Dielt gazed upon the golden-armored spearman with his very own eyes, and he could no longer contain his laughter.
"Hahahahaha! So it's not Roger—but this one isn't bad at all."
"Karna… This is someone who truly surpasses the power scale of the pirate world."
He was already itching for a battle against this transcendent warrior.
But thinking it over, rushing into a fight right now would be far too boring.
"Magma brat, will you really compare your flames to the heat of the sun?"
"Blackbeard, will you try to hide your ambition in front of a hero who sees through everything?"
"Hahaha! Interesting, interesting. This Holy Grail War is indeed fascinating. Let it continue spiraling out of control!"
---
Reality.
On the deck of the Moby Dick, only radiance remained—unparalleled brilliance.
That golden armor seemed forged from sunlight itself, emanating warmth and majesty without pause.
Wherever he stood, darkness had nowhere left to hide.
Even Whitebeard, who had seen countless grand spectacles and was always calm, couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
"This aura… this pressure… I've only ever felt it from that guy, Eryndor…"
If even he felt this way, there was no need to mention the others.
The crew's jaws nearly dropped to the deck. Their eyes were wide, and even the drool dripping from their mouths glittered from the reflection of that dazzling light.
Blackbeard's eyes looked calm, but inside he was roaring with laughter, his desire naked as his ambition.
"Zehahaha! So this is a Heroic Spirit… What a powerful, beautiful being. If he can summon one—then so can I!"
Only after a long while did the crew regain their senses, forcing out a single line with all their might:
"So cool…"
Amidst their awed voices, Karna had already finished receiving this world's information.
"A foreign world full of pirates? …Understood."
His gaze calmly swept the surroundings, finally locking onto Ace.
"Tell me—are you my Master?"
Ace was still dazed, drowning in the flood of information, muttering under his breath.
"Son of the Sun God Surya… the Hero of Charity…"
Joz tapped him hard on the back. "Ace, the guy's talking to you!"
Ace stumbled forward from the slap, blinking blankly before nodding. It took him a long time to snap out of it.
"W-wait a second… Son of the Sun God! You—you're a god?!"
Karna didn't respond.
But the surrounding pirates all dropped their jaws again.
"Whaaa!? A god? Then he must be insanely strong!"
"Wait, didn't they say Heroic Spirits?!"
"Yeah! I thought he'd be some historical figure—turns out he's a god?!"
Marco frowned. Son of the Sun God… could it be related to Nika…?
Blackbeard feigned shock. "A god, huh? Zehahaha…"
Karna only found the crowd noisy. He hadn't expected his summoning to happen in front of so many people.
Was this really supposed to be a "secret" Holy Grail War?
Expressionless, Karna declared:
"I am no god, merely a spearman. By the command seal's bond, you are indeed my Master. Our contract is complete. I will serve as your spear and win this war for you."
As soon as he finished, Ace felt the unmistakable connection between the Command Seals and Karna.
Yes—this was his Heroic Spirit.
Though not the man he'd secretly wished for, Ace's smile was still as bright as ever.
He strode forward and extended his right hand.
"Oh! My name is Ace. Pleased to meet you, Karna!"
Karna's body trembled slightly, as though he hadn't expected such a gesture.
"You… don't require me to kneel?"
Ace gawked. "Nani? Kneel? No way!"
The entire crew burst into roaring laughter.
Unlike the mockery Karna had heard elsewhere, their laughter was full of nothing but joy.
Marco smirked, exchanging a knowing glance with Whitebeard before stepping up.
"It seems the godly one isn't used to our pirate crew's way of doing things."
Joz, towering at four meters, leaned down and spoke softly.
"On this ship, there's never any kneeling. Because there are no kings or subjects here."
Ace added, "Only family and comrades."
Finally, the whole crew gathered around Karna.
"Since you're Ace's Servant, you're our comrade now too!"
For a moment Karna looked stunned—then the corners of his mouth lifted.
So the information was true: this was a bold and openhearted world.
Not a lie.
"What are we waiting for, then? Let's throw a feast! Hahahahaha!"
Laughter and music burst across the deck, the pirates dragging their reluctant new partner into the revelry.
Whitebeard chuckled softly, barely noticeable:
"Kurarara… Ace, in some ways this Son of the Sun God is quite like you."
---
Watching all this, Eryndor withdrew from World Observation.
"Ace has summoned Lancer—Karna."
Jeanne tilted her head. "But how did you know his True Name? Isn't True Name Revelation an ability only for Rulers?"
Eryndor smiled faintly.
"Heh. I told you, there's nothing in this world I don't know…"
"Hm…" Jeanne puffed her cheeks. "Then tell me—when will that ambitious one summon?"
Eryndor snapped his fingers. "Soon. He won't stay on this ship for much longer."
Jeanne frowned, rare uncertainty on her face. "No way… Didn't you say he was good at hiding?"
Eryndor only chuckled, saying nothing more.
"Ugh, Master's always like this," Jeanne pouted. Is he really like an angel? Only ever giving cryptic revelations, never the details…
Lord, please protect those innocent souls who may be swallowed by ambition…
Eryndor, of course, didn't know what the saint was thinking.
He was busy calculating how many days remained before that ship would cross paths with the Whitebeard Pirates.
He had seen it in his ability earlier—the ship carrying the Dark-Dark Fruit…
"Heh… Will your ambition succeed so easily this time? Against a hero who can kill with his gaze, who allows no darkness to hide?"
Eryndor's thoughts ceased. Six pairs of wings unfolded behind him out of thin air.
"Come. We need to hurry to the East Blue."
Jeanne, in spirit form at his side, asked, "Why so suddenly?"
With a sweep of his wings, Eryndor pierced through the skies.
"The first Heroic Spirit has already appeared. I won't keep him waiting."
The aura of a Heroic Spirit was unique. Every strong presence in this world must have felt it by now.
Perhaps many had already guessed it was tied to the Holy Grail.
Navy, pirates, revolutionaries—it didn't matter who.
If they wanted it, they'd have to come to him.
He never hid his tracks. The wings streaking across the heavens were proof enough.
Come, then. Let this game grow ever more interesting.
---
Holy Land Mariejois, Pangaea Castle.
In the garden, Im stood frozen, flowers slipping from their grasp.
Today, two heretical auras had shaken them.
One was that angel they had endured for so long.
The other—no, not Nika—but a different sun's radiance altogether.
They tried to peer closer at this foreigner, but even amid the banquet, Karna's eyes suddenly lifted skyward.
That gaze pierced everything—so terrifyingly similar to him, a hundred years ago.
The flowers scattered onto the ground.
Even now, Im could not steady their heart.
"Eryndor… What have you done this time…"
In the highest chamber of world power, the Five Elders' den-den mushi rang.
Buru buru buru…
"Lord Im, what are your orders?"
The voice that answered was void of all emotion.
"Find the whereabouts of the Eryndor Pirates. And I want all information on the Holy Grail."
"Mobilize every force—no matter the cost."