Eclipse || Seongjoong

Chapter 1: Mother Nature's Wrath

The warm wind filled with salt hit Hongjoong's face. Water splashed violently on the sides of the Destiny ship. The waters swayed the mighty boat from side to side, causing any weak man to tremble from sea sickness and stumble with every step.

The waves caused water to splash onto the ship, the crew rushing fast to take any water they could grab out of the ship.

Despite the clear skies, the dark clouds ahead warned any soul willing to listen to its pleading to turn away. Lightning flashed in what seemed every color, thunders causing the ship to shake from the vibration even miles away from it—waves big as a castle, waiting to devour any fool that crossed its path.

Captain Hongjoong was no fool, crazy, but no fool.

He had a plan, and he was going to follow it. No storm or monster would stand in his path to get his treasure. Ambition at heart, the Captain only smiled at the face of danger, getting a kick out of the near possibility that he might face his doom and meet the beautiful goddess of death.

"Keep 'er clear, boys!" Hongjoong shouted, holding tight to the steering wheel, begging to turn away from the storm. "We 'nt got all day!"

"Yes, Captain!" The crew shouted simultaneously, running even quicker to follow their Captain's orders.

Hongjoong smiled, fighting with the wind herself to keep Destiny on its path to greatness. His coat blew in the wind despite it being soaked with water, and his sword reminded him that it was there with little taps on his calf.

It was thrilling, really. Seeing the chaos and madness, Mother Nature could bring upon the world. It was taunting Hongjoong, telling him, ' he would not dare to face such horrors.'

But, Hongjoong was in love with Mother Nature, doing everything in his power to prove himself worthy as her champion.

"Stay strong, lads!" Hongjoong chuckled, smiling as he felt the ship drop into the pit of a mighty wave. "M'ther Nature 'll not take weak rats as 'er bride!"

"Aye!"

"Captain," Hongjoong's first mate called out. "We must prepare for the worse!"

"I know, Yunho," Hongjoong gave his first mate, Yunho, a crazed grin. "Ye should know we a'ways prepare for the worse!"

Yunho nodded, going down to the deck to help.

Every man on the Destiny ship knew that every day was not a promise but a gamble. One day might be a calm sea, blue sky, and the sun bright and warm. The next might be a mighty storm such as this one, blowing any victim weak enough with a single kiss.

Licking the salt off his lips, Hongjoong narrowed his eyes as waves crashed onto the deck, flooding it with the tears of an angered Mother Nature. Her tears came from above; her eyes darkened like the clouds above him.

"Say," Hongjong shouted up into the clouds. "What has made ye angry, M'ther?"

Thunder and lighting were her only reply, warning him not to travel further into her chaos. However, Hongjong was always a stubborn man since childhood.

If he wanted something, he was going to get it. No matter the fight, pain, and sacrifice, once he set his heart on something...he was bound to get it.

"Captain!"

"Aye?" Hongjoong turned to see his gunman and Helmsman, Mingi, holding an injured man.

"A barrel hit 'em in the head," Mingi dragged him down the stairs. "He needs to go in."

"Aye!" Hongjoong stiffened his hand around the wheel. "Take 'em down. Once he recovers, powder monkey is what he'll be!"

"Aye, aye, captain!"