It seems questions and concerns about materia effectiveness will have to wait. Sephiroth was rarely inclined to interfere when it's obvious someone can handle themselves, but there is a point where there's unnecessary risk of harm (and a glaring lack of restore materia to make up for it) and she's already injured. There will be time to worry about obvious changes such as bleeding black later, with the rumble of engines in the distance that had nothing to do with any of THEIR vehicles.

The hound trapped in ice is left to its fate, and as Tifa deals with it with remarkable speed for an unenhanced human (though, did that really count anymore, if they were all becoming--), he intercepts one of the closing hounds, Masamune's edge grinding through its torso in a shower of sparks, leaving it in two pieces.

Absurdly this doesn't seem to kill the thing. It snarls and snaps, both ends scrabbling in the dust, but not really able to get too far.

Sephiroth's made himself a target by attacking, for all that he doesn't on first glance look obviously changed, nor is he growling like a Nibel wolf; the eyes are easy to miss if one's not close, but now obviously involved, the final hound must weigh which target looks easier - or more monstrous.

"There will be more." Unsaid: is she up to continuing, either with the remaining hound or potentially more? Or should there be an expeditious retreat?