The story continued to advance. Within the drama, the people of Area 11 were celebrating across the land.
Euphemia, the new governor, had granted them equality. As citizens of a defeated nation, what more could they possibly ask for?
Tens of thousands gathered at the appointed location, waiting for the promised day to arrive—waiting for Zero and the Black Knights to pledge allegiance, waiting for the establishment of the Special Administrative Zone jointly led by Euphemia and Zero.
Even just watching through the screen, Xiang Zhixue could feel the enthusiasm of the people.
He even began to wonder—
Did Lelouch really need to resist?
His personal revenge didn't matter, did it? If he abandoned this opportunity for the sake of private hatred and continued dragging the people of Area 11 into war, then his character would completely collapse.
No audience would accept such a protagonist.
Had Su Yan written himself into a corner?
At this point in the story, even though Xiang Zhixue felt that Lelouch submitting would make things dull, if Lelouch didn't submit, his character would fall apart—and no matter how exciting the plot became afterward, it wouldn't matter.
Amid the tense narrative, the show began weaving in the emotional development between Euphemia and Suzaku.
In this series, Euphemia was practically a moral benchmark.
Gentle, kind, adorable, and fair—she treated everyone equally, even Suzaku, a native of Area 11, without the slightest discrimination.
Their pairing had also gained significant popularity among Xia Nation fans over the past few episodes.
Both Suzaku and Euphemia were now looking forward to the establishment of the Special Administrative Zone—and to Zero's arrival on that day.
Xiang Zhixue's focus sharpened.
The pacing was tight—no filler at all.
Soon, the appointed time arrived.
In the vast plaza, tens of thousands of civilians sat waiting.
Rousing music swelled.
Euphemia stood alongside representatives of Area 11's local factions, high-ranking officials of the Britannian Military, and global media broadcasting the event live.
Everyone was waiting—
Waiting for the man in the black helmet to appear.
Would he come?
Xiang Zhixue tensed up, fully immersed.
Finally, beneath an endless blue sky, a black Knightmare Frame descended slowly through the clouds.
A black cloak. A black mask. A slender figure. And that unmistakably commanding voice.
["He's here!"] Xiang Zhixue's eyes lit up.
At that moment, the ratings for 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' began to climb.
After Zero arrived, his first words were—
"Euphemia li Britannia, I have something to say to you. Alone."
Xiang Zhixue blinked.
He had a feeling—Lelouch was about to pull something.
"You want to speak with me?" Euphemia asked, puzzled.
She didn't understand what her brother intended to do.
Despite Suzaku's concerned objections, she still agreed to Lelouch's request.
The six major leaders of Area 11's local factions—financial backers of Lelouch's army—were equally confused.
At Ashford Academy, the girl Euphemia had once saved, Shirley, grew tense.
Shirley and Nunnally watched the live broadcast on TV. Kallen and the Black Knights lay in ambush nearby, ready to rush in at the first sign of trouble.
Every perspective was shown.
The tension reached its peak.
Inside a private chamber, Lelouch and Euphemia finally met alone.
He removed his helmet, revealing his true face to his sister.
Then—
He pulled out a pistol made of ceramic and bamboo, having passed inspection, and pointed it at her.
["…?"] Xiang Zhixue froze.
"Lelouch, you won't shoot me… right?" Euphemia remained calm.
"That's right. I won't shoot you. The one who will shoot… is you, Euphy."
Xiang Zhixue blinked again.
Was Lelouch planning to use Geass to force Euphemia to attack him, staging it as a trap against Zero?
Euphemia looked at him as if he were ridiculous.
Of course, she understood what he meant—but she wasn't stupid. Why would she shoot Lelouch?
And then—
A previous foreshadowing resurfaced.
Earlier in the story, Mao had lost control of his Geass, ultimately collapsing under the constant flood of others' thoughts.
Now, as Lelouch spoke with Euphemia, he suddenly clutched his forehead and right eye, dropping to one knee.
The sudden shift made the scene tense.
"I will not accept your charity. I will win everything with my own power. Euphemia li Britannia…"
Lelouch spoke with anger.
The peaceful world he wanted with Nunnally—his dream—he would achieve it himself. He refused Euphemia's proposal, which felt like pity.
But Euphemia's next words shook him.
"I've already given up that name…"
To abolish discrimination as governor, Euphemia had relinquished her claim to the throne.
She wasn't doing this out of pity for Lelouch.
"Not for you—but for Nunnally. She said as long as she could be with her brother, nothing else mattered… For Nunnally…"
Xiang Zhixue's nose stung.
This character was written so well—no wonder Gu Qingyuan's performance made it so easy to feel like crying.
Nunnally wasn't just Lelouch's sister—she was Euphemia's too.
Even though Lelouch had killed Euphemia's full brother for his ambition and revenge, she still chose reconciliation—for peace, for their remaining family, for Nunnally.
That was enough.
Just accept it, Lelouch.
Your personal revenge doesn't matter anymore—think bigger.
At this moment, Xiang Zhixue was completely captivated by Euphemia's charm. Lelouch's schemes even felt… petty.
And the outcome—
It was exactly what he hoped for.
Lelouch relented.
Just as her sincerity moved the audience, it also moved him.
"You're such a fool…" Lelouch said, his expression complicated.
"Whether it's games or studies, I've never beaten you. But when it comes to what truly matters—I won't give up on anything." Euphemia smiled.
It was perfect.
Xiang Zhixue's eyes welled with tears.
This was what family should be.
Lelouch's past world had been twisted—his relationship with his father, his battles with Cornelia, killing Clovis, clashing with Schneizel…
All bloodshed among siblings.
But now, it turned out the Britannian royal family also had an angel like Euphemia.
["Euphemia, forever!"]
At least in this moment, her charm surpassed even C.C. in Xiang Zhixue's heart.
"You're the worst possible enemy for me…" Lelouch smiled in relief, taking her outstretched hand.
He accepted her proposal.
"Mm." Euphemia's eyes reddened as she smiled happily.
"But it seems you don't trust me at all, Lelouch. Did you really think threatening me would make me shoot you?"
"That's not it. If I give a serious command… no one can disobey." Lelouch said calmly.
"For example… if I told you…"
"Kill the people of Area 11."
He said it casually.
Without malice.
Because he trusted her—so much that he didn't even mind revealing his Geass ability.
But the moment the words left his mouth—
His eyes turned red.
Xiang Zhixue's hand trembled as he shot up from the sofa.
Euphemia's expression twisted—pain, resistance—
"No… I can't think about that…" Tears streamed down her face.
Lelouch froze.
"That's right… the people of Area 11… must be killed."
She looked up again.
Her eyes were filled with cold determination.
She had been controlled.
Both Lelouch and Xiang Zhixue understood instantly.
Geass…
Had gone out of control.
The earlier foreshadowing with Mao had come full circle.
Kill… the people of Area 11?
As he processed the command, Xiang Zhixue felt a chill run down his spine.
This couldn't be happening.
Euphemia was the governor—she commanded the military.
She rushed out of the chamber and into the plaza, where tens of thousands who trusted her were gathered.
Then—
She raised her gun.
No…
Xiang Zhixue felt his breath catch.
A gunshot rang out.
A nearby elderly woman from Area 11 collapsed.
Facing the soldiers, the global broadcast cameras, and the crowd—
Euphemia gave her command:
"All soldiers—kill every person in Area 11!"
Xiang Zhixue felt like he had fallen into an abyss.
No one watching had expected this turn.
On screen, soldiers obeyed the governor's orders—guns aimed at civilians, Knightmare Frames opening fire, machine guns cutting people down.
The very people who believed in the Special Administrative Zone fell into pools of blood.
Panic erupted.
Stampedes broke out.
Bodies fell one after another.
The sheer shock of the scene left Xiang Zhixue dry-mouthed.
He didn't even know how to evaluate it.
All he felt was a suffocating heaviness—and a complicated emotion toward the writer.
Su Yan… you're insane.
You really dared to write this.