Under the harsh fluorescent lights, Ji Jue had the surreal feeling that he was dreaming. 

He instinctively looked around. Aside from the people sprawled all over the floor, this seemed to be some kind of meeting room in complete disarray. Blood stained the walls, the ceiling, everything. Even the overpowering smell of disinfectant couldn't mask the stench of decay.

He blinked, and everything seemed slightly different for a moment, but the problem was… Wait, where’s my bike?! Horsey’s gone!

It hadn't come with him at all. Ji Jue reached for the holster beneath his ribs and came up empty. His gun was also gone, but when he checked his pockets, he found the corrupted bullets still safely tucked inside. His necklace, ring, and bell were all still on him as well.

A look of understanding dawned on his face. So alchemical items could be brought in after all. But the clothes he was wearing were just ordinary clothes, so why hadn't they disappeared too? Could it be that Horsey didn’t count as gear? Did the Time Ruin have some weirdly flexible rules about what could and couldn’t come in? 

Still groggy, his head pounding, Ji Jue tried to recall what had happened before he was dragged inside. 

After sensing that the location of the Time Ruin was rapidly approaching, his first instinct had been to gear up...