At 8 PM, Episode 12 of 'Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion' aired on time.
At this moment, the TV ratings surged.
Although many fans had loudly declared that they wouldn't accept Euphemia's tragic fate—and would drop the show if Lelouch killed her—
It was precisely these viewers who were the most devoted fans, the most emotionally invested. Now, all of them sat in front of their TVs.
The episode opened with a full-scale battle in the city.
After so long, the Black Knights had grown significantly.
Their weapons and funding were backed by several major political families from the Kyoto region. On the surface, these families had already submitted to the Britannian Empire after Area 11 was established—but the unequal policies in Area 11, where Britannians stood above, and locals were treated as an inferior race, had turned the region into fertile ground for rebellion.
At least within Area 11 itself, the Britannian forces no longer held a clear advantage against Lelouch's Black Knights.
Now, the two sides clashed fiercely within the city.
Missiles, tanks, aircraft, Knightmare Frames—explosions bloomed everywhere, and innocent civilians were caught in the chaos.
And all of this—
Stemmed from Lelouch losing control of his power.
Geass was called the "Power of Kings."
Now, Xue Zhiyong finally began to understand why.
Soon, Euphemia was located. Her Knightmare Frame had already been destroyed.
Kallen and Lelouch stood before her.
Xue Zhiyong held his breath.
What would happen next?
"Massacre. Kill all people of Area 11!"
Under Geass control, Euphemia paid no attention to Kallen or Lelouch.
She didn't know Kallen's identity, and Lelouch was a Britannian—so she ignored them, raised her gun, and aimed at fleeing civilians.
There was no trace of her original rationality.
Or rather—
Her awareness still existed, but the command to kill the people of Area 11 overrode everything else. Until they were completely eradicated, she would not stop.
["…Did Geass actually get stronger after losing control?"]
Lelouch put on his mask, stepped out of his Knightmare Frame, and slowly approached her.
Euphemia looked at him, confused.
"I've thought about it… Let's make the declaration for the Special Administrative Zone together."
She stopped mid-sentence.
Her desire for peace conflicted with the Geass command.
"If possible… I'd want that too."
Lelouch raised his gun.
The camera didn't show his expression beneath the mask—but Xue Zhiyong could tell.
He was in pain.
He was grieving.
And yet—
He pulled the trigger without hesitation.
At that exact moment, Suzaku arrived in the Lancelot.
He saw it—
The blood blooming from Euphemia's chest.
The frame froze—
Euphemia. Lelouch. Suzaku.
Xue Zhiyong didn't dare breathe.
He actually did it.
Su Yan… you really made Lelouch personally kill Euphemia—
Right in front of Suzaku?
The girl Suzaku loved?
Wasn't this total betrayal from all sides?
What kind of script was this?
Xue Zhiyong felt anger rise.
Before the episode, he thought Lelouch might have some clever solution—but if things continued like this, where could the story even go?
Then, he suddenly recalled a line repeated throughout the series:
The king is alone.
Was Lelouch alone?
No.
He had Shirley, who loved him—though she had forgotten him.
He had Suzaku, his closest friend, who once risked his life to save him.
But now—
Lelouch had killed the girl Suzaku loved.
Even if it was an accident, even if it was due to Geass losing control—
The true cause behind the massacre was still Lelouch.
If Suzaku ever learned the truth, they would become enemies.
His subordinates—the Black Knights—believed he fought for justice, for freedom, for peace.
But if the truth came out?
They would turn on him immediately.
And Nunnally—
She loved Euphemia dearly.
If she knew…
She would likely leave him, too.
At this point, if Lelouch's secret were exposed—
He would stand alone against the entire world.
The tragic background music began to play.
Suzaku, seeing Euphemia collapse in blood, made a choice—
Rather than fighting Lelouch and Kallen, saving her was more important.
He fought desperately past Kallen, retrieved Euphemia, and rushed toward the military hospital.
Meanwhile—
Lelouch seized the moment to consolidate power within his ranks.
After Euphemia's "atrocities," he had personally shot her.
To the Black Knights, the revolutionaries, and the people of Area 11—
He had become a savior.
The irony was suffocating.
In the hospital, Euphemia lay on the brink of death in intensive care.
She slowly opened her eyes.
At the edge of death, her will briefly resisted the Geass command—but her memories of what she had done became blurred.
"Euphy… tell me… why did you give that order?" Suzaku asked, his face filled with grief.
"Order?" Euphemia looked confused.
Xue Zhiyong's heart ached.
She didn't even know what she had done.
If she had regained full awareness…
Would she have died in despair and regret?
"More importantly… Suzaku, you're from Area 11, right?"
Her gaze fixed on him—but soon, she struggled.
"No… I can't think about that…"
Her pale, beautiful face twisted in pain.
She suppressed the urge to kill—and instead gave Suzaku a final smile.
"Suzaku… the ceremony… the Special Administrative Zone… how did it go?"
The scene shifted.
Lelouch's forces had repelled the Britannian army. Amid cheers from the crowd, he stepped forward.
"People oppressed by Britannia—I have been waiting for this moment."
He began his speech.
"I worked in the shadows to correct Britannia's mistakes, hoping they would reflect. But instead… they responded with massacre."
Xue Zhiyong's breathing trembled.
He knew Lelouch was doing the right thing.
This was the best possible move in this situation.
But—
What about Euphemia?
"Everyone in Area 11… are you happy?"
Euphemia looked at Suzaku with hopeful eyes, her voice weak yet gentle.
"Did I… succeed?"
"Go to hell, Euphemia!"
"Down with Britannia!"
The people cursed her.
Hated her.
Hated everything she represented.
"The Special Administrative Zone… was a great success…"
Suzaku's eyes filled with tears.
He didn't understand what had happened—but he knew Euphemia hadn't changed.
This had to be Zero's doing.
"That's… wonderful…"
Euphemia's strength faded instantly.
A peaceful smile appeared on her face.
Elsewhere, Lelouch continued his speech—inciting the masses, laying the groundwork for his rule, legitimizing the Black Knights as a governing power.
"I… can't see your face…"
Euphemia held Suzaku's hand one last time.
The light in her eyes slowly faded.
Xue Zhiyong sniffed.
Only then did he realize—
Tears were already streaming down his face.
He couldn't handle this kind of story.
The kindest person in the entire series—
Had met the cruelest fate.