DISCLAIMER: I do not own Hunter X Hunter
Chapter 12: Stranded
Morgan gazed at the island. The beach exuded vitality and joyfulness with its abundant natural vegetation. Palm trees stood tall, swaying to the gentle rhythm of the sea breeze.
She had planned a brief excursion to the island on the second day, but it seemed unlikely now.
She shifted her gaze back to the deck, where most of the candidates appeared troubled and sleep-deprived. Her attention returned to the pressing issue at hand.
After the hotel managers departed, they opted to remain outside, waiting to see if they would return.
However, they never did.
"it's been five hours. What kind of manager would leave thirty-six guests behind and just take off?" Leorio suddenly started.
"Yeah. And they charged us a lot. Where the hell are they?" Tonpa voiced.
That isn't the right question to be asked at the moment, is it? It should be 'Why would the old couple leave them in an inhabited island?'
Moreover, they utilized the Hunter Association airship, which doesn't seem like theft either.
Could this be yet another scheme orchestrated by the committee to test the examinees? Is this location the designated site for the next phase?
"But it's not like we paid them money." This time, Kurapika decided to join.
"We paid with treasure and got our rooms in exchange. It's the same thing!" Tonpa blurted out.
"You got that right! Hey Tonpa, we agree on something for a change!" Said Leorio.
"It doesn't make me happy."
Morgan rolled her eyes. 'Oh for goodness sake, these two.'
"Speaking of which, I just checked the managers' room. They left all the treasure behind." The bald ninja, Hanzo, informed the candidates.
"You think they forgot to take it?" Gon asked as he sits on the edge of the deck, playfully swinging his legs.
"Of course not," Killua answered, sitting beside Gon.
They don't know what's going on. All of them don't have enough information to conclude anything.
"But if this was part of the Exam, shouldn't there be an examiner here?" Someone asked.
Morgan shook her head. "You do have a point. But the examiner doesn't need to be here."
This seems to confirm their suspicions that this is indeed part of the exam. However, the real challenge lies in determining their next course of action.
Shortly after, a girl named Ponzu, adorned in a large yellow hat with white flaps, a salmon blouse, pale yellow pants, and orange flats, beckoned them to enter the bridge.
Inside, Pokkle was seen wearing a headset, its ear cups pressed against his left ear, while he navigated around with a radio.
"Is that thing broken?" Gon asked.
"No, the radio is still working." Said Pokkle.
"But we can't get a signal in any channel for some reason." Ponzu continued.
"Shit." Morgan cursed. That's bad news.
"What does that 'shit' mean?" A distressed Leorio inquired, not liking Morgan's reaction to it.
"That means we can't contact anybody. It's like all thirty-six of us are lost on this island..." Pokkle remarked.
His words sparked another wave of anxiety among the group. Stranded on a deserted island with no means of communication, they felt the weight of their predicament sink in.
They knew they had to take action.
Realizing that standing idle wouldn't resolve their situation, they collectively decided to split up in hopes of uncovering clues. Pokkle and Ponzu were assigned to continue managing communication.
"I found this," Leorio announced, holding up a box brimming with compasses, as soon as they reconvened.
"Compasses?" Hanzo inquired.
"Yeah, and there's one for each of us, for some strange reason," Leorio replied.
"I found these measuring tools," Hanzo added, displaying them to the group.
"I searched through the managers' room, and I found a map," Kurapika disclosed, holding out the map for everyone to see. He pointed to it. "This here would be the battleship island we're on right now. And this line indicates the route to Zevil Island."
"They left this for us to discover. Which suggests that this is part of the exam. They're signaling for us to reach that island. Fortunately, the sea is calm at the moment," remarked one of the applicants.
"You're all acting on impulse," Morgan interjected.
"Huh?" Another applicant grumbled. "What does a girl know about these kinds of situations?"
Hearing that remark irked her.
"I'm referring to distance. While we have the map and compass to determine our direction, we lack the means to gauge the distance," she explained.
"What do you mean?" Leorio asked, looking puzzled.
"She means the water does appear calm, and there's no sign of a storm. But if we don't know the distance to the island, then we won't know how much food or water to bring," Kurapika reinforced.
"We know which direction to go. The sub will serve as our reference point from then on. We'll simply sail without provisions and endure it as part of the exam," the guy insisted.
"Look, all I'm saying is we need to think this through. We don't even know which option is safer—staying here or venturing out!" Morgan countered.
"This is clearly a test to find a way to reach Zevil Island! That's the essence of this challenge!" the guy retorted.
Morgan sighed, conceding defeat, and raised her hands in resignation, having made her point.
"That's too risky. Have you forgotten that the exam is rife with traps? If this is indeed part of the exam, this map itself could be a trap," Kurapika warned.
"Aren't you being overly suspicious? I also believe they want us to reach Zevil Island," Leorio chimed in.
"I don't disagree with you there. But I'm suggesting it might be safer to wait until nightfall, allowing us to use the stars to navigate as accurately as possible."
The primary focus here should be proceeding with caution. This situation is undoubtedly part of the Exam, but it's unlike anything they've encountered before. They need to consider the broader purpose of the scenario.
However, despite any advice given, other candidates were insistent on moving forward, especially Applicant 384, Gerreta, whose statements only served to heighten everyone's nerves.
Apparently, Gerreta had inspected a water tank and found it nearly empty. With three days allotted and one already lost scavenging for treasure, leaving them with two, he concluded that Zevil Island could be reached within that time frame.
For all Morgan knew, Gerreta might have been capitalizing on the situation to manipulate their mindset. He openly admitted that eliminating competition was part of the exam.
However, the more Morgan pondered the situation, the more she realized that both sides had valid points. While they may be right, Gerreta's concerns were also valid.
It was a never-ending cycle, but a decision needed to be made.
"So what are we gonna do?" Gon asked.
'Ah, to hell with all of this.'
"We don't need to wait until dark," Morgan suddenly declared, capturing the attention of the remaining applicants. "There's bound to be something on this ship that could assist us."
Kurapika nodded in agreement.
"Exactly. Let's divide once more, scour the ship for anything that might provide insight into our current location," Hanzo directed.
The girl sighed, hands on her hips, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in. "If we don't find anything useful, then we'll leave this place as soon as possible." It was a better alternative to idleness. At least, they had something constructive to focus on for the time being.
With that resolve, each of them dispersed in different directions. The more eyes scouring various areas, the greater the likelihood of uncovering something helpful. Meanwhile, Hanzo took it upon himself to track down the other applicants and attempt to reason with them.
As Morgan made her way below deck, she passed by an ajar room. Curiosity piqued, she peeked inside and discovered the treasures and antiques they had found the previous day.
It was the managers' room...
.
.
.
They stood in the ship's control room, awaiting the return of Leorio and Hanzo.
The door swung open, and Hanzo entered.
"How did it go?" Kurapika inquired.
He shrugged, emitting a low growl of frustration.
"I take it, not too well," Morgan remarked.
"Not surprising," Kurapika sighed. "Everyone who's made it this far has endured a great deal. We've all relied on our strengths and skills; otherwise, we wouldn't have survived the first three phases." He glanced out the window. "I can understand why they're hesitant to listen to us and cooperate for the group's benefit. But I fear they're making a grave mistake. It could cost them their lives."
"I couldn't agree more," Hanzo nodded. "My instincts tell me we're right, even if I can't fully explain it. But they won't be swayed by mere intuition."
Morgan sighed. "We've tried our best to persuade them. Continuing to do so would only waste precious time."
Kurapika's gaze remained fixed outside. "You're right. I fear we have no choice but to take action, with or without their cooperation."
"So, what now? Do we leave or what?" Morgan asked.
"You two," Hanzo spoke up. "There's something else that's been bothering me. Call it another one of my instincts, but I have an ominous feeling about this place, and it's growing stronger. Time is not on our side."
Kurapika nodded. "Whatever it is, I'm certain it's integral to this phase."
"I doubt there's anyone on this island who would disagree with you, Kurapika," Leorio's voice emerged from the shadows as he stepped forward. "The issue is, nobody's certain how to address it. But I've got an idea."
"Yeah? What's that?" Hanzo inquired.
"Simple," Leorio declared, casting a glance behind him. "We need to appoint a leader." He gestured towards a group of examinees standing behind him.
Hanzo and Kurapika exchanged a knowing look and grinned.
Morgan couldn't help but grin. Surprisingly, Leorio proved to have better communication skills than expected. He suggested a vote, and they agreed.
"Does anyone have any objections?" Leorio asked, taking on the role of presiding officer. No one voiced any dissent.
"Alright, it's settled," he declared, stepping aside. "From now until we reach Zevil Island, Hanzo will lead, with Kurapika as his second-in-command." He turned to Hanzo. "It's in your hands now, Hanzo."
Stepping forward, Hanzo addressed the group. "I don't want to overstep my authority, but there's something I need to share. As you all know, I'm a ninja, and when ninjas work together, nothing can stand in their way. In my culture, this teamwork is known as 'Wa.' This situation puts our Wa to the test. Please bear with me; it will only be for a short time." He concluded with a respectful bow.
The group smiled, and Morgan regarded the bald ninja with newfound respect. He possessed the qualities of a good leader as well. "I believe we're in capable hands," she remarked.
Hanzo met her gaze with appreciation.
Suddenly, the door swung open with a bang.
"Hey, look at what Gon found!" Killua's voice echoed as he dashed into the room, with Gon following closely behind, wearing a broad grin. Gon handed a leather-bound book to Kurapika, who eagerly opened it and flipped through a few pages.
"What does it say?" Hanzo inquired.
Kurapika hesitated for a moment before responding. "Ah, so that's what transpired."
"What is it?" Morgan asked, stepping closer.
"This ship was grounded here towards the end of the war to serve as a gun battery. The logbook was penned by the commanding officer at that time."
"Does it contain anything beyond the ship's history?" Morgan pressed.
"Or anything about Zevil Island?" Hanzo added.
Kurapika thumbed through the book once more. "Here it is!" he exclaimed, pointing to a page. "According to the logbook, it's nearby! We could likely reach it within a day using a small boat."
"Alright!" Gon and Killua cheered, exchanging a high-five.
"Excellent! We should prepare immediately," Hanzo suggested. But before they could finalize their plans, interruption struck.
"Ponzu here," came the girl's voice over the intercom. "We're picking up something on the radio."
Her tone was tinged with panic.
"There's noise across a wide frequency range."
"The atmospheric pressure must be changing," Pokkle reasoned.
They rushed to the window, greeted by an eerily calm scene.
"Hey, look at the birds!" Gon exclaimed. "Something's spooked them."
Indeed, the gulls outside were in a frenzy, scattering in all directions; one even collided with the window in front of Leorio, causing him to recoil.
Kurapika's expression darkened. "...This is bad," he uttered in a monotone voice.
"Seeing a disturbed flock of birds without a visible cause is indeed concerning," Morgan remarked astutely.
"What the hell is that?" Leorio exclaimed, pointing out the window.
At first glance, it appeared as though there were two suns, one atop the other.
"The atmosphere... it's distorting," Kurapika choked out.
The sight sent shivers down Morgan's spine. Something ominous was looming.
And then, the sun slowly dipped below the horizon. The feeling of icy fear intensified, accompanied now by the ominous sounds of crashing waves... monstrous waves, to be exact.
"Hey... I can hear that sound again," Gon remarked.
"What?" Killua inquired.
"Blondie, check the logbook," Morgan instructed softly.
"What for?"
"Just check it," she insisted, gazing out the window. "An atmospheric disturbance..." She smirked bitterly. A storm... This explains the numerous shipwrecks on the island. "The Hunter Association knows how to pick a spot for an exam."
Kurapika nodded and retrieved the logbook.
"That noise is coming from somewhere out at sea!" Gon exclaimed, pressing his face against the window.
"I can hear it now!" Killua confirmed. "But it's very faint. Gon, you were right, I can hear it!"
"...It's grown much stronger since this morning," Gon observed gravely.
Kurapika began to read from the logbook. "The entry for July 4th: Strange atmospheric disturbance. Upon detection, preparations for evacuation commenced. Tomorrow morning at first light, the entire garrison will abandon this post; it's our only recourse. Predictions suggest the first storm front will strike the island at dusk tomorrow. Before it does..." he trailed off.
"First storm front?" Leorio voiced his confusion. "What does that mean?"
"...This environmental phenomenon only occurs once every ten years."
And that 'once every ten years' occurrence was happening right now. This was no ordinary storm.
Before they could digest this information, the sound of a motor reached their ears. Kurapika whipped his head around to the window, revealing a boat and a hot-air balloon departing from the battleship.
"They're still here?" Morgan mused internally. They must have found a boat in decent condition and gathered whatever supplies they could before making their escape. Perhaps they even managed to siphon enough gasoline from other boats.
But the looming storm outside was impossible to ignore.
Morgan rushed to the window. "Are they completely stupid? This storm is going to kill them!"
"Morgan, calm down," Kurapika urged, placing a calming hand on her shoulder.
"... I can't help it. We warned them, and..." She trailed off. Then, something outside caught her eye, and her expression turned to one of alarm. "Oh, shit!" she exclaimed, breaking free from Kurapika's grasp and dashing outside.
The storm was advancing rapidly. A waterspout began to form not far from the battleship, growing larger by the second.
"Hey!" Kurapika called out as he joined her on the deck.
"What the hell is that?" Hanzo shouted.
"A merging waterspout and whirlpool!" Tonpa exclaimed.
"The sudden atmospheric pressure distortion, the rising tide... The phenomenon that occurs every ten years has begun," Kurapika explained grimly.
"Oh no, look!" Gon cried, pointing at a boat filled with examinees. "They're getting pulled in!"
"We have to help them!" Gon attempted to rush forward, but Kurapika halted him. "Don't do it!"
"Yeah, but-"
"It's too late, there's nothing we can do!" Kurapika's voice rose above the roaring wind. His expression was panicked as he gazed out at the water.
Then, one of the examinees, the one with the monkey, cried out, "Oh no! Gerreta!"
They turned to see Gerreta in a small motorboat, careening towards his demise. He couldn't control the boat; the waves were dragging him towards the waterspout!
Suddenly, Gon darted from the deck and leaped into the water!
"That idiot!"
"Gon!" Kurapika's shout echoed over the chaos. Morgan had to yank him back so hard she nearly slipped, almost taking Kurapika down with her.
"The waves are crashing onto the deck!" Morgan yelled, struggling to maintain her footing.
"Everyone, back inside!" Hanzo's voice boomed over the storm.
"Hanzo, quickly, the lifeboat!" Kurapika called out, turning to Morgan. "Morgan, get inside!"
"Hell if I will!" She shouted back, refusing to budge. "Gon needs all the help he can get!"
"Fine!" he yelled back, but before they could react, another wave crashed over the deck, sending them both tumbling to the ground.
She was hit by another wave almost immediately.
Morgan screamed, her voice lost in the tumult of the waves. "Curse you, Hunter Association!" she yelled at the raging sea, her words carried away by the wind.
Suddenly, Leorio appeared out of nowhere, his strong grip pulling her up. She had never noticed his strength before, but now it was undeniable.
"You look like a madwoman, screaming like that," he remarked, his usual grin on his face.
"This exam drove me insane!" she retorted.
Kurapika's voice cut through the chaos as he reached them. He was completely drenched but managed to give orders right after tumbling over. "Morgan, Leorio, we need to help pull the lifeboat ashore! Quickly!"
The lifeboat carried Killua, Hanzo, along with candidates number 371 and 191, named Bodoro. Meanwhile, Gon appeared to have made it to Gerreta's boat, and Hanzo's group threw a rope from their boat to Gerreta's, connecting the two vessels.
"Right!" Leorio and Morgan responded in unison. They dashed over and seized the rope, rallying with the other examinees. Through their combined efforts, they succeeded in pulling both boats back to the safety of the ship.
Morgan bent down to help both Gon and Killua to their feet, urging them to run swiftly inside the ship, away from the tempest outside.
They all gathered in the ship's control room, bracing themselves for the storm's fury. The winds howled with such force that the ship's awnings were torn away, and the vessel groaned under the strain.
"...All we can do is wait and hope for the best..." Hanzo's voice broke through the din.
Morgan had no inkling of how long the storm would persist, but when it finally abated, darkness still blanketed the sky. As the clouds gradually dispersed, the stars emerged, twinkling in the night.
The ship was flooded. Morgan was grateful she had brought her bag and sword with her. They now stood outside, practically at the ship's highest point, surveying the aftermath.
"Hey look, I think the tide's going out," Leorio observed.
Tompa sighed. "It's finally over."
"I'm afraid it's just begun," Kurapika interjected, still clutching the logbook in his hand. "We can expect a second storm in 24 hours, and this time it's going to be worse." He glanced up at the ship's highest point.
Morgan followed his gaze and was shocked to see barnacles. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "...Right, challenges, never tend to end, do they..." she muttered under her breath.
"Wait, are you saying the water's going to get that high?" Leorio exclaimed.
"No," Kurapika replied, his gaze fixed on the horizon, his expression stoic. "In 24 hours from now... everything you see... will be underwater."
Hope you enjoy!