Zhang Wei sat against the crumbling wall of the pharmacy, his breath shallow, his hand gripping his side where he'd stitched himself up. The rain continued to pour outside, masking the sounds of the ruined city. He had bandaged the wound, taking what little meds he could find on the shelves. Painkillers, antibiotics—he knew exactly what to take. Years of getting patched up after missions had taught him which meds would keep him moving, even when his body was screaming for rest.The cold medicine dulled the sharp edge of pain, but it couldn't stop the weariness creeping into his bones. Zhang leaned his head back, trying to steady his breathing, his mind racing. He needed to keep alert. The demons wouldn't stop hunting, and the rain could only hide him for so long.His heart began to settle, the adrenaline from before fading. Just as his breathing finally calmed, he heard something—a soft thud. Footsteps.Zhang's body tensed immediately. His eyes scanned the dim room, ears straining to pick up the sound again. Another thud. Closer this time. Something was moving outside, tracking him through the rain. He could hear the heavy, wet footfalls, slow but deliberate, getting closer to the pharmacy's entrance."Damn it," Zhang muttered under his breath.He quickly grabbed a long metal frame from a nearby shelf. It was rusted, its edge crooked and jagged, but sharp enough to kill. He tested its weight in his hand, his fingers tightening around it. The makeshift weapon would have to do. No guns, no grenades, just this and his instincts.The sound of footsteps grew louder, accompanied by a low, guttural growl. Something was sniffing the air, following the faint scent of blood that the rain hadn't completely washed away.Zhang moved swiftly, ducking under a pile of rubble near the back of the pharmacy. He pressed his body against the cold stone, hiding in the shadows. His breath came out slow and steady as he waited, heart pounding in his ears. His hand gripped the metal frame tightly, ready to strike.The creature entered the ruined pharmacy, its hulking frame blocking what little light seeped through the shattered windows. It stood over eight feet tall, its massive shoulders hunched, arms dangling low to the ground. The thing was humanoid in shape but grotesque. Its skin was dark, covered in patches of coarse, oily fur, and its fingers ended in long, sharp claws. Razor-sharp teeth glistened as it opened its mouth, taking in deep breaths through flared nostrils.Zhang froze as the creature moved closer, its head twitching slightly as it sniffed the air, locking onto the faint scent of his blood. The rain outside was still coming down hard, but the beast could smell him through it. Its eyes glowed a faint yellow in the darkness, scanning the room with a menacing hunger.It let out a low snarl and bent down, closer to the ground, its nostrils flaring as it followed the trail of Zhang's scent. Zhang's grip tightened on the metal frame, his knuckles turning white. The creature's massive claws scratched at the ground, inches from where Zhang was hidden.Zhang didn't move. He couldn't. The monster's breath was hot and foul, its huge form looming over him. He had to time it perfectly. One wrong move, and those claws would tear him apart.The creature bent lower, sniffing the ground, trying to pinpoint the exact location of its prey. Its eye was nearly level with the rubble where Zhang was hiding. This was the moment.With a sudden burst of strength, Zhang lunged from the shadows, thrusting the jagged metal frame straight into the creature's eye. The frame pierced deep, crunching through bone with a sickening sound. The creature's eye popped, black blood spraying out as Zhang pushed the weapon with all his strength.The monster let out a soft gurgle, its body jerking in shock, but no sound came. Zhang had hit the perfect spot—straight into its brain. The creature's massive form shuddered, its claws twitching once before it collapsed to the ground, the frame still embedded deep in its skull.Zhang didn't let go until he was sure it was dead. The creature's body went limp, its weight crashing against the rubble with a dull thud. Silence returned, except for the steady patter of rain outside.Zhang slumped against the wall, breathing heavily. His heart was racing, but he forced himself to stay calm. He pulled the metal frame from the monster's skull with a grunt, wiping the black blood off against the rubble. His hands shook slightly, but he didn't let it show. He couldn't afford to show weakness. Not now.The rain continued to fall, washing away the evidence of the kill. Zhang glanced at the dead creature's massive form, then looked back out into the darkness beyond the pharmacy. There would be more. There were always more.But for now, he had survived. One more day. One more step closer to finding his team. Zhang's eyes narrowed as he stood up, his body aching but still strong. He knew the fight wasn't over.It had only just begun.