud teamed up on him next, but he seemed to weave around most of their attacks, the burning fire of his mag rod licking across Tifa’s stomach and Cloud’s arm. While Tifa doubled over and Cloud stumbled away, Barret shot at the Turk from afar. The Turk was next to him in a second, giving him a taste of his trademark chain of attacks, the mag rod flashing, seeming to hit from everywhere at once and eventually sending Barret flying.
蒂法和克劳德随即联手攻向他，但对方似乎能游刃有余地避开大部分攻击，燃烧着火焰的磁力棒舔舐过蒂法的腹部与克劳德的手臂。趁蒂法弓身蜷缩、克劳德踉跄后退之际，巴雷特从远处朝这名塔克斯成员射击。对方瞬间闪至他身边，让他亲身体验了招牌式的连锁攻击——磁力棒寒光频闪，仿佛从四面八方同时袭来，最终将巴雷特整个人击飞。
“Barret!” Tifa said, but she was stopped from helping her friend by the bullets from above.
“巴雷特！”蒂法喊道，但来自上方的子弹阻止了她援助同伴的行动。
Cloud swung his sword at the Turk’s back, slashing and hacking and keeping it up until the other had no choice but to retreat. He offered Barret a hand up. “You gettin’ rusty?”
克劳德挥剑斩向塔克斯成员的背部，连续劈砍迫使对方不得不撤退。他向巴雷特伸手拉他起身：“你生锈了么？”
“Ha!” Barret took his hand. “You wish.”
“哈！”巴雷特抓住他的手。“你想得美。”
When they looked over again, Tifa was keeping the Turk busy, fists and elbows and knees and feet flying in a blur of motion as she avoided the mag rod, absorbing most of the discharged electricity with her bracers. Cloud and Barret joined her, beginning to pressure the Turk with their combined attacks.
当他们再度望去时，蒂法正用疾风骤雨般的拳脚肘膝与那名塔克斯周旋，一边闪避着磁力棒攻击，一边用护腕格挡吸收大部分迸射的电光。克劳德和巴雷特迅速加入战局，三人合力形成压制之势。
The other Turk up in the air, seeming to sense that his partner may require assistance, released missiles from the underside compartment of his helicopter that shook the whole rooftop in a row of explosions. They had to duck for cover, the red-haired Turk having vaulted over a wire fence and cleared the area a long time ago.
空中盘旋的另一名塔克斯似乎察觉到同伴陷入苦战，直升机底舱突然射出连串飞弹，爆炸冲击波撼动着整片天台。众人慌忙寻找掩体，而红发的塔克斯早已翻身越过铁丝围栏撤离了危险区域。
The helicopter had to go. Even before the smoke dispersed, Cloud jumped high, denting the metal hull with powerful strikes of his sword. He had just landed back down on the ground again when Barret aimed a focused shot at the flying vehicle’s rear end. It was edged with blue fire and hit true, the hull catching fire and spinning madly as the pilot lost control, ending in a brilliant explosion as it crashed into the rooftop.
必须解决那架直升机。未等硝烟散尽，克劳德便纵身跃起，巨剑裹挟千钧之力在金属机身上凿出深深凹痕。他刚落地，巴雷特便精准锁定飞行器尾部——裹着蓝色火焰的子弹呼啸命中，机身瞬间燃起大火失控盘旋，最终在撞向天台时化作一团炫目火球。
The red-haired Turk seemed to have already given his partner up for dead, a seemingly careless smile spreading on his lips as his eyes glittered dangerously with lethal promise; the empty eyes of a killer. The red markings underneath them added a feral quality to him, even as they reflected the flames.
红发特种兵仿佛已将搭档视为弃子，漫不经心的笑容在唇边绽开时，眼底却闪烁着致命寒光——那是杀人者独有的空洞眼神。颧骨下方的赤红纹身在火光映照下更添几分兽性。
Then a man climbed out of the wreckage, tall, dark-skinned, clearly very muscular even underneath the sleek lines of his black suit. He took the sunglasses offered by his partner and smoothly slid them on his nose. He looked no less dangerous than the Turk beside him.
紧接着，一个高大黝黑的男人从废墟中攀出。即便裹在剪裁利落的黑西装里，贲张肌肉线条仍清晰可辨。他接过搭档递来的墨镜从容架在鼻梁上，周身散发的危险气息丝毫不逊于身旁的特种兵。
There came that drawl again: “Ya know, Rude. The Vice Prez would be hella pissed if one of his Turks got killed without his permission.”
拖长的语调再度响起："我说陆德啊，要是特种兵擅自送命，副社长绝对会气炸的。"
A low chuckle that was almost a rumble. “I know,” Rude said, adjusting the black gloves on his large hands. They looked like they could pack quite a punch. “That’s why I didn’t.”
回应他的是一阵近乎轰鸣的低沉轻笑。"我知道。"陆德调整着覆在宽大手掌上的黑手套，皮质表面在火光下泛着冷光，"所以我才活着。"
“Could imagine the sour look on his face though.” The other snickered.
"不过他那张臭脸倒是可以想象。"另一人窃笑道。
Rude rolled his wrist a few times, fingers folding into a fist with the promise of the violence soon to come. “Let’s go, Reno. Can’t keep the Vice Prez waiting.”
鲁德转了几下手腕，手指蜷成拳头，预示着即将到来的暴力冲突。"走吧，雷诺。别让副社长等急了。"
“Took the words right out of my mouth.” Reno’s eyes flashed as he smirked, slow and lazy.
"这话说到我心坎里了。"雷诺眯起眼睛露出标志性的懒笑，瞳中闪过危险的光芒。
Then the both of them turned to Cloud and the others, and the fight was on again.
两人同时转身面向克劳德一行人，战火重新点燃。
The two Turks made a good team. Reno seemed perpetually bored, but when he moved it was with predatory grace, as unpredictable and dangerous as the blue high-voltage electricity he favored. Rude was steady in contrast, like a rock, an immovable mountain. When he approached, he let nothing deter him, as indomitable as a tank and built like one too. His punches were just as devastating as Cloud had suspected, seismically shaking the ground and making them lose their footing, making Cloud see stars when they clipped his jaw. Rude’s powerful spinning kicks took out everything in their radius, sending them flying without fail every time.
两位特工配合得天衣无缝。雷诺总带着漫不经心的神态，行动时却像掠食动物般优雅危险，如同他钟爱的蓝色高压电流般难以捉摸。鲁德则如磐石般沉稳，进攻时仿佛移动的山岳不可阻挡，坦克般的身躯所向披靡。他的重拳果然如克劳德预想的那般骇人，地震般的冲击波震得众人踉跄，击中下颚时克劳德眼前直冒金星。鲁德极具破坏力的回旋踢横扫战场半径内所有目标，每次出手必有人被击飞。
The fight wasn’t easy by any means, but eventually, after many Firagas and Aeros and bullet shots, empty metal cases littering the ground like pulled teeth, they managed to defeat and subdue both Turks.
这场恶战绝不轻松，但最终，在无数烈焰风暴与空气刃的交错中，在子弹打空的金属弹匣如拔下的牙齿般散落满地后，他们终于成功制服了两位特工。
Tifa immediately went to the control console, hands hovering uncertainly over the keyboard as that bland, automated voice spoke up again, repeating the same phrase: Awaiting confirmation.
蒂法立即走向控制台，双手悬停在键盘上方犹豫不定，此时那道机械化的平淡声音再度响起，重复着同一句话：等待确认。
Cloud shifted his grip, the motion bringing the edge of his blade closer to Reno’s throat, as he asked him how to stop it, voice low and threatening.
克劳德调整了握剑姿势，剑锋随着动作贴近雷诺咽喉，用低沉而带有威胁的嗓音逼问停止程序的方法。
“How should I know?” Reno smirked, unfazed, merely lying back on the floor with his hands interlaced behind his head as he began to hum a tune. It pulled out a low growl from Cloud’s throat.
"我怎么知道？"雷诺咧嘴笑着，双手交叠枕在脑后躺在地板上，若无其事地哼起了小调。这举动让克劳德喉间发出低沉的怒音。
Not far from them Barret was holding Rude at gun-arm point, but then the Turk suddenly broke into a dead run for the console, heedless of the gunfire Barret sent after him. At the commotion Tifa turned around. Her eyes locked on Rude’s form and she readied herself with her fists held up in front of her.
不远处巴雷特正用枪管抵住路德，但这位塔克斯成员突然不顾身后扫射的子弹，发足狂奔冲向控制台。骚动声中蒂法猛然转身，目光锁定路德身影后立即摆出格斗架势，双拳紧握举至胸前。
That was when Sephiroth’s wingless form dropped down from the sky, running Rude through with the Masamune.
就在此刻，没有羽翼的萨菲罗斯从天而降，正宗刀贯穿了路德的躯体。
Cloud jolted as if he was the one who had been run through.
克劳德猛然一颤，仿佛被利刃刺穿的人是他自己。
“Rude!” a voice called out, but it seemed to come from far away, unable to penetrate the fog that suddenly filled his head.
“鲁德！”有人大喊，但那声音仿佛来自远方，无法穿透突然充斥他脑海的浓雾。
It was quiet, too quiet. The constant white noise of spinning rotors that he had gotten used to and managed to tune out was gone, and as he glanced around them, he saw that no helicopters were left, presumably reduced to rust and dust.
四周太安静了，安静得诡异。那些他早已习惯并自动屏蔽的螺旋桨旋转白噪音消失了，环顾四周时发现所有直升机都不见了，大概早已化为锈迹与尘埃。
A chill spread on his skin, making his trembling hand clench into a fist at his side.
寒意顺着皮肤蔓延，让他在身侧颤抖的手攥成了拳头。
“Seems like I missed two rats,” Sephiroth lightly commented. He cocked his head, looking down at the still body on the ground. “Though I suppose it’s only one now.”
萨菲罗斯微微偏头，俯视着地上静止的躯体，用轻飘飘的语气评价道：“看来漏了两只老鼠。”银发在废墟的风中扬起，“不过现在只剩一只了。”
Rude had initially been brought down to his knees by the impact of the sword piercing him from behind, but then had started to slowly slide down the length with a pained groan, and now he lay there, face down, unmoving, as a pool of red slowly spread underneath him.
鲁德最初被从背后贯穿身体的剑刃冲击力撞得双膝跪地，随后随着一声痛苦的呻吟开始沿着剑身缓缓下滑。此刻他面朝下趴伏在地纹丝不动，身下逐渐洇开一滩暗红血泊。
Cloud’s own rib cage ached with phantom pain. Though it had happened a little differently with him, the spot was the same one. He had two matching scars, one in the front and one in the back, marking where the Masamune had entered and left his body. His breath grew tight in his lungs, and he had to resist the powerful urge to put his hand over that patch of pale skin stretching over his chest, and dig his fingers into it as though he could erase it that way. But he knew he couldn’t. He could no more erase it than he could unmake what had happened on that fateful day five years ago, changing his life forever.
克劳德自己的胸腔因幻痛而阵阵发紧。尽管受伤方式略有不同，但创口位置如出一辙。他胸前后背各有一道对称疤痕，标记着正宗刺入与贯穿的轨迹。肺部呼吸渐渐凝滞，他不得不强压下将手掌覆上那片苍白胸肌、用指尖狠狠剜进皮肉仿佛能就此抹去伤痕的冲动。可他知道这不过是徒劳。正如五年前那个改写命运的致命时刻无法逆转，这道烙印亦将永远铭刻在他的躯体之上。
Reno ran up to Rude’s side and Cloud let him. The man kept his eyes on Sephiroth, carefully watching for any sudden movements as he approached, crouched lower than usual in something that wasn’t his customary slouch: an inferior predator bowing to a superior one.
雷诺冲向鲁德身侧时克劳德并未阻拦。红发男人始终将视线锁定在萨菲罗斯身上，接近时以低于常态的警戒姿态半蹲着——那并非他惯常的懒散站姿，更像是次级掠食者面对顶级猎手时臣服的姿态——提防着银发人任何突发动作。
“I didn’t kill him,” Sephiroth said, his tone bored. “You might still be able to save him… but only if you make it in time.” His head tilted. “I’m afraid he doesn’t have too much of that left.”
雷诺最终选择了带走鲁德。克劳德对此并不意外。假使任务还有一线成功的希望，那么当萨菲罗斯现身的那一刻，这簇希望之火便已彻底熄灭。雷诺将搭档瘫软的手臂架在自己肩头，两人就这样相互搀扶着，遍体鳞伤地踉跄着消失在了废墟深处。
He sounded almost sympathetic; it only rubbed more salt into the wound.
“That how you gonna play it, huh?” Reno smiled, though the peeling back of his lips was more like an animal expression of hostility and fear.
Sephiroth didn’t bother to grace this with a verbal response, as if he considered a lower being like Reno far beneath his notice. His own smile was answer enough, cold and amused and absolutely chilling.
Reno chose Rude in the end. Cloud hadn’t really expected otherwise. If there still had been any chance of his mission succeeding, then it would have been extinguished the moment Sephiroth showed up. Reno pulled Rude’s limp arm over his shoulders and they hobbled away, bruised and beaten.
That was when Barret spoke up, turning to Sephiroth. “Hey! Who are you?”
这时巴雷特突然转向萨菲罗斯开口了。「喂！你谁啊？」
The other man glanced at him only briefly, dismissively, before turning with inhuman grace and starting to walk towards the console.
银发男人只是轻蔑地扫了他一眼，便以非人的优雅姿态转身走向控制台。
Barret didn’t seem to like this. At all. “What?” he raged. “You ignoring me? Don’t walk away when I’m talking to you! Hey. Hey!”
巴雷特显然对此极为不满。「哈？」他暴怒道，「敢无视老子？老子跟你说话呢别走！喂。喂！」
He was still fuming, gun-arm slightly raised as if he seriously considered burying bullets into the other man’s back, but in the end he decided against it.
他仍怒火中烧，枪臂微微抬起仿佛真要考虑朝那人后背开火，但终究还是放下了武器。
“That guy can’t be who I think he is, can he?” he grumbled underneath his breath. Then he turned to Cloud, his light brown eyes serious. “Can we trust him?”
「那家伙不可能是我想的那个人吧？」他压低声音嘟囔着，随即转向克劳德，浅棕色瞳孔透着严肃，「能信他么？」
It was just like Barret to go straight for the hard questions.
巴雷特就是这样，总是直截了当地提出棘手的问题。
“I don’t know,” Cloud honestly admitted, after a moment.
“不知道。”片刻后，克劳德诚实地承认道。
“Great.” Barret scowled deeply and with even more grimness than before, he said, “Well, like it or not, looks like we got to trust him now.”
“很好。”巴雷特深深皱起眉头，用比先前更为阴沉的语气说道，“不管乐不乐意，看样子咱们现在只能信任他了。”
Together they followed right after Sephiroth as he approached the console. Tifa stood in front of it, looking like she wanted to block his path, and quietly he said, “Let me.”
众人紧随其后，跟着走向控制台的萨菲罗斯。蒂法横挡在操作台前作势要阻，萨菲罗斯轻声说了句“让我来”，声线沉静如常。
He waited for Tifa to step aside, though she continued to eye him warily, hovering anxiously behind his shoulder along with Barret and Cloud as he assumed her spot.
蒂法终究退开半步，却仍用警戒目光紧盯着他。巴雷特与克劳德同样焦灼地守在他肩后，萨菲罗斯则从容占据了蒂法原先的位置。
His gloved fingers flew over the keyboard, quick and light and confident. Cloud didn’t understand a single thing about what he was doing, but he at least seemed to know. It was oddly reassuring, and a part of Cloud wanted to lean into that, like he was still a young and starry-eyed SOLDIER who looked up to the Great General Sephiroth, filled with the unshakeable belief that the man would save the day whenever he showed up, be it on the battlefield or another mission somewhere.
戴着手套的十指在键盘上翻飞，迅捷轻盈却透着掌控全局的从容。克劳德完全看不懂那些代码的含义，但萨菲罗斯显然胸有成竹。这种笃定感竟让人莫名安心，恍惚间克劳德几乎要沉溺其中，仿佛自己仍是那个仰望传奇的年轻神罗战士，眸中映着银发将军所向披靡的身影——无论是硝烟弥漫的战场还是危机四伏的任务，只要那道身影降临，便坚信曙光必将刺破阴霾。
Little had he known then that one day he would have to save everything he loved from the man he admired, though even in that he had failed.
那时的他怎会想到，有朝一日自己竟要从憧憬之人手中拯救珍视的一切？更讽刺的是，就连这份拯救，终究也以失败告终。
The automated voice resounded then, halting all his thoughts at once. Authorization for plate separation retracted. Returning to standby now.
机械合成音随即响起，霎时冻结了他所有思绪。上层圆盘分离授权已撤回。现进入待机状态。
The meaning of the words had barely begun to sink in when there was the buzz of static as the screen switched to another one, showing a pale man of Northern or Middle Wutaian descent with long black hair and a dark tilak between his brows, wearing a sleek black suit just like Reno and Rude.
还未等这番话的深意渗入骨髓，屏幕便在一阵静电嗡鸣中切换画面。苍白面孔的男人映入眼帘——北五台或中五台血统，乌黑长发垂落，眉间绘着深色提拉克符记，剪裁利落的黑色西服与雷诺和路德制式相同。
“Congratulations,” he said, in his low and smooth tenor. “It seems like you managed to save Sector Seven just in time.”
“恭喜。”他开口道，低沉丝滑的男高音在舱室流淌，"看来你及时拯救了第七区。"
“Tseng,” Sephiroth purred, luxuriously leaning over the console, silver hair gliding forward with the motion, gloved hands wrapped lovingly around the edges of the square installation.
“曾。”萨菲罗斯慵懒地轻唤，优雅倾身贴近操作台，银发随着动作如瀑垂落，皮手套深情环扣着方形装置的边缘。
“Sephiroth,” Tseng said, amiably returning his greeting. “I’m glad to see you alive and well, but it saddens me that you seem to have allied yourself with terrorists. I’m sure this is all only a big misunderstanding. Why don’t you return to Shinra, and come home? We would be ecstatic to have you back.”
“萨菲罗斯。”曾亲切回应他的问候，“见你安然无恙我倍感欣慰。只是——”他话锋一转，痛心疾首道，“你竟与恐怖分子为伍，实在令人扼腕。想必其中定有天大误会。何不回归神罗，重返故园？我们必将欣喜若狂迎接你归来。”
Come home, like Sephiroth was just a recalcitrant child who had run away from his only place of solace in a fit of whimsy. For some reason, the words chilled Cloud to the core.
回家吧，仿佛萨菲罗斯只是个一时兴起离家出走、需要回归唯一避风港的倔强孩童。不知为何，这句话让克劳德感到彻骨寒意。
While Tseng spoke, Sephiroth’s smile faded more and more until his face became an unreadable mask. Cloud tensed up with worry and suspicion as he wondered if the other man would suddenly turn his back on them and switch sides.
曾说话时，萨菲罗斯的笑容逐渐凝固，最终化作一张毫无情绪的面具。克劳德紧张地绷紧身子，既担忧又怀疑，生怕眼前人会突然背弃他们倒戈相向。
Sephiroth’s dark lips pulled back from his pearly white teeth, his eyes like thunder as he said, “Shinra will burn.”
萨菲罗斯暗色的双唇微微掀起，露出珍珠白的牙齿，眼中雷云翻涌："神罗必将付之一炬。"
Tseng nodded. He didn’t look surprised, making Cloud wonder if anything could surprise him. “It’s unfortunate that you feel that way. But know that Shinra will always have a place for you, if you ever decide to come back.”
曾点了点头。他神色如常，让克劳德不禁怀疑是否真有事物能撼动他的情绪。"你有这样的想法真是遗憾。但请记住，神罗的大门永远向你敞开。"
Then Aerith entered the screen, smudges of dirt on her face. “Tifa! I found Marlene!”
这时爱丽丝闯入画面，脸上沾着污渍。"蒂法！我找到玛琳了！"
“Aerith!” Tifa gasped, moving closer to the screen.
“爱丽丝！”蒂法倒抽一口冷气，整个人扑向屏幕。
At his daughter’s name, Barret immediately shot off question after question, aggressively pressing himself forward even as Tifa tried to hold him back. Cloud himself only asked, “Where are you?”
听到女儿的名字，巴雷特立即连珠炮般发问，咄咄逼人地向前逼近，蒂法拼命拽着他的手臂。克劳德只是沉声问道："你们在哪里？"
Tseng raised his hand then, and for a moment it looked like he might backhand Aerith when she was about to reveal their location. She shrank back a little when she saw his hand, eyes going wide, but Tseng easily lowered it again. As Aerith was taken away by a trooper, he smiled at Cloud, and Cloud gritted his teeth. It seemed like he was just toying with Aerith; with all of them.
这时曾抬起手，爱丽丝刚要说出位置时，他作势要反手给她一耳光。她看见他抬手时畏缩了一下，睁大眼睛，但曾不动声色地放下了手臂。士兵将爱丽丝带走时，他朝克劳德微微一笑，克劳德咬紧了牙关。他仿佛只是在戏弄爱丽丝——戏弄他们所有人。
All polite smiles again, Tseng thanked them, saying he owed it all to them for the Ancient being back in Shinra’s custody again. He then wished for them to have a fun time celebrating their victory.
曾又换上一副彬彬有礼的笑容感谢他们，说古代种能重回神罗掌控全仰仗各位的功劳，并祝他们庆功愉快。
“Though of course,” he amended, “the only reason why the pillar is still standing is because Shinra successfully defended it against the terrorists who sought to destroy it.”
“当然，”他补充道，“支柱之所以还能屹立不倒，全因神罗成功击退了企图摧毁它的恐怖分子。”
He placed his gloved finger over his mouth then, smiling slyly.
他戴着手套的食指抵在唇间，狡黠地笑了笑。
“A win-win situation, huh?” Barret gritted out, his eyes spelling murder.
“双赢局面是吧？”巴雷特咬牙切齿地说，眼里杀气腾腾。
That smile grew into a smirk. “Naturally.”
那个微笑逐渐化为得意的笑容。“那是自然。”
Before Barret could bury his gun-arm into the monitor with a wordless sound of rage, leaving only sparks and pieces of broken glass, the screen switched back to normal.
巴雷特刚发出野兽般的低吼声，准备用枪械义肢将监控屏砸得火花四溅玻璃横飞时，屏幕却突然恢复了正常。
Cloud stared at the cracks for a moment, before shaking his head. He wondered if all the Turks were psychos—probably. You had to be a special kind to do the jobs they did.
克劳德盯着那些裂纹看了一会儿，摇摇头。他开始怀疑所有塔克斯成员都是心理变态——多半是的。毕竟要干他们那行勾当，非得是某种特殊材料制成的家伙不可。
When Cloud turned around, he saw that Barret was holding Sephiroth at gunpoint.
克劳德转身时，正看见巴雷特举枪对准了萨菲罗斯。
What— 什么——
“I don’t trust you,” Barret said, eyes flinty. “What are your intentions? What is Shinra’s famous war hero doing on our side and fighting Shinra?”
我不信你，"巴雷特目光如铁，"你安的什么心？堂堂神罗战争英雄怎么会和我们这帮人混在一起对抗神罗？
For a moment Cloud thought that Sephiroth would impale Barret on the Masamune, turning to look at Cloud and smile at him as the body fell to the ground. He did no such thing. Instead, he only stared at the barrel pointed at his face, completely unimpressed, if faintly amused.
有那么一瞬间，克劳德以为萨菲罗斯会用正宗刺穿巴雷特的胸膛，然后转身对他微笑，看着尸体倒地。但他并没有这么做。相反，他只是漠然注视着对准自己面门的枪口，无动于衷的神色中甚至带着一丝玩味。
“Barret, what are you doing?” Cloud asked, torn between interfering or just letting this play out.
「巴雷特，你在干什么？」克劳德问道，在出手干预与放任事态发展之间进退两难。
“Making damn sure where his loyalties lie!” Barret barked back at him.
「老子他妈要确认这混蛋的立场！」巴雷特冲他吼道。
Sephiroth tilted his head. “Who ever said that I was on your side? Or loyal to any of you?”
萨菲罗斯微微侧头。「谁说过我站在你们这边了？又或者——对你们中的任何人忠诚过？」
Cloud’s stomach dropped, ice filling his veins. Sephiroth smiled dangerously. “Avalanche scum like you are nothing but small-minded fools, thinking they can change the world just by blowing up a few reactors.”
克劳德如坠冰窟，寒意窜遍全身。萨菲罗斯露出了危险的冷笑。「雪崩渣滓不过是一群自以为是的蠢货，炸几座魔晄炉就妄想改变世界。」
That seemed to blow Barret’s fuse, the veins standing out starkly on his thick neck. “What did you just say?”
这句话似乎引爆了巴雷特的怒火，粗壮脖颈上青筋暴起。“你刚才说什么？”
Cloud took the opportunity to ask his own questions and get clarification on the enigmatic man’s motives. “Do you still want to take over the world? Or rule this planet?”
克劳德趁机抛出自己的疑问，试图弄清这位神秘男人的动机。“你还想统治世界吗？或者掌控这个星球？”
He thought of how Sephiroth had reverently laid his hand on the glass tank, whispering mad promises to his beloved ‘Mother’. Even back then, it had been all about Ancients.
他想起萨菲罗斯曾虔诚地将手抚上玻璃舱，对着挚爱的「母亲」低语癫狂承诺的模样。早在彼时，一切就与古代种息息相关了。
“I’m a god,” Sephiroth responded easily. “Why would I seek world domination when the world is already mine?”
“我是神明，”萨菲罗斯从容应答，“既已拥有世界，何须追求统治权？”
Unwittingly, the words made Cloud think of the other man’s inhuman, and admittedly god-like, feats from earlier. He shivered.
无心之言让克劳德再度忆起对方先前展现的非人——甚至堪称神迹的壮举，不由打了个寒颤。
“Fuck this guy,” Barret said. “Imma blow his head off!”
“他妈的这个混蛋，”巴雷特说。“老子要轰掉他的脑袋！”
Cloud placed his hand on Barret’s gun arm. “Stop,” he said, putting weight behind the word.
克劳德将手按在巴雷特的枪臂上。“停下。”他沉声说道，每个字都带着千钧重量。
Tifa who had been staying in the background until now suddenly spoke up. “What do you want to do now?”
始终置身事外的蒂法突然开口问道：“你现在想怎么做？”
Her eyes were dark, serious, as she waited for Sephiroth’s answer; as they all waited for it.
她幽深的眼眸里盛满凝重，与众人一同等待着萨菲罗斯的答案。
Sephiroth’s head bowed forward, his long, long lashes fanning out over his cheeks, as he seemed to think on this for a long moment. “Right now…”
萨菲罗斯垂首沉吟，纤长的睫毛在苍白脸颊投下阴翳，仿佛经历了漫长的思忖。“此刻......”
He raised his head, and smiled. His next words sent a chill down Cloud’s spine:
他抬起头，露出微笑。下一句话却令克劳德脊背发凉：
“I want to destroy Shinra, even if I have to tear the world apart for it.”
「哪怕要将世界撕成碎片，我也要摧毁神罗。」