Genetic Modification

While listening to the movements around him, Wang Gao pondered how to solve the problem of the experimental subjects.

Suddenly, his eyes flashed. Looking at the feeding trough by the fence, he wore a thoughtful expression. Perhaps he could find a solution by looking at that food.

Quantum Computing instantly diverted a portion of its processing power to analyze the possibilities. Half an hour later, a preliminary solution was reached.

However, the premise for all of this depended on the analysis of that mushy food; only then could the success of this plan be determined.

With a solution in hand, Wang Gao immediately entered a dormant state, suppressing his bodily functions to the absolute minimum. Of course, his Super Hearing still maintained a monitoring range of 500 meters.

Four days later.

It was the same two jailers, One-Eye and the Bearded Man, who came to distribute the food.

Crawling to the edge of the trough, Wang Gao stared at the puddle of yellowish-brown mush. A hint of a smile appeared on his lowered head.

Just moments ago, while using Observation Haki for microscopic observation, he had discovered the genes of two organisms.

One of them was likely a plant similar to the rice family, which could be analyzed through the individual husked rice grains within the mush.

The other was likely an algal organism, as there were fragments similar to kelp in the mush, as well as sodium alginate, which was also the main component that gave the mush its form.

He was grateful for the shoddy preparation of the Impel Down cafeteria, which had allowed the gene sequences of these two organisms to remain largely intact.

According to the heat resistance of biological genes on Blue Star, double strands usually split into single strands at around 90 to 95 degrees Celsius, while single-strand genes require high temperatures above 200 degrees Celsius to further degrade.

However, the biological genes of the One Piece world clearly had higher heat resistance; after all, the first trial for prisoners entering Impel Down was a "baptism" of soaking in 100-degree Celsius boiling water.

Coupled with the shoddy preparation of the Impel Down cafeteria, the processing of this mush was likely just a casual boil in water—it was only for prisoners to eat, after all.

After consuming the mush, the gene chains of the two organisms were recorded by Wang Gao, waiting for the surroundings to quiet down.

He began to prepare for the experiment.

Chain—Reverse Transcription!

After the ability was activated, a small patch of dead skin on his arm was transformed into the cells of that algae, as if a piece of kelp had grown out of his body.

A moment later, the moisture within the cells of this small piece of yellowish-brown kelp rapidly evaporated. Clearly, this was caused by the high-temperature, arid environment of Hunger Hell.

This was no surprise; everything was within Wang Gao's expectations.

He activated the ability again.

Chain—Reverse Transcription.

Next to that small piece of kelp, another patch of dead skin was transformed into a rice seedling. The rice seedling also could not withstand the harsh environment of Hunger Hell.

However, Wang Gao knew that drought-resistant genes existed within the gene sequence of rice. He rapidly activated the genes of the rice seedling one by one.

The rice seedling kept changing on his arm.

Not this one... and not this one either.

Found it!

With the activation of the drought-resistant gene, the rice seedling regained a sliver of vitality, though without a water supply, it would perish sooner or later.

But Wang Gao was not disappointed.

Activate Aerial Root Gene, activate Lignification Gene, introduce the Algae-type Chloroplast Gene from the seaweed genome, introduce the Sodium Alginate Production Gene...

Through complex transgenic modification, it took two days for Wang Gao to complete the genetic engineering of this new species.

A creature named the Drought Algae Vine began to be deployed by Wang Gao within his cell, silently spreading out into the corridor.

The Drought Algae Vine was extremely resistant to drought and high temperatures, possessed environmental camouflage, could absorb minute water molecules from the air, grew rapidly under both weak and strong light, and had a surface of hard, transparent lignified tissue.

Utilizing its powerful roots, it took hold in the cracks between the floor tiles of the cell and the corridor, camouflaging itself as the cement filling the gaps, and used the corridor lights to perform photosynthesis.

However, the Drought Algae Vine could also grow leaves. It just didn't use this ability on the corridor floor; Wang Gao only allowed the vine to grow leaves inside his own cell and some vacant ones.

The leaves of the Drought Algae Vine also had a transparent lignified surface, protecting the color-changing chloroplasts in the inner layer. When spread across the ground, they were nearly indistinguishable from stone slabs.

As for why he created the Drought Algae Vine, the reason was for food and water. With the replenishment of food and water, Wang Gao's physical strength could be restored to its maximum, rather than remaining in his current state of starvation.

By connecting to the Drought Algae Vine, a steady stream of nutrients and water converged into his body. His malnourished body, having suffered for years, gradually regained its strength, as if a long drought had finally met a sweet rain.

Of course, he had also thought of a way to escape the cell, and it was already in progress.

In the rock wall behind him, the Drought Algae Vine was slowly disintegrating the stone. The destructive power of plant roots against rock might seem insignificant, but over time, it was enough to alter the terrain.

What's more, this was a genetically modified organism. Wang Gao had even added a portion of his own genes into the Drought Algae Vine's genome, such as the gene for producing gastric acid.

He had carefully observed the rock wall behind his cell using Observation Haki. It was a rock strata 18 to 30 meters thick. This stretch of rock ran directly through several levels of Impel Down, and it should eventually lead to the Infinite Hell on Level 6.

However, while digging was one thing, he had to be careful. Impel Down didn't just have guards on the surface; there might also be members of the Revolutionary Army.

That's right, members of the Revolutionary Army.

One must know that the hidden Level 5.5, located between Level 5 and Level 6 of Impel Down, was dug out by the giant Morley.

It was dug over a hundred years ago, meaning Level 5.5 had existed for at least a century, and the giant Morley was one of the commanders of the Revolutionary Army.

Of course, Wang Gao didn't even know if the Revolutionary Army had been established at this time. He didn't know if Dragon had recruited that giant yet. If he had, the high-ranking members of the Revolutionary Army would certainly already know the secret of Level 5.5.

However, according to the information he possessed, the Okama King Ivankov intentionally entered Impel Down around the year 1510 of the Grand Line Era.

If this information was true, then Dragon must have recruited the giant Morley around 1509, and subsequently learned of the existence of Level 5.5 and an underwater tunnel that allowed for free entry and exit from Impel Down.

It was 1498. The probability of Jasmine encountering Dragon was low; after all, Monkey D. Luffy was still in a liquid state, and Dragon was likely still in the Navy.

Even so, Wang Gao did not let his guard down. Even though he knew about the hidden secret passages and Level 5.5, if he became too complacent and happened to run into Dragon or others from the Revolutionary Army, he might very well be silenced.

He was a brain-eater, not a muscle-headed brute.

In the dull and monotonous life of the prison, Wang Gao remained calm on the surface, while secretly conducting genetic experiments and digging tunnels.

Meanwhile, the Drought Algae Vine continued to spread through the crevices in the corridor, during which it discovered several surveillance Den Den Mushi.

He casually collected the genes from the Den Den Mushi. He was very interested in this special creature. After studying the Den Den Mushi genes, he further enriched his gene bank. At the same time, he gained the abilities of the Den Den Mushi, including intercepting communications, sending and receiving communication waves, and creating Den Den Mushi or surveillance organs.

With the abilities of the Den Den Mushi, Wang Gao's capabilities were further strengthened.

Previously, he had to be physically connected to control the Drought Algae Vine, but now he could detach it and achieve remote control.

Of course, if he chose remote control, he could no longer transmit nutrients and moisture. At the same time, he had to ensure that the genetically engineered creatures possessed a certain level of basic intelligence; otherwise, they could only follow fixed, rigid instructions.

Thank you all (ω｀) for your support!