As the day of the SAZ draws near, the paladins prepare for the worst-case scenario. But when that day comes, no one is prepared for how things go down.
- Adaptational Context Change:
- Canonically, the SAZ descends into a bloodbath when Lelouch accidentally Geass's Euphemia to murder all Japanese people. Here, the killing starts when Charles reveals that Britannia will ally with the Galra, which Commander Corza takes as the signal to attack.
- Euphie was canonically shot (and killed) by Lelouch to stop the SAZ Massacre. Here, she's shot by Rolo AKA Nebiros under Charles' orders, but ends up being rescued by Suzaku and taken to the Castle of Lions fast enough to be treated.
- All for Nothing: All the efforts made by the Paladins over the course of the last thirteen chapters to unite the Earth behind Voltron and at least achieve an Enemy Mine situation with Britannia are rendered absolutely pointless when Charles reveals that he is allying Britannia with the Galra.
- Defector from Decadence: Once Charles declares Euphemia a traitor, Cornelia and Nonette fully jump ship to protect her. Darlton, the Glaston Knights, Guilford, Lloyd, and Cecile promptly join them.
- Didn't See That Coming: The one possible outcome Lelouch never anticipated regarding Britannia and the Galra? Charles allying with the Galra.
- Double-Meaning Title: The title can refer to either Voltron allying with the people of Earth or the Galra allying with Britannia - the Massacre seals both.
- Hope Spot: When the people within the SAZ begin chanting "Voltron", it looks like the Paladins might have actually rallied Earth behind them. True, Charles is unlikely to approve of this, but pressure from the rest of the world should be able to keep him in check, right? Then Charles appears on screen, declares Euphie and those who support her traitors, and reveals that Britannia will ally with the Galra. And then a Galra fleet shows up above the SAZ!
- Hypocritical Humor: Milly admits that she's worried about leaving Sayoko with Rakshata, since the Indian scientist has a tendency to go overboard. This, coming from a girl that turned Lelouch's efforts to get back his Zero mask into a school wide cat-hunt and who canonically had the world's largest pizza made using a Knightmare. C.C. wastes no time pointing out the hypocrisy.
- Ironic Echo: Charles quoted "All Hail Britannia!", a Britannian rallying cry, as he ushered in the Galra invasion to occupy the Holy Britannian Empire and the rest of the Earth.
- Irony: For all that Lelouch disliked the idea of working with Charles, it was the Emperor himself who eliminated any possibility of an alliance via choosing to unite Britannia with the Galra instead of with Voltron.
- No-Sell: Apparently, the Lions (or at least Zenobia and Yoru) have the ability to ignore the effects of geass, to Nebiros' shock and horror.
- Nothing Is the Same Anymore: Oh boy. Charles allies Britannia with Galra, effectively making the Paladins' enemies one big group now. All the sympathetic Britannians promptly jump ship after Charles declares Euphemia a traitor. Lelouch himself makes it clear that from here on out, Charles is Beyond Redemption and is the enemy of Voltron and the Black Knights.
- Offing the Offspring: Charles has Nebiros attempt to assassinate his daughter's Euphemia and Nunnally. He appears to succeed with the first part, but is chased off by Yoru and Zenobia before he can line up a shot with Nunnally.
- Oh, Crap!: Many people in the SAZ have this reaction when a Galra fleet shows up and begins opening fire on the zone.
- Ship Tease: Suzaku and Euphemia get a moment of bonding that Rai seems to approve of. And when Euphie is shot by Nebiros, Suzaku is the one to rush her to the castle to be healed.
- This Is Unforgivable!: Lelouch has ample reasons to hate his Archnemesis Dad, but he was willing to bury the hatchet with Charles to focus on the Galra. When Charles allies Britannia with the Galra and allows Nebiros to try and assassinate Euphemia, though, Lelouch very clearly feels that Charles needs to die.
- Wham Episode: Just after Voltron seemingly unites the world at the SAZ, Charles makes an appearance and reveals that Britannia is allying with the Galra, and that all those who support Voltron are to be declared traitors. Mere moments later, a Galra fleet descends from orbit and, with the aid of Charles' forces, begins massacring the people gathered at the SAZ. Even worse, just as the Paladins prepare to take to the field, Nebiros arrives and shoots Euphie!
