Capital Area 11
Two days had passed since the Black Knights unleashed their wrath—striking down corrupt syndicates and crooked officials with relentless precision. Their legend was growing, whispered in every shadow.
Ra's al Ghul paced the darkened corridors of his stronghold, eyes narrowing as he paused by a window. Below, his assassins shattered concrete slabs with brutal bare fists—each strike a testament to their discipline and deadly resolve.
A slow nod. Approval.
Then a voice broke the silence.
"You can come out, Talia. I know you're there."
From the shadows, Talia al Ghul emerged, arms crossed, eyes sharp as daggers.
"Your senses grow keener, Father," she said, a faint smirk curling her lips.
Their gazes locked, a silent challenge hanging between them. Finally, Talia spoke.
"You stepped into the light. You once said the day you did—"
"—would be the day I declared war on the corrupt world order," Ra's finished with cold conviction. "I meant every word. Why ask now?"
Her hesitation was brief. "Why now? What changed?"
Ra's looked down the hallway, voice dropping to a grave whisper. "After meeting Zero and the Black Knights, I saw more than worthy foes. They're the final piece I need to bring Britannia crashing down. The Purification begins soon, Talia."
She nodded, melting back into darkness as Ra's pressed onward.
League of Assassins' Knightmare Factory
The engineering wing buzzed with quiet intensity. Ubu hunched over schematics, fingers flying across holographic controls.
"Master, your Knightmare is ready. Upgraded by the League's finest minds, it's primed for battle."
Ra's circled the machine, imposing and lethal. "Only I can pilot it?"
"Indeed, my lord. Its systems are attuned exclusively to your commands."
A slight smile. "Talia's located the Japanese Liberation Front's base. She insists the League accompany her. This will be our Knightmare's baptism by fire."
Through the hangar, Ra's eyes landed on Lady Shiva and Deathstroke, inspecting their own Knightmares. Both snapped to attention.
"At ease," Ra's commanded.
Turning to Shiva: "You're coming on this mission."
His gaze shifted to Deathstroke. "Your usual methods won't do. But I have a different role in mind."
Deathstroke raised an eyebrow, puzzled—until Ra's leaned close, whispering a secret that twisted his confusion into a slow, hungry grin.
"You got it, Master," Deathstroke said, melting into the shadows. "I'll handle it."
Ra's looked to Shiva. "Prepare your team. War begins now."
Narita
Princess Cornelia's forces snaked through the rugged mountain terrain. Knightmares of the League stood back, awaiting orders.
In the G-1 command center, Ra's studied a holographic map, tension coiling in his chest.
"Sir, Cornelia's units are advancing swiftly. The base will fall soon."
Ra's scoffed softly. "This is too easy. The JLF should be stronger. I wouldn't even send the Shadows for such a trivial fight."
He withheld the order to engage. But then—
A shout shattered the calm.
"Sir! Landslide wiped out half of Cornelia's squad!"
Ra's eyes flicked to the map, watching icons disappear.
A grin cracked his face. "Impossible—unless someone engineered it."
He laughed low. "Zero and the Black Knights have arrived."
His gaze sharpened. "Inform our forces. The League shows its teeth now."
Salutes echoed through the room.
"All assassins—engage. Repeat: engage."
Knightmares roared to life.
At the vanguard, Lady Shiva's custom Knightmare gleamed—minigun roaring, dragon sigil blazing across the faceplate.
She raised her weapon. "Lock and load!"
The JLF Knightmares opened fire—one was instantly shredded. Others hesitated, then retaliated, but Shiva's squad twisted through the chaos, shadows dancing between trees.
One enemy, his hand torn off but finger still twitching on the trigger, fired wildly—hitting his own comrades.
The League surged forward, exploiting the chaos.
Shiva's unit linked with Cornelia's.
"Identify yourselves!" Shiva barked.
She spun, taking down a JLF Knightmare, then turned back, voice cool. "Relax, Princess. We're just cleaning up your mess."
Cornelia growled but charged forward, spear flashing, guards at her heels.
The battle erupted—gunfire erupted from the high ground, two forces locked in deadly embrace.
Ra's al Ghul: G-1 Base
Ra's sat in his command vehicle, eyes sharp, voice calm but commanding.
"Deploy the Shadows to this coordinate. Wait for the enemy to cluster—then strike."
An officer nodded, tension thick.
"Sir, four unknown Knightmares approaching."
Ra's leaned forward. "Show me."
Four Knightmares appeared on screen—each wielding a sword.
Ra's grinned. "The Four Holy Swords."
He made a swift decision.
"Feed intel to our forces. I'm going in."
He keyed his helmet comm.
"Ubu, is the suit ready?"
"Always, Master."
Battlefield
The forest exploded into chaos. Knightmares clashed—metal screeched, weapons fired. An assassin screamed, "Jack!?" before falling silent.
Two League units cornered, hope fading—
Then red energy cut through enemy ranks, exploding Knightmares in fireballs.
Another fell, bisected by a glowing blade.
Whispers spread: "The Batmobile... they finished it."
The last JLF Knightmares fired—the shield absorbed every shot.
The Knightmare surged, uppercutting one enemy, spinning its sword to impale another.
The pilots heard the voice on comms.
"Master!"
"Regroup with Squad Five. Rendezvous with Shiva."
"Sir, what about you?"
Ra's paused.
"I'm going to deal with the swordsmen."
Guilford's Battle
Guilford's Knightmare fought desperately—one unit cleaved in two.
As a killing blow descended, a new Knightmare landed, shield raised to block.
Guilford blinked.
"Who—?"
A voice, sharp and mocking.
"I thought Cornelia's lapdog would be tougher."
Ra's.
Guilford bristled, but said nothing.
Ra's addressed the Four Holy Swords.
"For honor's sake—who accepts a duel?"
The swordsmen exchanged looks. One stepped forward.
"I am Kyoshiro Tohdoh, leader of the Four Holy Swords. I accept."
Blades rose.
A shot rang out—exploding between them.
A new Knightmare appeared, bearing the League insignia and the Demon's Head mark.
Guilford squinted.
Ra's demanded, "Identify yourself!"
A familiar voice answered, cold and sharp.
"Forgive me, Father, but this is personal."
Ra's turned to Guilford.
"Your princess faces a new threat. She may not survive."
"What?! All units, to the princess!" Guilford barked.
The Four Holy Swords remained still, eyes locked on Talia.
Ra's whispered, "I want them alive."
Talia nodded, twin swords drawn.
The swordsmen closed in.
Tohdoh spat venom. "Demon's Head."
"Kururugi's lapdog," Talia snapped.
The female pilot screamed, "Traitor!"
Steel clashed.
Talia's strikes were surgical—disabling enemy suits, leaving the pilots humiliated but alive.
Tohdoh faced her alone.
"I want you alive," she said.
"To pay for your crimes, Talia," he spat.
Their blades clashed, sparks flying.
Both machines powered down, exhausted.
The fight was far from over.
Ra's al Ghul
Ra's landed on rocky ground—between an unfamiliar red Knightmare and the Lancelot.
Temptation won.
He stepped in front of the Lancelot, forcing it to halt.
"I'll handle this. You chase Zero."
Lancelot hesitated, then bounded away.
Ra's faced the red Knightmare.
"New model. Name?"
"Guren."
"Demon's Blade," Ra's answered, raising his shield.
"Let's see which is stronger."
"Bring it on, Demon's Blade."
Blades clashed, sparks flew.
"You're quick, little demon," Guren taunted.
"Not an insult. Surrender and join the League."
"Loyal to Zero."
Energy crackled around Guren's silver hand, but Ra's barely flinched.
"Try harder."
They dueled near the cliff—ground crumbling beneath them.
Guren fell.
Ra's deactivated his blade.
"Until next time, little demon. Maybe then, you'll join the League."
Tracking Lancelot, Ra's found it stuck—disabled its arm to silence its barrage.
"Medical team, my location. Zero escaped."
Ra's walked away, leaving chaos behind.
Ashford Academy
A door creaked open.
Lelouch stepped inside—wet, hollow-eyed.
A dim lamp flickered on.
Ra's al Ghul sat calmly.
"Hello, Zero. Or should I say… brother? We have much to discuss."
Lelouch froze, memories flooding.
"I know who C.C. is. I know where she's hiding."
Ra's stood.
"I'm not here to kill you. Not to arrest. I'm here for a partnership."
Lelouch whispered, "Partnership…"
Unnoticed, C.C. watched from shadows.
Narita: Deathstroke
Dr. Joseph Fenette fled with his team, scrambling into a Britannian vehicle.
"Get in!" the driver urged.
Fenette smiled, grateful.
"No problem, doc," the driver said.
The silence grew heavy.
"So, Joseph… did you get what you needed from C.C.?"
Fenette's eyes widened.
A wire snaked around his neck.
Deathstroke's smirk was the last thing Fenette saw before the garrote tightened.
Silence.
"Dump the body," Deathstroke ordered.
Area 11: Deathstroke
Rain fell in the park.
A girl stood alone, hair plastered to her face.
Lelouch approached, umbrella shielding them both.
"Sorry I'm late. Thought you'd be home."
She said nothing.
"Zero fights for the weak, doesn't he?" she whispered.
Lelouch nodded.
"Then why did he kill my father?"
Tears spilled, voice cracking.
"He was gentle. He never hurt anyone. Buried alive... Why?"
She sobbed, clutching Lelouch.
He dropped the umbrella, pulling her close.
"I don't want this. Please, Lulu, help me."
She kissed him—desperate for comfort.
He kissed back.
At the edge of the trees, Deathstroke watched, cigarette glowing in the rain.
"Buried alive, huh?" he murmured.
A smirk.
"Perfect cover for an assassination."
He flicked the cigarette, walking away past a brick wall spray-painted with the League's emblem.
The demon's head watched silently as her sobs echoed into the night.