the way he goes from a protective, defensive stance as young seph, to a risky offensive stance above that, and then not even in a fighting stance as safer sephiroth... very cool.
But. If you look at it from top to bottom you see how each one seems to be guarding and protecting the one below it, or hiding the lower one like russian nesting dolls. Something Something inner child Something Something.
Also makes me think the stance/position of the sword is related to how guarded/fearful he is about the Truth as time goes on. Sephiroth is always protecting an inner traumatized part of himself that fears he'll never be human until he learns that he never was.
Also the sephiroth head in the clouds with horns, it's hair + horns form the shape of the head of baphomet, which can symbolize divine knowledge/enlightenment, but he might've just drawn it that way bc the symmetry looks good idk
I’n waiting for clearer resolution but Nomura may have just drawn the coolest Sephiroth portrait yet. HE EVEN INCLUDED MINIROTH 🥹