-Real World-
The revelation that a Pure Land existed—an afterlife realm where departed souls could reunite with lost loved ones—brought unexpected comfort to audiences watching the Sky Screen worldwide.
Despite the tragedy of Trafalgar Law's death, witnessing his reunion with Corazon had been... beautiful. Heartbreaking but beautiful. The way they'd finally expressed feelings hidden for decades, confessions only possible under the certainty of eternal separation.
Perhaps it is only when confronted with a farewell that lasts forever that people finally let go of their reservations, the audience thought. Only then do we dare to speak of love openly, without fear of being vulnerable.
The Heart Pirates had surfaced their submarine to watch the broadcast more clearly. The Polar Tang floated on calm seas, crew gathered on deck to breathe fresh air while absorbing the Sky Screen's revelations.
Fresh air made most crew members feel at ease.
Their captain was the sole exception.
Trafalgar Law stood apart from his crew, gripping Kikoku's hilt with white-knuckled intensity. Sadness radiated from his posture—shoulders hunched, head bowed, utterly unable to hide his emotional turmoil.
The memories of his broadcast-death kept attacking his mind. Corazon's voice. Corazon's smile. Especially that final scene—his benefactor lying alone in infinite white void, whispering "Alone again... I'm alone again..."
The image was unforgettable. Seared into Law's consciousness like a brand.
"Mr. Corazon," Law murmured, his voice barely audible. "Is death the only way I can see you again?"
The words—spoken to no one, addressed to memory—made every crew member freeze.
Their captain's hand shifted on Kikoku's hilt. The gesture was small. Subtle. But terrifyingly familiar to anyone who knew swordsmen's body language.
He's preparing to draw, Bepo realized with horror. He's going to—
The white bear moved first, tackling Law from behind in a desperate embrace. His massive arms locked around his captain's torso, preventing any attempt to unsheathe the blade.
"Captain, NO!"
The other crew members surged forward immediately, surrounding Law in a protective circle. Penguin grabbed his shoulders. Shachi gripped his arms. Everyone pressed close, forming a living barrier between their captain and self-destruction.
Law had been in terrible emotional condition for days. The Sky Screen's revelations about Doflamingo, about Lami, about his future death—all of it had been steadily eroding his mental state.
The probability of him doing something catastrophically stupid was approaching certainty.
"Captain, please don't abandon us!" Penguin's voice cracked with emotion.
"How can we survive without you?!" Shachi added desperately.
"The devil Doflamingo isn't even dead yet!" Bepo squeezed tighter. "You don't have to rush to see Mr. Corazon!"
Looking at his crew's panicked expressions, Trafalgar Law could only manage a helpless, bitter smile.
My behavior these past days really made them misunderstand.
The oppressive atmosphere. The constant brooding. The melancholy staring at Kikoku. Under that accumulating evidence, they'd naturally concluded he was contemplating suicide.
But the assumption was absurd if you actually thought about it.
Law was a carnivore driven by revenge. A predator who'd dedicated his entire adult life to hunting one specific prey. As long as Doflamingo drew breath, Law would maintain his own usefulness. Would continue living, planning, preparing for the perfect moment to settle accounts.
His five-year-future self shown on the Sky Screen had failed through insufficient planning and overwhelming power differential. Law wouldn't repeat those mistakes.
"Let me go," he said calmly, though muffled by Bepo's fur. "I'm dying of heat. You're overthinking everything." He pushed against their grip without real force. "I don't want to die. As long as Doflamingo exists, I'll live forever. I intend to witness the Heavenly Yaksha's defeat with my own eyes."
His voice carried absolute determination—the kind of conviction that couldn't be faked.
The crew members gradually loosened their holds, recognizing genuine intent rather than suicidal ideation.
"I've been analyzing our situation," Law continued, finally freed from their protective embrace. "Our pirate crew is too weak currently. We'll be even less capable in the turbulent conditions five years from now."
The Sky Screen had shown him as a Shichibukai. Had demonstrated his Ope Ope no Mi (Op-Op Fruit) Awakening. Had revealed five years of growth and training.
And he'd still failed to defeat Doflamingo directly.
"I need stronger allies," Law concluded. "When everyone adds fuel to the fire, flames burn brighter. I don't believe the Heavenly Yaksha has countless lives to spare."
Yonko-level pirates wouldn't form alliances with rookies—that much was obvious. Law understood he could only pursue partnerships with fellow Supernovas, pirates from his own generation who'd achieve comparable strength over the coming years.
The strategy was clear: reach Sabaody Archipelago quickly and wait at the Grand Line's dividing point for suitable allies to arrive.
Monkey D. Luffy was priority number one. The Straw Hat's character—shown extensively through the Sky Screen—was reliable in ways exceptionally rare among pirates. He kept promises. Protected friends. Fought for ideals rather than pure self-interest.
And five years hence, each Straw Hat crew member would be formidable individually. Together they'd be devastating.
That's the pirate group I need, Law thought with certainty.
"Listen up!" Law's voice carried command authority that made his crew snap to attention. "New objective: We sail for Sabaody Archipelago immediately. We'll wait for incoming pirate crews and secure an alliance with the Straw Hat Pirates at minimum. Other trustworthy pirates can be recruited as well."
He paused, letting the gravity settle.
"But there's only one ultimate goal: completely kill Donquixote Doflamingo and eradicate this scourge from the world!"
In Trafalgar Law's assessment, Doflamingo wasn't invincible. The Sky Screen had shown his strength as upper-tier Shichibukai level—dangerous certainly, but not insurmountable with proper preparation.
The mystery was why his power had increased so dramatically over five years. Law couldn't figure it out no matter how much he analyzed. Even Doflamingo himself probably didn't understand the reason.
But that's a problem for future-me, Law decided. Present-me needs to build the foundation.
The crew was nodding, absorbing the new mission parameters, preparing to discuss logistics—
The Polar Tang suddenly lurched.
Not from waves. Not from engine malfunction. The submarine—designed specifically for diving—began rising despite all controls indicating neutral buoyancy.
"What the—?!" Penguin grabbed the railing as the deck tilted. "We're ascending! Why are we ascending?!"
Everyone experienced the same phenomenon simultaneously. An invisible force pulled them upward, lifting both crew and vessel away from the ocean surface against all physical laws.
This is an attack, Law realized instantly. Unknown enemy. High-level ability user.
To protect his crew, he activated his Devil Fruit immediately.
"ROOM!"
The Ope Ope no Mi's barrier manifested—a translucent sphere expanding to encompass all crew members and the Polar Tang itself. Law intended to teleport everyone together, escape this danger zone before the enemy could capitalize on their vulnerability.
But he'd underestimated his opponent's strength catastrophically.
Even within the ROOM barrier, the upward force didn't decrease. Instead, it intensified—multiplying tenfold, a hundredfold, becoming irresistible through sheer overwhelming magnitude.
Law had no time to execute the teleportation technique. He and his companions were yanked skyward like fish on a line, weak prey utterly unable to resist a predator's pull.
When vision returned, the entire Heart Pirates crew found themselves standing on an unfamiliar deck.
Not just any ship. A flying ship—floating thousands of feet above the ocean without visible means of support. The spectacle was unlike anything these young pirates had ever witnessed.
The man responsible for their abduction stood before them, arms crossed, radiating casual dominance.
His golden hair reached the ground like a lion's mane—wild, untamed, magnificent. His sideburns, beard, and eyebrows shared the same golden hue, giving him an almost leonine appearance. But the most striking feature was the wooden structure embedded in his skull—a ship's rudder, driven deep into his head and protruding like a grotesque crown.
"Law," the man said, his voice carrying the weight of decades. "I'm an old relic from previous eras. A young upstart like you who's barely left port probably doesn't know me."
He grinned—showing teeth like a predator sizing up prey.
"Let me introduce myself properly. I am Shiki the Golden Lion. I was terrorizing these seas before you were even born."
Recognition struck Law like a physical blow.
Golden Lion Shiki. Captain of the Flying Pirates. Contemporary of Whitebeard and Gol D. Roger.
A legendary pirate who'd disappeared decades ago. Most people assumed he'd died of old age somewhere remote and forgotten.
Apparently, the Marines' hopes had been disappointed.
Not only was Shiki alive—he'd regained his former ambition. The three colors of Haki had been restored under the Sky Screen's stimulation, returning power that age and injury had diminished.
Currently, the Golden Lion had only one weakness: the rudder embedded in his skull. That's why he'd forcibly recruited the Heart Pirates.
He needed the Ope Ope no Mi's surgical capabilities to remove the obstruction painlessly. Once that chronic pain was eliminated, he could return to the seas and reclaim his legendary status.
If the Sky Screen hadn't exposed the Ope Ope no Mi's existence, Shiki thought with dark amusement, I'd have continued my plan to destroy the East Blue. But now that treatment is available...
Destroying Gol D. Roger's birthplace seemed pointless compared to supporting genuine ambition. The Pirate King's hometown could wait.
Law swallowed reflexively, feeling the terrifying aura radiating from the old monster before him.
He knew—with absolute certainty—that he was completely outmatched. This antique from the old era could crush him effortlessly.
But Shiki clearly wanted something. The rudder protruding from his skull was impossible to miss. The man needed a doctor. Needed surgical expertise.
And after being baptized by the Sky Screen's revelations, Trafalgar Law had already concluded something important: he didn't actually mind joining powerful pirate forces.
Clinging to strong allies would improve his odds against Doflamingo exponentially. He was willing to do anything to achieve that goal.
I could be a dog for the Marines if necessary, Law thought pragmatically. So why not for pirates? The latter have fewer rules and regulations. More freedom. Less moral hypocrisy.
The blonde man standing before him—legendary pirate, contemporary of Roger himself—was absolutely worth a major investment.
And Law had always been excellent at judging people.