Experiment Subject 88

Sea Circle Calendar 1518, February 30.

New World, Punk Hazard.

"Caesar, you bastard! You actually carried out Lineage Factor modifications on Experiment Subject 88 without authorization, and you were even planning to conduct such a dangerous poison gas experiment on the island.

"You're nothing but a lawless, inhuman piece of trash!"

An old man with a huge lightbulb-shaped head and a long tongue furiously cursed at a floating man with horns on his head.

"It's over! Experiment Subject 88 was the test subject the World Government valued most. Who would have thought Caesar, that bastard, would kill him with a Lineage Factor experiment!"

"What do we do? What do we do?! The World Government is going to punish all of us!"

The other scientists and researchers of the World Government's science division all glared angrily at the arrogant Caesar Clown.

At the same time, they were filled with fear toward the severe punishment that the World Government would soon bring down upon them.

After botching the World Government's affairs, even as the world's foremost scientists, they would have to pay a heavy price. They might even die alongside their entire families.

"I... how was I supposed to know Subject 88 would just die this time?!

"Nothing happened during your previous modification experiments.

"I can only say that this was truly an accident!"

Caesar shouted somewhat guiltily. He had merely wanted to prove that he was no worse than Vegapunk; he had not wanted to kill Experiment Subject 88 either.

Seeing the bitter, hostile looks on those scientists' faces, Caesar could no longer bear the pressure. He had to produce other results to offset the crime of killing Subject 88.

"Get lost! Get lost! I still need to continue my 'Slime' poison gas experiment!

"As for the test subjects this time, they're only ordinary prisoner test subjects.

"If they die, they die. Don't lecture me about humanity or danger."

Caesar looked impatient, as though he had no time and was terribly busy. He only wanted to leave quickly, get away from these noisy nuisances, and complete his greatest experimental achievement.

"Caesar, I'll settle the matter of Experiment Subject 88 with you later.

"But you absolutely cannot conduct this poison gas experiment now. It's far too dangerous and will harm many innocent people!"

Vegapunk's expression completely darkened. With a livid face, he continued berating Caesar angrily.

He could no longer tolerate this old member of M-Team.

"Tch. If someone gets accidentally hurt so easily by my experiment, that only proves they're idiots. It doesn't matter if people like that die!"

Caesar said indifferently. After all, he had already accidentally killed Experiment Subject 88. He no longer cared if he killed another batch of experimental prisoners, or even some guards and researchers who did not know their place.

"Bastard!! Trash!

"Marines! Take this bastard down at once! I'm expelling Caesar from the science division!"

Vegapunk's face flushed red with fury at the utterly inhuman Caesar. He turned and shouted at the guarding Marine officers.

At that moment, he had completely run out of patience with Caesar. He hated bastards who treated life with such contempt most of all.

Today, he was determined to punish this lawless scum.

Upon hearing Vegapunk's command, several Marine Major Generals who had mastered Armament Haki immediately rushed toward Caesar with Seastone chains.

According to the World Government's orders, on the island of Punk Hazard, they only needed to obey Vegapunk, the chief person in charge.

"Hey, hey, hey! I'm the world's second-greatest scientist! My research achievements will surpass Vegapunk's! Don't do anything reckless!"

When Caesar saw two Marine Major Generals charging toward him menacingly, he immediately shouted.

He had not expected Vegapunk to truly make a move against him.

Seeing Vegapunk's icy expression, Caesar grew furious as well.

The jealousy and resentment he had always harbored toward Vegapunk suddenly turned into vicious intent, and the blood rushed to his head.

"You forced me to do this!!"

The crazed Caesar suddenly took out something and directly pressed a button, detonating his 'Slime' poison gas bomb with a thunderous blast.

Accompanied by a massive explosion and violent tremors, an enormous poisonous mushroom cloud rose over Punk Hazard. Endless purple poison gas rapidly spread in every direction.

Of the three enormous research facilities on this scientific island, two were destroyed on the spot and reduced to ruins.

The tremendous thermal shockwave and toxic substances produced by the gas bomb's explosion instantly wiped out most life on the island's surface.

"Caesar, you!!!"

Vegapunk and the many scientists were so frightened by the horrifying explosion that they fell to the ground.

Even Caesar himself was stunned for a moment.

In a moment of madness, he had actually pressed the detonation button.

And the terrifying effects of the blast seemed to be a little too exaggerated.

He had never expected the poison gas bomb, still in its experimental stage, to be so powerful. It had completely exceeded his expectations.

The two Marine Major Generals were also horrified, but they quickly came back to their senses, their faces turning exceptionally grim and cold.

They charged forward at top speed and roughly seized Caesar, the culprit behind it all.

As the Seastone chains swiftly cuffed Caesar's hands, his gaseous floating lower body instantly reverted to two legs, temporarily depriving him of his Logia-type Gas-Gas Fruit ability.

"Gulp... I didn't want this either. I really didn't do it on purpose!"

Caesar's body went limp. He swallowed hard and awkwardly tried to defend himself.

Cold sweat was already pouring down his forehead, and his already pale face turned even whiter.

He knew that he might be finished.

The World Government would never spare him, a criminal who had destroyed the research facilities.

"Wooo~!! Wooo!!!!"

After the violent earthquake, shrill and urgent attack alarms rang throughout the last remaining research facility where they stood.

Flashing red lights lit up everywhere, instantly throwing everyone present into panic.

"This is bad! Doctor, hurry and leave!! The poison gas outside has already spread across the entire island!!"

A fat man carrying a massive axe rushed into the laboratory anxiously and shouted at Vegapunk.

"Caesar! You criminal!! Spend the rest of your life in Impel Down and accept your punishment, bastard!"

"Everyone, listen up! Quickly gather the important materials! Leave everything else behind and evacuate immediately!"

Vegapunk shouted anxiously at all the scientists and researchers. Sentomaru roughly dragged him away as they fled at top speed.

Caesar hung his head, his pale face shifting uncertainly as countless thoughts of escape spun wildly through his mind. He was soon escorted away by the two Marine Major Generals as well.

Amid the panic, the many scientists hurriedly gathered whatever important materials were near them before fleeing the dangerous island that was about to be swallowed by poison gas.

At that moment, inside one of the research facility's special laboratories.

A cold, lifeless man was submerged inside a transparent experimental chamber.

Amid the tremendous explosion and shockwave, his heart began to beat weakly again. His eyelids trembled constantly, as though he were recalling something terrifying.

Amid the shrieking alarms of various scientific instruments and the sparks spraying through the air, the man suddenly opened his eyes.

The purple poison blotches covering his body rapidly faded, returning his flesh to its original color. However, pale purple special markings now ran through the muscular contours across his body.

"It hurts. It fucking hurts!"

"Fuck you, Caesar!!"

The black pupil in his left eye, which had already dispersed, gathered again. His modified right eye condensed with dazzling golden light as he roared through gritted teeth, his voice filled with fury and hatred.

As the effects of the powerful anesthetic in his body gradually faded.

With a boom, an eerie flame suddenly ignited around the man's body. The fiercely burning fire gurgled within the nutrient fluid, dense bubbles rising like boiling water.

The black-haired man clenched both fists, and his arms instantly swelled to three times their original size. His veins writhed rapidly like worms.

With a violent tug, he tore apart all the chains binding his hands. The shackles and chains on his feet and body shattered as well.

"Ah!!"

At that moment, the man's eyes were full of fury. With one punch, he blasted apart the glass of the transparent experimental chamber, and the nutrient fluid within surged out.

The shrill alarms in the laboratory made his gaze turn increasingly bloodshot.

A golden laser burst from his right eye and instantly blew apart the irritating alarm.

After the massive explosion, thick smoke billowed out.

The black-haired man leaped directly out of the experimental chamber with bloodshot eyes, stomping a huge crater into the floor.

He swept his gaze around, casually picked up a lab coat and tied it around his waist, then rushed toward the laboratory door and kicked it with all his might.

"Emergency order! Emergency order! Evacuate at once! Run!"

At that moment, the guards and researchers inside the research facility were frantically running about in chaos, while the purple poison gas outside rapidly spread inward.

Suddenly, a steel door blasted through the air and smashed into several passing researchers and guards.

Blood sprayed everywhere in an instant, screams echoed through the halls, and sticky flesh covered the walls.

All manner of precious experimental reports and materials scattered through the air amid the violent shockwave.

A muscular figure emerged from the smoke and dust, two savage glints—one red, one gold—shining in his eyes.

"It's you, Subject 88! You're actually not dead!!"

A fortunate researcher who had been blown away by the door's shockwave stared in terror at Experiment Subject 88, who had clearly died yet now stood alive before him.

But in the next moment, he suddenly became excited.

Experiment Subject 88 was Punk Hazard's most important test subject. If he could bring Subject 88 out, the World Government would surely reward him handsomely.

But the next second, a palm covered in purple markings suddenly gripped his neck.

"I remember you, little piece of trash!"

Under that icy gaze, with a crack, the researcher's head twisted ninety degrees. Blood poured from his mouth and nose as he left this world with a terrified expression.

"I told you that you would regret this!"

The black-haired man, his face full of madness, grinned. With scarlet eyes, he ran out at high speed, his body overflowing with vengeful killing intent.

As bloodstained experimental reports and documents drifted to the ground, many of the files bore the man's photograph.

Experiment Subject 88. Name: Dongye Huanglong. Male. Age: 21. Affiliated with the second batch of experimental prisoners.

Strongest Creature Project, Phase Two: Oni Lineage Factor modification experiment. Successful. Sole surviving subject.

Person in charge: All researchers of the science division.

Strongest Creature Project, Phase Four: Lion Tribe Lineage Factor modification experiment. Failed. Sole surviving subject without mutation.

Person in charge: All researchers of the science division.

Strongest Creature Project, Phase Seven: Fish-Man Lineage Factor modification experiment. Failed. Sole surviving subject without mutation.

Person in charge: All researchers of the science division.

Seraph Project, Phase One: Lunarian Tribe Lineage Factor modification experiment. Successful. Special surviving subject.

Person in charge: Vegapunk.

Gigantification Project, Phase Two: Ancient Giant Tribe Lineage Factor modification experiment. Failed. Special surviving subject without mutation.

Person in charge: Vegapunk.

Bioweapon Project: Laser Eye modification experiment. Successful. Special surviving subject with no rejection.

Person in charge: Vegapunk.

Lineage Factor Cyborg Project: Dual modification experiment involving toxic factor and invisibility factor. Failed. Test subject deceased!

Person in charge: Caesar