Chapter 19: Next Time, I'll Definitely Win
Gon turned his head and shouted with a laugh, "Yeah, Kyle! That's cheating! It doesn't count!"
Kyle, completely unbothered, skillfully cast his line. The hook sailed in a perfect arc, snagging the fish he had just zapped.
"You just don't get it, do you?" he retorted, reeling it in. "I'm preparing the ultimate bait! You can't attract the real monsters of the deep with normal stuff."
"The best bait... is other fish! This is an advanced technique. You should be taking notes!"
With a grunt, he hauled the ten-pound fish onto the deck.
Just as Kyle was admiring his "prize" and getting ready to cut it into bait, a violent SPLASH erupted from Gon's side of the ship, followed by a sharp, excited gasp.
Gon's fishing rod was instantly bent into a terrifying arc, looking like it would snap at any second. The line was pulled perfectly taut, making a zzzt sound as it cut the air.
A massive force yanked Gon forward, and he had to dig his heels into the railing to keep from being pulled overboard. He gripped the rod, his arm muscles bulging, his face a mask of pure excitement. A big one was on the line.
"Whoa! That's gotta be huge!" Killua shouted, instantly abandoning his own rod. He and Kyle ran over to watch.
Beneath the surface, a massive, dark shadow was fighting wildly, churning the water. From the sheer power, the fish had to be over a hundred pounds.
Gon was lost in the battle, using his whole body to fight the creature, sometimes giving line, sometimes reeling, trying to wear it out. The simple fishing rod was groaning, on the verge of splintering.
Kyle watched, amused, and stroked his chin. "Looks like Gon's in trouble. That rod doesn't look like it can take much more." His voice was full of undisguised schadenfreude.
Killua crossed his arms. "Yep, that's a tough one. Good luck, Gon! Don't let it get away, or you're on dinner duty!"
He sounded supportive, but he was just adding fuel to the fire.
Gon was completely focused, sweat beading on his forehead. He could feel the raw power of the fish and the limit of the rod. At the absolute breaking point, a glint appeared in his eye. He made a decision.
He let out a sharp breath, and his Nen flowed.
But not to attack. It flowed like water from his hands, enveloping the entire fishing rod, down the line, and all the way to the hook deep in the water.
"Shu!" Killua recognized the advanced technique instantly.
Kyle, seeing it, just sighed. "Ah, he remembered he could do that. Show's over."
Shu: The art of extending one's Aura to an object, drastically increasing its strength and durability.
The flimsy fishing rod, now reinforced with Gon's pure Nen, was as stable as steel.
Gon felt the change and a wild, joyful grin split his face. He dug in his heels and roared, "GET UP HERE!"
With a massive heave, a huge silver-scaled body was ripped from the ocean, flying in an arc before crashing onto the deck. It was a bizarre-looking fish, almost as tall as Gon, and it thrashed wildly.
Gon, beaming with pride, announced his victory. "Look at that! It's huge! This will feed us for days! You two better step it up, or dinner's on you!"
Kyle and Killua looked at Gon's gloating face, then at the massive fish, and their own competitive fires were lit. They sprinted back to their spots.
Kyle's expression turned serious. His Aura flared again.
Killua, sensing the Nen, looked over, annoyed. "Are you cheating again—" He stopped. He could see it clearly now. Kyle was using En.
Killua's heart sank. I haven't even learned En yet. That's no different from cheating!
Kyle ignored Killua's resentful gaze, his En spreading out into the water. He felt a small fish nibble at his bait and skillfully jerked the line away, guiding it deeper... toward a much larger presence.
The smell of the bait fish was too much. The large shadow shot forward like a torpedo.
The moment it bit, Kyle yanked. With his rod and line also reinforced with Shu, the new fish stood no chance. It was on the deck in seconds. It was only half the size of Gon's, but still a respectable fifty pounds.
Kyle saw Gon was already casting again. This isn't over, he thought. I can still take first place.
A moment later, Killua reeled one in, too. But his was the smallest, only about twenty pounds.
"Kyle! Killua! This is more than enough!" Gon called out. "If we catch any more, it'll just be a waste."
"What's the big deal?" Kyle said, not looking up. "We'll just throw 'em back." He was completely hooked on the competition now.
Killua wasn't about to quit either. He was in last place. "Kyle's right! This is just getting started!"
Gon, seeing their resolve, sighed and joined back in. For three hours, it was a frenzy. They'd haul a fish up, estimate its weight, and throw it back.
When they finally called it, the totals were tallied:
Kyle: 5,100 pounds.
Gon: 5,000 pounds.
Killua: 3,000 pounds.
Killua, stuck in last, sulkily dragged himself to the galley.
For an assassin, his cooking skills were passable. Within an hour, the smell of grilled fish filled the ship.
As they ate, Gon and Kyle kept praising his "amazing cooking skills," and "better luck next time," their faces full of smug satisfaction.
Killua, seeing their gloating, just seethed.
Next time, he swore to himself. Next time, I'll definitely win.