While the world was buzzing about the news of the breakdown of the Sawazaki regime, Ashford Academy was arranging for the academy festival.
The students, including the student council members are hyped up, as if to blow away their anxiety about the political situation. But Euphemia’s participation in the festival creates a new commotion.
Overnight, a man seizes control of the Fukuoka military base and declares the launch of the independent state of “Japan.” The man is Atsushi Sawazaki, a member of the former Kururugi regime. Backing Sawazaki is the Chinese Federation. Zero criticizes Sawazaki’s action claiming that it would only be a puppet government controlled by a foreign country. The Black Knights claim that they will launch a true independent state in Tokyo.
Meanwhile, Suzaku, who was in custody of the Britannian Forces for his defiance at Shikine Island, tells Euphemia that he resigns his knighthood. It was so he wouldn’t cause Euphemia any more trouble.
Suzaku is released because Lancelot is needed to annihilate the Sawazaki group. Although his energy filler runs out, he still refuses to stop fighting. During the battle, Euphemia tells him her true feelings.
The Black Knights were also heading to Kyushu to stop the Sawazaki group. Zero and Suzaku collaborate to fight against a common enemy!
Suzaku wakes up on Kamine Island, an island a little distance from Shikine Island. There, he bumps into Kallen and finds out her involvement with the Black Knights. Kallen charges at Suzaku. But Suzaku tries to convince her to get out by revealing the crime he committed in the past.
Meanwhile, Lelouch had also washed up on the island and encounters Euphemia. Although he has his mask on, Euphemia points out that she knows it is Lelouch. They spend a brief moment spending time together as old friends, forgetting their status.
On the same island in a cave, Schneizel and his unit were pursuing a research. Both Lelouch and Suzaku are drawn to the area of Schneizel’s investigation and run into each other. Lelouch tries to escape by taking Euphemia hostage, but is swallowed up in the crushing cave. He manages to escape with Kallen by stealing Britannian Forces’ newest Knightmare, the Gawain.
The Britannians are agitated because Euphemia appointed Suzaku Kururugi as her knight. They can’t hide the doubt that an Eleven was protecting the princess.
Among the Black Knights, Diethard suggests to assassinate Suzaku. He is worried that Suzaku may become an icon of hope and dreams for the Elevens. But Lelouch refuses to do so. He would rather capture him in battle, fair and square.
The Black Knights get information that Euphemia headed to Shikine Island and plans to launch a surprise attack there. Lancelot tries to save Euphemia, but is caught in a trap that stops the movement of Knightmares. Lelouch demands Suzaku to surrender. But Suzaku is willing to die if he could take Zero with him. Both sides won’t give up, and that is when the Avalon, a Britannian battleship, appears above them.
After Lelouch finds out about Suzaku’s bloody past, he relates to him because he also killed his own brother. Around that time the Shiseiken members seek the help of the Black Knights. They need help rescuing Tohdoh, who had been caught by the Britannian Forces. Lelouch promises them that he would get Tohdoh back, and heads to the Chofu military base with the Black Knights.
They attack using their new and improved Knightmare Frames, the GEKKA. It had been improved with the help of Rakshata, an engineer who had recently joined the Black Knights. They break through the Britannian Forces and succeed in rescuing Tohdoh. Just then, Lancelot shows up. Lelouch, who had figured out Lancelot’s moves, is finally able to run Lancelot down. But he finds out that Suzaku has been piloting Lancelot all along, and cannot strike the final blow. Euphemia, who has been watching the battle, orders Suzaku to become her knight.
© SUNRISE/PROJECT GEASS, MBS
Character Design © 2006 CLAMP