Old Enemy

As the Lady Olson cut through the waves, the passengers began to settle into their routines. The sea was calm, and the late midday sun shone brightly overhead. Gon, always eager to engage with nature, had taken up a spot at the edge of the deck with his fishing rod. He gazed out at the horizon, watching the play of light on the water.

Gon felt a sudden shift in the air. The humidity had risen sharply, and a faint metallic taste clung to the breeze. He looked up to see seagulls that had been circling the ship earlier were now flying rapidly away, heading towards the land. His instincts, honed by years of living on the island and his natural affinity with the environment, told him something was wrong.

"Captain Olson!" Gon called, reeling in his fishing line and hurrying over to where the captain stood at the helm.

The captain, a seasoned sailor, glanced down at the boy with a raised eyebrow. "What is it, lad?"

Gon took a deep breath. "I think a storm is coming. The air feels heavy, and the seagulls are fleeing. We need to prepare."

Nearby, the tall man, Leorio was lounging on a pile of crates, his arms crossed behind his head. He overheard the conversation and sat up with a scoff. "A storm? Come on, kid. The weather's fine. You're just imagining things."

Captain Olson considered Gon's words, his eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of trouble. Before he could respond, Gojo, who had been leaning against the railing, straightened up and walked over, his eyes hidden behind his usual dark glasses.

"Actually," Gojo interrupted with a casual tone, "the kid's right. There's a storm coming. I can see the barometric pressure dropping and the cloud formations changing in the distance."

Leorio rolled his eyes and stood up, facing Gojo. "Oh great... The guy who thinks he's some sort of weather-detecting machine. I don't buy it."

Gojo smirked, recognizing Leorio from the arm-wrestling event. "Aren't you the guy who lost the arm-wrestling match to that supposed hunter? What was his name again? Didn't take you for a sore loser."

Leorio's face turned red with anger. "I lost because I was hungry, okay? And that hunter was a fraud! I knocked him out with one punch later when I found out he was cheating."

Gojo laughed, clearly amused. "Sure, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

The tension between the two escalated until Captain Olson's stern voice cut through the air. "Enough!" He glared at both of them before turning to Gon. "You said you sensed a storm, boy?"

Gon nodded earnestly. "Yes, Captain. I'm sure of it. It is just a few hours away. "

The captain studied the boy for a moment, then looked back out to sea. He had seen many storms in his time and knew that sometimes the smallest signs could be the most telling. "Alright," he said finally, "we'll take precautions."

As the crew began to hustle about, securing loose items and preparing for rough weather, Captain Olson turned back to Gon. "Tell me, lad, is your father a hunter? You seem familiar, like I've seen those features before."

Gon brightened at the mention of his father. "Yes, he is! My father's Ging Freecss."

The captain's eyes widened slightly, a hint of recognition in his gaze. "Ah, Ging Freecss. That explains a lot. He's one of the best. You've got good instincts, just like him."

Gon's eyes widened. "You know my father?!"

The captain nodded. "Yes, but we can talk about this at a later time. We have a storm ahead of us."

He turned and shouted, "LISTEN UP! A STORM IS ABOUT TO HIT US!"

Sometimes later, the crew continued their preparations, and the first dark clouds began to gather on the horizon, confirming Gon's and Gojo's warnings. The storm was coming, and Lady Olson would need all her crew's skill and experience to weather it.

Captain Olson, now satisfied with the crew's preparations, turned to Gon. "Stay close, boy. You'll be of help if your instincts are as sharp as your father's. And you two," he said, glancing at Gojo and Leorio, "no more bickering. We've got a storm to face, and I need everyone focused."

Gojo nodded, a faint smile on his lips, while Leorio grudgingly muttered his agreement. The atmosphere on the ship grew tense as most of the passengers went inside and the rest of the crew braced themselves for the approaching tempest, the calm sea quickly giving way to the churning waters and darkening sky.

The storm hit with a sudden, violent fury. Dark clouds churned in the sky, blotting out the sun, and the once-calm sea roared to life with monstrous waves. Lightning cracked across the blackness, illuminating the chaos below for brief, terrifying moments. The Lady Olson was tossed about like a toy in a bathtub, her wooden frame groaning under the strain.

Captain Olson, gripping the helm with white-knuckled determination, shouted orders to his crew. They scrambled to secure the sails and batten down anything that could become a deadly projectile. The air was thick with salt spray and the scent of impending doom.

Onboarders clung to the railings, their faces pale and grim. The storm was unlike anything they had ever experienced. It was as if the sea itself had come alive, enraged and hungry.

Captain Olson's voice cut through the howling wind and crashing waves, chanting in a voice that seemed to draw power from the very storm itself.

"Should pale death, with treble dread, make the ocean caves our bed, God who hears the surges roll deign to save our suppliant soul!"

The ship lurched violently as a massive wave crashed over the deck, nearly sweeping several crew members overboard. Even Gojo's normally calm demeanour was replaced with a focused intensity as he used he helped the crew to keep the ship steady. The crew worked to secure the lines, with nothing but sheer determination to survive.

Captain Olson continued his haunting litany, his eyes wild with a mix of fear and defiance.

"Hark! Bellow, bid our father the Sea King rise from the depths full foul in his fury! Black waves teeming with salt foam to smother these young passenger mouths with pungent slime, to choke thee, engorging thine organs til' ye turn blue and bloated with bilge and brine and can scream no more -- only when he, crowned in cockle shells with slitherin' tentacle tail and steaming beard take up his fell be-finned arm, his coral-tine trident screeches banshee-like in the tempest and plunges right through yer gullet, bursting ye -- a bulging bladder no more, but a blasted bloody film now and nothing for the harpies and the souls of dead sailors to peck and claw and feed upon only to be lapped up and swallowed by the infinite waters of the Dread Emperor himself -- forgotten to any man, to any time, forgotten to any god or devil, forgotten even to the sea, for any stuff for part of ye, even any scantling of your soul is your no more but is now itself the sea!"

The horrific imagery of his words seemed to match the nightmare unfolding around them. Another wave, larger than the last, rose like a wall before crashing down with a deafening roar. The ship shuddered, creaking as if it might split apart.

Leorio, eyes wide with a mixture of fear and panic, looked to Gojo. "The crazy old man is scaring me."

Gojo's usual smirk was gone, replaced by a grim line. "We hold on. Captain Olson knows what he's doing."

Leorio, teeth gritted against the cold and the terror, shouted over the wind, "And if he doesn't?"

Gojo glanced at him, then back at the storm. "Then you all are drowning to certain death. Not me though, I am built different."

Leorio shouted, "What?!"

The ship plunged into the heart of the tempest, every timber straining against the fury of the sea. It was a battle of willpower, man against nature, with the Lady Olson as their fragile shield.

And through it all, the captain's voice rose, a beacon in the storm's chaos, invoking ancient fears and spirits, driving his crew and passengers to fight for every breath, every moment of life against the overwhelming force of the ocean.

The storm raged with a ferocity that seemed unending, the Lady Olson fighting against a monstrous waves. Amidst the chaos, a sharp-eyed passenger with a binocular visor scanned the horizon. Through the sheets of rain and the crashing waves, he saw it: another ship, tossed about by the storm, its tattered black sails bearing the dreaded skull and crossbones. His eyes widened in horror as he recognized the vessel—it was the Black Wraith, the ship of Captain Olson's old enemy, Neckbeard.

"PIRAT---"

Before he could sound the alarm, a sharp crack rang out, and the man with the binoculars crumpled to the deck, a bullet hole in his forehead.

The man with tribal tattoos next to him, sprang into action, ducking behind the rail. He nocked an arrow in his blow and loosed it with deadly precision, striking one of the gunmen on the approaching ship. Another arrow quickly followed, finding its mark in the shoulder of another pirate. The wind was strong, the very floor was trembling and tilting to one side and then to the next, the thundering noise was heavy yet the attacks of the tattooed man found his mark.

"PIRATES! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!"

Few had already noticed the approaching ship in the flashes of lighting, but it was only after that shout did the pandemonium erupted on the Lady Olson as the crew and passengers realized the impending disaster.

Gon, armed with his fishing rod, noticed the chaos. "What's happening?" he shouted over the roaring wind.

Leorio, clutching his signature switchblade glanced around, his eyes wide with panic. "We're being attacked by pirates! Stay close!"

A volley of grappling hooks shot through the air, latching onto the Lady Olson's railings. Pirates swarmed across the ropes, brandishing swords and cutlasses. The deck erupted into chaos as the crew and passengers found themselves under attack.

Gon, armed with his fishing rod, stood near the bow, separated from the others. He swung his rod, tripping and disarming pirates, but the sheer number of enemies overwhelmed him.

Leorio, clutching his switchblade, fought off a group of pirates near the stern. He glanced around, realizing the others were scattered. "Where is everyone?!" he yelled, but his voice was lost in the storm's fury.

Kurapika, his wakizashi spinning, was fending off pirates near the middle of the ship. His eyes flickered with determination, but he couldn't see his friends through the chaos.

Gojo, near the starboard side, dispatched pirates with swift, precise strikes, but even he was struggling to keep up with the onslaught. 'We need to regroup!' he thought, but the storm made it impossible to communicate.

Captain Olson, his sabre slashing, cutting down pirate after pirate. His crew, inspired by his ferocity, fought with renewed vigour Olson moved like a whirlwind, his blade a flash of deadly light amidst the chaos. He saw his men fighting bravely, but they were outnumbered and disorganized.

The storm raged on, rain lashing down and wind howling like a vengeful spirit. Water sloshed across the deck, making footing treacherous and every step a fight against the elements. The ship lurched violently as a massive wave crashed over the deck, nearly sweeping several crew members overboard.

Neckbeard's pirates were relentless. They clambered over the sides of the Lady Olson, weapons gleaming in the storm's flashes. A brutal melee erupted, with crew members and passengers fighting for their lives.

Gon swung his fishing rod with expert precision, wrapping the line around a pirate's sword and yanking it out of his grasp. He followed up with a quick jab, sending the pirate sprawling across the slippery deck.

Leorio slashed at a pirate who lunged at him, the blade of his switchblade glinting in the storm's intermittent light. He turned just in time to block another pirate's attack, the force of the blow vibrating up his arm. "Get back!" he roared, kicking the pirate away.

Kurapika moved with deadly grace, his bokken spinning and striking with pinpoint accuracy. He knocked a pirate's cutlass aside and delivered a crushing blow to his opponent's temple. Another pirate lunged at him, but Kurapika spun, his bokken a blur of motion, and struck the attacker down.

The woman with the twin swords fought with ferocious skill, her blades weaving a deadly dance. She parried a pirate's thrust, then stepped in close, slicing across his midsection before spinning to decapitate another who tried to ambush her.

Captain Olson, gripping his sasabreightly, waded into the fray with a steely resolve. The storm raged around him, but his focus was razor-sharp. He moved with a seasoned sailor's agility, each step sure and deliberate on the treacherous, water-slicked deck.

His first opponent, a burly pirate with a scarred face, lunged at him with a wicked-looking cutlass. Olson parried the blow with a swift, prpractisedotion, his sasabreeflecting the cutlass to the side. With a powerful thrust, he drove his blade through the pirate's chest, then pulled it free in one fluid motion as the man crumpled to the deck.

A second pirate, this one wielding a pair of daggers, came at him from the left. Olson spun on his heel, his sabre flashing in the lightning's glow. He caught one dagger on his blade and twisted, disarming the pirate with a flick of his wrist. Before the pirate could react, Olson brought his sabre down in a deadly arc, cleaving through flesh and bone. The pirate fell with a scream, clutching the bloody wound.

Olson didn't pause. He moved forward with relentless determination, his eyes scanning for the next threat. A third pirate, a lean man with a patch over one eye, charged at him with a curved scimitar. Olson sidestepped the wild swing, bringing his sabre in a powerful upward slash. The blade cut through the pirate's midsection, and he collapsed with a gurgling cry.

The next attacker was a stocky pirate with a heavy mace. He swung the weapon with brutal force, aiming for Olson's head. Olson ducked under the swing, feeling the rush of air as the mace passed just above him. He came up inside the pirate's guard, driving his sabre into the man's gut. The pirate gasped, eyes wide with shock, before falling back, the mace slipping from his fingers.

A fifth pirate, emboldened by the chaos, tried to take advantage of Olson's temporary distraction. He rushed in from behind, a dirk raised high. But Olson's instincts were sharp; he sensed the attack and spun around just in time. His sabre clashed with the dirk, the force of the blow knocking the pirate off balance. Olson followed up with a swift kick, sending the pirate sprawling. A quick thrust of his sabre ended the threat.

The captain's relentless assault continued. He moved like a force of nature, each strike precise and deadly. The pirates, seeing their comrades fall one after another, began to hesitate, their confidence waning in the face of Olson's skill and determination. His sabre gleamed in the storm's light, a beacon of hope for his crew amidst the chaos.

As Olson cut down pirate after pirate, his path cleared. The deck around him was littered with the fallen, a testament to his prowess and unwavering resolve. He could see Neckbeard now, the pirate captain's hulking form standing out amidst the melee. Their eyes locked, and Olson knew the final confrontation was imminent.

"Olson! You old sea dog! Today I send you to the depths!"

Olson's response was a feral grin of his own. "Not if I send you there first, Neckbeard!" He drew his sabre, the blade catching the lightning's glow.

Neckbeard drew his katana, its edge gleaming with deadly intent. "Now that I have you in my sights, no hunter will save you this time. Your ship is mine!"

Olson's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that, you scurvy knave!"

The two captains charged at each other, their blades clashing with a resounding ring that cut through the storm's noise. Olson fought with the strength and skill of a seasoned warrior, his movements precise and powerful. Neckbeard countered with brute force, his katana slashing through the air with deadly intent.

As they fought, the crew and passengers of the Lady Olson continued their desperate battle against the pirates. The storm showed no sign of abating, and the ship groaned under the strain. The fight was chaotic and brutal, with no clear end in sight.

Amidst the chaos, Gon, Leorio, Kurapika, and Gojo fought valiantly, each in their corner of the ship, unable to see or communicate with one another. Their skills and determination were tested to the limit as they faced wave after wave of pirates.

Gojo faced off against a particularly large pirate. The pirate swung a massive axe, but Gojo dodged with ease, his movements fluid and precise. He countered with snapping low kick, then without pulling back his leg, he raisded it and landed a kick to the chin. The pirate staggered, blood spraying from his mouth, before collapsing to the deck.

'Question Mark Kick.'

Gon, separated from the others near the bow, used his fishing rod with surprising effectiveness. He tripped one pirate and spun to deflect another's sword, then delivered a powerful kick to send the attacker overboard. "Stay back!" he shouted, eyes wide with determination.

Leorio, near the stern, fought with ferocious determination, his knife flashing in the storm's intermittent light. He slashed at one pirate, then spun to block another's attack. "Where is everyone?!" he yelled, but his voice was lost in the storm's fury.

He kicked the pirate back as more starting coming towards him, then with a surge of strength picked up a entire cargo full of heavy metals weighing a near ton and chucked it at them.

Kurapika, his bokken spinning, was fending off pirates near the middle of the ship. His eyes flickered with determination as he dispatched his foes with precision. He couldn't see his friends through the chaos but fought on, driven by his resolve.

The storm raged on, rain lashing down and wind howling like a vengeful spirit. Water sloshed across the deck, making footing treacherous and every step a fight against the elements.

Captain Olson stood amidst the chaos, his breath heavy but controlled, eyes locked on his old enemy, Neckbeard. The pirate captain grinned wickedly, his katana gleaming in the storm's erratic light. The air was thick with salt and fear, every breath a mix of spray and dread.

"Olson!" Neckbeard bellowed, stepping forward with a swagger. "You won't survive this time! There's no hunter here to save you!"

Olson tightened his grip on his sabre, his eyes narrowing. "We'll see about that, Neckbeard. I've cut down more of your men today than I can count."

Neckbeard laughed, a harsh, grating sound that cut through the storm. "Oh, Olson, you old fool. I'm not talking about my men. I've got someone just as good as any hunter, if not better."

On the far side of the deck, a figure landed with a thud that reverberated through the ship. The pirate had long, messy blonde hair and moved with a grace that belied his brutish appearance. He waded through the four-men team among the passengers with frightening ease, each strike sending men flying into the ocean. His fists and feet moved in a blur, each hit precise and devastating, reducing even the toughest passengers and sailors to ragdolls tossed by the storm.

Gojo, from his vantage point, watched the pirate's movements with a mix of curiosity and caution. He stood there draped in waters from all around while his Six Eyes, perceptive as always, noted something peculiar about the newcomer. Unlike the other pirates whose luminosity spilled chaotically into the environment, this one's energy was tightly contained, and controlled to an unnerving degree.

"This one's different," Gojo muttered to himself. "His luminosity... it's not leaking at all."

Neckbeard's grin widened as he saw the realization dawn on Olson's face when turned for a moment to look at the scene of his men dying. "That's right, Olson. Meet my trump card. You might have faced hunters before, but this one—he's a whole different beast."

The blonde pirate tore through the crew, his movements almost a blur. A powerful uppercut sent one man spinning through the air, landing with a splash in the churning sea. Another passenger, the slender cloaked man, attempting a desperate swing with a spiked club, found himself lifted and thrown overboard with a punch as if he weighed nothing. The man with the scar found his abdomen crushed into a mangled mess with guts spilling out from a kick which killed him.

Gojo, sensing the urgency, moved towards the blonde pirate. "Looks like I'll have to step in," he murmured, eyes narrowing as he prepared to engage.

Olson, his attention momentarily divided, turned back to Neckbeard. "This ends now, Neckbeard. I don't care who you've brought with you."

Neckbeard raised his katana, the blade catching a flash of lightning. "Come then, Olson. Let's see if you can back up those words."

The two captains charged at each other, weapons drawn, the storm around them a fitting backdrop to their deadly duel. As they clashed, the sounds of steel on steel mingled with the roars of the tempest, each strike a testament to their years of enmity.

Meanwhile, Gojo closed in on the blonde pirate, his energy tightly controlled. "Hey there," he called out, his voice somehow calm amidst the chaos. "Mind telling me your name before I take you down?"

The blonde pirate turned, his cold eyes meeting Gojo's. "Name's Fenwick. And you'll regret stepping in my way."

With his Six Eyes, Gojo saw the pirate's luminosity moving to his eyes for an instant then running back to its previous state.

Fenwick's eyes widened. "You too can use Nen? But that won't be enough to save your life here."

Gojo smirked, adjusting his stance. "Nen? So that's what you call it."