If he asked for the [Guide]'s help just to avoid the unknown, it would go against his original goal.
For now, he was confident this trip wouldn't disappoint him.
Beyond was different, more pragmatic.
He was there just for the treasures.
But hiring the [Guide] meant paying a hefty fee to the [Gatekeeper], and the final say was still up to Larry.
Larry didn't want the [Guide]'s assistance, and no one objected.
What they didn't know was that the [Gatekeeper] had even offered to guide Larry for free, but Larry had declined.
"So, what do we do about this?" Pariston asked, glancing at Ging, who was watching him closely.
"The ship isn't damaged, but staying stuck like this isn't good. What if this sea stays frozen forever?"
Pariston's eyes gleamed as he proposed, "Why don't we just break through the waves?"
Miluk, the captain of the Stonewall mercenary unit who looked like a Western elf with pointed ears, suggested, "You can try using Golem's mind weapon first. These waves seem tough, but the mind weapon should be able to break through them."
He noticed that the ship was still shaking slightly, which told him that the seawater below remained stable.
"If we just break these surface waves, we can open a clear waterway," he explained.
Miluk was not only strong but also very observant, and his keen eye caught that the sea beneath hadn't changed, so he thought this approach made sense.
However, Beyond didn't agree with Miluk's plan, even though it sounded reasonable.
He felt uneasy.
Having spent time on the Dark Continent, Beyond had a deeper understanding of its dangers than most.
The biggest lesson the Dark Continent had taught him was simple but crucial: never act rashly.
Compared to the creatures there, humans were like aliens, struggling to fit in with the strange and complex natural laws governing that world.
Everything seemed mysterious, yet things somehow moved forward smoothly.
Small actions could trigger terrifying chain reactions because humans often unknowingly disrupt these delicate balances.
The Dark Continent's vague laws kept everything in check, and those who rushed in without knowledge only ended up causing chaos, and burning themselves in the process.
This was a harsh but vital lesson.
Because of this, Beyond believed humans should only intervene when absolutely necessary.
No one could predict what consequences breaking those strange waves might bring.
Pariston and the others nodded in agreement after hearing Beyond's reasoning.
When facing the unknown, staying alert and cautious was the safest choice.
With everyone sharing the same mindset, the team quietly held their breath, focusing on their surroundings.
After a few tense minutes, much to their surprise, the waves settled back to normal and the sea's surface grew calm once again.
It felt as if time had frozen and the waves stood still, but now everything was moving again, and the sea had returned to its usual rhythm.
After a tense moment filled with anxiety, Beyond ordered the ship to press forward.
From where they were, aside from the strange, thorny waves, no other threats were visible.
But before they could make much progress, something even more shocking happened.
The clear sky suddenly darkened within minutes, as if someone had switched off the lights in a bright room.
Thick black clouds rolled in, and flickering silver-white lightning slithered through the sky like a swarm of white snakes.
Thunder rumbled endlessly, echoing across the vast, open ocean.
Soon, a heavy downpour began, as if the storm was pouring an entire ocean over them.
The rain was intense, with each drop as big as a pigeon's egg, enough to seriously injure anyone caught outside.
The once calm sea transformed completely, turning from a gentle "graceful lady" into an enraged "angry aunt."
Towering waves sprang up out of nowhere, each rivaling the massive yearly waves seen in Carter Port.
These monstrous waves roared like wild beasts, crashing powerfully across the sea.
Wave after wave slammed into the ship, shaking it violently.
Though it was a medium-sized vessel, in this storm it felt like a fragile dinghy, struggling helplessly against nature's fury.
The violent shaking forced everyone on board to heighten their alertness.
They instinctively sent their focus down to their feet, grounding themselves to avoid being thrown off balance.
The whole world around them seemed to have changed, as if they were caught in a full-blown natural disaster.
Standing atop the dragon's back, Larry steadied himself despite the shaking beneath him.
Taking in the scene, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of awe.
A storm like this was something he was sure would never be seen on the six continents.
The lightning, thunder, wind, and rain were so intense, it was no exaggeration to call this a true disaster.
If it were someone else, they wouldn't last a moment in this kind of weather.
The brutal storm reminded Larry of the Grand Line from "One Piece," where extreme weather is a common challenge.
But thanks to his strong and steady spirit, Larry managed to stay firm, even as the storm raged around him.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the boat, Bushidora stood in the control room, his hands glowing with a bright white light as countless pure spirits flowed out.
After gathering his aura for a moment, Bushidora pushed himself to release a steady stream of these spirits.
The spirits spread across the boat like a flowing river, forming a thin, foamy layer over its surface.
This technique, common among fishermen at sea, involves covering the boat with aura, which not only improves control but also acts as a protective shield.
Ginta has the unique ability to sense and control the flow of water around the boat, thanks to his Nen.
As someone skilled in releasing telekinetic aura, his control is incredibly strong, allowing him to easily send out large amounts of aura.
Wrapping his power around the entire vessel is no problem for him, as described in the original story.
One of Ginta's favorite pastimes is playing the "Thinking Ball Game" with his teammates.
This game isn't really a Nen ability itself but more like a way to practice using Nen aura.
The comics mention it's just a simple game where you create small balls of aura that float slowly around, and then you gradually increase the number of these balls.
Because Ginta is a master at releasing Nen, he always wins when competing with others in this game.
As Ginta's thoughts enveloped the hull, everyone on board felt much steadier, and the ship took much less impact from the rough waves.
The vessel even started to glow softly, a visible sign of Ginta's aura protecting them.
"Well done, Ginta!" Mizaistom shouted from the control room.
Ginta smiled slightly but reminded himself that there was no time to relax.
The main goal was to get out of this storm safely.