Recaps

Xiao Ran fought the Grim Reaper Mecha and uncovered the limits of its phasing and clone abilities while overwhelming it with Mazinger Kaiser. He teleported behind the enemy and struck a decisive blow, leaving its mecha badly damaged.

• Xiao Ran assessed the Grim Reaper Mecha’s phasing, teleportation, and combat abilities as he watched it fight Korgi.
• Korgi explained the Grim Reaper Mecha’s clones, crescent attacks, hidden arms, and coordinated special attack.
• Xiao Ran used a sudden burst of speed and his sword to destroy clones, then switched to an axe and smashed the Grim Reaper Mecha toward the ground.
• The Grim Reaper Mecha escaped Xiao Ran’s follow-up attack with teleportation, but Xiao Ran teleported after it.
• Xiao Ran stabbed the Grim Reaper Mecha through the back with his battle axe, tearing apart its neck and chest.

Xiao Ran tested Seven Gods Combination’s repulsion barrier, then kept the unit occupied while the Crimson Knights destroyed EU’s other forces. EU’s Participants retreated, and Xiao Ran let them escape as he looked forward to using the Black Knights’ new unit against them in a future battle.

• Mazinger Kaiser’s greatsword bounced off Seven Gods Combination’s barrier, but Xiao Ran released it, used the barrier’s repulsion to retreat, and recalled the weapon with Rocket Punch.
• Xiao Ran judged that he could not break the barrier alone and ordered Corgi and the Crimson Knights to attack EU’s other units while he tied down Seven Gods Combination.
• Xiao Ran harried Seven Gods Combination with Dual Guns, while the Crimson Knights rapidly destroyed the surrounding EU forces.
• EU’s Participants recognized Xiao Ran’s plan and launched a broad attack to cover their retreat; Xiao Ran ordered his forces to withdraw from its range and pursue only at half speed.
• The Crimson Knights joined nearby regular forces to defeat the ordinary EU troops, and the lost territory was recovered within a day and a half.
• Xiao Ran hoped the escaped Seven Gods Combination would return to another battlefield, where he could destroy it while piloting the Black Knights’ new unit.

Xiao Ran crushed the EU forces in Area 19, reclaimed the lost territory, and stopped Cornelia from launching a reckless counterattack. At the Crimson Knights’ base, he arranged to send a captured mecha to Area 11 for analysis, learned their Technicians lacked the needed expertise, and left the captured pilot in Kogi’s custody as a bargaining chip.

• Xiao Ran defeated the EU force that had pushed into Area 19, allowing Cornelia and the soldiers to reclaim their lost territory.
• Xiao Ran ordered more than a hundred thousand captured EU soldiers settled in strongholds and rejected Cornelia’s proposal to press the attack.
• Xiao Ran flew Mazinger Kaiser to the Crimson Knights’ base and asked Kogi to help transport the captured mecha to Area 11 for analysis.
• Kogi admitted the Crimson Knights’ Technicians could handle maintenance and component swaps but could not analyze unfamiliar technology.
• Kogi reported that the captured pilot remained unconscious with signs of brain damage, and Xiao Ran left him in Kogi’s custody.

Xiao Ran inspected the captured Grim Reaper Mecha, directed Koji to prepare the Crimson Knights for a staged intervention in the war, and explained how the Black Knights would make their public debut. After several days of uneasy calm, both sides reinforced the front lines, while Xiao Ran considered revealing his identity as a Participant and absorbing the Crimson Knights and Roaring Lion Legion into the Burning Legion.

• Xiao Ran confirmed the Grim Reaper Mecha was ready to be sent to Area 11 and instructed Koji to keep watch over the front lines.
• Xiao Ran told Koji that the Black Knights would enter the battle to stop the war, with the Crimson Knights ordered to fight him as part of the plan.
• Koji agreed to keep the plan secret and prepare the Crimson Knights to return to Butalia and take control of the capital.
• The EU and Area 19 observed several days of uneasy peace before both sides reinforced their border positions.
• Xiao Ran considered revealing that he was an S-class Pilot and absorbing the Crimson Knights and Roaring Lion Legion into the Burning Legion.

Xiao Ran maneuvered the Crimson Knights and the EU into a decisive battle in Africa, then revealed himself in Pendragon as the Black Knights’ King of Knights. He began disabling both sides’ forces and declared that he would end the war.

• Xiao Ran kept the Crimson Knights out of the skirmishes while Butalia captured EU strongholds, pushing the two sides toward a decisive battle.
• Xiao Ran piloted Mazinger Kaiser to the front line as the Crimson Knights launched their assault, prompting the EU to commit its forces to meet them.
• Xiao Ran secretly left Mazinger Kaiser to Saki Maski, who piloted it as a decoy while he waited above the battlefield in an unnamed machine.
• As the Crimson Knights and EU forces clashed, Xiao Ran named his machine Pendragon and descended conspicuously onto the battlefield.
• Pendragon disabled machines from both sides with precise beams, then Xiao Ran declared himself the Black Knights’ King of Knights and used Floating Weapons to ensnare the battlefield in beams.

Xiao Ran used Pendragon to devastate the battlefield and force the EU and Butalia to stop fighting, then left the world stunned by the Black Knights’ power. He returned to the Command Center as both sides began withdrawing under a temporary ceasefire and the Crimson Knights’ connection to Pendragon remained under scrutiny.

• Pendragon destroyed the Seven Gods Combination and disabled the combat units across the battlefield while Xiao Ran deliberately spared some pilots.
• Xiao Ran declared that the Black Knights would punish those who oppressed the weak and then flew away from the ruined battlefield.
• Miet lamented that the attack had overwhelmed their forces, and commanders on both sides ordered rescue operations and a ceasefire.
• The EU and Cornelia signed temporary ceasefire terms requiring both sides to withdraw thirty kilometers and leave a buffer zone.
• Saki Maski secretly returned Mazinger Kaiser to the Crimson Knights’ base, keeping her role as its pilot concealed with Miet’s help.
• Xiao Ran returned to the Command Center, where the staff were shaken and uncertain about what would happen next.

After Xiao Ran devastated both armies, he rallied Britannia’s demoralized Command Center and secured a ceasefire that preserved Area 19’s gains. With the region stabilizing and the battle’s low casualties lifting spirits, he headed back to the capital while Cornelia chose to remain behind.

• Xiao Ran chastised the Command Center for losing hope and urged its personnel to regain their courage after the defeat.
• Cornelia reported that Britannia and the EU had signed a ceasefire, established a buffer zone, and would settle prisoner exchanges without reparations.
• Xiao Ran agreed that Cornelia would stay in Area 19, understanding that she intended to protect the region and avoid the coming turmoil in the capital.
• Rescue reports revealed that fewer than twenty personnel had died after Pendragon appeared, and the news restored the Command Center’s morale.
• After both sides withdrew their main forces and began clearing the battlefield, Xiao Ran boarded a plane to the capital with Monica and Luciano.

After returning from Area 19, Xiao Ran met Schneizel, who praised him while privately trying to recruit him and learn about the Black Knights. Their conversation ended with Schneizel revealing that Bismark would investigate the Black Knights in Area 11 and might temporarily replace Euphemia as governor.

• Xiao Ran and Luciano returned to the capital after escorting the hospitalized Monica into the care of medical staff and guards.
• Schneizel and Bismark welcomed Xiao Ran and Luciano, and Schneizel praised Xiao Ran's achievements in Area 19 despite the defeat.
• Xiao Ran considered whether Schneizel could be recruited to help Nanalie and Euphemia govern and support a future coup.
• Schneizel invited Xiao Ran to ride with him and privately questioned him about the Black Knights and their power.
• Schneizel told Xiao Ran that Bismark had been sent to Area 11 to investigate the Black Knights and might take over Euphemia's position temporarily.

Schneizel warned Xiao Ran that Charles planned to move against him and offered to help him survive, revealing his own interest in a coup. Xiao Ran disclosed that Lelouch’s faction had already arranged its own uprising and invited Schneizel to join it.

• Schneizel told Xiao Ran that Bismark would replace Euphemia in Area 11 and warned that Charles might punish Xiao Ran for the defeat in Area 19.
• Schneizel offered to protect Xiao Ran from Charles in exchange for help, and Xiao Ran deduced that Schneizel was planning a coup d’état.
• Xiao Ran revealed that he was preparing a coup in the name of Lelouch vi Britannia and that the Crimson Knights, the Rebel Army’s missing forces, and the Black Knights served Lelouch.
• Xiao Ran claimed that Lelouch’s forces had infiltrated Areas 11 and 19 and planted operatives throughout the capital, with the palace takeover already part of their plan.
• Xiao Ran invited Schneizel to join Lelouch’s faction, offering him imperial power but not the emperor’s throne.

Xiao Ran persuaded Schneizel to support Lelouch’s coup by promising him great authority in the new government, while explaining that Lelouch would only rule temporarily before Nanalie and Euphemia became empresses. After Schneizel agreed to judge the plan by its success, Xiao Ran advanced the operation and entered Charles’s grand hall with Schneizel, Bismark, and Luciano.

• Xiao Ran told Schneizel that Lelouch commanded a powerful coalition capable of overthrowing Charles and offered Schneizel a leading role in governing the country.
• Xiao Ran argued that Schneizel’s lack of humanity made him unfit to become emperor, and revealed that Lelouch would rule temporarily before Nanalie and Euphemia became empresses.
• Schneizel recognized Xiao Ran as the architect behind Lelouch’s plans and agreed to publicly support Lelouch if Xiao Ran demonstrated the coup’s success that day.
• Xiao Ran sent messages to Selucius and Korgi to begin the operation ahead of schedule.
• Xiao Ran and Schneizel arrived at the imperial palace with Bismark and Luciano, then entered Charles’s grand hall and faced the emperor.

Xiao Ran confronted Charles over Britannia’s direction and declared that the Emperor had to be replaced, then revealed his powers and his control of the capital. He left Charles restrained and asked Schneizel to join him as the palace takeover neared completion.

• Charles questioned Xiao Ran about Area 19’s losses and accused him of failing to fight Pendragon, while Xiao Ran defended his restraint and rejected blame for the defeat.
• Xiao Ran argued that Britannia had to restrain its aggression and unite with other powers, then named Charles as the obstacle who needed to be replaced.
• Bismark ordered soldiers to surround Xiao Ran after his declaration, while Luciano tried to persuade him to take back his words and Schneizel stepped aside.
• Xiao Ran repelled the armed soldiers with an unseen force, revealed that he possessed GEASS and another power, and restrained Charles while explaining his immunity to GEASS.
• Schneizel approached Xiao Ran after applauding, and Xiao Ran revealed that the capital’s important facilities were already under his control and asked whether Schneizel would join him.

With Pendragon giving Xiao Ran the strength to confront the Participant Legions openly, he helped Lelouch seize the Imperial Palace and prepare to take the throne. Lelouch used GEASS to make Charles and the captured officials his loyal servants, but Xiao Ran warned him that Charles’s collaborators might be able to remove GEASS.

• Xiao Ran reflected that Pendragon had ended his need to hide his strength and let him act openly against the Participant Legions.
• Lelouch’s forces and the Crimson Knights took control of the capital, while Schneizel secured the Imperial Palace after Xiao Ran immobilized Charles and his guards.
• Lelouch entered the Council Hall in royal attire, confronted Charles, and ordered the nobles, officials, and Royal Family members to attend his coronation.
• Lelouch used GEASS to brainwash Charles, Bismark, Luciano, and the other captured guards, who then knelt and pledged loyalty to him.
• Lelouch said he would use Charles to learn what happened to his mother, and Xiao Ran warned that Charles’s collaborators might possess a way to remove GEASS.

Lelouch took the throne as Britannia’s ninety-ninth Emperor after defeating Charles and securing the support of Schneizel and the Knights of the Round. As his coronation broadcast ended, a defiant noble rejected his rule, prompting Bismark and Luciano to move against the holdouts.

• Xiao Ran warned Lelouch that Charles’s allies possessed a way to remove GEASS, and urged him to build strength of his own.
• Lelouch ordered Charles and the other prisoners guarded while Schneizel assembled Britannia’s nobles, ministers, Royal Family, and surviving Knights of the Round for the coronation.
• Lelouch introduced himself to the world as the Eleventh Prince and declared himself Britannia’s ninety-ninth Emperor.
• Schneizel, Xiao Ran, the Knights of the Round, and Schneizel’s supporters bowed to Lelouch, while a few people refused to submit.
• A defiant voice called Lelouch and his allies rebels, and Bismark and Luciano descended the steps to confront those who would not bow.

Lelouch used his coronation in Britannia’s Political Hall to crush opposition, announce sweeping orders, and unveil a plan to stage a global conflict that would weaken rival forces and let the Black Knights preserve peace. The chapter ended with the plan calling for Lelouch to die as the world’s villain while the Black Knights emerged as its saviors.

• Lelouch ordered soldiers to seize the nobles and Royal Family members who opposed him, then decreed that Rebels would lose their status and be punished while those merely used would have a chance to submit.
• Lelouch declared himself Britannia’s ninety-ninth Emperor and demanded that regional governors, commanders, and officials pledge allegiance within three days.
• Lelouch imposed military control and war readiness, appointed Schneizel as Imperial Chancellor and Cornelia as Commander-in-Chief, and issued new roles and succession orders for the Royal Family and military leaders.
• Lelouch announced a coronation in seven days and proposed a global ceasefire agreement, intending to use nations’ responses as grounds for a larger scheme.
• Lelouch and Xiao Ran’s plan aimed to provoke wars, unite nations against the Black Knights, and let Lelouch play the final villain before the Black Knights saved the world and claimed joint victory in the Legion Wars.

After Lelouch became Emperor, Schneizel and Cornelia helped stabilize Britannia while Xiao Ran secured its borders, eliminated the Order, and oversaw the Special Administrative Zone’s relocation. Once Lelouch’s coronation ceremony ended, Xiao Ran finally went to Area 11 to face the unresolved matter of Euphemia.

• Schneizel and Cornelia supported Lelouch’s rule, and Suzaku Kururugi and the others arrived to help secure the capital.
• The Black Knights stopped foreign forces from exploiting Britannia’s upheaval, while Xiao Ran withdrew troops and used civilian construction crews to rebuild the borders.
• Xiao Ran led the Crimson Knights in destroying the Order, sealing V.V. and imprisoning surviving members he considered useful.
• The Special Administrative Zone began relocating from Area 11 to the capital, with Saki Maski monitoring the move.
• Euphemia withdrew from Xiao Ran and Saki Maski after Lelouch’s ascension, and Xiao Ran went to Area 11 after the coronation ceremony ended.

Xiao Ran returned to Area 11 to comfort Euphemia after Lelouch’s coup, then brought her back to the capital and learned how the world had reacted to Lelouch’s ceasefire conference. He concluded that the conflict had entered a game no faction could leave, then went to meet Kogi and Selucius at the Crimson Knights’ base.

• Xiao Ran found Euphemia distressed in Area 11, apologized, explained the coup and its causes, and stayed with her until she forgave him.
• Xiao Ran returned to the capital with Euphemia, while Saki Maski also left Area 11; Lelouch let Euphemia retain control of the territory.
• Lelouch told Xiao Ran that the ceasefire conference had drawn little support, though Xingke’s nation had publicly backed a peace treaty.
• Xiao Ran recognized that participants and their factions would keep fighting to expand their territory, making a ceasefire impossible.
• Xiao Ran went to the Crimson Knights’ garrison near the capital and met Kogi and Selucius.

Xiao Ran met with Corgi and Selucius to discuss their alliances and reveal that he was a Participant from Prometheus and the leader of the Burning Legion. Selucius described the legion’s fearsome reputation, leaving Xiao Ran to wonder how its members had become so reckless.

• Xiao Ran told Corgi and Selucius that the Crimson Knights and Black Knights had become allies rather than mere business partners.
• Xiao Ran revealed that he knew their true identities and was also a Participant from Prometheus, shocking both men.
• Xiao Ran explained that he had entered the mission by another method and led the Burning Legion, which was not among the ten participating legions.
• Selucius described the Burning Legion as a powerful, secretive legion known for customized original units, extreme tactics, and unconventional schemes.
• Xiao Ran asked what made the Burning Legion infamous and learned how outsiders defined its fighting style and original units.
• Xiao Ran removed his mask and wondered who had taught the Burning Legion’s members to act so recklessly.

Xiao Ran revealed that he was the Burning Legion’s Mythical Pilot and Legion Leader from the Real Zone, then invited Corgi and Selucius to join. Corgi accepted and signed a contract, while Selucius was left weighing the invitation.

• Xiao Ran explained that the Super Zone Burning Legion was a branch of the main legion in the Real Zone and revealed that he was a Mythical Pilot.
• Xiao Ran told Selucius and Corgi about the Burning Legion’s strength, resources, and benefits, then invited them to join.
• Corgi immediately accepted Xiao Ran’s invitation and signed a contract to join the Burning Legion after the mission.
• Selucius considered the benefits and restrictions of joining before asking Xiao Ran why he had chosen them.
• Xiao Ran said the Super Zone branch needed to expand and explained that Corgi’s reliability and the Roaring Lion Legion’s unity made them good candidates.

Xiao Ran explained the Burning Legion’s strength, resources, and training to Selucius and Korgi as he tried to recruit their legions. Selucius left to consult the Roaring Lion Legion’s members, while Xiao Ran told Korgi that he would invest in the Roaring Lion Legion even if it declined to merge.

• Xiao Ran arranged a contract with Selucius guaranteeing the truth of his claims about the Burning Legion and requiring him to keep its information confidential.
• Xiao Ran described the Burning Legion’s territories, powerful pilots, advanced technologies, generous benefits, and training courses to Selucius and Korgi.
• Selucius admitted he was tempted but said he needed to consult the Roaring Lion Legion before making a decision, then quickly left.
• Korgi worried that Selucius might leak the Burning Legion’s secrets, but Xiao Ran dismissed his concern and explained why he valued the Roaring Lion Legion.
• Xiao Ran told Korgi he would support the Roaring Lion Legion as a future ally even if it refused to join the Burning Legion.

Xiao Ran weighed the danger of alienating the Roaring Lion Legion and questioned Korgi about the other forces in the mission. Korgi described the EU’s united Legions and singled out Ron as a powerful, influential leader, leaving Xiao Ran wary of him.

• Xiao Ran concluded that attacking the Roaring Lion Legion could turn it into a lasting enemy, while recruiting it could create a future ally for the Burning Legion.
• After Selucius left, Xiao Ran told Korgi to explain what he knew about the remaining forces and Legions.
• Korgi explained that several Legions had withdrawn or stopped pursuing the mission and that the EU’s three Legions had taken control of the EU.
• Korgi estimated that the combined EU Legions outmatched the Crimson Knights and said they had at least six fighters near his level.
• Korgi identified Ron of the Hall of Heroes as the likely force behind the EU alliance and described his rapid growth and skill at making allies.
• Xiao Ran judged that Ron was not simple but lacked enough information to determine his true character.

Xiao Ran learned how Legion Wars worked and considered the Burning Legion’s advantages and lack of experience. He decided the legion might need a real confrontation to toughen its members, then began telling Corgi about the next arrangements.

• Xiao Ran told Corgi to gather intelligence on Ron and the EU legions, and Corgi agreed.
• Corgi explained how Legion Wars scored legions, distributed rewards, and penalized those eliminated or withdrawing early.
• Xiao Ran considered how the Burning Legion’s territories, industries, and resources let it develop without relying on Legion Wars.
• Xiao Ran felt the Burning Legion’s members needed experience in a real confrontation and considered starting one.
• Xiao Ran told Corgi to continue gathering intelligence and said he would explain the legion’s next arrangements.

Xiao Ran revealed his plan to Corgi and secured the Crimson Knights’ cooperation in merging into the Burning Legion. As Corgi explained the merger to his officers, the EU dissolved and its member countries formed the European Federation.

• Xiao Ran told Corgi that the Crimson Knights would help provoke the other Participant Legions and serve as bait in his plan.
• Corgi gathered the Crimson Knights’ leaders, presented a strict secrecy contract, and secured their signatures before revealing the planned merger.
• Corgi told his subordinates that Xiao Ran led the Burning Legion and described the Legion’s strength and benefits to persuade them to join.
• A country announced the EU’s dissolution, and its former member countries then dissolved their governments and joined the newly established European Federation.

After the European Federation formed, Xiao Ran recognized that the opposing participants had used the political merger to consolidate their power and prepared Britannia for war. He ordered Lelouch to reveal the Black Knights’ role in ruling the country and recruited the Roaring Lion Legion into the Burning Legion before declaring the decisive battle underway.

• Xiao Ran watched the news of the European Federation’s establishment and concluded that Ron’s group had used the merger to absorb the EU Alliance’s power and gain an advantage under Prometheus’s rules.
• Xiao Ran ordered Lelouch to accelerate production of new mecha, prepare pilots, and place Britannia on a war footing, while telling him to publicly reveal himself as the Black Knights’ leader and make them the country’s true rulers.
• Xiao Ran left the Political Hall to contact Saki, Kogi, and Selucius, then met them at the Crimson Knights’ base and warned Selucius that the situation had changed.
• Selucius accepted Xiao Ran’s invitation on behalf of the Roaring Lion Legion and signed the contract to merge its members into the Burning Legion.
• Xiao Ran promised fair support and benefits to the Roaring Lion Legion’s members, then ordered everyone to assemble their forces and resources for the decisive battle.

Xiao Ran prepared the Crimson Knights and Roaring Lion Legion for a decisive strike against the European Federation, charging hundreds of GN Particle Storage Tanks to strengthen his forces. He led their air fleet toward Strasbourg, leaving the final battle about to begin.

• Xiao Ran ordered Korgi and Selucius to mobilize both Legions and attack before the European Federation could consolidate its power.
• Xiao Ran entered Quantum Assimilation and spent the night charging hundreds of GN Particle Storage Tanks with GN Particles.
• After preparations were complete, Xiao Ran ordered the force to carry every Storage Tank to Strasbourg.
• Xiao Ran assigned Mazinger to Saki Maski after she insisted on joining the battle, and she boarded it with small BITs fitted.
• Xiao Ran led Pendragon and the assembled forces openly toward the European Federation.

The Crimson Knights and Roaring Lion Legion advanced toward the European Federation Parliament, exposing their alliance with the Black Knights and Pendragon. As Ron’s group debated whether to fight or negotiate, Ron revealed he had a secret weapon and asked Jiuchang to risk using it.

• Britannia’s air fleet crossed into European Federation territory and headed directly for the Parliament, alarming the factions monitoring it.
• Ron identified the Crimson Knights, Roaring Lion Legion, Black Knights, and Pendragon in the fleet’s photographs and accused Selucius and Korgi of deceiving him.
• Jiuchang warned that fighting the two legions and Pendragon could cost them their machines and personnel, and said he preferred to preserve their current gains.
• The third Legion Leader urged Ron and Jiuchang to decide quickly whether to fight or seek a ceasefire before the fleet arrived.
• Ron refused to abandon the mission, then told Jiuchang he had a secret weapon that could give them an advantage and asked whether he would take the risk.
• Jiuchang questioned whether using the weapon would be worthwhile even if they won, since its value might not be recoverable.