Beast Hell

Seven feeding cycles had passed since Wang Gao arrived in this world, which amounted to approximately 35 days.

Out on the vast ocean, the Pirate King Roger should have met his end a month ago. The date of Roger's execution was roughly May or June of the year 1498 of the Grand Line Era.

Wang Gao calculated this based on Ace's birthday (January 1, 1500, Grand Line Era), knowing that Portgas D. Rouge had carried Ace for 20 months.

This meant that in April of 1498, Roger was definitely still in the South Blue. He only left for the Grand Line to surrender to the Marines after confirming that Rouge was indeed pregnant.

According to intelligence Wang Gao obtained by monitoring the internal communications of Impel Down, the date of Roger's execution was June 13, while the Golden Lion had been imprisoned on June 8.

After 35 days, it was now July 13.

At this moment, the Drought Algae Vine controlled by Wang Gao had already spread from Hunger Hell on the third level to Beast Hell on the second level.

Compared to Hunger Hell, the environment in Beast Hell was much friendlier, allowing the Drought Algae Vine to produce more nutrients and water.

Furthermore, Beast Hell was home to many interesting creatures, such as the "Sea Fighter" Blue Gorillas, Small Hippos, Giant Mantises, Combined Scorpions, Sphinxes, and Snake Chickens.

Of course, in the Scorching Hell on the fourth level, there were also five "Devil Fruit Awakened" Jailer Beasts, which were equally valuable for research.

However, Wang Gao was extremely wary of the fourth level because that was where the Warden's office was located. The current Warden, Columbus, Vice Warden Magellan, and Chief Guard Shiryu of the Rain frequently operated there.

Wang Gao did not want to easily test the strength of Columbus, whose abilities remained unknown.

Moreover, the Jailer Beasts were not fixed to the fourth level; based on his observations, the Cow and Rhinoceros often went to Beast Hell to stand guard.

Additionally, the prisoners on the second level were frequently attacked by Jailer Beasts or other monsters, which provided great convenience for his operation to collect genetic samples.

At the same time, he manipulated the Drought Algae Vine to spread toward Crimson Hell along the central void between Beast Hell and Crimson Hell.

He successfully obtained the genes of two special plants: the Sword Tree and the Needle Grass.

Collecting the genes of the Sword Tree and Needle Grass enriched Wang Gao's gene bank. After integrating parts of these plants' genes into the Drought Algae Vine, the vine, which previously only had a few initial versions, received a comprehensive enhancement.

Several new forms were derived: Drought Algae Vine-Vine Needle, Drought Algae Vine-Thorn, Drought Algae Vine-Sharp Blade, Drought Algae Vine-Shield Tunneling Machine, and Drought Algae Vine-Meat Grinder.

For example, the Drought Algae Vine-Vine Needle could not only thrust like a spear but also fire its needle tips.

As for the Drought Algae Vine-Shield Tunneling Machine, Wang Gao had only experimented with it and had not put it into use, because Hunger Hell was too quiet; the sound of the tunneling machine breaking through rock was too loud, and using it would surely expose him.

After more than a month of corrosive excavation, the rock wall behind him had been hollowed out into a cavity about 2 meters in diameter and 3.4 meters deep.

As for the excavated earth and stone, some were used as nutrients for the Drought Algae Vine, while the rest were camouflaged as the inner rock wall of the cell.

After all, these cells typically measured 5–10 meters in width, 5–10 meters in length, and 3–10 meters in height, with some being even larger.

Wang Gao stood at 2.73 meters tall, which was only average height in this world, so his cell was of medium size.

The 2-meter-diameter tunnel he had excavated was not actually a problem, as he could now actively adjust his body size—becoming larger or smaller—thanks to the Chain-Chain Fruit.

To avoid any accidents, Wang Gao's true body had already entered the tunnel, while the rock walls were covered with a layer of lignified camouflage made from the leaves of the Drought Algae Vine.

The "Wang Gao" currently wearing shackles in the cell was merely a clone he had created.

He had the genes of the Den Den Mushi to thank for this, as they allowed him to remotely and wirelessly control the genetically engineered organisms he created.

With a clone in the cell, he didn't have to worry about being killed even if he encountered Shiryu of the Rain again.

In the pitch-black tunnel, not a hint of light existed, but it did not affect Wang Gao. His vision, hearing, and superior Observation Haki were all sufficient to ensure he could move freely in the dark environment.

Feeling the improved Drought Algae Vine continuously activate its acid-etching excavation ability, he noted that the vine could now dig forward 50 to 70 centimeters a day—a speed six times faster than before.

However, this speed still did not satisfy him.

Compared to the Push-Push Fruit of the giant Morley, the acid-etching excavation of the Drought Algae Vine was simply too slow. He did not want to waste time digging holes; he had to find a way to speed it up.

Rubbing his chin, his Quantum Computing activated once again, analyzing every means currently available to him.

A few minutes later, Wang Gao had already thought of several methods.

Some might ask: can't he change his body size? Why not just shrink down and sneak out?

In reality, his ability to grow larger or smaller must follow a principle: "change in form, not in mass."

Simply put, the total number of cells in Wang Gao's body cannot change. He can achieve the goal of shrinking by altering the shape of his physique.

Just like now, his normal body size is 2.73 meters and 473 kilograms. If he wanted to become 1 meter tall, he would have to split into 3 to 4 sub-bodies; the total weight of 473 kilograms cannot change.

In particular, the brain cells—even the brain structure—cannot be easily altered. At the very least, he did not yet have 100% certainty that he could fully recover after changing his brain structure.

It wasn't that it was impossible to change, but one had to consider the issue of cellular lifespan; after all, the number of times biological cells can divide is limited.

If he didn't preserve the excess cells while shrinking his body, but instead discarded them directly, then when he needed to increase his body size, he would either have to choose external genetically engineered organisms as body filler or accelerate the division of his own cells.

And the consequence of accelerating the division of his own cells would be a shortened lifespan.

Wang Gao naturally would not choose to discard his own cells just to shrink his body size. After all, the human body is an organic whole, and until he found a way to achieve immortality, it was best not to be reckless.

This was also the reason why, when he was cultivating and modifying the Drought Algae Vine, he only used old skin and hair as nutrients rather than other cells.

Therefore, he could shrink his body size, but he could not become the size of an ant. The existence of his brain determined the lower limit of how much he could shrink.

However, he still modified his excavation plan. A tunnel with a diameter of 2 meters was still too large. He could easily transform into a snake form, and a tunnel with a diameter of about 50 centimeters (slightly larger than his head) would allow him to pass through by slithering.

The destination of the tunnel was the tunnel dug by the giant Morley back in the day. According to Wang Gao's careful exploration over these past few days, the nearest giant tunnel was in the rock strata to his left, at a distance of about 322 meters.

After reducing the diameter of the tunnel being excavated, the excavation speed could be increased to about 1.5 meters per day.

This speed was still not quite good enough.

However, Wang Gao had other backup plans. He closed his eyes and, through the Drought Algae Vine connected to the soles of his feet, rapidly extended vines into the inner rock wall of a vacant cell within Hunger Hell.

The inner rock wall of this vacant cell was only 8.32 meters away from the Giant Tunnel. Once he dug through this section, he could allow the Drought Algae Vine to enter the Giant Tunnel.

As long as the Drought Algae Vine entered the Giant Tunnel, it could begin excavating from that side toward his current position.

By working from both ends, the construction time could be cut in half.

Furthermore, letting the Drought Algae Vine enter the Giant Tunnel would allow him to scout the situation inside the tunnel in advance and prepare accordingly.