Bertangkup opened its mouth slightly, and Lancelot stood firmly in the center. A blue light illuminated his eyes through his helmet, guiding their path.
"Now, our path becomes clearer," Gawain spoke.
"Behold Lancelot—he has become the very eyes of Bertangkup," Lamarok explained.
"What just happened? Is it moving now?!" Suria exclaimed, struggling to maintain her balance.
"Indeed, Bertangkup stirs," Bedivere warned, gesturing toward the yawning hollow behind him. "The journey will be rough—hold fast, lest you fall into its depths and find yourself colliding with our king."
Purnama turned to Gema, a worried expression on his face.
"That sword is not from this world. The power it emits... feels familiar. Why does Ria require such a dangerous object? Gema, you need to start talking."
"Purnama, you know I do not involve myself in royal affairs. I need to deliver it to her for something precious to me. As my old friend, I implore you to trust me on this," Gema replied, his tone serious.
At that moment, Purnama sighed, choosing to trust him, and shifted his gaze back to the sprawling plains ahead.
As Bertangkup approached the vast canal, an abandoned port town appeared on the far right.
"This fair burg, once teeming with the vibrant throngs of merchants and wayfarers journeying by iron bridge or seafaring vessel, now lies in an eerie silence. Since the passageways have been restricted to the minions of the Darkseed, it has become a desolate and forsaken haunt." Gareth explained.
They beheld a colossal gear near the town, a silent sentinel of a bygone era, once crucial in securing the steam bridge.
Bertangkup advanced, plunging into the tumultuous current. The rushing waters engulfed over half its massive form, testing its stability. The turbulent crossing sapped much of Arthur's Shakti as if the sea conspired to hinder their passage.
"Whoa!" Suria gasped, clinging to the hard surface formation as the colossal rock surged forward, plunging deeper into the wave's trough. "This is both exhilarating and terrifying!" Salt spray stung her eyes, and the wind whipped her hair across her face.
Dark clouds gathered ominously overhead, swirling like a tempestuous shroud, as rain fell in relentless sheets, drenching the land in a somber embrace. A splash of seawater surged up to strike Bertangkup's head, sprinkling those within its grasp.
The ascent of the titan was slow, and its progress through the churning sea was a laborious endeavor. No steam-powered ship was spotted on the waters that day, leaving only the whisper of the wind and the roar of the waves.
Yet, in time, the outline of land emerged from the mist, marked by the silhouette of another massive gear anchored upon the shore, its bridgehead starkly visible beneath its embrace.
As Bertangkup approached the land, its great hands formed a hook and a stair for those brave enough to ascend to the higher ground of Avalon. With a mighty rumble, Bertangkup opened its maw wider near its hand, beginning to petrify and transforming into a monument of stone.
Though the dark clouds had receded, the air remained thick with swirling steam, and the persistent rain continued to fall, drenching the sacred soil of Avalon in a relentless cascade.
"We must ascend with the aid of Bertangkup, my friends. Haste, let us be off!" Arthur said as he emerged from behind.
The hard surface of the titan facilitated their ascent.
Soon...
They beheld a majestic city divided into three grand sections from their elevated vantage. Avalon was encircled by a ring of waterway, safeguarding the town and harnessing the currents as a source of hydropower.
Three towering spires pierced the mist, continuously releasing steam plumes into the air, a testament to the city's industrious spirit.
"Why not use Bertangkup to fight the Darkseed? It could be helpful, right?" Suria asked.
"Or it could herald our doom. Little do we know that the wretched beast, Kelembai, commands the soulless thralls. We were fortunate to escape with our lives... yet I mourn the loss of three noble knights. If Bertangkup were to enter the fray, it could spell our end. The bitter truth is that I bear the weight of my knight's demise. Thus, I declare it a perilous folly," Arthur explained, his voice heavy with regret.
"You hear that, Purnama? It sounds like Kelembai is a next-level soul eater. Not only can he consume souls, but he can also manipulate them to his advantage," Gema added.
"Thou speakest true, Sir Gema. Kelembai binds the souls of the fallen to the soulless, wielding dominion over them. With the might of Bertangkup, it would serve only to enhance Kelembai's dark power..." Lancelot elaborated, his gaze unwavering.
"Well, that makes sense. Bertangkup is not a living creature, after all. I almost forgot that while crossing the canal..." Suria said.
"We need to report all this to Aurea later. The Darkseed is evolving to a different level," Purnama remarked, unease creeping into his voice at what Lancelot and Arthur had shared.
"I'm sorry, Arthur. I didn't mean to bring up those bad memories," Suria said apologetically, unaware of the situation.
"It matters not. None among us possesses full knowledge of this threat... We must press onward," Arthur replied resolutely, resuming his journey as his knights followed closely.
Gema, Purnama, and Suria trailed behind through the forest path that led to the steam city of Avalon, rain still falling like a sorrowful hymn around them. Their journey, though challenging, was a crucial step in the epic quest they had embarked upon.
Arthur and his knights stopped at a clearing where the path split into three junctions. The steam city of Avalon became increasingly visible, though fog and rain still hindered their sight.
"Here, brave souls, we must bid farewell. When you stand nigh unto the entrance, wait for Sol to align with the grand plate that spans the towers. The city shall be shrouded in momentary darkness, our signal to commence the assault. I pray that fortitude and fortune attend you all. Until our paths cross once more." Arthur instructed, gesturing toward the massive plate atop the towers as he laid bare the strategy for their impending assault.
Arthur's knights, who would not accompany him, knelt to receive a blessing before going their separate ways. Arthur tapped his Excalibur on the shoulders of Galahad, Gawain, Tristan, Bedivere, Lamorak, Palademes, and Gareth.
Despite the rain, rays of sunlight broke through the clouds, illuminating their path ahead.