Having moved Nunnally to the Ark for sanctuary, the heroes prepare for the worst-case scenario in an effort to safeguard the SAZ ceremony from Charles and Megatron's intentions. But Megatron's plans are far darker than any could expect.
- All Webbed Up: Poor Euphemia ends up in this state after being captured by Airachnid.
- The Bad Guy Wins: Megatron achieves a decisive victory here, tarnishing Euphemia’s reputation, publicly exposing the evils of Britannia, and enraging the Autobots and Black Knights to ignite a rebellion so as to distract everyone from his plans of conquering the Britannian capitol.
- Birds of a Feather: Being kindhearted souls, both Nunnally and Optimus Prime hit it off immediately when they finally meet for the first time, much to Lelouch's internal joy.
- Forced to Watch: Poor Euphie was forced (by Airachnid) to witness the tragedy of the SAZ unfold before her eyes.
- Heel–Face Turn: Suzaku and Dreadwing, unable to stomach anymore of the atrocities committed by Britannia and the Decepticons, finally defect to the Autobots and the Black Knights.
- Humans Are the Real Monsters: The Decepticons may have been the ones to start the massacre, but the majority of the Britannians present decide to partake in it whole-heartedly.
- Impostor-Exposing Test: Lelouch uses his Geass on the Pretender drone disguised as Euphemia, and asks what she and his sister were fighting about eight years ago. This is to test if it is really her or a fake like he suspects. Megatron can't answer correctly, and takes too long giving a response, thus exposing the Pretender as a fake to Lelouch. Not that it hinders Megatron's plan, though.
- Mirroring Factions: While Britannia has pretenses of being better than the Decepticons and overall seems to be better, this chapter makes it clear that they can be just as bloodthirsty as the Decepticons, given the right circumstances.
- Not His Sled: Instead of Lelouch accidentally Geassing Euphemia into causing the massacre in canon, Megatron instigates it intentionally via a remote-controlled Pretender drone in Euphemia's image and having Soundwave, pretending to be Charles, ordering the Britannian soldiers and Knights of the Round to attack the Japanese.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: In the aftermath of defeating the Pretender drone, Suzaku blames Lelouch, the Black Knights and the Autobots for having the audacity to fight back against Britannia and the Decepticons. Lelouch immediately rails on Suzaku for blaming everyone without taking responsibility for his actions himself, giving up on his friends, and running away from his problems. It is here that Suzaku realizes he was on the wrong side from the very beginning and finally decides to join the Autobots and Black Knights with Dreadwing.
- Spotting the Thread: Lelouch begins to suspect that the Euphemia Pretender is fake when it calls him "Zero" in private. The real Euphemia is aware of Lelouch's true identity.
- Touché: When Megatron realizes Lelouch is using his Geass on the Pretender drone of Euphie as part of his Impostor-Exposing Test, the Decepticon leader growls "Clever boy."
- Wham Episode: Probably the biggest one for R1.
- Lelouch and Nunnally leave Ashford Academy with Sayoko, Rai, and Bumblebee, setting up permanent residence at the Ark.
- After learning about her past, the amnesiac Villetta/Chigusa joins the Autobot-Black Knight Alliance in a genuine desire to atone.
- Airachnid kidnaps Euphemia and brings her to Kamine Island, and the Decepticons replace Euphie with a Pretender drone controlled by Megatron.
- Under Megatron's control, the Pretender deliberately turns the Special Administrative Zone into a massacre.
- The Knights of the Round and the Britannian soldiers stationed at the Zone take part in the massacre after receiving from Charles (actually a disguised Soundwave).
- The Autobots are able to save half of the attendants in the Special Zone, with Kallen's mother being among the survivors, and evacuate them to the Ark.
- Cornelia, Dreadwing, and Suzaku all learn that Lelouch is Zero, with Suzaku also finding out that Shirley and Sayoko are with the Black Knights.
- Dreadwing gets a final confirmation from Ratchet that Megatron truly did destroy Cybertron.
- Unable to stomach the atrocities committed by Britannia and the Decepticons any longer, Dreadwing and Suzaku defect to the Autobot-Black Knight Alliance.
