Episode 9

"A Once in a Lifetime Chance" is the 9th episode of Kill la Kill.

Synopsis
Ira and Ryūko fight. Though Ira is able to dominate, Senketsu evolves a new form to defeat him.

Plot
Satsuki Kiryūin explains how the order of the battles between the Elite Four and Ryūko Matoi will be determined. Whoever had defeated the fewest students throughout the week would go first and whoever defeated the most would be last, this meant that Ira Gamagōri would face her first, then Hōka Inumuta followed by Nonon Jakuzure and finally Uzu Sanageyama. As Ryūko awaits the time for her battle against Gamagōri, Aikurō Mikisugi asks her to drop out of the match, warning that she is not ready to face the Elite Four, to which she naturally declines. The battle soon begins, with Gamagōri activating his Shackle Regalia, attacking himself in order to provide the power needed to transform into Scourge Regalia. Ryūko soon learns that the Shackle Regalia also serves as an armor protecting its life fibers. This pushes Ryūko into a corner, as she is unable to damage the Shackle Regalia without powering up the Scourge Regalia form. Gamagōri flashes back to the day he joined Satsuki, where at first he resisted her "tyranny" heavily saying he would never kneel to Satsuki even if he was unable to defeat her. Wearing steel armor under his uniform to protect himself from her attacks, Satsuki managed to pierce it after a few ferocious attacks. Even though he was defeated Gamagōri pulled the scabbard off her weapon and used it to prop himself up and thereby avoided kneeling on the ground. Impressed by his resolve and determination Satsuki decided to recruit him to her cause and told him to wait for 2 years when she would make a school that would become her army.

Ryūko keeps on attacking, forcing Gamagōri to bring out Scourge Regalia's full power, attempting to forcefully mold Ryūko into a model student. However, Senketsu sets a plan into motion by pulling Ryūko out of her synchronized mode, allow her to use Senketsu's fangs to break into Gamagōri's uniform and destroy it from the inside using a new form, Senketsu Senjin, winning the match. With Gamagōri defeated, Ryūko prepares to face up against her next opponent, Hōka Inumuta.

Characters

 * Ryūko Matoi
 * Ira Gamagōri
 * Aikurō Mikisugi
 * Senketsu
 * Satsuki Kiryūin
 * Ira Gamagōri
 * Hōka Inumuta
 * Nonon Jakuzure
 * Uzu Sanageyama
 * Mako Mankanshoku
 * Junketsu

Quotes
"Okay, if you don't want me to fight, then start talking. Tell why my dad was killed and who did it. [...] Then shut your mouth and find a seat. Me and Senkets are gonna beat the crap out of Satsuki Kiryūin. Then I'm gonna make her tell me the truth. I'll wring it out of her."

- Ryūko in response to Aikurō's warning.

"You have no idea who you're dealing with. I am the Disciplinary Committee! I lead by example; that's why I bind and whip myself so mercilessly. It's how I inspire you troublemakers to change your ways and become productive students! It's how I bring order to the chaos in Honnōji Academy! The Shackle Regalia is the embodiment of that ethos. If you refuse to conform to the rules, that's when I bury my compassion and bring out the whip! THAT is the Scourge Regalia! And if that still doesn't convince you to fall in line, then you leave me no choice!"

- Gamagōri's boast.