One Piece: Holy Knights of God Explained

The Knights of God are the Elbaph Arc’s main antagonistic group, serving as Imu’s direct enforcers with demonic powers that surpass even the limits of the established One Piece power system.

Made up of Celestial Dragons themselves, the Knights of God acts as the highest military force of the World Government, serving directly under Imu and the Five Elders as enforcers of the law within Celestial Dragon society.

Prioritizing the protection of Celestial Dragons, they do not answer to the Marines or Cipher Pol but are given the sole authority to arrest, punish and execute any Celestial Dragons that commit crimes against their class.

Hierarchy

As of Chapter 1160: “The God Valley Incident”, there are three known ranks in the order: the Supreme Commander (Figarland Garling), a Commander (Figarland Shamrock) and Devoted Blades of God (Manmayer Gunko, Harald and Figarland Shanks before he left), who serve as subordinates that are outside the main hierarchy of the Knights of God.

Generations

There were at least two generations of Knights of God.

From the God Valley Incident until Harald’s death:

Figarland Garling was Supreme Commander of the order, with Shepherd Sommers, Satchels Maffey, a Manmeyer woman and three other unnamed members (a blonde woman, a man with a deer mask and a furry creature), totalling to seven out of the Eight chosen ones.

Midway, his son Shamrock would be a full-fledged Knight of God by the time Shanks returned 15 years ago to quickly climb to the ranks as a Devoted Blade of God, increasing the total to eight, assuming the members above outside Sommers still serve the order.

Harald would also eventually become a Holy Knight himself prior to his death 14 years ago, increasing the total to nine.

As thirteen individuals can hold Covenants at a time, there are only Eight Holy Knights and Five Elders.

Given that there could only be Thirteen total Chosen Ones, it is likely one of the previous generation had passed away or been replaced.

We no longer see the Manmeyer woman, Maffey or the three nameless members but some of them were present during Shanks’ childhood as confirmed in Chapter 1170: “Contrary”.

In the current generation, Garling would transition from Supreme Commander to Elder Star in recent days, with his son Shamrock as a Commander, Sommers still retaining his position from 38 years ago, Gunko having been promoted from Devoted Blade to Knight of God between the God Valley Incident to the present day and Rimoshifu Killingham as a newcomer.

Abilities

The Knights of God are a deeper, inner circle in the World Government than Cipher Pol, who exist to spy on other countries, make secret deals and sabotage lower realm governments.

Rather, the Knights of God are a limited number, select and loyal servants of Imu who completely obey his commands to carry out secrets not even Cipher Pol are permitted access.

Each member of the Knights of God and the Five Elders are granted either of two Covenants, the Depths Covenant and the Abyssal Covenant, for a total of Thirteen Covenants to Thirteen Chosen Ones.

Devoted Blades of God only receive the first Covenant, the Shallows Covenant, which only grants limited telepathic connection to Imu, the Great One, likely within the Holy Land’s range, as Shanks and Harald managed to meet at sea.

The Depth Covenant grants immortal bodies in exchange for a portion of their lifespans and Imu having access to their bodies, which is why Shanks left the Order on the day he was promoted.

Through Harald being Shanks’ replacement in Chapter 1169: “My Death Cannot Come Soon Enough”, we learn that the Depths Covenant changes the bearer into a person with a god complex, much like Imu and the Celestial Dragons, creating a more subtle form of brainwashing than when Imu possesses Demons and the bodies of Holy Knights and Elders directly.

Meanwhile, the Abyssal Covenant gives the same Holy Knight immortality and access to Abyss but also grants

While the Five Elders have received the Abyssal Covenant, it is also possible for some Knights of God to receive this highest Covenant as well.

Because of the connection between both Covenants and the need for public figureheads, it is likely that the Five Elders were Holy Knights first and then were promoted with the Abyssal Covenant.

Immortality

According to Jaguar D. Saul, each of the Knights of God are made immortality thanks to most of them receiving the Depths Covenant.

This allows each member to regenerate quickly from any injury and even an insensibility to pain, making them invulnerable to any damage.

However, this immortality has one shortcoming in the form of Conqueror’s Haki, which disables their regeneration yet prevents them from dying.

Even when decapitated, their heads are still able to talk, as shown with Gunko, Sommers and Garling.

Furthermore, they will still regenerate some time after being struck by Haki.

Since Imu is the source of their immortality, Imu has the ability to cancel or outright kill the immortal Knights from afar, as shown when Jaygarcia Saturn was struck down by Imu for failing to kill Joy Boy.

Abyss

The Abyss is a portal that is planted permanently on the ground as a marker for teleportation that only the Chosen Ones can enter or exit from.

Harald was able to construct an Abyss on the floor of the Aurust Castle throne room immediately upon his promotion to full Holy Knight, which is how Shamrock and Gunko entered Elbaph in Chapter 1134: “The Owl Library”, 14 years after Harald’s death.

The God Complex: Changes In Persona

As shown with Harald in Chapter 1168: “The Snows of Elbaph”, receiving the Depths Covenant alters the personhood of the bearer, from their old personality to one that is loyal to Imu while perceiving themselves as higher lifeforms.

There are similarities to Domi Reversi, where Dorry and Brogy expressed their delight in becoming stronger but Domi Reversi seems to give Imu full control while the Covenants warp the personalities to suit Imu rather than Imu directly piloting them as pawns.

Gunko seems to follow the same pattern, except that she has lost her memories of her time as a princess in Brook’s Kingdom, as shown in Chapter 1173: “Generation of Warriors”.

However, both cases have also shown momentary restoration, as Gunko had been freed twice because of her memories being stirred and in Chapter 1170: “Contrary”, Harald willed himself after a long battle with Loki so that his son could finish him off.

This also explains how Imu is able to easily possess any of them as vessels, as shown with Gunko and Jaygarcia Saturn, meaning any of the Thirteen Chosen Ones could be vessels.

Pieces of Imu

This immortality was revealed in Chapter 1171: “Ragnir” to be from the fact that Imu had given pieces of themselves to the Thirteen Chosen Ones.

Each time a Holy Knight is felled, Imu receives damage to themself.

The same cannot be said when Imu is the one who strips a Chosen One of immortality, as shown with Saturn in Chapter 1125: “What Death Means”.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE ANIME EXPLAINED WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!