To be fair, the effects of the Six Desires remnants meant Zhou You retained more abilities than most people, but that did not mean he had nothing better to do than take on a Mechanism B head-on—especially when this B seemed to have an instant-kill ability.
But that raised another problem.
Where could he run?
Upstairs?
If the space here had warped like it had in the west, that would be a good choice. But if it hadn't... there was just a straight corridor and a few rooms up there. It was a dead end!
Outside, then?
The night was just as pitch-black, so dark he could not see his own hand. Most likely, it was still a trap.
After turning it over in his mind for a few seconds, Zhou You made his decision.
—Head out back.
He was unfamiliar with the rear of the inn, but whether it had changed or not, it was spacious. At least he would have room to maneuver.
He darted backward, sweeping past the counter. At that same moment, something hooked itself around the edge of the doorway.
It looked like a human hand, but the joints had mutated. On closer inspection, the whole thing resembled the claw of an enormous beast—and that alone would have been bad enough. The bigger problem was that the instant it caught hold of the building, the deep, uncanny darkness outside began seeping in!
Seeing this, Zhou You said nothing and picked up his pace.
But when he reached the rear courtyard, he could not help freezing.
Nothing here had changed.
And...
There was nothing extra here, either. Just a few living quarters, a kitchen, and a woodshed. That was all.
The footsteps behind him drew closer and closer. Even without looking back, Zhou You knew the