ZERO ONE: ONE HOPE!

"The Rusty Bucket" let out a sound like the snores of an old man forced to run a marathon.

The sound was interspersed with violent coughs from its exhausted steam engine. Thick, acrid black smoke billowed from its exhaust pipe, leaving behind an unpleasant aroma that would probably make even flies reluctant to approach.

But, despite looking like a pile of junk ready to fall apart, its will to press on was no less than that of a legendary ship.

With a will of steel and accompanied by protesting creaks from every joint, "The Rusty Bucket" continued to lurch forward, carrying Hariel and his new crew towards the mouth of the Gizmograd Gate, which was now in sight.

This wasn't just an ordinary gate. It was a statement.

A mad and stunning mechanical masterpiece.

Before them, a gigantic gear the size of a small mountain, made entirely of metal that gleamed coldly under the twilight, rotated slowly but ceaselessly with a constant, deep rumbling sound. Its massive teeth, each the size of a house, seemed to be the beating heart of this mechanical city—a sound that sent shivers down the spine.

That majestic and terrifying aura seemed to make "The Rusty Bucket" lose its nerve. Its already coughing engine now sounded even more hoarse, and its entire frame shuddered violently as if it had a case of stage fright.

Sensing his "iron horse" was feeling daunted, Hariel patted one of the vehicle's dented-pot sides with spirit.

"Come on, Rasty! You can do it! We're almost there!" he shouted, encouraging his beloved pile of junk.

His cheer was seemingly swallowed whole by the dark, arched opening in the center of the colossal gear. The mouth of an ancient mechanical monster, ready to devour anything that dared to approach.

"I-i-is... this... really... the gate?" Hariel asked, his voice catching, his eyes wide with disbelief.

He had seen sketches of this gate many times in his Grandfather's books, but seeing it in person... it was like his wildest dreams come true, in a version that was far larger and more intimidating.

"That it is, Captain," Bolt answered flatly, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. He and the others had been here several times, but the feeling of dread and insignificance every time they had to pass through this gate never went away.

"Feels like we're about to become a snack for a metal shredder..." Wrench muttered from the back, hugging her favorite hammer tightly.

"Don't you worry, my friends!" Hariel suddenly exclaimed, breaking the tension. His smile was wide and confident. "This is going to be a thrilling experience!"

His eyes, in fact, were sparkling with enthusiasm, like a child just let loose in the world's largest toy store.

"Hey, Lumi," Hariel whispered, touching his blue pendant. "The gate is awesome, isn't it?"

"I can see that for myself, you tacky kid," Lumi replied from within the pendant, her tone annoyed. "And don't just call out to me in public!"

"Who's gonna hear you over all this noise?" Hariel chuckled. "This engine is louder than a combination of Grandpa's farts and Gorzuga's roar!"

"Hold on tight, everyone!" Grease suddenly shouted from the front. "We're going in!"

Before Hariel could ask why, "The Rusty Bucket," with a long, protesting screeeech, shot into the dark opening.

WHOOSH! THUD! SCREEECH!

Hariel felt like he was thrown into a giant washing machine on a super-fast spin cycle, then spat out into another world.

A world where the sky was made of a network of rusty metal pipes. Its clouds were puffs of hot steam. And its sun was the reflection of light from thousands of other giant gears spinning at various heights.

Gizmograd!

This city was truly a beautiful dream come true for mad engineers. The buildings here were beyond reason. An observation tower made of hundreds of metal pipes coiled like a mechanical boa constrictor. Office buildings shaped like giant bolts driven into the ground. And everywhere, there were gears! Big, small, all spinning, interlocking with baffling precision, creating a symphony of clanks and creaks that was the city's background music.

Strange vehicles zipped by on the streets. Steam-powered roller skates. Walking steam kettles.

And...

WHAT WAS THAT THING THAT JUST FLOATED OVER THEIR HEADS?!

A FLYING MECHANICAL WHALE WITH LAMPS FOR EYES?!

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOWWW...! AMAZING! THIS IS INSANE!" Hariel screamed at the top of his lungs, his eyes spinning as he tried to take in all the incredible sights around him. "THIS IS THE COOLEST, WEIRDEST, AND CRAZIEST CITY I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!"

"Your reaction is a bit over the top, don't you think, Captain?" Bolt commented from the driver's seat, his face a little pale from the jolt.

"Over the top, you say?!" Hariel turned quickly, pouting. "This is UNBELIEVABLY COOL! This is a MASTERPIECE OF WILD IMAGINATION!"

"Whatever you say," Bolt said, shrugging in resignation.

"The Rusty Bucket" continued on, navigating the busy streets of Gizmograd. Hariel saw street-sweeping robots, package-delivery robots, and even a robot playing music on a street corner with an instrument made of old pipes and empty cans.

"Don't get your hopes up," Lumi chimed in from the pendant as Hariel muttered about finding 'Hellfire Crackers'. "We don't even know where we're sleeping tonight."

"Don't worry, Lumi," Hariel replied in his mind. "I've got a good feeling! I'm sure we'll find a place to rest and... ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT DELICIOUS FOOD!"

He turned to his crew. "Hey, everyone! To celebrate the start of our adventure, dinner's on me! How about it?"

The faces of the five ex-bandits immediately brightened. "Of course we're in, Captain!" Bolt answered quickly, speaking for the others.

"Awesome! Let's find the greatest tavern in all of Gizmograd!" Hariel exclaimed. But then, his face suddenly turned puzzled. "Where can we even find a place to eat in a city this weird? Everything looks like a giant workshop..."

He was right. There were only metal buildings, giant machines, and people walking around with serious faces.

"Why... isn't there a single restaurant in sight?" Hariel asked, starting to panic. "Do people here just eat nuts and bolts mixed with oil?!"

After driving for a while longer and with Hariel's stomach rumbling ever louder, they unintentionally arrived in a very different area. The buildings here were grubbier, with piles of scrap metal and junked machines strewn everywhere.

"This is Junkyard Junction, Captain," Bolt answered. "The city's garbage dump and flea market district."

Suddenly, amidst the sea of junk, Hariel's nose caught the faint aroma of cooking.

"There it is! I smell it!" he exclaimed, pointing to the most dilapidated little building at the end of the street. Above its slanted door, a faded sign read: "The Mad Wheel Stall".

They peeked through the cracked windows. Inside, a few figures were sitting and seemed to be enjoying their food. Although the place was grimy, the aroma wafting from within... was unbelievably tempting!

"Finally! Food!"

Without waiting for approval, Hariel burst inside. They managed to get a table made from an old oil drum and ordered their food.

"I want the most special thing you have! The one that tastes the most... Gizmograd-y!" Hariel ordered loudly.

The stall's owner, a short, stout old man with a bald head and a few gold teeth, grinned wide. "Hohoho, in that case, you have to try our signature dish! It's called 'Gear-Grind Goulash'!"

"A super-thick meat soup with choice metal chunks, mutant vegetables, and our secret family recipe spice blend," the old man continued. "Guaranteed to keep you awake for a week!"

"I'll have one super-sized portion, Gramps!"

Soon, Hariel's order arrived. The presentation was just as unique. The "Gear-Grind Goulash" was served in a bowl made from a dented security guard's helmet. The spoon was a bent, rusty wrench.

And the contents?

The meat was chewy, with a strange, cold metallic aftertaste. The vegetables were shaped like mini gears, nuts, and bolts. The broth was a thick, greenish-brown color, with a strong spicy aroma and a hint of... engine oil? And most surprisingly, as a garnish, there were small, silver-colored metal shavings that looked as crunchy as pork rinds!

"This... is safe for human consumption, right, Gramps?" Hariel asked hesitantly.

The old man roared with laughter. "Of course it's safe, son!"

He patted his round belly.

"The metal is choice metal! The vegetables... well, let's just hope they're not poisonous today! Hohoho!"