Guts (4K)

"The sky was shattered by a gigantic fist. Then island fragments rained down from above, completely destroying the southern side of Skuld Island. The resulting massive tsunami caused over eight hundred deaths and left more than a thousand missing…"

"The enormous Golden Ark fell from the sky. God descended from heaven with angels bearing wings upon their backs. After that, the disappearances on Skuld Island ceased, but in their place came… the merciless slaughter of an evil god."

"Rumors claim that the world’s greatest swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk, has been missing for over half a year. Some believe that, like Sand Crocodile, Hawkeye may have been involved in some vile incident and was erased by the World Government…"

For several days, Bai Cangshu made no rash moves. He began digging into this world’s intelligence bit by bit.

He rapidly skimmed through a motley collection of newspapers and magazines, extracting every piece of information he considered useful.

These records and articles were mixed with an enormous amount of useless and contradictory information. For instance, some claimed that the terrible tsunami two years ago had been caused by a massive island falling from the sky, while other reports said that it had originated from the aftermath of a battle between two terrifying powerhouses at sea.

There were inconsistencies regarding Enel’s appearance as well. Some believed that the Golden Ark descended from the sky one week after the tsunami, but others said that even before then, the sea had already been gripped by thunderstorms, with nearby merchant ships and pirate ships being destroyed.

Bai Cangshu was certain that these reports concealed some truth about the changes in this world. It was only that the people recording them were mere mortals, lacking a sufficiently elevated perspective to see the truth clearly.

Like nearby Mock Town, Skuld Island was not affiliated with the World Government. In fact, the town itself did not belong to any nation. God’s Country as it now stood was merely Enel’s own declaration.

This place had always existed in a state of anarchy, managed only by a self-organized clan of Public Order Officers.

When Bai Cangshu looked deeper into the matter, he discovered that the origins of Skuld Island’s residents were extremely mysterious. They had first settled on the island over four hundred years ago, and Skuld Island’s own historical records only went back that far.

From this, Bai Cangshu reached a conclusion.

The residents of Skuld Island had originally been mountain folk from Jaya Island four hundred years ago. When Jaya Island was pushed directly into the sky by the Knock Up Stream, its natives and kingdom had split apart.

Some people came to Skuld Island, reclaiming land and multiplying until they eventually formed an independent island. Because this sea region occasionally produced massive Knock Up Streams, they had escaped the ravages of war for four hundred years. They had not been ruled by other nations, nor had they been incorporated into the World Government’s territory.

"Mountain folk…"

Bai Cangshu’s hands turned into blurs as he quickly flipped through the newspapers and magazines again. He found another strange detail.

After the Sky Island fell, those Shandia warriors had vanished completely. Had Enel killed them all? Or had they become the ghosts now accompanying Corey…

The deeper Bai Cangshu dug, the more he felt that this world contained a major problem.

And the key to all these mysteries was likely connected to these ghosts and the complete disappearance of Alabasta’s population.

A reincarnator possessing some item or ability of terrifying power had activated it in this world, ultimately causing devastating destruction and changes. That person had likely gained enormous benefits before leaving, but the effects of that ability had continued to this day.

Moreover, Enel very likely knew what had happened back then. These ghosts remained around Eldorado, while Enel had also stayed on the island for two years in a most suspicious manner, never leaving.

Bai Cangshu raised his head. To unravel these mysteries, uncover the truth hidden within this world, and seize the greatest possible benefit, he still had to enter Eldorado.

But the thunderstorm sounds over the outer sea had long since vanished. Whether the Marine vice admirals had successfully retreated or died in battle, Enel had now lost his restraint.

Bai Cangshu’s gaze shifted. Watching the daylight fade beyond the window, he came up with an idea.

He rose and walked outside. Cindy, who had just returned with more newspapers, saw him and her eyes immediately lit up.

"Big guy, are you finally going to save Uncle Leo and the others?!"

Bai Cangshu glanced at the girl, who seemed incapable of sensing the gloom around her, and nodded. But then he added,

"I’m only bringing out their bodies. Those people can’t be saved."

Cindy lowered her head and wiped her eyes. When she looked up again, the big guy was already gone. She returned home and found that he had not eaten any of the food she had prepared. A smile quickly appeared on her face. Picking up an apple that was rotten on only one side, she took a huge bite.

With his sharp senses, Bai Cangshu quickly noticed the group quietly moving through the night as well.

The physical attributes of these elite Marines likely all exceeded ten points. With a hand on a wall, they effortlessly vaulted onto the rooftops of shops over three meters high.

Vergo barely bent his knees before appearing atop a shop. His face was cold, utterly unlike his usual muddled self.

Whoosh!

A faint whistle cut through the air. Without looking back, Vergo raised a hand and caught the stone shot at him from behind. He half turned and saw the young man from G51 Branch waving at him from two hundred meters away.

Vergo made a gesture, signaling his squad to hide where they were. He himself rapidly leaped across the rooftops and appeared before Bai Cangshu.

Bai Cangshu looked at the Marine vice admiral, whose body was packed with exceptionally hardened muscle. The man was very powerful, likely the strongest among Doflamingo’s family officers. His martial arts were formidable, and he was proficient in Armament Haki. He had once beaten Trafalgar Law so badly that Law could not fight back at all.

"Do you want to save Doflamingo?"

Vergo’s pupils contracted. Instinctively, he threw a punch at Bai Cangshu’s head.

Boom!

The air seemed to explode. Bai Cangshu tilted his head aside, yet the gust from the punch still sliced a tiny wound across his cheek. He did not get angry, merely smiling as he said,

"Vergo, don’t be so worked up. Our goals are the same."

Vergo leaned forward slightly, his entire body covered in Armament Haki. Looking at Bai Cangshu, he had already sentenced the man to death in his heart. No one who knew the secret between him and Doflamingo could be allowed to live.

But for now, he wanted to see what this man was plotting.

Bai Cangshu stroked his brow. The wound on his cheek instantly healed. Pretending not to feel the intense killing intent, he said,

"If you want to save Doflamingo, you should work with me. Otherwise, if you attack now, I wouldn’t mind shouting that man’s name."

There was an indifferent smile on Bai Cangshu’s face, but Vergo loosened his fist. He could sense that the man before him was weaker than he was, yet he could not be certain that he could kill him before he called out that name.

If that man appeared, he would likely lose any chance of rescuing the young master.

"What do you want to do?"

Vergo’s face remained cold, his voice low.

Bai Cangshu shrugged and said,

"Didn’t I say it already? I want to take a look inside the temple and Eldorado, but I need someone to lure that guy away."

"In return, I can find evidence convincing enough to make the higher-ups believe Eldorado truly exists, and I can rescue Doflamingo while I’m at it—if he’s still alive…"

Vergo’s expression darkened, but Bai Cangshu continued.

"Actually, that guy may be powerful, but his personality really does have a weakness."

"He cares too much about whether others respect him. That’s why whenever someone mentions his name or says something bad about him, he gets distracted and goes to deal with it. Whether he bombards them from afar or heads out personally, he never considers whether he’s being lured away from his base…"

In Bai Cangshu’s view, Enel’s arrogant nature carried many hidden dangers. Unfortunately, the difference in strength between them was simply too great. Without mastering Haki, Bai Cangshu could only rely on energy attacks like the Dodon Ray to fight Enel.

But how could a single type of energy attack compare to a monster who could command lightning at will?

Whether in mobility, perception, or destructive power, Enel overwhelmingly surpassed Bai Cangshu.

Furthermore, Enel’s fighting style was poorly suited against Bai Cangshu, who relied heavily on close-range martial combat. Judging from Chaton’s battle with Enel, Enel had already developed his own combat pattern.

He was no longer fixated on half-baked Golden transmutation martial arts. Instead, he relied on his abilities for rapid movement, constantly maintaining a distance advantage while launching wide-range attacks.

In his current form, Bai Cangshu had no particularly effective means of combat.

Vergo remained silent for a long while before finally nodding. He understood Bai Cangshu’s meaning. This man likely wanted his squad to spread information in different places, distracting Enel and ultimately luring him away.

Vergo agreed because he too realized that he would have to sacrifice his subordinates if he wanted a chance to confirm the young master’s safety before the Marines launched a full-scale assault.

Soon after, Bai Cangshu saw the elite Marines of G5 Branch scatter in all directions and begin using communication devices to contact the outside world.

Bolts of lightning appeared one after another, accompanied by bursts of terrifying laughter. Enel left the temple.

Bai Cangshu watched Vergo become a blur as he entered the temple in an instant. The large dog, Holy, did not even have time to bark before Vergo knocked it down.

A strange smile appeared on Bai Cangshu’s face as he watched. Then he took out a High-Explosive Grenade, aimed briefly, and casually threw it.

Of course, he knew Vergo did not trust him and would enter the temple himself to search for Doflamingo.

But Bai Cangshu had never truly set his sights on the temple.

He simply needed a sufficiently powerful fighter to genuinely draw Enel’s attention.

Boom!

Before the explosion occurred, Bai Cangshu had already cut down three pillars and carried three corpses away from the plaza in front of the temple.

The violent explosion at the temple entrance instantly drew Enel’s attention. A flash of electricity appeared, followed by another explosion.

After tossing the three corpses behind the White District, Bai Cangshu rapidly concealed his breath and pulse and slipped into the mountains.

This time, he had to see the truth hidden within Eldorado.

Bai Cangshu moved with incredible speed, repeatedly gliding with the Rakshasa Ghost’s ability. Within a few breaths, he arrived at the Eldorado ruins he had seen last time.

Vast golden buildings turned the torchlit valley into a glittering sea of gold.

Several winged Skypieans patrolled with weapons fitted with special shells.

But Bai Cangshu was like a ghost, moving entirely through their blind spots and slipping inside without a sound.

Behind the Eldorado ruins, he followed the torches and advanced rapidly inward.

He made no sound as he walked. Under his control, even his breathing and heartbeat had completely vanished. If not for the shifting shadow cast by the torchlight, he would have seemed like a ghost that did not exist.

Crack!

The moment muffled thunder exploded, Bai Cangshu also flashed out from the shadows. His hand chopped repeatedly, and several members of God’s Guard patrolling this area fell instantly.

He crossed the long golden passageway, already realizing something was wrong. Logically speaking, Eldorado, which had fallen from the sky, should not have remained so intact. Could Enel have reforged Eldorado?

Was there any need for Enel to do that?

Soon, the explosions from the temple began to weaken. Unsure whether Vergo had already been defeated, Bai Cangshu quickened his pace. At last, he emerged from the passageway and discovered an enormous plaza made of gold.

At its center stood a pyramid, a pyramid literally made of gold.

The commander of God’s Guard, dressed in white robes, leaned against the base of the pyramid. What made Bai Cangshu feel strange was that the man’s hands and feet were all bound by golden chains, which secured him beneath the pyramid.

As though sensing Bai Cangshu’s approach, the Skypiean with two enormous white wings on his back opened his eyes.

Bai Cangshu’s pupils contracted. The man’s eyeballs were completely black, without any visible whites.

"You’ve come…"

"Guts, I sensed your presence…"

Guts?!

A flash of insight crossed Bai Cangshu’s mind, but before he could confirm anything, the man slowly rose, dragging his chains. Only then did Bai Cangshu see that the Skypiean’s lower body was no longer human at all. Four thick brown limbs extended from beneath his white robe.

Bound by the golden chains, the creature could not move very far forward. It merely swayed two steps before the pyramid.

"Old friend, will your dead soul still not rest?"

"Then come and kill me. Only by killing me can you find peace!"

The next moment, the man in white suddenly grabbed his own left arm with his right hand and tore hard. An arm was ripped clean off. As his muscles shifted, Bai Cangshu saw that they too were completely unlike those of a human.

Then, holding that severed arm, he hurled it fiercely toward Bai Cangshu.

Bai Cangshu lightly dodged aside.

Smack!

The arm smashed against the gold. Dark blood flowed out, and a black aura began to spread.

You have suffered erosion from the Netherworld. A Spirit check is being made...

Check passed. You are immune to this instance of erosion.

Crack!

Blue lightning flashed in the sky. Bai Cangshu’s scalp prickled. He immediately threw every High-Explosive Grenade in his Backpack at the pyramid, then turned and activated Instant, sprinting straight for the passageway.

The last sounds he heard were the white-robed man’s wild laughter and Enel’s furious roar.

"Evil creature, you cannot escape!"

Enel’s voice was like thunder. He transformed directly into lightning, seized the entire bundle of High-Explosive Grenades, and instantly flew into the sky before the explosion erupted.

Bai Cangshu also vanished at once amid the presence of God’s Guard.