Chapter 2: Viletta's Assault, Rayearth's Warning

Lelouch's POV:

It was a few weeks ago since I, as Zero, helped rescued most of my friends and my sister Princess Euphemia from the Japan Liberation Front. After that, I founded the Order of the Black Knights. They happened to be a group of terrorists, insurgents, resistance members, and civilians that I have recruited in order to protect those without power back in Area 11. Throughout most of our time, I have been carrying out orders to the Black Knights with carefully planned strategies out onto the battlefield. Our missions have been ranged from ambushing and neutralizing Britannian forces, destroying various drug cartels, and rescuing innocent people in Area 11. But for me, since I'm still obsessed in learning about my mother's death, I planned to capture Corenlia and several of my siblings for interrogation.

Before I became Zero, I got entangled with the terrorists in Area 11 after winning over another game of chess with the Britannian nobles. The terrorists were carrying some mysterious cargo. At first, I thought it was poisonous gas. But when the cargo opened up, a green-haired girl appeared before me, restrained in a straightjacket. Before I could do anything, I was met with a squad of Britannian Royal Guards, all armed to the teeth as they aimed at me with their assault rifles. Just when they're about to shoot me, leaving no witnesses, the girl's eyes changed color, revealing a static-purple, with a small bird-like feature shooting at my face but not before she was shot at in the head and lay dead in front of me. Before I knew what was going on, the girl told me that I have been granted the power of Geass. My Geass allows me to command others to do my bidding once, erasing the memories of their past actions. As I ordered the guards kill themselves with my Geass, I came up with a brilliant idea of leading the rebellion against my father and his forces for the sake of my sister Nunnally. After I hijacked an Sutherland, who happens to be one of Britannia's Knightmare Frames that belonged to a Britannia Baroness, I helped Kallen and the Rebels fight back against the Britannians. Just when things are going well for the rebels, the Britannian Military was given the order to withdraw from the battlefield and return to Clovis' base. I didn't know what was going on, but I heard rumors that my brother Prince Clovis was sent to another mysterious world for an unknown mission. During the present time, after I founded the Black Knights, I did sent some of my scouts for information on what Clovis is up to.

From what I learned from my scouts during our Black Knight Campaign, Emperor Charles vi Britannia, my father, was able to have his best engineers to construct a massive rift gate that bridges a permanent connection to a whole new world that is not of Japan. As far as my father could tell, this new world that he was speaking of is filled with raw magical energy that may help improve the technology that Britannia has to offer giving the Holy Britannia Empire more power than ever before. Despite their efforts, the inhabitants of this new world refuses to give in to the Britannians for they made an immediate counterattack at first sight. Some were carrying weapons from that of a medieval age, others were shooting out strange powers at the Britannians, while others brought forth monstrous beasts and giant robots rivaling to that of their Knightmare Frames before doing battle against them. I hope I can get answers to see what kind of new world they were dealing with. As for the girl that gave me my Geass, she wasn't actually dead like I thought she was. It turns out that the girl happens to be an immortal witch that was binding by the Geass centuries ago named C.C.


As I held my cell phone up to my ear, the caller is addressing me as Zero.

"Zero, we have just received word that Prince Clovis and his forces has proceeded into the alternate world from the rift gate in the Britannain Government Bureau," The Black Knight spoke through Lelouch's cell phone.

"Send Kallen Kozuki and C.C to recon the area surrounding the world that Clovis is in and tell them not engage," Lelouch ordered his subordinate.

"Understood," The caller responded before ending the call.

After Lelouch puts his cell phone away, he walks up to a nearby window and stared straight up into the sky, thinking about what will ever become of his destiny now, since he failed to interrogate Clovis at Area 11. Could it be that something else is getting the Britannians their attention other than just the Black Knights? Or is it that the Britannians wanted more than just Japan to serve under their rule?

"I hope that I can get the answers I seek very soon," Lelouch muttered to himself as he walks away from the windows before heading to class.


Meanwhile, after school, Hikaru lead Umi and Fuu up to the Tokyo Tower, the very same place where they started from when they first arrived at Cephiro. By the time they reached up to the top floor, all three girls are carrying their duffel bags with straps over their shoulders before making preparations in going back to Cephiro.

"So girls, are you all ready to go back to Cephiro?" Hikaru asked as she turned around to face Umi and Fuu.

"Yes we are, Hikaru," Umi replied in a happy tone. "I can't wait to see Clef and Ascot again. I missed them so much."

"Yeah same here, Ms. Hikaru," Fuu replied as she giggled. "I was hoping Ferio will be surprised to see me again. I'm sure you missed hanging around with Mr. Lantis, right?"

"Yeah, I do Fuu," Hikaru replied in a cheerful tone of voice. "Let's do it, girls."

As Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu hold hands together, Hikaru makes a magical chant in a whispered tone, wishing that she and her friends go to Cephiro. Hikaru may have abolished the Pillar System, setting herself free from its tragic bonds. However, because she still has a strong willpower, Hikaru will still be dedicated to aid and protect the Cephirians from any danger that comes in their way as the New Pillar of Cephiro. After a few minutes of silence, a huge bright light engulfed the entire floor inside the Tokyo Tower. In an instant, the floor below the three vanished, sending the girls falling straight down screaming their heads off once again.

"HIKARU, DO SOMETHING!" Umi screamed as she held onto her duffle bag.

Before Hikaru could use her Pillar magic to do anything, a Giant Flying Fish appeared before them. As the Magic Knights landed on top of it, Umi was the first to recognize that Master Mage Clef summoned the Flying Fish, just like what he did when they last arrived in Cephiro, much to her relief. As the Flying Fish entered the Castle, all three high school girls jumped off and were immediately greeted by Ferio, Lantis, and Ascot. Upon seeing them all again, Hikaru and Fuu were being embraced by their loved ones. As for Umi, she greeted Ascot with a hand shaken and a hug.

Upon seeing Hikaru again, Lantis was relieved that she was doing alright back at the world that she came from. He was a tall, young man clad in black armor, with grey linings. He had a golden circlet around his head and a black cape on his back. On his holster, Lantis had a grey sword grip. Every time Lantis draws out his sword it activates a laser blade that shoots out magic from it.

Ferio happens to be a swordsman dress in white armor and cape, filled with golden embroideries. When the Magic Knights met Ferio again during their second time in Cephiro, they thought he looked like a Prince from a fairytale at first. But after he explained that Ferio was actually Princess Emeraude's little brother, it turns out that he really was a Cephiran Prince all along. Despite all that, it turns out that he lost his memories so that Ferio would let his sister rule over Cephiro as its pillar, while he spends his time learning swordsmanship. However, when Emeraude died, Ferio's memories came back and he is now leading Cephiro as their co-ruler thanks to the aid of Clef, Lafarga, and his fellow military officers and nobles. From that point on, Fuu could not help but started blushing from the fact that she was actually in love with Ferio, despite not being born in Cephiro.

As for Ascot, he happens to be a Palu Summoner who used to be one of Zagato's minions. Ultimately, it turns out that his friends were being scorned and ridiculed by the Cephirans, much to Ascot's dismay. But after being reasoned with by his girlfriend, Umi Ryuuzaki, he apologized for everything that happened when Ascot first met her as an enemy. What surprised Umi even more is that, when Ascot first met her in Cephiro, he was like a little kid. But at the start of Umi's second visit, Caldina confessed to Umi that Ascot was a lot taller than her, much to his embarrassment. As Umi and Ascot fought together to help save Cephiro, Umi also been granted support from Ascot's other friends, who happened to be beasts that have been summoned during battle such as Griffore and Insectoid.

After a few minutes of embracing each other in their arms, the Magic Knights and their loved ones were able to express their reunions towards each other.

"Umi, Fuu, Hikaru, it's so good to see you all again," Ferio said as he gave them a friendly greeting. "How's everything in the other world?"

"It's been awhile, hasn't it guys," Hikaru responded. "Did you all miss us?"

"Well, when those unknown invaders arrived in Cephiro, we were worried that you wouldn't come by to pick up the pieces," Ascot acknowledged in a worried tone.

"It's alright, Ascot," Umi said as she sympathized with the summoner. "I was worried that we wouldn't be able to see you again."

"So Ferio, how's everyone else doing? I hope nothing bad happened to them," Fuu asked her boyfriend out of concern.

"They're all doing fine, Fuu." Ferio said as he made his speech in front of the Magic Knight Trio. "In the mean time, Clef is requesting our audience in his chambers. Right this way, my lady."

Upon hearing what Ferio said, the Magic Knights followed the Prince to the main chambers with Lantis and Ascot following them from behind. As the Magic Knights and their friends made their down the hallways, they were greeted by a lot of people who were excited to see them, giving Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu the honors that they all deserve, even the children were thrilled and honored to see the Magic Knights and their beloved Pillar again. Feeling flattered by such a positive atmosphere, the Magic Knights couldn't help but blush a little out of embarrassment and awe from the people of Cephiro. As soon as they entered the Castle's Main Chambers, the Magic Knights meet Caldina, a traveling Chizetian Dancer and Illusionist, Lafarga, a tall and muscular Guard Captain in turquoise armor, Sierra, Presea's twin sister, and last but not least, Master Mage Clef.

Despite Clef being a short man with white hair, he happens to be extremely knowledgeable in all feats of magic, except for what Princess Emeraude or Hikaru possessed. He was wearing a white robe with a cape and a tiara with a big blue horn in the middle. On his right hand, Clef held onto a mage's staff that has a dinosaur-like skull on top of it, with several purple and blue orbs on top of it. Upon seeing the young girls from the other world again, Clef felt a bit relieved that they have responded his distress call.

"Greetings Magic Knights from the other world," Clef said as he introduced himself towards Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu.

"So Clef, how's it going with rebuilding the world without my aid?" Hikaru asked as she smiled at the Guru.

"Smoothly. Though after three years of rebuilding, one of the villagers informed us that a fleet of strange ships appeared from the sky, just like what I told you earlier," Clef replied as he gave Hikaru a small smile. "We already sent in some of our best scouts to report back to us and what these unidentified outsiders are up to. Unfortunately, they started attacking some of our villages outside of our castle. They reported seeing giant robots on wheels circling around them unleashing destruction in their path."

"What did they want when they first arrived?" Hikaru asked out of curiosity.

"They were threatening to take our land and our resources to increase their existing political and military power for their country," Clef said in a grim tone. "But we refused, claiming that we still have yet to recover after a great battle that occurred three years ago. You girls know what I'm talking about, right? As a result, those unidentified invaders have declared war upon Cephiro."

"Yeah well, what do we do then?" Umi asked impatiently. "We can't let those freaks take advantage of Cephiro while it's still rebuilding."

"Our forces are already deployed out onto the battlefield and escort all refugees safely into the castle," Lafarga added in. "However, most of my men were getting hammered too quickly and fled into the forests. To make matters worse, they captured most of our villages from half of the towns that they have raided. So you Magic Knights might as well move in and to rescue as many survivors as there and drive away the unidentified invaders from our turf."

"Well guys, what do you think?" Hikaru asked Umi and Fuu. "Are you both ready to help defend Cephiro once more? Because I am."

"Well, what about our neighboring allies?" Umi asked Clef. "Are they going to rezendezvous with us at the Castle?"

"We already sent in our messengers to Autozam, Chizeta, and Fahren!" Clef explained to Umi. "They'll be arriving at their destination in one week."

"That's wonderful," Fuu said in relief. "I can't wait to see Ms. Aska again."

"I hope Geo and Zazu are doing okay," Hikaru muttered to herself as she couldn't stop thinking that her friend Eagle Vision would sacrifice himself to help her save Lantis from Nova.

"I sure could use Tarta and Tatra's help in driving that horrible fleet away from Cephiro," Umi added in. "By the way Clef, just what kind of invaders do you think we'll be dealing with out there?"

After hearing Umi's question, Clef raised his staff and aimed it at the ceiling above him and the Magic Knights. As they all looked up, the ceiling window transformed its image and revealed a fleet of familiar ships that were seen back in Area 11. In just one moment, Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu were all shocked at seeing something that they never expected, it had a familiar flag hanging on top of one of the ships. It was the fleet belonging to the Holy Britannian Empire!

"No way, b-but that's…" Hikaru gasped in horror. "It's the Britannian Army!"

She remembered seeing the very same fleet that she saw when Hikaru was still a little kid ten years ago.

"Wait, Hikaru!" Lantis spoke out loud towards his girlfriend. "You actually know those guys?"

"They were the very same ones that invaded Tokyo and turned our county and all of Japan into Area 11!" Hikaru said as she answered Lantis' question.

Upon hearing what Hikaru just said, everyone except Umi and Fuu all gasped in shock, unable to come up with anymore words to say. After a few minutes of remaining speechless, Clef came up to the Magic Knight of Fire before saying anymore.

"If that's true, why didn't you take any stand against them?" Clef asked the Magic Knights.

"We were just little kids back then. Before all of this, we had no power against them at all. Second, when my friends and I attended Ashford Academy after graduating from our Junior High Schools, we thought for sure that we could be friends with them. I mean, we already met students who happened to be Britannians there," Hikaru explained to the Master Mage. "I could've sworn that they could be reasoned with, just like when we reasoned with the leaders of the three neighboring countries three years ago."

"So, let me guess, in Cephiro they proved you wrong?" Lafaraga asked in a serious tone.

"We didn't want to believe that they would get very far after they conquered Japan," Umi told Lafarga. "We may have lost our rights and our freedom and were forced to live our lives as their slaves. We didn't worry too much about them because we met Britannians at school who just wanted to learn from us, especially when we submitted to them in exchange for our families' lives."

"I guess there's always the first time for everything," Fuu said to Umi. "But if they insisted on threatening the people that we love in Cephiro, I'm afraid we can't hold it back any longer."

"Fuu's right guys!" Hikaru said towards the rest of the group. "If we were to be true Magic Knights, then we might as well show those Britannians that Cephiro will not be defeated that easily."

"Hikaru, Umi, Fuu, if you wish to refrain yourselves from fighting the invaders I will not stop any of you," Clef said as he let the girls make their choice in front of him.

"Clef, I really want to believe that Britannia would help Japan shape our future in a better one, despite their actions against our former country," Hikaru said to Clef. "But it turns out that we have all underestimated Britannia's true purpose. We have no idea that they would reach Cephiro in a similar fashion like Umi, Fuu, and I did. So, we'll do anything to save both Japan and Cephiro from them. But we do need to figure out how did they managed to gain entry to your world, right after we stop the invaders at first hand."

"I'm with Hikaru on this one," Umi said as she stood up for the Magic Knight of Fire.

"If Ms. Hikaru is going to fight the Britannians, then so am I!" Fuu added in.

"Very well," Clef said as he acknowledged they request to fight as Magic Knights once more. "BESTOW MAGIC!"

At the top of his lungs, Clef slammed his staff into the floor and shined a bright light that engulfed Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu. Before they knew it, all three girls have been granted a full set of Magic Knight Armor, with colorful capes and tiaras on top of their heads. After the light faded away, the Magic Knights looked at themselves, as they are all now wearing their armor from head to toe. On their right hand, they have white gloves with an orb on top of them. On their left hand, they were holding onto their Escudo swords.

"Now then, Magic Knights of Cephiro, it is time for you to rise once again to help protect Cephiro!" Clef announced to the female trio. "You all know what you have to do!"

After Clef makes his speech, the Magic Knights' swords started glowing a bright yellow light. Just like that, all three knights have teleported outside of the castle only to find themselves surrounded by three familiar huge Rune Gods. As the three female knights looked up, they see their Rune Gods appear before them as they made their speech in front of them.

"Hikaru!"

"Umi!"

"Fuu!"

"Thine is time to fight for thou believes in. Call out our name and don us to battle against the foes of thine world!"

"You heard what they said, guys!" Hikaru told Umi and Fuu as they all raised their swords up high while holding them with both of their hands. "Let's do this!"

"SELECE!"

"WINDAM!"

"RAYEARTH!"

Upon hearing their calls, the Rune Gods shined a colorful light upon their bearers, lifting them up and sucking them inside their bodies, letting the Magic Knights become one with their donned Rune God. After the Magic Knights went inside their Rune Gods, piloting them with their physical movement from the inside, they launched up into the air and flew forward into battle.


Meanwhile, in one of Cephiro's new villages, a large squad of Sutherland Knightmare Frames came swooping in from above and opened fire upon the village houses and Cephirian soldiers with their Assault Rifles and Stattel Waffen Missile Launchers. While attacking, the Sutherlands were moving on two wheels latched behind both of their legs. In the midst of their destruction, the villagers started screaming and running for their lives while Cephiro's soldiers were scrambling to evacuate them to the Castle.

In retaliation, the soldiers hurled their spears and firing their lighting halberds, the sorcerers casted magic spells at them, and summoners were sending out their beasts to attack the Knightmare Frames. Unfortunately, despite their efforts of counterattacking, most of Cephiro's soldiers, sorcerers, and beasts were getting shot at left and right, unable to deliver any damage to the Sutherlands for they were moving very fast than their eyes could see them. To make matters worse, they were forced to pull out from the war zone, escorting as many villages as they can. But apparently, in less than 3 minutes, the remaining Cephirian soldiers and villages found themselves surrounded by the Sutherlands. Feeling outnumbered and outgunned, the soldiers all dropped their weapons and asked for surrender. Upon seeing this, one of the Sutherland Knightmare Frames approached the cowering soldiers and frightened villagers, opening up its cockpit, revealing a tall, young woman with bluish, teal hair and is wearing a purple Britannian uniform that happens to be a long, purple vest-like coat. She was also wearing a black belt, black skirt, black thigh-high stockings, and long purple gloves. She is none other than Viletta Nu, the baroness of the Holy Britannian Empire. As she stood up on her two feet on top of her cockpit, Viletta looked down upon the Cephirians before making any decisions.

"Behold, Lady Viletta Nu, the baroness of the Holy Britannian Empire!" One of the Britannian soldiers announced while inside his Sutherland Knightmare Frame.

In the middle of the group of frightened villagers, a little girl name Mira was cowering behind her mother who is just as scared as she is. In her mind, Mira wished that her heroes, Hikaru and the Magic Knights, hadn't left Cephiro for a long time. Ever since she became friends with Hikaru and that she gave her Knight a bouquet of white flowers, Mira had faith in the Knight of Flame. And even after Hikaru abolished the pillar system, Mira still believed in her as the newest pillar of Cephiro, dedicated to protect her and the rest of her friends and family from any dangers. However, after being gone for three long years, Mira is starting to lose hope, thinking that she and her mother will not live to see another day.

"Attention all Cephirians, if you all wish to surrender, then you are to tell us where is your Commander-in-Chief of Cephiro first!" Viletta ordered the frightened Cephirians.

"Why should we?" One of the Cephirian Soldiers asked feeling offender by what the baroness just said.

Apart from his fellow Cephirian Soldiers, he was wearing a full set of Orange Royal Guard armor will red embroideries. On his back he had a bright cyan cape bearing the emblem of the symbol of Rayearth. He happens to be the one of the Commanders of Cephiro's Royal Guard. Despite his tactics and his combat abilities out on the battlefield, however, he just realized that he and his men were no match against Viletta's soldiers while defending one of the Cephirian Villages. In the midst of his protest against Viletta Nu, the commander continued with his response with her.

"We may issue a surrender to you and your forces, but we don't want to risk putting our leaders in anymore danger than they are already in!" The Commander protested. "We just want to live in peace!"

Despite the Commander's protests, Viletta took out her handgun and shot him in the knee, wounding him as he fall onto his legs while groaning in pain.

"COMMANDER!" One of his soldiers said while freaking out.

But before any of the Cephirian Guards could come a step closer to help their wounded commander, Viletta aimed her gun at the guards and shouted out an order at them. During the fiasco, C.C and Kallen are hiding behind the trees in a nearby forest behind Viletta, unknown to her, her fellow Britannians, and the frightened Cephirians. As they took out their binoculars and their recording camera, C.C and Kallen made a careful observation on what the Britannians are going to do to the natives of their alternate world, while the baroness continues with her demands.

"Stay right where you are boys!" Viletta shouted at the top of her lungs. "If you don't take us to your leaders, I'll kill everyone of you, leaving no witnesses!"

Upon hearing Viletta's threatening demands, the villagers and soldiers started fearing for their lives. They remembered that three years ago, during the battle with Lady Debonair, the people of Cephiro were convinced not to live under fear anymore for it will just make the evil witch stronger. Since they believed in the Magic Knights, they were able to help them defeat the evil witch once and for all. Ever since on that day, the Cephirians were not longer afraid of anything. However, since they're dealing with a different kind of invasion and that the Magic Knights and the Pillar of Cephiro are not to protect them anymore, they believe that it may be the end for all Cephiro as they know it.

"You have three seconds!" Viletta said as she is about to shoot another person from the group of defeated Cephirians. "ONE! TWO! THR….."

"RUBY LIGHTING!"

Before she could shoot another Cephirian down, she heard someone shout out loud and the next thing that happened is when a huge pink beam of lighting struck at one of the Sutherland Knightmare Frames in a heartbeat. Inside the cockpit of the struck Knightmare Frames, the pilot sees an electrical surge erupting from his controls. Just like that, the pilot screamed as his cockpit exploded, killing him as his Knightmare Frame blew up into an exploding fireball.

"W-What just happened?" Viletta said as she was startled by the immediate death of one of her men, confused by what was going on right now!"

"THERE! LOOK!" Mira shouted in a cheerful tone as she pointed at the sky above Viletta with her right forefinger.

As Viletta turned around, she sees three strange huge robots appear from the sky. In just mere seconds all three robots landed right in front of the Baroness and behind the Cephirians. One was a red, armored warrior with lion features, armed with a Broadsword and a red, crescent shield; inside was Hikaru Shidou. The second robot was a blue, armored warrior with blue dragon-like features and is armed with a blue rapier; inside the blue robot is Umi Ryuuzaki. The third robot was a green, armored warrior with eagle-like features and is armed with a green two-handed sword; piloted by Fuu Hououji. Upon recognizing what the three robots really are, the Cephiran Soldiers and villagers started cheering for them, believing that they have finally came to save them.

"IT'S THE MAGIC KNIGHTS! THEY'RE HERE TO SAVE US!" One of the soldiers shouted as he cheered at the top of his lungs.

"Those three unidentified robots?!" Viletta shrieked while being confused on what to do right now since the robots arrived on the scene, unexpectedly. "That's impossible!"

"My sword hungers for justice!" Hikaru spoke out loud while inside Rayearth.

Not wanting to stand around anymore, the baroness issues the following order to her men.

"GET THEM!" Viletta snarled before getting back into her Knightmare Frame.

As they charged forward at the Magic Knights' robots, they opened fire with their assault rifles and missiles. However, when the Magic Knight's robots advanced, Hikaru charged head on, while raising Rayearth's shield to defend herself against enemy fire. Just when her attacker came close, Hikaru bashed the Sutherland with her shield, breaking down its guard and stabbed her sword straight into the Knightmare in the chest, making it exploded from the back. In a finishing blow, Hikaru pulled out her sword from her target's chest and kicked the enemy Knightmare in the stomach, sending it flying into a nearby tree as it collapsed onto the dirt ground. After seeing one Knightmare go down thanks to Hikaru, the soldiers were cheering as they raised their weapons above their head. When Hikaru continued her fight with the other Britannian Sutherlands, she jumped up high and smashed Rayearth's right foot into the face of another Sutherland, making him collapsed onto his back. Before he even had a chance to get up, the Sutherland was met by a powerful thrust when Hikaru drove her broadsword into the Sutherland's torso with both of her hands. As Hikaru pulled out her sword from the defeated Sutherland, another Sutherland opened fire at her Rune God from behind. However, Hikaru raised her shield up and immediately slammed it into the 3rd Sutherland in the legs and flipped him over Rayearth's back before hitting the ground. The next thing that happened is when Hikaru unleashed a Fire Arrow at the 4th Sutherland, making him blow up into smithereens.

"Man, I never had this much fun after destroying all those monsters in the Forest of Silence!" Hikaru muttered in excitement.

For Umi, who is inside the cockpit of Selece, she zoomed forward with excellent speed and stabbed one Sutherland in the head, penetrating her blade straight into the cockpit. In addition, the pilot inside the defeated Knightmare was also stabbed in the chest, making him bleed from his fresh wound and with blood coming out of his mouth.

"F-For B-Britannia!" The dying pilot muttered to himself before the explosion consumed him completely.

After Umi pulled back her rapier, she sees the second Sutherland shooting at her with its missiles. However, Umi flew up into the air and landed on top of the Knightmare. At the same time, Umi's rapier stabbed the Knightmare from the back, making it fall onto its knees and collapsed onto its chest, unable to move anymore.

As soon as Umi disengaged from her second target, three more Knightmare Sutherlands charged forward while shooting their assault rifles at her. But before they got any closer, Umi raised her hand up high above her head as she casted one of her water spells at the three Sutherlands.

"WATER DRAGON!" Umi shouted as she unleashed a torrent of water, with a dragon maw coming straight at her targets.

Unable to evade such a spell, all three Knightmares were swallowed by Umi's water dragon and were sent flying up into the sky, screaming in terror. After Umi's spell disappeared, the three Knightmares came crashing down into the dirt, broken apart and disabled. As soon as the three pilots came out, they were met by spears pointing at them by Cephiro's Royal Guards.

When Fuu engaged the Sutherlands, she unleashed an array of spells at them. Before they knew what was going on, the Magic Knight of Wind brought forth a one too many surprises for them to anticipate.

"Wings of Protection!"

After calling out her spell, Fuu summoned a huge green barrier that shrugged off all of the bullets and missiles coming straight at her, much to the shock of her attackers.

After a few seconds, Fuu also casted out another spell that spooked the attackers without having any chance of fighting.

"Wings of Admonisment!"

At the top of her lungs, Fuu casted out a serpentine-like tornadoes and bind one of the Sutherlands, rendering him unable to break free from Fuu's spell.

"ARGH!" The Britannian pilot screamed. "W-What is it power? I-I can't move my Knightmare Frame!"

After several futile attempts on trying to gain control of his Nightmare Frame, the pilot sees the Green Robot approach him up front and slammed its sword right on top of the Sutherland's head.

"GYAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" The pilot shrieked as the flames engulfed him as his Knightmare exploded into nothingness.

After defeating her first target, Fuu sees two more Sutherlands charging straight at her as they sprayed their machinegun fire at her. However, after dodging the first volley of bullets, Fuu sidestepped and casted another spell at them, with her both of her hands raised up to her eye level, aiming the two Sutherlands.

"Emerald Cyclone!"

In a heartbeat, Fuu's spell unleashed a powerful wave of green crescent-like blades, followed by a powerful gust of wind, at the Knightmares. Upon impact, the Sutherlands received multiple cuts all over their armor, cutting it up like swish-cheese and is unable to withstand so much damage. Not wanting to get killed, the two pilots activated their ejector seats and were sent flying backwards away from the fight. However, as soon as the two pilots came out of their cockpits, they were met with guards surrounding them with their spears pointing at their faces.

After seeing most of her soldiers defeated in less than ten minutes while inside her Knightmare Frame, Viletta couldn't decided if she wanted to engage her new foes or fall back and regroup. However, just when she was about to leave, Rayearth landed right in front of her. Upon seeing Rayearth appear in front of her, the baroness frantically reached out for the Sutherland's machine gun and aim it at Rayearth's face only for it to slice the gun in pieces with its Escudo Broadsword. Just when Viletta was about to meet her end on the battlefield, she notices that Rayearth is not doing anymore. As Viletta started having a question mark above her head, she doesn't know what are her unknown foes are going to do to her next; kill her or take her prisoner. Before she could say anything, Rayearth's voice spoke to her in a girl's voice.

"Tell your leaders that the Magic Knights have come forth to defend Cephiro once again and that they'll be coming after them next!"

Upon hearing this, Viletta scurried away with her Knightmare Frame, feeling traumatized after losing to a trio of unknown robots but not before muttering to herself.

"This isn't over, Magic Knights or whoever you guys are! Just wait until Viceroy Cornelia and Prince Clovis hears about this!"

After Viletta's Knightmare Frame disappeared into the forest, C.C and Kallen were both awestruck by the performance that the Magic Knight's robots have displayed on the battlefield.

"Man, I never seen Knightmare Frames fight like that before!" Kallen said to herself while feeling shaken by what she saw.

"Kallen, I don't think those robots are really Knightmare Frames!" C.C told the Black Knight Captain.

"What makes you say that?" Kallen asked the immortal witch.

"For one thing, I don't remember seeing Knightmare Frames fight with supernatural powers," C.C replied in a grim tone. "We may need to report this unexpected turn of events to Zero as soon as we get back."

"You maybe right." Kallen said as she and C.C put away their equipment and made their way back to Area 11 through a secret gateway inside the forest. "Magic Knights, huh?! I hope we can figure out who they really are very soon."

As C.C and Kallen disappeared deep into the forest, the Magic Knights came out of their Rune Gods and appeared before the villagers and Cephirian guards congratulating them for their valiant efforts of saving them.

"Wow Hikaru, you've gotten bigger the last time I saw you." Mira complimented excitedly.

"It's been awhile hasn't it, Mira?!" Hikaru replied.

"We can't thank you enough, Magic Knights!" One of the elderly villagers said as he held onto Fuu's hands with his. "We thought we wouldn't make it."

"It was nothing, sir!" Fuu replied, with a small blush on her cheeks.

"Lady Hikaru!" The wounded commander spoke while being held by two of his men by the arms. "We didn't think we would see you again. Ever since those invaders wreaked havoc upon our land, we were losing our grounds in less than a day."

"Are you the commander in charge of this evacuation?" Hikaru asked with one of her eyebrows lifting up out of curiosity.

"Yes, I am, Pillar!" The Commander replied in a calm tone. "If it hadn't been for you and the Magic Knights, I would've received more than just a gunshot wound to the knee. In order to pay back our debts, we soldiers of Cephiro will be yours to command, my lady."

After hearing the commander's speech, Hikaru sees him kneeling before her, along with the rest of the guards, sorcerers, and summoners.

"Let's get all these people to the Castle, Commander!" Hikaru said while issuing out her orders.

Upon hearing what Hikaru just said, she, the Magic Knights, and the Cephirians helped escort all of the villagers straight into the Castle before debriefing on their next mission.


Meanwhile, on board the Britannian Flagship, Viletta appeared before Viceroy Cornelia and Prince Clovis as she kneeled before them both. Across from where Viletta was at, Cornelia and Clovis are sitting on their thrones.

"Your highness, we had a situation back at Cephiro!" Viletta announced as she tried to inform the Princess and Prince of Britannia.

"What is it, Baroness?" Cornelia asked as she took a sip of wine from her wine glass.

"Some unidentified group of robots appeared out of nowhere during our raid on one of the villages and took out my entire squad without hesitation!" Viletta responded in a traumatized tone. "The villagers and guards that we're rounding up were addressing them as the Magic Knights!"

Upon hearing what the baroness just said, Cornelia spit out her wine out of surprise and cough a few times before responding.

"The Magic Knights?!" Cornelia spoke to herself before continuing her conversation with Viletta. "I knew this was going to be too easy for us to attack Cephiro upon arrival."

"And I thought they were just a legend, according to Cephiro's folklore," Prince Clovis said as he stared at Viletta straight in the eye. "Are you sure that this was no joke, baroness?"

"Yes, your highness!" Viletta replied in alarm. "They were wielding swords and shooting out all sorts of strange powers at my men, stunning and obliterating most of them. They also let me go with a fair warning that they'll be coming after us next."

"Clovis?!" Cornerlia asked her brother as she turned her face towards him. "I want you to go with Viletta and find out what you can about these so-called Magic Knights and report back to me. Do not engage them until we figure out who they really are!"

"Why yes, my dear sister," Clovis said as he stood up from his seat and approached the baroness. "Come baroness, let's do some reconnaissance."