At the outskirts of the island stood a simple wooden hut.
[Silver Inari Shrine]
"Prosperity and decline intertwine; outward fortune hides inner suffering. Exercise patience and self-restraint, and heaven's blessings shall follow."
The Chief Priest muttered incessantly while studying the divination results, his large, furry drooping ears twitching upward.
"Strange... this reading is unusual."
"What does it mean?"
Gurd grew tense.
Please don't tell me it's another dire omen!
For once, the Chief Priest interpreted the fortune with rare seriousness: "This is an exceptionally rare reading. On the surface, it appears auspicious, but hidden within is calamity. In short, good fortune is coming, but it carries concealed risks."
"I see."
Gurd stroked his chin.
Was this luck, or just feudal superstition?
How troublesome. Couldn't they just remove all the middle-ground fortunes?
"Huh?"
Gurd suddenly looked up, his gaze snapping toward the western side of the island.
He hadn't sensed anything himself, but Groudon had detected an unsettling presence—something had arrived on the island.
Fortress, West Coast.
Due to the fortress construction, the island's coastal cliffs were steep, with only four entry points temporarily accessible.
Two figures clad in black robes abruptly appeared atop the rocky shoreline.
"Gunko, this is a covert operation. Conceal your presence."
"Understood, Vice-Captain."
Just as they were about to move, they froze.
Tap... tap...
Footsteps echoed in their ears.
"What?!"
Both turned simultaneously to see an enormous, bald-headed man approaching them. What shocked them was that they hadn't detected his presence until his footsteps reached their ears.
That should have been impossible!
"Impressive, as expected."
The taller man lifted his head, revealing a face identical to Red Hair Shanks—save for the absence of three scars.
Vice-Captain of the God's Knights!
Figarland Shamrock Saint!
Beside him, the girl pulled back her hood, revealing a military cap atop her head. Her youthful features marked her as another member of the God's Knights.
Gunko.
Gurd's eyes gleamed.
"Well, hello there, pretty lady!"
"Mind your tongue, mortal!" Gunko snapped coldly.
"Hahaha, feisty too!"
Gurd laughed heartily, though his eyes turned icy.
Mortal?
Only the Celestial Dragons would address others that way.
So they've finally come.
And—
Gurd glanced at the man beside her.
A face identical to Shanks!
Upon sensing intruders, he had merged his presence with the earth, allowing him to approach undetected.
Good thing he'd been cautious.
If these two had infiltrated the fortress, even a minor skirmish could cause massive destruction. He'd be devastated.
But sending just two people? They must be underestimating him. One call from him could summon an entire army!
Gurd flashed a smile.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, honored guests?"
"Groudon Gud, the Earth Calamity."
Shamrock confirmed.
"That's you, correct?"
"It is."
Gurd nodded before countering, "And you are?"
"No need for you to know yet."
Shamrock replied calmly, "We're here to invite you to join the God's Knights. Once you accept, you'll learn our names."
"The God's Knights?"
Gurd's heart skipped a beat.
From what he knew, the God's Knights were the Celestial Dragons' most formidable force, second only to the Five Elders.
And they wanted him to join?
Not even the Four Emperors get this kind of treatment!
Thinking of today's divination signs.
This is a trap, absolutely a trap!
Gurd scratched his head in confusion.
"What the hell is God's Knights?"
"..."
Shamrock and Gunko fell silent simultaneously.
They thought he was feigning ignorance—with his fame and status, he should at least know of the God's Knights' existence.
But judging by his clueless expression, he genuinely seemed unaware.
"We are Celestial Dragons. The God's Knights are an internal organization of us Celestial Dragons. Knowing this much is enough for you!"
"Celestial Dragons, oh! I see now!"
Gurd wore an exaggerated look of sudden realization, his acting slightly over-the-top.
"Why invite me to join?"
"You have the qualifications."
Shamrock frowned.
Communicating with fools was truly irritating.
Gunko said coldly, "The chance to become a god is a dream beyond the reach of ordinary mortals like you. We're offering you this opportunity—don't be ungrateful!"
"Even if you say that, two Celestial Dragons suddenly popping up and asking me to join the God's Knights has left me completely baffled!"
Gurd shrugged. "I'm not blaming you, but at least explain things clearly. Why invite me? What benefits do I get from joining?"
"..."
Gunko tilted her head toward Shamrock, her sleeves splitting into arrow-tipped strips, ready to attack at any moment.
"Vice-Captain, can I kill him?"
"Don't be impulsive, Gunko."
Shamrock shook his head.
The Beasts' headquarters was right nearby. If they fought here, pirates would swarm over quickly, exposing too much.
Gunko?
And a Devil Fruit ability at that.
"Little girl, I heard that!"
Gurd's eyes turned cold as his body grew taller.
"If you want a fight, I'd love to see the power of the Celestial Dragons for myself—see just what makes you worthy of ruling the world!"
"You dare question the power of gods?"
Shamrock removed his hood and drew his sword. Though reluctant to fight, killing Calamity Gurd here would still accomplish their mission.
This time, it was Gunko who remained rational.
"Vice-Captain, we only have five minutes."
"I know."
At most, five minutes—that was all it would take for Kaido to arrive from Wano Country. That was his greatest concern.
Shamrock's patience ran out. "I'll ask you one last time, Calamity Gurd—will you join the God's Knights or not?"
"Of course I refuse!"
Gurd grinned, his entire body radiating scorching heat as the ground beneath him melted into magma.
Join the Celestial Dragons?
Did they think he was stupid?
With his land-reclamation powers, if he went to the Holy Land, he'd either be dead by the next day or controlled by other means. The Celestial Dragons would never allow someone like him to exist.
"Don't get it twisted—you're the ones begging me to join. Show some humility. If you kneel and plead, maybe I'll consider it!"
"Ant, know your place!"
Gunko's anger flared as countless arrows formed a massive fist around her own, with another arrow pointing directly at Gurd's face.
She rode the arrows, charging toward Gurd.
"Such an obvious attack—huh?!"
Gurd threw a punch, but arrows appeared beside his arm, altering the direction of his strike.
Changed his attack trajectory?
The next moment, Gunko was right in front of him, her fist slamming into his cheek and knocking his head sideways.
"How interesting!"
Gurd turned his head back, grinning at Gunko: "But the force is too weak, little girl who hasn't even grown all her feathers yet. Are you tickling me?"
"..."
Gunko's eyes darkened.
She was angry.
But she didn't have time to launch another attack.
Massive pillars of lava enclosed the battlefield, then began emitting blinding light.
"Cliff Sword!"
Gurd made a finger-snapping gesture.
"Little girl, try redirecting this explosion's shockwave too!"
Snap!
"BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!"
A violent explosion engulfed the battlefield!
Within the sea of flames.
The spherical shield formed by arrow-wrapped cloth slowly unraveled, revealing the two inside. But Gunko hadn't retreated in time—half her head had been blown away.
Then came the horrifying sight.
Gunko's missing half-head rapidly regenerated, as if shattered black paper scraps were reforming her body, soon restoring her completely.
"Immortality?"
Gurd was nearly dumbstruck.
Impure World Reincarnation?
What an absolutely insane ability.
He'd thought the Five Elders' immortality was already ridiculous enough, but now it seemed God's Knights had similar capabilities.
"Keh keh keh keh~~"
Gurd revealed a savage grin.
"Immortal, are you? How fascinating. Now I really want to know—if I throw you into the ocean or bury you in the planet's core, can you still regenerate?"
"..."
Both their expressions changed simultaneously.
"Vice-captain, we should retreat!"
"Right."
The brief exchange had shown them Gurd's defensive power and strength—eliminating him quickly would be difficult.
"Cerberus!"
Black smoke billowed from the blade, then the massive three-headed hellhound appeared on the battlefield, blocking Gurd's path!
Shamrock and Gunko boarded an arrow-formed bird.
"Calamity Gurd, we're giving you one final chance. Without an answer within a month, we'll consider you an enemy!"
"Hey, look here!"
Gurd raised a middle finger!