From this point on in every chapter, I am uploading a picture at the very beginning and at the end of every chapter, almost all of them being Lelouch x C.C pics. I already have uploaded them for every chapter not yet posted, so enjoy the free fanart that I'll be practically spamming on Wattpad in this story.
STAGE 10
Guren Dances
The episode begins with a shot of C.C in an Ashford Academy girl's swimsuit, standing on a diving board as she takes a 32 foot plunge into the swimming pool below. It is late at night, the moonlight creeping through a window near the ceiling.
Next to the pool, Lelouch is seated on a chair, browsing through dossiers of potential Black Knight recruits.
One such dossier is that of Britannian journalist Diethard Ried.
Lelouch: "Hm? A Britannian? Looks too confident to be a spy. An extremist?"
Jeremiah's chest swells with pride at seeing his Prince on-screen working so hard, like a father seeing a high school prodigy do work that is above even college level stuff. "Notice how Master Lelouch is the one that recruited the core members of the Black Knights? A lot of businessmen don't do that as they just leave the hiring process up to one or two other people. He truly cared about you all."
Tohdoh nods silently, having nothing more to say now that he's starting to get used to being hit with a seemingly constant stream of evidence that contradicts the idea that Lelouch betrayed them.
C.C: "Isn't it wonderful how the number of recruits keeps growing?"
She floats on her back.
Lelouch: "And it was simpler than I ever expected. 'While I bitterly hate the Britannians, I refused to condone terrorism.' That's the prevailing view of most Elevens."
C.C: "Then basically, Elevens support the Black Knights for the most part."
Lelouch: "Which in turn makes it easier for us to operate as a whole. It's a huge help that people don't report our activities to the Britannians. Plus, I hear some group called Kyoto offer to send us some knightmares. The number of informants has been increasing quickly, too. The Japanese can't resist jumping on the bandwagon. They hear a well-grounded buzzword, and off they go."
Schneizel smirks. "Even though we were once enemies, I can't help but admire how quickly Lelouch managed to increase the popularity of the Black Knights. They remained trending on the news headlines from the moment they debuted all the way to the end of the Black Rebellion."
"You'd think that your government would try to censor most of it to prevent people from becoming enamored with the Black Knights," Tianzi points out.
"For a brief moment after that, some news stations dismissed them as frauds making baseless threats against the elites of Britannian society, and the censorship did work for a while, but more and more people flocked to places where they could hear more about the Black Knights' activities."
The Witch climbs out of the pool as the camera shot focuses on her thighs.
L.L frowns. 'I'm not sure I like the way these camera angles are done.'
'Oh, relax. No one else here will lust after me, and even if they did, I only belong to you.'
C.C: "Hence the 'Knights for Justice' act."
Lelouch: "Yeah, well everybody loves a hero, and what better hero than a knight."
She giggles in amusement.
C.C: "I kind of doubt that's what a real knight for justice would say."
Lelouch: "You don't think so?"
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Diethard: "Yes, I was demoted from my position. In very much the same way that you were."
His words irk Jeremiah at the reminder.
Villetta: "We have no intention of letting the situation end this way. And we have the sneaking suspicion that you don't either."
Diethard: "That so? Well, who can say."
"Woah, was he planning on defecting to us even then?" Tamaki mentally applauds Diethard.
Lloyd sighs. "Haaah. I wouldn't be surprised. We saw how obsessed Diethard became with Zero's journey, even going as far as to ignore the Emperor's speech at Clovis' funeral and instead rewatch Zero's debut."
Jeremiah: "We have a lead that might help us find Zero!"
"Seems that I was annoyed by Diethard's nonchalance. The old me thought, 'Why would any Britannian person ever dismiss the opportunity to capture Zero?'"
Villetta: "You're familiar with Ashford Private Academy? I want to investigate a male student attending there. I think he may be working with Zero."
Jeremiah: "Villetta and I are going to be shipping out with the military soon for duty. And we'll be stationed in the Narita mountains. Therefore..."
Diethard: "Narita? Isn't that where the Japan Liberation Front headquarters are rumored to be located?"
Jeremiah: "You may be a bit too clever for your own good."
Diethard: "Ha. You overestimate me."
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Meanwhile, at the warehouses that the Black Knights are using as their temporary HQ, most of them are excited to see a new type of knightmares shipped to them.
Black Knight: "Wow, it's amazing!"
Black Knight: "These are Glasgows, aren't they?"
Black Knight: "Burais, a Japanese modification."
Female Black Knight: "I've never seen these before."
Black Knight: "Man, the Black Knights have got some serious muscle."
Black Knight: "It wasn't easy to sign up with the BK."
Black Knight: "So that makes us special, huh? We're elites! I'm totally amped!"
Cornelia blinks. "... Overreaction much? They're just knock-off Glasgows."
Kallen shakes her head. "The reason they were excited is because this is the first major number of Knightmares we received since the Shinjuku ghetto incident. It made them feel like small-scale fighting against Britannia was logistically possible. I, on the other hand, had my emotions more in check than them."
"Small-scale fighting? What about a rebellion? Didn't they believe in that?" Cecile says.
"No. The only ones among us that believed a rebellion was possible were Ohgi and me. At least one of us held onto that belief, right Ohgi? Oh wait, you'd rather sell out the one who gave you everything you could hope for to Schneizel's empty promises!"
The man in question stays quiet, knowing how frivolous it is to argue with Kallen.
"Kallen, you have no room to talk," C.C says. "You also left him, and unlike Ohgi, you betrayed Lelouch multiple times. You're no better than Suzaku, who also stabbed Lelouch in the back on numerous occasions."
Kallen closes her eyes for a moment, clenching her shorts. "... I admit that you're right."
She could make the excuse that she did what she did because finding out that Lelouch was Zero made her lose faith in him, confused her, broke her heart, etc. But those are convenient lies, and lying to herself would put her in the same boat as the traitor Kururugi. Imagine constantly running away from reality.
But she doesn't need to imagine it. All she has to do is stare into a mirror and remember. She knows she fucked up. The only difference between her and Suzaku is that she wishes she could've immediately remedied her mistakes.
Standing a ways away from the other Black Knights, Kallen, Minami, Sugiyama, Tamaki, and Inoue are standing in front of a four and a half meter tall red Knightmare.
Sugiyama: "Those guys from Kyoto, they believed in us! They sent us this."
Black Knight: "A completely made Japanese knightmare."
Kallen: "The Guren Mark II." She sounds speechless.
Rakshata giggles triumphantly and excitedly. "Just you watch, Earl of Pudding. My baby had a way cooler debut than your Lancelot, and I think it has a lot to do with the affiliation of the pilot. Unlike Kururugi, my Guren fought on the right side from the start under Kouzuki's control."
"It's still an inferior machine in terms of technology."
"I admit it is only but a tad behind the Lancelot, but it's the pilot, not the machine. Kouzuki is just better than Kururugi in every way."
Kallen sweatdrops. "What the hell? Now she's treating me like I'm her creation."
Minami: "Did you check out the manual?"
Tamaki: "Heh heh! I'm really lovin' this. The big shots in Kyoto are recognizing us. We've got their approval!"
Female Black Knight: "Tamaki-san, would you show me how to use this equipment here?"
Tamaki: "Oh sure. hang on, I'll be right there."
Inoue: "Newbies, what are you gonna do?"
All of them leave to help out the other recruits.
But Kallen stays behind right as Zero emerges from the shadows to her right.
Zero: "First Tamaki and now Inoue and the rest are treating this like a party."
Tamaki throws his hands up. "I mean, I, much like the rest of the Black Knights, was young and foolish enough to treat this like it was some field trip. Now, I'm older and wise enough to not make the same mistake."
Zero: "Kyoto is backing multiple resistance groups, correct?"
Kallen: "Yes, which means that we finally made it in. They know that we're worthy." She grins with hope.
Zero: "No, you're wrong there Kallen. This is merely a test they put to us."
Kallen: "So what if it is? This is still incredible."
Zero: "You're an optimist."
He tosses her the keys to the Guren.
Kallen: "What's this?"
Zero: "The Guren Mark-II is yours now, Kallen."
Kallen: "Mine? but we have a lot more people now, and we can't afford to lose you! We need the Guren's defense to protect you-!"
Zero: "You're a top notch pilot. I'm a commander. I'll use a Burai. But you're our only ace to play during a battle. Besides, you have a reason to fight."
Kallen: "Right."
"Why did he say that like he didn't have reason to fight?" Kaguya wonders.
Kallen replies, "He did, it's just that because he knew about my mother's addiction that he made me feel more important. In little ways, he manipulated me into believing in his leadership."
Ohgi: "Zero, you got a second? We got some weird intel here from a Britannian who wants to join up with the Black Knights. This may be a trap to draw us out. I'd say even if we wanna confirm the information, it's too risky to contact him directly. But news like this isn't something we can just ignore. What should we do?"
"Diethard was one of our first Britannian recruits, correct?" Tohdoh questions Kallen, who nods. He turns to Ohgi. "It wasn't right, the way you treated him. I understand the distrust due to his ethnicity because he could have been a spy, but it should've been obvious to even someone like you that Diethard was one of Zero's biggest fanboys that wanted nothing more than to cover his story."
"Yeah, I get that. It's just that I didn't like how he took big decisions into his own hands without informing the rest of us."
Lelouch ignores Ohgi's report, having already gone over it himself.
Zero: "This weekend, we're going hiking."
Ohgi: "What?"
Zero: "To the Narita mountains."
Ohgi: "Very well, then," He replies, confused.
"He ignored your question because he obviously had bigger things to worry about, that being me," Cornelia points out.
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Nunnally sits up in bed: "Sayoko, we won't need any breakfast for my brother this morning."
Sayoko: "He's going out?"
Nunnally: "He'll be leaving on a three day trip starting today."
Nunnally sighs. "I should've listened to the news if they were telling anything. Maybe, I could've figured out that Lelouch was Zero sooner had I heard what happened at Narita."
Sayoko: "Oh, I see. My, your brother's been going out quite a bit recently. Think it's a girlfriend?"
Nunnally: "Maybe it is," She replies with uncertainty.
In a certain sense, it was a girlfriend. Only that it was a future one named C.C that became his wife.
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Narita Mountains
In a small lodge on a mountain...
JLF: "Sector five, nothing to report. Right. The next scheduled report will be in two hours."
He takes his seat to resume a game of Shogi against the other soldier.
JLF: "Of course there's nothing to report. This area's controlled by the Japan Liberation Front. No one can just stroll in-"
Right as he says that, someone just strolls in. It's Zero.
JLF: "Zero!" The two stand up in alarm, their guns ready but not aimed at the masked vigilante.
Lelouch: "Relax, I only came to talk." His voice modulator doesn't amplify the volume as he takes his mask off.
Lelouch: "I want you to ignore any unusual activity during your watch," He commands them with his Geass activated.
JLF: "Sure, no problem."
JLF: "Come on, it's your turn."
JLF: "What's the rush? We're just on regular duty, you know."
They resume playing Shogi.
Tohdoh sighs. "I see. So because he used his Geass on our lookouts, that's why those of us in the JLF didn't realize the Black Knights were practically sitting right on top of our base."
Guilford agrees. "He caught us all by surprise that day."
From far away, a Black Knight in a Burai uses his Factsphere to zoom into Zero's location, where he sees a reflection of the sun off a mirror signaling to him that they're good to go.
Black Knight: "I've confirmed the signal from Zero. We're now moving to waypoint 2."
A convoy of their vehicles slowly drive up the mountain.
Tamaki: "Hey, why doesn't Zero just use the radio in his Burai?"
Inoue: "And what do you suppose he meant when he said hiking?"
Minami: "Ah... Military training, right?"
Tamaki: "Only with Zero in another location?"
Sugiyama: "Maybe we'll dig a hot spring. Is that why we brought those excavators? Then, hell, I'm all for it."
"You people really thought he was taking you out to give you a hot spring to bathe and relax in?" Cornelia becomes agitated.
Tamaki scowls. "Tch! Shut up! Zero is always trying to boost our morale, so can we be blamed? We had no idea we were going up there to fight your forces."
"Good soldiers should be prepared for just about any situation, even when their commanders don't tell them what's going on," Xingke shoots Tamaki down. "I had to keep even more secrets from my own soldiers than Zero ever did because I was planning a coup d'état and held a position of leadership longer than him, and yet, none of my soldiers griped to me."
Tamaki: "Kallen, you heard anything about this?"
Kallen: "I haven't."
Tamaki: "You, Ohgi?"
Ohgi: "Nope, not a word."
Ohgi: 'Zero isn't using the radio to avoid being traced. Is he serious about this?'
"You claimed to have been loyal to Zero, Mr. Ohgi, but it feels like you're questioning his every decision," Leila points out.
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Lelouch: "The day I've waited for has finally come, Cornelia," He says as he is seated near the two JLF soldiers he Geassed.
Looking out the window of the lodge, he sees C.C standing outside.
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Cornelia's G-1 mobile base is also making its way towards Narita.
Darlton: "We're certain that the Japan Liberation Front's Head Quarters are in this area. We've already split four battalions into seven units and hidden them in the vicinity. We've only to wait for the Viceroy's signal, then we'll surround them in one fell swoop and wipe them out."
Euphemia: "And are you confident that the enemy won't show up outside the encirclement line?"
Cornelia: "You mean Zero?"
Darlton: "Have no fear about that. As the operation begins, we'll be blocking off the surrounding highways and mountain roads also."
Cornelia: "Plus, we have reserve units. If Zero is stupid enough to show up, it'll be the end of him."
Euphemia, however, doesn't look convinced, instead worried.
Cornelia feels her face warm in embarrassment. "Past-me greatly underestimated Lelouch."
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Ashford Academy Student Council Room
Milly: "What?! You wanna meet her? Are you kidding?! Do you know who you're talking about?! She's a Princess and you're just a citizen! What do you have in common aside from that hotel jacking?"
Nina: "Yes, but... as for Princess Euphemia, I never got to thank her."
A.A says, "By thank, Nina means fuck."
"What?" Cornelia hisses.
"Nothing~"
Milly: "Hm, there was a time when my family name had the influence to arrange that. So tell me Nina, do you know what the social status is of a principal's granddaughter?"
Nina: "Um, not a very high one?"
Milly: "Correct, not very."
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Narita
Lelouch: "C.C, what are you doing here?"
C.C: "I said that I would protect you, didn't I?"
Lelouch: "Aren't you overdoing it?"
C.C: "I've been wondering about something, Lelouch. Why are you Lelouch?"
"I'll do you one better. When is Lelouch?" Rivalz jokes.
"Dude, stop! The MCU is dead! Let it stay that way." This time, it's Gino that finally cringes.
Lelouch: "I don't have time to discuss philosophy with you."
C.C: "You changed your family surname to Lamperouge, but you've kept Lelouch, the name that was given to you at birth. How sentimental. You can't let go of the past."
Lelouch: "Well, C.C swings to the other extreme, doesn't it? It's not a human name."
She turns her head towards him and gives him a mostly blank look, surprising Lelouch when he finally sees a crack in her mask.
The greenette is looking at him with a somewhat sad but accepting look, one that shouts how she's existing but doesn't feel alive.
C.C: "Lelouch, do you know why snow is white?"
Lelouch: "Hmmm?"
Again, she slips her mask back on and grins a little.
C.C: "Snow is white because it's forgotten what color it's supposed to be."
Nunnally ponders the meaning of her words. "Did you mean that you didn't know who you were supposed to be by using snow as a metaphor?"
"I guess you could say that."
But for C.C, it goes much deeper than fulfilling some kind of role. It was about belonging.
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Royal Guard: "All units are in position."
The Viceroy is inside her Gloucester, ready and waiting to take part in the upcoming battle.
Cornelia: "Understood. Euphemia will provide logistical support from G1 as planned. Have her command medical group."
Royal Guard: "Yes, Your Highness."
Her radio beeps, signaling an incoming transmission.
Guilford: "Princess Cornelia."
Cornelia: "Guilford, let me guess. This is about Euphie, isn't it?"
Guilford: "Yes. she really should be in a government agency, not-"
Cornelia: "But she's being unusually stubborn about this. She told me she wanted to see actual combat for herself."
"Hm... I wonder why... Surely, it's not because she takes delight in the killing of Japanese, right? That would be ridiculous! Hahahaha!" Tamaki laughs.
The purplette snarls, "How many times do I have to say-"
"Relax, I was just trolling you. I have a sneaking suspicion that if the kindness she has displayed is really not an act, then something happened to her."
"Yes... Geass... I already said this before, but we all know who did it."
"Whatever. For now, I'll try to remain neutral on the matter."
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Inside the G-1, Euphemia is watching the tactical map. She notices a Britannian IFF a few klicks southwest of the G-1.
Euphemia: "What's that unit there holding to the rear?"
Royal Guard: "Our reserve force with an Eleven pilot."
Euphemia: "What? You mean that's the Lancelot?"
Royal Guard: "As a rule, Numbers aren't permitted to operate knightmares, but that particular unit is an exception."
Royal Guard: "The Second Prince is the patron of that unit. We have no say over their personnel selection. But he said he wants them to have as many chances at real combat as possible."
"It's still surprising that you'd give an Honorary Britannian a chance at combat considering," Nina voices shyly.
Many think she's about to say something racist, but Schneizel responds, "Considering that most royal Brits were obscenely racist and that their ideals poisoned the souls of many, corrupting Britannian society as a whole? I am many things. I am a murderer, but I am not a racist or any kind of ist."
Cornelia nearly laughs. "You're an anarchist. Look at what you were trying to do in the final battle against Lelouch."
"True."
"What did he try to do?" Ohgi butts in.
"You'll see eventually."
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Meanwhile, at the summit of one of the mountains, the 'excavators', which are actually penetrating electrodes, and digging into the ground and kicking up dirt.
Ohgi: "Are you really going through with this?"
Zero: "Our opponent is Cornelia, whose forces are among the best Britannia has to offer."
Ohgi: "Then why don't we cooperate with the Japan Liberation Front?"
Zero: "What was that? Ohgi, don't you believe in me anymore?"
Ohgi: "What do you mean?! I was the one who asked you to be our leader! Don't you remember?"
Zero: "Then there's only one answer to give."
Ohgi: "Right."
"Why would you propose something as stupid as cooperating with the Japan Liberation Front? You saw what they did to innocent people at Lake Kawaguchi, even Lelouch was disgusted by their acts and killed them himself," C.C points out the Prime Minister's stupidity.
"I-I just thought, you know, strength in numbers."
"Even if it means betraying the word of Lelouch, of what the Black Knights were supposed to stand for?"
"Save it, C.C," Kallen interrupts. "Don't bother. Words can't cure treachery."
Ohgi winces and grits his teeth. 'Was I really wrong to have done what I did?'
Unfortunately for him and Suzaku, treachery is one of the most unforgiveable sins, and those that betray will burn in hell forever.
But if God is all-forgiving, it's okay to stab the ones that love you in the back, especially if it's for a greater good, right? That's a question Suzaku asked himself constantly since the moment he betrayed Lelouch.
And much like Suzaku, it's too late for Ohgi to learn from his mistakes. He just needs to realize that and have at least enough decency to appoint someone else as Prime Minister and step down.
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Cornelia, who was impatiently fiddling with the button that fires either her Gloucester's MG or slash harken, hears her radio crackle.
Darlton: "Viceroy, it's time."
Cornelia: "Right. Commence operation."
Her knightmare launches out of the G-1 docking bay.
Cornelia: "You, the Japan Liberation Front-"
Supporting Gloucesters launch out of trains that likely lead to mining operations in the mountains for Sakuradite and other resources. They traverse through a small town, where some civilians are likely to be.
Cornelia: "You, who time has left behind. You, who have forgotten basic human decency."
The former Viceroy grimaces, feeling the need to hide her face, but she doesn't, knowing that it's best to honorably face the incoming vitriol she senses.
"Did you seriously say that they lack basic human decency when just a couple episodes ago, you were sadistically mass murdering an entire city of innocent people?" Tamaki deadpans.
"It looks like I did. I know I'm not a good person. What of it?"
At that, he doesn't have anything more to say than, "Heh, at least you acknowledge that much."
Cornelia: "You and your dream of a bygone golden age shall fall and rot to nothingness."
Even more Gloucesters are air-dropped by VTOLs.
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At this point, the mountain where the JLF base is suspected to be located is surrounded by hundreds of Britannian knightmares, as shown on a JLF tactical map.
They're completely cut off.
General Katase: "We're under enemy attack?!"
JLF Soldier: "Yes sir! the Britannian forces have completely encircled the Narita mountains! We've counted over a hundred units."
"No offense Tohdoh, but the JLF is completely useless here, even with you in it, so it's only up to Lelouch to win this battle, which he did, but I'm curious as to how he could have possibly surmount such odds!" Kaguya sits on the edge of her seat.
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The low-flying VTOLs and the roar of their engines alert the Black Knights, who have a visual on them.
Everyone begins freaking out except for Zero and Kallen.
Zero: "It's begun."
Tamaki: "Huh?! What the hell?! You've gotta be kidding, Zero! Those troops coming in have this whole area totally surrounded! There's no way out!"
Zero: "We've already been cut off. Our only chance of surviving now is to fight."
Inoue: "What?! We can't fight the Britannians."
Tamaki: "Let me get this straight. We're surrounded and you want us to fight them head-on?"
Sugiyama: "And we'll be fighting against Cornelia! Her forces are far stronger than any we've encountered!"
Zero: "Correct. It would be a miracle if we win this."
Ohgi: "Zero, what are you saying?!"
Zero: "Even messiahs need to perform miracles if they're to be acknowledged. Therefore, we have to produce our own miracle, don't we?"
Tohdoh, despite becoming more neutral towards Lelouch, can't help a small smirk on his face. "I see. He wanted to create his own Battle of Itsukushima, just one in the mountains rather than a small, hot island, and in cold weather instead."
"This is only the first of Lelouch's many amazing victories," Schneizel expresses how proud he is of Lelouch, even if Lelouch was once his enemy.
Tamaki: "Now look, pulling this off isn't gonna be cheap! The price could be our lives! I knew it wasn't sane to make you our leader! It should be me!"
Tamaki slings his SMG off his shoulder, intending to aim it at Zero.
The masked vigilante has cowboy reflexes as he draws his pistol and aims it first as Ohgi cautiously moves out of the line of fire.
But much to Tamaki's confused shock, Zero flips the gun around, pointing the barrel at himself as if offering the weapon up as an ultimatum to fight alongside him or die.
Zero: "Our path of retreat has been cut off. If you think you can win without me, then shoot me! Someone... Anyone..."
Everyone is surprised at how their leader offered to essentially lay down his neck for them.
Kallen scowls. "Lelouch was braver than the new Zero could ever hope to be. The new Zero would never lay down his life for us."
Suzaku knows she's right. Even without his live Geass, he is selfish. He's the kind of person that would have shit-talked Lelouch like Captain America did to Iron Man: "The only thing you really fight for is yourself. You're not the guy to make the sacrifice play, to lay down on a wire and let the other guy crawl over you."
However, the difference between Suzaku and Steve Rogers is that Suzaku was all talk, no walk, because in the end, Lelouch completely proved him wrong and shut his bitch ass up.
Zero: "Since you've joined the Black Knights, you have only two choices: You may either live with me..."
Lelouch: "-or you may perish with me!"
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JLF Soldier: "We're completely surrounded and our underground reserve forces were captured all at once."
JLF Soldier: "General Katase! We've received the message from Cornelia's forces demanding our surrender!"
Katase: "Imbecile! If we fall here, then we've lost and the whole resistance movement falls with us."
"You JLF were quite arrogant to believe that just because you had the largest resistance group that you're the end-all, be-all," Rakshata criticizes.
Tohdoh sighs. "I know..."
JLF Soldier: "Then General, do we engage the enemy in battle? Or do we dig in?"
Katase: "What about Tohdoh? Where is he?"
JLF Soldier: "He's gone to Kyoto to get the custom Burais."
JLF Soldier: "The Four Holy Swords are traveling with him, too."
JLF Soldier: "If they're on schedule, they should be returning soon, but..."
The camera briefly shows the Four Holy Swords traveling in a military truck, their leader napping in the front passenger seat.
Katase: "Tohdoh won't make it in time... Prepare to send out the Burais! We'll break the encirclement on one side and evacuate! We'll show them the Japanese spirit and pride. This is our moment of truth!"
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The Royal Guard are explaining the situation to Euphemia.
Royal Guard: "We believe that the enemy's main base is located in the mountains here, but we haven't pinpointed it yet. However, until we obtain a list of their corroborators, we can't burn down everything with our aerial bombing."
Tamaki, hearing the term 'aerial bombing', sing-shouts on cue, "Terrorists, your game is through, 'Cause now you have to answer to BRITANNIA! FUCK YEAH! COMIN' AGAIN TO SAVE THE MOTHAFUCKIN' DAY, YEAH!"
"I swear to God if he does that one more time..." Cornelia's eyes twitch in irritation.
Royal Guard: "The enemy is engaging our encirclement and they'll try to breakthrough with some point. From there, we'll be able to ascertain where their base is."
He uses a stick to point at the map as the inner-most units, almost 50 of them, have surrounded all sides of the mountain but the northern one.
Royal Guard: "Our forces are divided into three fronts. The units let by General Darlton here," Darlton at the southeast, "General Alex here," Alex at the south, "and Viceroy Cornelia here," Cornelia at the southwest. "As for our flanking forces-"
The tactical map suddenly glitches and distorts.
Euphemia: "Huh?"
Royal Guard: "It's enemy ECM."
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Darlton: "The main enemy force should be coming out anytime now. We're switching to ECCM mode. Link up on channel alpha four. The enemy, what are we calling them again?"
Britannian Soldier: "Burais, sir."
Darlton: "Riiiight! They're rather like pseudo Glasgows, so watch out for them."
Britannian Soldier: "Yes, my lord."
"You'd think that as a General, he'd be more respective of his adversary," Sayoko frowns. "Guess it's not surprising that condescension towards Numbers was a common trait among Britannian soldiers."
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Driving her Gloucester uphill and into a clearing where she sees enemy Burais is Cornelia.
Cornelia: "How clever, they turned this whole mountain into a fortress."
Guilford: "Your Highness, please fall back." His Gloucester's head looks at hers, worried.
Cornelia: "Guilford, don't treat me as though I'm another one of your women."
"Another one of his women?" Tianzi tilts her head.
Cornelia explains, "Guilford is quite popular among Britannian women in both the military and in nobility."
"Your Highness!" Guilford protests, embarrassed.
She smirks. "What? It's not like you ever took any of them to bed. You're too much of a gentleman for that."
Tamaki ruins the moment, "Yeah, yeah, we get it! Now stop flirting, shut up, and let us watch."
With an arrogant glint in her eyes, she charges her knightmare full speed ahead towards the enemy.
Guilford: "Princess Cornelia!"
JLF KMF: "It's... Cornelia!"
A trio of Burais open fire.
JLF KMF: "Don't panic! Take out the leader!"
Cornelia: "Insolent worms!"
She slashes all three of them with her jousting lance, knocking two of them over and stabbing one Burai clean through the cockpit, hoisting the KMF off the ground as the impaled mechanical corpse bursts into a magnificent explosion as do the other two from the shrapnel.
Jumping through the haze of smoke, she immediately fires her slash harken at an enemy AA double howitzer up on a ridge where it can't fire on her, destroying it.
Guilford: "Right... Well then I'll cover you from the rear."
Akito chuckles softly. "If you have a lady who is that capable in combat, then don't piss her off or get in her way."
Leila nods. "Not gonna lie, that was pretty cool."
She's curious as to how the Black Knights could possibly win this, although she has an idea how considering the equipment they're using to dig into the land.
Cornelia: "Well?! Cornelia is here! Is there no one who will challenge me?!" She shouts arrogantly.
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Zero: "What's wrong? Challenge me and try to take me down."
Tamaki: "All right, fine. Do what you want."
Sugiyama: "We acknowledge you as our leader, Zero."
Lelouch is satisfied underneath his mask: "Thank you very much. I appreciate it."
Jeremiah points out, "The Black Knights were just in-fighting, so for them to be pulled together by their leader to win a massive victory shows yet another reason why Lelouch is the greatest military commander of all time."
And the smartest character of all time too considering Light Yagami lost pathetically to a rip-off version of L.
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In the small town outside the Narita mountains, a small convoy of Britannian APC's are issuing an announcement.
Announcement: "An evacuation order has been issued for this area. Anyone remaining must evacuate at once!"
Researcher: "Why did they choose this place?"
Researcher: "If the military should find the experimental data on Code R, it's all over."
Researcher: "Oh my. Being inside the terrorist area, we thought it would be difficult for them to discover us."
Researcher: "This was all General Bartley's decision, so there's no use in complaining about it."
Lelouch feels his blood run cold. 'I really hope I'm wrong, because I know Shirley's father was unfortunate enough to have been there and got killed because of me, but... Was he one of the scientists in on the research of Geass?'
He felt his guilt about his death lessen. Instead, if his suspicions are correct, then he began to feel disgust towards Joseph Fenette for getting involved with the evil power.
Of course, Lelouch would always feel terrible about how much grief he caused Shirley, but he would always hate those who hurt C.C and wanted to use her for their own gain even more, even if that includes Shirley's father.
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The Viceroy impales yet another Burai.
Cornelia: "They're too fragile," She says, as if dissatisfied with how easy the battle is going.
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A couple klicks away, Darlton and his forces are facing much more heavy resistance than his liege. While traversing uphill, he's firing his anti-knightmare sniper.
Darlton: "The enemy seems to be concentrated over here. This may be the target. Split up now!"
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JLF: No good! Our second attack wave had no effect."
Katase: "Their sheer dominance is insurmountable!"
"Sooooo, the JLF is basically banzai charging themselves towards their deaths," Lloyd giggles.
"Why would they do that?! Dig in!" Rivalz shouts.
Xingke sighs. "It's sad when even a schoolboy like you has more common sense than these fools in the JLF."
He accidentally insulted Tohdoh too, as Tohdoh believes in facing the enemy head-on.
Leila nods. "I agree with you, Mr. Cardemonde. If the JLF simply entrenched themselves into whatever bunkers and covers they had, then they could've forced Cornelia's forces to play by their rules by making them fight in CQC, which would greatly increase the casualties on the Britannian side."
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Soldier: "General Darlton, based on the analysis of the enemy's movements, I've determined that the entrance to the JLF main base is that lodge located up on the mountain."
Darlton: "I believe the proper word for this situation is 'bingo'."
Soldier: "Well, to be more precise sir-"
"It's checkmate," Schneizel finishes.
Darlton: "Oh just call it in already, Mr. Literal."
Darlton's forces fire a yellow flare into the air to alert Cornelia that they have found the JLF's base.
Cornelia: "Is that... Darlton?"
Guilford: "So, that's where the main enemy base is located?"
Cornelia: "Right. We'll be securing our position here."
"What does that mean?" Tianzi asks.
Xingke answers, "She means that her current location is where the rest of Britannian forces west of her, save for the reserves, will converge on her and reinforce her unit until they're ready to move and split a larger group in two to hold that position while advancing on the objective."
Guilford: "Are you sure about this?"
Cornelia: "I don't need to steal achievements from my subordinates. Send the reserve force to back up Darlton. Looks like he'll be getting another medal."
Cornelia grimaces at how arrogant she once was. She realizes she has little room to criticize Lelouch for being arrogant when she herself is just as conceited as him.
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Lelouch is now sitting inside his Burai. He takes his mask off.
Lelouch: "Impressive as always, Cornelia. A very logical deployment. However excellent though it is, it's also easy to read, as is your location."
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Meanwhile, a couple klicks west of Cornelia are the Britannian reserves with Orange Boy.
He hits his knightmare in frustration while standing on his cockpit out in the open.
Jeremiah: "I thought the reserve units were supposed to be assigned to General Darlton?!"
Villetta: "That's right, they were, but our unit has to secure the rear line of Viceroy Cornelia-"
Jeremiah: "You mean this is the rear line?! You can't get any further away from the battlefield! How am I going to redeem my reputation out here if I'm not even near the fighting?!"
Anya nudges her father figure. "Seems that you changed quite a bit. Back then, you cared a lot about your reputation, but now..."
"Indeed, little one. Now, I could give a rat's ass about what others think and my glorious loyalty to Master Lelouch."
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JLF: "We've lost contact with Nakamura's unit!"
JLF: "No response from sector three."
JLF: "Major Tabata has been killed!"
JLF: "Kurota and Kurata are gone, too!"
JLF: "What about Nagai?!"
Katase looks down: "Where's Tohdoh? If only he were here, the divine wind would blow. We'd have another Miracle of Itsukushima!"
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The Four Holy Swords have retrieved the Burais as their truck is driving well passed the speed limit, slamming into a Britannian road block checkpoint without stopping, booking it on their way back to Narita.
Asahina: "Sir, don't you think this is a little extreme?" He says, worried that they may crash at their speed.
The Colonel ignores his concerns.
Tohdoh: "Asahina, Chiba, prep the custom Burais ASAP. Tell Urabe and Senba behind us to do the same. Traffic is blocked off all around Narita, and they've already begun to attack. I just pray that we're in time..."
A billboard on the highway reveals that they're still 50 miles away from Narita.
"There's no way you made it back in time for the start of the fight between the Black Knights and Cornelia, which means Lelouch won almost singlehandedly," Leila praises.
"Big brother is amazing," Nunnally mumbles.
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At the sight of the battle, the Gloucesters are now climbing up the much more steep terrain using their slash harkens. All Britannian forces at the frontlines are moving in and choking off any retreat. Darlton's tactical map reveals that the JLF forces are all but finished save for a couple stragglers here and there.
He smirks.
Darlton: "Now any resistance still remaining in Area 11..."
Cornelia: "-will soon be finished."
"Even I see that you got quite cocky, Princess Cornelia," Gino sighs. "Whatever happened to give the Black Knights the W, I'm sure you got lucky to get out alive."
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Lelouch: "Right! All preparations have now been completed! Black Knights, prepare to move out!"
"Autobots! Roll out!" Tamaki made his voice as deep as he could, which isn't very deep, making him cough.
Gino chuckles.
Black Knight: "Damn it, we have no choice."
Black Knight: "I don't wanna die! We'll make a miracle happen!"
Black Knight: "Yeah, we'll have Zero with us!"
The pilots fire up their Burais as the infantry arm their RPG's and rifles.
Zero: "We the Black Knights are going to launch a surprise attack on the Britannians from the summit of the mountain. Per my instructions, you will charge en masse down toward point three. And the intent of this operation is to capture Cornelia, Second Princess of Britannia."
"I see. So that's what he was aiming for. He probably wanted to capture me and use his Geass to find out what happened to Lady Marianne."
Anya frowns at the title of Lady before the name of the woman she hates.
Zero: "Our breakthrough route will be opened by the Guren Mark-II. Kallen, use penetrating electrode number three. Settle things with one blow."
"My hunch was right. Those electrodes are important," Leila mutters.
Kallen: "Got it." She places the Radiant Wave Surger right arm on the electrode, the hand on top. "Output confirmed. Wave surger level is ready and holding. Activating gauntlet now!"
The Radiant Wave Surger sends heat through the electrode where several dozens of meters underneath the summit of the mountain is revealed to be a large pond or small lake's worth of water.
"Why is there water underneath the mountain?" Cecile says.
Nina's eyes widen in realization. "... Kallen, is this how Shirley's father dies?"
The redhead nods.
"I see." The bespectacled girl now feels bad for blaming Lelouch and Kallen about Joseph Fenette's death, because even if they were responsible, they were unwanted collateral nonetheless.
"What? What does the water mean?" Cornelia asked calmly.
Rakshata takes a puff of hookah. "It means that mountain the Black Knights were on was likely once a volcano. In this case, it is a geyser."
Lloyd wiggles his eyebrows wickedly. "Volcanic activity is the most deadly force of nature in the world, and we all know what else volcanism can cause..."
Cornelia gapes. "Tsunamis... Earthquakes..."
"And landslides! But for His Majesty to even know that this mountain was sitting on a dead volcano, he must've either gone to scout Narita ahead of time after catching wind that the JLF base is there, or he had a couple spies in the JLF that he used his Geass on."
The heat surges down into the bottom tip of the electrode and causes huge bubbles to expand and multiply throughout the water. A hot cartridge flies out of the radiant wave surger arm.
For a moment, nothing happens. But then, the ground begins shaking more and more violently.
Kallen: "It worked!"
A domino effect was set off as rocks split into pieces, hitting one another on their way down the mountain with enough numbers, weight, and force to knock over boulders, creating a landslide.
From near the lodge where the entrance to the JLF base is, C.C watches the destruction that carves its way downwards left of her.
And inside the JLF base, the shaking causes everyone to panic.
JLF: "What's happening?!"
JLF KMF: "Is this an earthquake?"
JLF KMF: "At a time like this? Aah!"
Britannian KMF: "What the hell?!"
All those knightmares are swept away and instantly destroyed.
Euphemia: "What's happening?" She sees several dozens of friendly IFF's disappear on the map.
Royal Guard: "Impossible! How could a landslide come out of nowhere?"
Royal Guard: "Alex and Darlton's units are getting wiped out!"
"This... is amazing! As expected of the man I once loved~" Kaguya becomes WET before she realizes what she said and brings herself back down to Earth, embarrassed.
Lelouch doesn't care, though. He feels empty and conflicted at having killed Joseph, because even if he was Shirley's father, he was still involved in Code R.
Darlton: "Climb! Get to higher ground!" He shouts as dirt slams into his Gloucester nonstop.
Cornelia: "Status report!"
Soldier: "We're still trying to confirm!"
Guilford: "Your highness, pull back! You're in danger there!" He yells, even though she is several meters away from the destruction.
Cornelia: "I don't care! Forget about me! Find out about Darlton, and where's Alex?!"
"General Alex died, didn't he?" Guilford asks, to which she nods.
"He was buried alive."
Tamaki grins toothily. "I'm glad we could finally give you a taste of the terror you give our people on a daily basis. Ha! Serves you fuckin' right."
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JLF: "Will this place hold together?!"
JLF: "This center area should make it through!"
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Lloyd: "Oh my, at this rate they'll be swept all the way to the bottom."
Cecile: "These heat readings are abnormal! Do you believe a hydrovolcanic eruption was artificially induced?!"
Lloyd: "Impossible. Unless of course, someone's used Rakshata's Radiant Wave Surger."
Suzaku: "Has something happened?" He asks as he waits in the open canopy of the Lancelot.
Lloyd: "Aha? But it is has nothing to do with us, so just relax and continue waiting."
"The asshole is waiting up high to swoop in and play the hero! Would you look at that!" Kallen points out sarcastically.
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The landslide violently crashes down into the town near the mountains, killing a few Britannian infantry.
Lelouch: "Hmph. It's even more destructive than I anticipated. We did succeed in isolating Cornelia's unit but we could've been a bit more accurate. Perhaps I should've consulted a physics teacher?" He scoffs sarcastically. "Or ask Nina to tutor me in probability."
"He wanted me to tutor him?" Nina is bewildered. "But I thought he was a genius?"
"He is," C.C responds. "He was being sarcastic because at the time, collateral damage didn't matter to him as long as he destroyed his enemies."
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Soldier: "New enemy force confirmed moving in from the summit. Carius unit is moving to engage them."
Cornelia: "Hoping to take advantage of all the confusion, are they?"
Soldier: "Emergency call from Carius unit."
Cornelia: "What's wrong?"
Soldier: "It's not the Japan liberation Front. They think it's... the Black Knights!"
Cornelia: "What?! Then it's-"
Jeremiah: "Zero! How dare he show up here... Zeroooo!" He immediately goes from 0 to top speed in his Sutherland, taking off to find the masked vigilante that humiliated him.
Villetta: "Lord Jeremiah, you can't just abandon your post!"
Jeremiah: This requires drastic measures. If you want glory in life, then follow me!"
The five Sutherlands that were supposed to be reserves stick close to him.
"And now, you're obsessed with killing Zero?" Guilford raises an eyebrow.
"I was. This is proof that I was a terrible soldier as a Britannian, but under Master Lelouch, I'd follow him through hell and back! ALL HAIL LELOUCH!"
"ALL HAIL LELOUCH!" The Lelouch squad chants as Kallen and Kaguya join in.
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Lelouch: "Cornelia has only limited reinforcements headed her way. Smash right through them!"
Tamaki: "Yeah, we can do this now!"
The Burais of the Black Knights, who have the high ground, race down the mountain and open fire, cutting a few Sutherlands to pieces.
From a distance, Inoue watches through her binoculars on foot.
Inoue: "All right everybody, you know the game plan. Our job is to watch their backs. Get ready? Fire!"
The small squad of three Black Knights she's commanding are placed on a ridge. They aim their RPG's and open fire on an APC below, sending its crew to meet God.
Jeremiah: "The enemy's taken out Carius' unit? If I can finish this before Zero reaches Princess Cornelia, then I'll be golden."
Villetta: "Lord Jeremiah."
Jeremiah: "Villetta, you came! I knew that you would."
"Oh, she came, alright... in her panties, that is, when she saw her failure of a lover boy toy for the first time," Tamaki makes fun of Ohgi and his wife again.
"Tamaki, shut up about my wife!"
"Why don't you come down here and make me, Prime Shitister? Oh wait, you won't 'cuz you're a little bitch! HAHAHAHA!"
Lelouch: "Burn the bridges behind you and keep your back to the wall. Classical strategies remain effective ones, don't they?"
As Lelouch's Burai keeps moving, two Burais next to him are gunned down when Jeremiah suddenly appears from behind a tree in front of them and shoots. The pilots eject on time.
Jeremiah: "Zero. Is Zero here? If he is, then face me! Come forward and fight Jeremiah Gottwald!"
Lelouch: "Well, well, it's been a while, Jeremiah. So, you're still in the army? I'd love to stay and catch up, but I'm afraid I don't have time right this minute, Orange Boy," He taunts.
Orange Boy smiles, now knowing that being called orange is a compliment for him, a badge of honor and loyalty.
The disgraced Purist gasps like he's having a heart attack.
Jeremiah: "Argh! O-O-O-O-O-Orange?! Die!"
He charges forward, intent on killing Zero, when suddenly, a red knightmare jumps in the way.
It's the Guren. It smacks Jeremiah's rifle out of his KMF's grip.
Jeremiah sweatdrops, remembering what happens next.
Jeremiah grunts, jumps back, and unsheathes the stun tonfas at his Sutherland's wrists.
Villetta: "Lord Jeremiah!"
Jeremiah: "Stay out of this! This is MY duel!"
Villetta: "But look at it. I've never seen a knightmare like that before. Is it possible that the Elevens have-"
Jeremiah: "You think Elevens are capable of such technology?!"
Kaguya pouts and puffs out a cheek. "Actually, we are. The only reason we have far fewer prototype knightmares than Britannia is because Britannia is an empire of nearly a billion people and seemingly infinitely more resources."
Jeremiah bows briefly. "My apologies, Lady Sumeragi."
Orange lunges forward and strikes with his stun tonfas, but Kallen raises her left arm and easily blocks the attack. His Sutherland gets behind her in an attempt to hit her blind spot, but she jumps high in the air with a front flip.
Jeremiah: "It's fast!"
They grapple together for a moment as he swings his stun tonfas right as she lunges at him and grabs his weapon, holding him in a deadlock.
Jeremiah: "This thing, is this what destroyed Carius' unit?"
Kallen: "Yeah, that's right Britannia! We can finally go up against you on equal footing head on! And our counter attack begins with this baby, the Guren Mark-II!"
They let go of each other as she raises her right arm, the Radiant Wave Surger, to attack.
Jeremiah: "Oh hell! There's something on its right hand. But if I keep my distance?" He tries to back up and gains a few meters before her arm extends further than it looks like it's capable of. "What's this?!"
The Radiant Wave Surger is holding his head in a death grip.
Kallen: "Sorry." She apologizes.
"You didn't sound sorry at all!" Gino exclaims, sounding excited.
"Of course not. Why would I feel bad about trying to kill soldiers of my oppressors military?"
The Radiant Wave Surger activates with a press of a button, and much to Jeremiah's shock, his Sutherland begins immediately feeling the damage. It is instantly disabled when its joints and structure begin bloating up and popping outwards.
He can tell he's in trouble, as the mere temperature of the attack is hot enough to make him uncomfortable.
Jeremiah: "Ah... Wha– What the hell's happening?!"
Villetta: "Lord Jeremiah, eject!"
Jeremiah: "I can't run now! Zero's right in front of me! He's standing right here!" He yells, looking over the Guren's shoulder at the Burai with two golden horns on its head.
Blood leaks from Jeremiah's nose, as he feels very lightheaded and dizzy.
"Ew. Well, this would certainly be a brutal way to go if you ended up killing people like this," Milly grimaces.
A constantly beeping sound emanates from a display monitor that reads, 'EJECTION SEAT ACTIVE'.
Jeremiah: "Damn it! The auto-eject! Don't you dare activate! I can still get Zero! I know it! I know I can still get him!" He finally loses consciousness. "Aaaah!"
His cockpit ejects and flies away, and Kallen poses right as the Sutherland Jeremiah was in explodes, cascading flames around her Guren that would normally be harmful to most knightmares, especially those that aren't prototypes.
Kallen: "I won't lose! Not with this... Guren Mark-II!"
Villetta: "She defeated Lord Jeremiah... Who are the Black Knights? Who are they, these warriors?"
"Ohgi, I think your dumb broad of a wife has CTE," Tamaki insults again.
"Tamaki, please stop!"
"Or what? You'll cancel me like you did Lelouch?"
"..."
"That's what I thought."
Lelouch: "All our tasks at hand have been cleared. The pieces are in position. The only thing left to do is check my opponent's stronghold."
From further down the mountain, Cornelia can see the smoke of the battle that just raged between the Black Knights and Jeremiah.
Now, she knows Zero is coming for her.
-End of Episode 5-
Next Episode Preview
Lelouch: "Decision time! Even Cornelia will lose with only limited allied reinforcements. Plus, we have the Guren Mk-II! I'll capture her, then at last I'll learn the truth about my mother's death! And once she's my prisoner, I win! Barring any unforeseen events, my Black Knights will claim victory!"
"Again, big brother's goals are pretty straight forward. He wasn't a complicated person with evil ambitions. All he wanted to know was what happened to mother," Nunnally states. "Everyone painted him in an evil light. Now that I'm seeing all this, it's too late to stop. I need to know more."
Cornelia sighs. "Well Nunnally, as you can see, this was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Lelouch's intelligence. I hate to admit it, but he was simply brilliant."
Nunnally nods. "Shall we continue, everyone?"
They all nod, so A.A loads the next episode.
To Be Continued