Lelouch's Black Knights had already arrived in the Narita Mountains.
The terrain here made the area easy to defend and difficult to attack, which was the main reason the Island Nation Liberation Front had managed to hold it for so long.
For Lelouch, however, breaking through its defenses was effortless.
He had the others wait at the foot of the mountain while he used his Geass to infiltrate a lookout post on the mountainside and take control of the personnel inside.
Afterward, the main force made its way up with ease and began laying traps all over the area.
For this operation, he had chosen not to bring C.C, considering the possibility that Ask might get involved.
After all, he knew his older brother very well. If Ask or his subordinates noticed the beautiful witch, they might very well abduct her in spectacular fashion.
Then he would lose more than just a mysterious woman. His Geass and his own existence would be exposed as well.
They might even wipe out the Black Knights while they were at it.
After all, Ask had a pilot on par with the Knights of the Round under his command, someone far beyond their ability to confront head-on.
The chances of that happening were slim, but...
He could not risk it!
He did not yet have the resources to gamble everything. A single failure would cost him all he had.
Unlike Ask, who had an enormous faction backing him.
Meanwhile, the Britannian army led by Cornelia was also advancing toward the Narita Mountains.
An enormous number of Knightmares had surrounded nearly every route down the mountains.
Major General Katase, the leader of the Island Nation Liberation Front forces stationed here, had also received the news and shouted anxiously at his subordinates:
"Where's Tōdō? Where is he?!"
"Major General Katase, Lieutenant Colonel Tōdō and the Four Holy Swords are on their way!"
"How long until they arrive?!"
"Well... I'm afraid..."
No one could answer that question.
Their communications had been cut off by the Britannian army moments earlier.
Now they were trapped, with no hope of support.
Bang!
Katase slammed his fist furiously against the table.
"Tōdō... As long as Tōdō is here, the miracle from seven years ago can happen again..."
Kyoshiro Tohdoh, the famed commander who had never lost a single battle during the war against the Britannian Empire seven years earlier, carried far too many of the Island Nation Liberation Front commanders' hopes.
For commanders like Major General Katase, whom the Britannian army had already terrified into submission, the only options were to rely on Tōdō or flee.
Although he outwardly looked resolute and ready to die a glorious death, he had already begun planning his escape route in his mind.
Just then, another subordinate came running in through the doorway, shouting as he ran:
"It's Zero! Zero is here!"
"Zero?!"
That newly prominent name descended upon Katase like a curse.
The Island Nation Liberation Front and Zero had never been on the same side. Lieutenant Colonel Kusakabe, who had taken hostages at the Lake Kawaguchi Central Hotel, had already proved that.
A vicious look flashed across Katase's face.
"Perfect! We'll use Zero as bait! Let him and Britannia tear each other apart!"
Retreat!
Katase summoned his trusted aides, turned around, and left.
In preparation for this moment, he had arranged a freighter to escape overseas.
The freighter was also loaded with liquid sakuradite, which would fund a future counteroffensive.
After all, the major powers openly controlled sakuradite resources, and with Taizo Fujiwara manipulating things behind the scenes, the price of sakuradite on the black market was outrageously high.
Of course, no matter how high the price rose, small nations and nobles still snapped it up until supplies ran short. It was, after all, the most important strategic resource of the age.
Cornelia's army was pushing up the mountain. They had just received word that Zero was there as well.
Her knight, Gilbert G. P. Gilford, contacted her from his Knightmare:
"Your Highness, Zero is also on the mountain and may have joined forces with the Island Nation Liberation Front. Would you consider withdrawing to the rear and leaving the offensive to us?"
"Do you think I would lose to someone like him, Gilford?"
"No, Your Highness. I am merely concerned about what Prince Ask said."
Gilford paused before continuing:
"The enemy's target may well be you. They may have already set traps and be waiting for us to walk into them, so..."
"Hmph. I'll still have you then, won't I, Gilford?" Cornelia interrupted him, her voice full of confidence.
"I finally have a chance to take to the battlefield. Let me enjoy myself. As for those tedious traps... My knight Gilford, I'll leave command to you when the time comes."
Her words were filled with trust in Gilford. Refusing now would mean betraying his sovereign's trust and defying her orders.
Gilford sighed and agreed, though he offered one last warning:
"Please be careful nonetheless."
"Enough fussing, Gilford. Let's deal with these terrorists first!"
Piloting her purple Mecha, Cornelia surged forward with a lance in hand.
The sound of dozens of Mecha wheels rolling over the mountainous terrain reached the center of the Narita Mountains, where Zero was positioned.
The members of the Black Knights noticed it as well.
From Zero's explanation, they learned of their current predicament: the entire Narita Mountains had been surrounded by the Britannian army, led by none other than the Witch of Britannia.
Their handful of Mecha would not even serve as an appetizer for the enemy.
It was practically suicide.
The members of the Black Knights clamored anxiously, with several of the longtime members particularly agitated.
Shinichiro Tamaki, one of the earliest resistance members, had little trust in Zero. He pointed straight at him and shouted:
"Zero, are you trying to get us killed?! I knew this outsider was no good! He even wears that mask all day!"
He grew more worked up as he spoke, even raising his gun at Zero and roaring:
"If we're going to die anyway, we might as well see who's behind that damned mask!"
As he spoke, he moved forward to pull off Zero's mask. Just then, Kallen maneuvered her new Mecha, the Guren, between them.
"Tamaki, calm down! We have no choice but to trust Zero now. Do you expect us to break through the Britannian army on our own?!"
"...Tch! Then make him come up with a plan!"
That did calm Shinichiro Tamaki down somewhat.
But the crisis was far from over.
Zero stole a glance at Kallen's Mecha, drew his pistol, and, under everyone's stunned gaze, pointed the barrel at his own head.
"Kallen is right. If you don't trust me, you're welcome to kill me."
"But if you're willing to believe in me, I will lead you to crush Britannia utterly!"
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