Two years passed after that conversation between Law and Wolf — a conversation that strengthened their bond, like that of a father and son… or a teacher and his student.
It was now the year 2015.
Law stood at the edge of a mountain cliff, gazing at the endless sea below. The wind tugged at his black, spotted hat, while his coat fluttered quietly behind him.
Over these two years, he had changed greatly — not only in body, but in his eyes. The childish naivety was gone. In its place remained calm determination.
So… two years have passed, he thought.
I'm seventeen now. In two months, I'll turn eighteen. It's time to head out to sea.
He had grown taller — now nearly 190 centimeters — and his body had become stronger, more solid. But his physical growth wasn't the only change. His mastery over the Ope Ope no Mi had improved tremendously.
He had learned to wield both a sword and firearms with precision, even combining them with his Devil Fruit abilities.
First of all, the ROOM's radius had expanded by six meters. He could push it even further now, though doing so drained far more stamina.
His control over techniques had sharpened:
Shambles, used continuously without pause
Takt, lifting and manipulating heavy objects
Amputate, cutting bodies without killing
He had also greatly refined Scalpel, now able to freely adjust its size — shrinking it to something as thin as a butter knife or enlarging it to the length of a sword. It became one of his greatest trump cards, though it demanded extreme endurance.
On top of that, Law had begun incorporating electricity into his combat style. He even developed a new technique — combining electricity with his sword, firearms, and even ROOM itself.
He hadn't neglected Curtain either. What was once a simple barrier could now cover his entire body like armor, or be applied selectively — such as coating one arm like a gauntlet. When combined with electricity, it became a terrifying close-combat technique.
He had also discovered new abilities:
Scan, allowing him to analyze objects and bodies inside ROOM — useful for detecting diseases or severe internal injuries
And one of the most dangerous techniques of the Ope Ope no Mi: Mes, the extraction of a person's heart
Wolf had taught him everything he knew — navigation, survival, and how to handle extreme weather at sea.
That was everything Law had achieved over the past two years.
As for his future crew, at Wolf's request, Law gave Shachi and Penguin a chance. He personally trained them and even took them hunting with him.
Their strength grew remarkably. They learned to use weapons:
Shachi wielded a sword
Penguin mastered a spear
They were no longer frightened street kids. They had become fighters — not perfect, but real.
They also excelled in mechanics, serving as Wolf's main assistants while he built the Polar Tang. Thanks to that, all of them learned how to repair and maintain the submarine in case of damage.
They now followed Law's orders without hesitation.
As for Bepo — over these two years, he had grown much stronger. Still kind and innocent, but now capable of defending himself. His punches had become terrifyingly powerful.
Law once decided to test their growth. He sent Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin into the forest while observing from afar, ready to step in if things went wrong.
A massive wolf attacked Shachi and Penguin.
Without hesitation, Bepo rushed forward and struck the wolf square in the jaw — sending the beast flying several meters away.
Law's eyes widened.
That thing went airborne… from pure physical strength alone.
Even he couldn't do that without using his abilities.
Law exhaled slowly and turned his gaze away from the sea. He walked down the path leading to Wolf-san's house.
As usual, the yard was noisy.
Shachi trained shirtless, delivering fast, precise strikes to a wooden dummy. His movements were no longer rough — they had rhythm and technique. Sweat dripped down his face, but he didn't stop.
Nearby, Penguin practiced with his spear. He was less aggressive than Shachi, but far more cautious. Every thrust was calculated, as if facing a real opponent.
— Don't lower your spear after striking, — Law said calmly as he passed by. — That gets you killed in real combat.
Penguin stiffened, then straightened his posture.
— Got it, Law.
Shachi smirked.
— Still a strict captain, huh?
Law shot him a brief glance.
— And you still talk too much.
Shachi laughed — but continued training in silence.
Inside the house, Law found Wolf busy with his usual work.
Wolf looked up and smiled.
— Hey, Law. How are you? Something wrong?
Law nodded.
— Wolf-san… may I speak with you privately?
Wolf said nothing, simply walking into another room. Law followed.
Once inside, Wolf spoke first.
— So, tell me. What is it?
Law hesitated for a moment, then spoke firmly.
— Wolf-san… thank you for everything you've done for us. In two months, my friends and I will set sail.
Wolf's smile slowly faded.
So… the time has come, he thought.
Law continued.
— Wolf-san… may I take the Polar Tang with me? I know it was your dream—
He was interrupted by Wolf's gentle laughter.
— Law, you can take it. You know I'm too old now to chase the sea. I built the Polar Tang out of passion… and besides—
Wolf smiled warmly.
— It was always meant to be your birthday gift.
Law said nothing. He simply stepped forward and embraced him.
— Thank you… truly, Wolf-san. For coming into my life.
That evening, the whole group gathered around the table. The atmosphere was calm — almost like a family dinner. No one spoke of the sea aloud, but everyone felt it.
Law looked at them and thought:
Two more months…
Then I'll sail.
And the world will learn the name —
Trafalgar D. Water Law.
The view slowly pulled away:
A house in the mountains, warm lights glowing inside.
Nearby — the silhouette of a massive submarine.
And beyond the horizon — the endless sea, filled with danger…
and destiny.
Thus ends Volume One.
And the real story begins.