Before long, Kizaru led a fleet of warships into these waters, relentlessly searching for Experiment Subject 88. Some Marines even dove into the sea to search the ocean floor.
But even after Marine Headquarters' reinforcements arrived and joined the large-scale manhunt, they still could not find any trace of Subject 88.
Kizaru's sleazy face was filled with worry and helplessness.
Sure enough, Kizaru was soon harshly reprimanded by the Five Elders for his failure.
Saturn ordered Kizaru to continue the search and expand its scope to the nearby islands.
In short, they had to see him alive or find his corpse!
Meanwhile, Vegapunk and the other scientists inferred from the enormous size of the Artificial Azure Dragon that the failed Ancient Giant bloodline modification in Subject 88 had most likely been reactivated.
They had no choice but to admit that Experiment Subject 88 was truly extraordinary. Not only was his compatibility immensely strong, but he was also full of miracles!
Therefore, the failed fish-man bloodline modification within Experiment Subject 88 might also be reactivated.
That meant that even if Subject 88 had fallen into the sea, he would not die so easily.
Furthermore, the Lunarian bloodline, fish-man bloodline, and even the Artificial Fish-Fish Fruit: Azure Dragon Form could all grant Subject 88 the ability to survive beneath the sea.
That was why the Marines had to find a way to bring him back.
This intelligence made Sengoku the Buddha and Chief of Staff Tsuru both frown.
Just what kind of monster had these scientists created?
The report also stated that this test subject possessed bloodline factor abilities such as poison and invisibility.
Combined with the unusual Conqueror's Haki Kizaru had reported.
It was truly terrifying just to think about.
If Experiment Subject 88 had truly escaped alive, what kind of horrifying monster would he become once he grew up?
Most troubling of all, Experiment Subject 88 deeply hated the World Government and those scientists.
At that thought, Sengoku the Buddha immediately raised the mission to hunt down Subject 88 to the highest priority.
They had to recapture him or kill him on the spot before he could grow stronger.
They even hoped that Subject 88 had fallen into the sea badly injured and been devoured by sea beasts, sparing them from gaining a super-sized headache.
Upon the boundless sea.
"I finally escaped!!"
Dongye Huanglong gasped for breath. The wounds on his body continuously writhed as they healed, while the massive drain on his strength had turned his face deathly pale.
"Can't sleep, can't sleep..."
The divine dragon Dongye Huanglong had become remained invisible as he wobbled through the air above the sea.
Utterly exhausted in body and mind, he only wanted to find an island where he could rest and take shelter.
If he fell into the sea now, all his struggles and efforts would be wasted.
He had escaped from Kizaru with such difficulty. How could he fall on the road to escape?
After flying continuously for most of the day, night had already fallen.
With his battered body and muscles aching unbearably, Dongye Huanglong repeatedly came close to plunging into the sea in the darkness. His invisibility also failed time and again.
But the painful experiences of the past two years made him grit his teeth and stubbornly endure.
Just as he truly could not hold on much longer, he finally saw the outline of an island.
Using the last of his strength, he plunged headfirst into a primeval forest in immense relief.
His fall smashed a huge crater into the ground. His invisible divine dragon form swiftly faded, returning him to human form.
Dongye Huanglong was too exhausted to inspect his surroundings at all before he completely lost consciousness.
Several dozen minutes later, small figures appeared among the nearby trees and bushes.
They cautiously observed and tested this suddenly arrived giant human.
"Is he dead?"
"Is he a pirate?"
"He looks injured?"
"He's lost so much blood. His clothes are covered in it..."
"Should we ask the princess to save him?"
Chattering voices quickly exchanged words, each of them unable to make up their minds.
Until a small figure with golden hair appeared.
The next day.
Marine Headquarters' large-scale search operation in the waters around Punk Hazard deployed nearly a hundred warships, drawing the attention of many forces.
Big News Morgans immediately began following up and investigating the truth, hoping to obtain insider information for a major scoop.
In Dressrosa, Doflamingo grinned broadly as he looked toward Punk Hazard.
Through secret information from Vergo, he learned that Caesar, the second scientist, had been thrown into prison. This let him spot an opportunity to pick up some scraps.
As for the escaped Experiment Subject 88, Vergo had not obtained much information either.
However, the World Government's intense concern had greatly piqued Doflamingo's interest.
If he had the opportunity, he also wanted to find Experiment Subject 88.
Even if he could not recruit him, he could still sell him to the World Government for the greatest possible profit.
Other underworld forces and Great Pirates were also inquiring about Marine news, seeking intelligence on the waters around Punk Hazard.
Several days later, on the Grand Line's Island of White Soil, Baldo Grand.
Revolutionary Army Leader Dragon learned through a secret channel that Vegapunk had moved to a new laboratory.
He immediately contacted Bartholomew Kuma, who had already left the Revolutionary Army.
The two reunited aboard Dragon's Granma.
Dragon told Kuma about Ivankov and Inazuma being captured and imprisoned, as well as the news concerning Vegapunk.
He also advised Kuma to take eight-year-old Bonney and quickly head for Egghead Island in the New World to seek Vegapunk's help, while Vegapunk's new laboratory was weakly defended and Kizaru was not by Vegapunk's side to protect him.
During their conversation, Revolutionary Army officer Betty also earned Kuma's recognition and officially inherited Ginny's position as East Army Commander.
Afterward, Tyrant Kuma swiftly returned to South Blue's Sorbet Kingdom with the information about Vegapunk and Egghead Island. He placed Bonney, who suffered from Jade Scale Disease, inside a lightproof box and set out for the New World.
Because the Paw-Paw Fruit could not directly send him to a distant place he had never visited, Kuma could only take Bonney flying to islands in the New World that he had visited before. Then, he would have to find a small sailboat and make his way to the mysterious Egghead Island.
To cure Bonney's terminal illness, Kuma was willing to pay any price, even his own life.
This was born of his endless guilt toward Ginny.
Ginny had once proposed to Kuma, but because of his Buccaneer Tribe bloodline, he cowardly chose to run away and rejected her.
Yet Ginny still stayed by his side and joined the Revolutionary Army with him. Later, Ginny was abducted by the Celestial Dragons, suffered inhuman treatment, and even gave birth to Bonney.
Having failed to protect Ginny, Kuma could never atone for that guilt in his lifetime.
Thus, Bonney, now afflicted with a terminal illness, had become the entire meaning of his life—even more important than the Revolutionary Army.
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