Chapter 292: Who is the Real Mastermind?
"All units, fire at the battleship above! Expend all ammunition if necessary, but absolutely do not allow that thing to get closer!"
Toudou Kyoushirou immediately issued the correct command to the entire Knightmare squad.
Yet even so, Toudou couldn't help breaking into a cold sweat as he stared at the steel battleship floating in the sky.
He never imagined Britannia possessed such a weapon—this completely defied his understanding!
However, the bullets and shells fired by the Knightmares seemed utterly ineffective against the behemoth overhead. All projectiles and explosions were blocked by emerald crystalline barriers.
"Oh ho, it's here, it's here! My dear Avalon, you've finally shown yourself..."
Mahiro looked up at the massive steel fortress being continuously assaulted in the sky, his grin nearly stretching to his ears.
He had been coveting this thing for so long.
Forget about Avalon's combat and defensive capabilities for a moment—just sitting aboard such a massive vessel was imposing enough!
Schneizel, you truly live up to being my excellent student, delivering such a magnificent gift!
But...
"Do you really think a mere pistol can threaten me?"
While everyone's focus remained on Avalon, Mahiro slightly turned his gaze.
The dark gun muzzle wavered between him and Zero before finally settling on him.
"Kururugi, you..."
"I simply cannot agree with your methods!"
Facing Zero's shock, Suzaku strode forward, reaching toward Shadow in an attempt to take him hostage.
Seeing this, Kallen was startled and tried to charge in with her Guren Type-02 for rescue, but it too completely shut down due to radiation interference.
She quickly jumped out of the cockpit and rushed toward Suzaku Kururugi.
"Suzaku, stop! Don't! I'm Kallen Stadtfeld from the student council!"
At this point, she no longer cared about exposing her identity. Her mission duty was to protect Zero, and Shadow was her benefactor—she couldn't just stand by and watch them get captured!
Meanwhile, Lelouch watched Suzaku Kururugi as if observing a clown.
"Naive."
The instant his fingertips were about to make contact, an invisible wave of psions suddenly emanated from Mahiro's body.
The pistol instantly decomposed into components.
And Suzaku's outstretched hand was caught firmly.
"It seems you don't want this claw either."
Crack!
A crisp sound echoed as Suzaku Kururugi's arm was forcibly bent in an impossible direction.
Excruciating pain swept through his entire body, beads of sweat dripping from Suzaku Kururugi's forehead.
"I absolutely... cannot fall here!!!"
Gritting his teeth, Suzaku like a madman recklessly extended his prosthetic arm toward Mahiro again.
"Get lost!"
Thump!
Mahiro directly delivered a whip kick to Suzaku's stomach, sending him flying backward to crash hard against Lancelot's leg.
At the same time, the Avalon above them began to move again.
"That's wrong!! It's not missile bombardment—they haven't launched any missiles at all!"
Toudou Kyoushirou, who had been staring intently at the aerial warship, saw two cannon barrels extend from beneath the vessel, but not a single missile from the rumored precision strike was visible.
In other words, the enemy likely possessed an even more terrifying weapon!
"Don't become targets! Quickly take cover behind the surrounding trees—don't let the enemy lock onto you! Attack from the shadows!"
Acting as ZERO's military substitute, Toudou immediately roared into the comms device, which was filled with exclamations of shock and uncertainty.
This was clearly an order, but the question remained whether anyone would follow it.
The Black Knights were a well-trained anti-Britannia organization, but they were not a regular army after all.
When something beyond common sense suddenly appears, it inevitably triggers instinctive human fear and terror, much like how German soldiers, renowned for their discipline during World War I, exclaimed in horror upon seeing France's land battleships—tanks—calling them monsters.
And now, they had been completely overwhelmed by the intimidation and fear brought by this aerial warship.
Was this really something they could handle?
Everyone couldn't help but think this way.
"Goodbye, teacher."
On the aerial warship, the blond man seated in the main command position sorrowfully lowered his hands, which had been conducting like a symphony.
Immediately after, the two massive cannon barrels below began to gather a chilling deep red light—a glow familiar to everyone.
It was a weapon carried by the Knights of Rounds, something called a Hadron Cannon.
But the one above was dozens of times larger than the ones used by the Knights of Rounds!
Just as everyone was frozen in shock and fear, the deep red energy concentrated in the cannon barrels poured down.
Suzaku, lying immobilized on the ground, watched the scattered cannon fire raining down like a torrential downpour and peacefully closed his eyes.
"Let everything end here."
"What kind of foolish dream are you having, Suzaku Kururugi?"
That flippant, arrogant voice echoed in his ears once again.
Suzaku's eyes snapped open to see Shadow raising a hand toward the sky and snapping his fingers.
Snap!
"Antimatter Barrier."
A transparent film instantly materialized, enveloping them from above like an inverted protective shield.
Most astonishingly, that barrier completely blocked all the cascading energy bullets!
Mahiro turned his head to look at Eta, who was still crouched by the sandpit, gazing up at the warship overhead with eyes full of longing.
"Eta, contact Alpha now and tell them to seize this fine specimen above us!"
"Understood, Shadow brother."
Eta nodded, pressed the earpiece hidden beneath her hair, and opened the communication channel.
"Commence the operation."
Chaos erupted on Shikine Island as pitch-black Knightmares, hidden in unknown locations, emerged from the forest like bamboo shoots after rain. Wielding their respective weapons, they charged toward the aerial warship overhead.
"Everyone, infiltrate the warship while minimizing damage as much as possible!"
"Roger!"
Alpha took the lead in her personal Knightmare, guiding the others as they used flight magic to approach Avalon at a steady pace.
Beta provided long-range fire support, drawing her energy bow to harass Avalon with suppressing fire.
"Lady Alpha, this behemoth is truly resilient," Beta couldn't help but complain upon seeing her energy arrows blocked by an emerald crystalline barrier, a hint of frustration crossing her petite face. This was the first time since arriving in this world that she had encountered something her arrows couldn't pierce.
Was this what Lord Mahiro meant when he said technological advancement might not necessarily lag behind magic? For a moment, Beta felt a surge of complex emotions, even finding inspiration for her next novel's subject.
"Report, the hadron cannon has been fired, but... it caused no damage to the enemy."
"...Is that so? To think you could block such an attack—truly worthy of you, Sensei." On the ship, the blond man slowly narrowed his eyes as he listened to his subordinate's report. A trace of solemnity appeared on his composed and dignified face. He was the Second Prince of the Britannian Empire and the student Mahiro despised most—Schneizel el Britannia.
After a moment of contemplation, Schneizel immediately issued an order: "Turn Avalon around and evacuate from Shikine Island at once."
"Yes, sir!"
The next second, a violent tremor shook the entire ship.
"Report! Unidentified flying objects are rapidly approaching the ship! They've breached the Absolute Defense System's barrier and are heading straight for the bridge!"
Schneizel: "..."
Despite the critical situation, Schneizel showed no panic. He merely gazed intently at the dark Knightmares breaking through Avalon's defenses from all directions, as if instantly discerning their purpose. "Do not panic. All personnel, prepare to abandon ship. We're withdrawing."
The sudden shift in the situation left everyone on the ground bewildered, unaware of what had transpired and never expecting Shadow Garden to have prepared a contingency plan all along.
And that man—he stood unwavering amidst the torrential downpour of energy, effortlessly blocking every attack that even a Knightmare couldn't withstand! Not a trace of panic showed on his face, as if he had foreseen everything and made complete preparations in advance.
Was this man a god?
But just then, an anomaly occurred.
"...Ah..."
C.C. suddenly clutched her head in agony, swaying unsteadily and nearly tumbling from the edge of the sandpit. As she staggered, the bird-shaped mark hidden beneath her bangs was exposed on her forehead—and it was now glowing with a dazzling radiance, as if resonating with something!
"Run... Mahiro, run away!!!"
C.C.'s heart-wrenching scream caught Mahiro's attention. As he saw her collapse in pain, an enormous red bird-shaped emblem materialized beneath his feet at the center of the sandpit.
That mark—whether it was a Geass or a Code—remained unknown!
The next second, the red glow emanating from the emblem materializing on the ground instantly enveloped everyone in the sandpit.
When the light dissipated, everyone—whether it was Suzaku, Shadow, Zero, or even Kallen who had rushed in—had vanished without a trace.
Only a few Knightmares remained parked there, completely motionless.
Splash—
The sound of waves crashing against rocks echoed in his ears.
"...Where the hell did this send me? Is this still Earth?"
Finding himself on a deserted island, Mahiro couldn't stop the twitching at the corner of his eye.
He clearly remembered C.C. shouting for him to run or something similar in the instant before the teleportation.
At that moment, she seemed to be controlled by something, struggling desperately before making that final move.
Was it the Code?
He wasn't quite sure. The Code contained too many unknown factors. Currently, he only understood that it granted C.C. the traits of eternal youth and immortality, as well as the ability to connect to the C's World.
However, aside from that, he had realized one more thing.
It was about why, in the original story, after Schneizel ordered the Avalon to fire the Hadron Cannon, Suzaku could pilot the Lancelot and carry Lelouch so far away, and why Kallen and Euphemia were also dragged in, ending up stranded together on Kamine Island.
It wasn't because Suzaku's abilities were incredibly powerful or his piloting skills exceptionally superb.
They were fucking teleported away!
This was the first time he discovered that the Code actually had such a damn annoying ability!
"Whatever, whatever. Cursing won't help now. Let me see which poor souls got teleported to this deserted island."
Mahiro immediately activated Multi-Observation and the Eye of the Spirit.
Just as he began to expand his field of vision around him, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure.
"Huh? Euphy???"
...
At this moment, Euphemia was gazing blankly at the vast sea before her.
Her beautiful pink long hair and lovely princess dress were both soaked with seawater.
She had no idea what had actually happened. She only knew that while piloting the Sutherland and just before reaching the bombardment site, a sudden red light had enveloped her.
When she woke up, she was already lying on the shore, with the rising tide washing over her unconscious body. The salty taste had roused her.
"..."
Letting out a weak groan, the damp sea air made Euphemia shiver. She opened her dazed eyes and murmured, "Where is this?"
Struggling to get up from the sandy shore, Euphemia dragged her soaking wet dress and began walking along the beach.
One thing she could confirm was that this definitely wasn't the previous island, but she had no idea exactly where she was.
Dragging the cumbersome princess dress, Euphemia's mood sank to the bottom. The sticky, uncomfortable feeling all over her body and the sand that had seeped into her clothes made her frown as she suppressed her discomfort, forcing herself to walk.
Rip!
Suddenly, Euphemia stopped dragging the hem of her dress. Instead, she used both hands to tear the lower part completely off and tossed it aside. The elegant long dress instantly became a tattered short skirt, revealing her slender, fair legs.
Her legs and a section of pale thigh were exposed to the air.
The expensive high heels she had been wearing were discarded, and her delicate feet, encased in translucent white stockings, now stepped directly onto the soft sandy ground.
Though this was undignified for a princess, making her look as disheveled as a roadside beggar, it did bring her some relief.
Euphemia then continued wandering aimlessly along the shore, organizing her thoughts as she went.
Thanks to her childhood lessons with Mahiro-sensei, she had learned a bit about wilderness survival.
At first, neither she nor her elder sister Cornelia understood why they, as princesses, needed to learn such skills. Nor did they ever imagine that one day this knowledge would actually prove useful.
With her mind now calm, Euphy had sorted out what she needed to do.
First, she would search the surroundings to see if there were any other people nearby.
If there were, it would mean this wasn't a deserted island, and she could seek help or wait for rescue from the Britannian military.
If not, she would have to find fresh water and figure out how to build a temporary shelter, as well as start a fire to dry her clothes.
Otherwise, the nighttime cold could easily claim her life!
As she pondered this and reached the edge of the forest by the shore, she suddenly heard footsteps. Overjoyed, Euphy nearly cried out, but she quickly caught herself and covered her mouth.
If the person approaching turned out to be an enemy, and she had drawn attention to herself, it would be the end of her.
Euphy hurriedly hid in the sparse woods, secretly observing the direction from which the footsteps came.
Soon, she saw a dark figure stepping over broken branches, slowly approaching from the other side of the beach.
The long silver hair was unmistakably familiar.
"...Mahiro-sensei?!"
Surprise, excitement, and overwhelming emotion swirled in Euphemia's heart. On this desolate, possibly uninhabited island, where she had no idea if she would survive, she had actually encountered her teacher!
Without a second thought for her disheveled dress, she rushed out from the bushes and threw herself into Mahiro's arms.
"You're so energetic—it seems you're fine, Euphy."
"Yes, I'm alright. But I'm just so happy to see you again."
Euphy nodded vigorously.
She never expected that Mahiro-sensei could survive the Avalon's bombardment by her brother completely unscathed.
Was there anything in the world more joyous than this?
But when she noticed Mahiro silently smiling as he gazed at her, Euphy suddenly remembered how dirty her dress had become. She quickly pulled away from his embrace, lowering her head in embarrassment and shyness, unable to meet his eyes.
"Now, now, no need to be so shy. I've seen you in far more embarrassing situations, you know."
Mahiro was referring to the mishaps young Euphy had caused back at Aries Palace, which made the present Euphy blush even harder.
"Sensei, don't tease me!"
"Haha, alright, alright."
Mahiro smiled, turning his head to glance at the gradually fading daylight shifting toward sunset hues. He took Euphemia's slightly soiled hand and said cheerfully, "Come with me."
Euphy didn't resist, instead following him to a patch of soft sandy ground.
She didn't understand why her teacher had brought her here, but the next moment she couldn't help gasping in surprise.
Under her astonished gaze, Mahiro actually roughly stripped off her thoroughly dirtied dress!
Left wearing only her pink two-piece undergarments, she instinctively covered her chest and crouched down, using her still-damp long hair as a curtain to shield her body.
Curling up with a flushed face, she stammered in confusion, "...Wh-what are you doing?"
Her tone held no anger whatsoever—only bewilderment and bashfulness.
"Just giving supplementary lessons, of course. Making up for a practical survival training session you missed."
"Huh?"
The evening sea breeze swept over them, making the nearly-naked Euphy shiver without her dress.
But the next instant, Mahiro suddenly snapped his fingers. Euphy felt a sudden comfort wash over her body—the sticky sensation and discomfort of dried salt particles vanished completely, with all excess moisture disappearing from her skin.
Her entire body, including her two-piece undergarments, became perfectly clean.
Immediately after, a large coat gently settled over her shoulders.
"Though the temperature difference between day and night on this island isn't extreme, staying constantly damp makes you prone to illness—that's the deadliest thing in survival situations," Mahiro explained with a wink and a slight smile.
Before she could process what was happening, he scooped her up by the knees, lifting her into his arms.
"And remember—never discard your shoes again, no matter what. Even on soft sand like this or in dense jungles, it's easy to injure your feet."
"If infection sets in, it can become serious. Mild cases cause fever, severe cases can lead to gangrene requiring amputation."
"My dear princess, you wouldn't want your beautiful jade-like feet to be cut off, would you?"
His words made Euphy's face burn with embarrassment, yet warmth flowed through her heart. The lovely princess buried her face gently against Mahiro's chest and whispered in response, "Mm, I'll remember."
Though she had many siblings—over a hundred in total—aside from her elder sister Cornelia, this teacher was the only one who genuinely cared for her...