As the first light of dawn crept through the treetops, Zhang Wei led the group of survivors through the forest. The air was still damp from the rain, and the sound of distant growls and screeches from the monsters echoed in the distance. The group moved in silence, crouched low and sticking to the shadows. Every step was cautious, every movement deliberate. Zhang had taken the lead, his eyes sharp and focused on their surroundings."Stay close," Zhang muttered under his breath, glancing back at the group. Carter, Maria, Jason, and the others followed, their faces tense and focused. The forest wasn't safe, but it was quieter now, at least for the moment.Ahead, Zhang saw movement—a small, twisted creature sniffing at the ground. He motioned to the group to stop, crouching lower. The monster was about the size of a dog, its skin mottled and covered in jagged spines. It hadn't seen them yet. Zhang signaled to Maria, who was crouched beside him, her hands gripping a makeshift spear."Now," Zhang whispered.Maria moved swiftly, her body low to the ground. With a quick thrust, she drove the spear into the creature's neck. It let out a soft gurgle before collapsing into the mud. Zhang quickly dragged the body into the bushes, hiding the evidence of their presence."Let's keep moving," he muttered, wiping his hands on his pants and leading the group forward. The forest gave way to the edge of the city—a ruined, desolate place. Buildings stood half-collapsed, and cars were overturned in the streets. The once bustling city was now a graveyard, overrun by monsters and destruction.Zhang paused at the city's entrance, crouching behind a fallen tree. He pulled out the map, his eyes scanning it quickly."Why are we heading into the city?" Jason whispered, his voice barely audible over the distant sounds of monsters roaming the streets. "We're sitting ducks out here.""We need supplies," Zhang replied calmly, his eyes never leaving the map. "We won't survive long with kitchen knives and gardening tools."Carter frowned, peering over Zhang's shoulder at the map. "Supplies? Why not hit a police station? Or a shop? We could get guns, ammo, something useful."Zhang shook his head and pointed to a spot on the map. "It's too loud. The moment we make noise, we'll have every monster in the area coming down on us. We're heading to the museum. It's quieter, less likely to draw attention.""The museum?" Maria raised an eyebrow. "What are we going to find in a museum? Old swords and spears?""Exactly," Zhang said. "Weapons that don't run out of ammo, that don't jam. We can use those to defend ourselves until we find something better."The group exchanged glances but didn't argue. Zhang had kept them alive so far, and they trusted his instincts. He folded the map and slipped it into his jacket pocket, then motioned for the group to follow.The city was eerily quiet, save for the distant screeches of monsters in the distance. Zhang led the group down narrow alleyways, sticking to the shadows. They moved slowly, crouching low, staying close to the walls of the crumbling buildings. Every now and then, they'd stop and listen, scanning the area for any signs of danger.At one point, a massive creature—tall as a building—lumbered down the street ahead of them. It had long, twisted limbs and glowing eyes that pierced through the darkness. The group froze, holding their breath as the monster stomped past, oblivious to their presence.Zhang whispered, "Stay in its blind spot... move slowly."They crept forward, hugging the wall, moving just out of the creature's line of sight. The ground trembled with each step the beast took, but the group managed to slip past unnoticed. Zhang let out a small sigh of relief once they were clear.As they continued, the streets became narrower, and the buildings taller, creating long stretches of shadow for them to hide in. Zhang crouched low, crawling under a collapsed billboard that blocked part of the road. Behind him, the others followed, moving with as little noise as possible."Zhang," Jason whispered as they passed a row of abandoned shops. "Why don't we stop here? There might be food, supplies...""Too dangerous," Zhang muttered, his eyes fixed ahead. "We're almost at the museum. That's our priority. Food comes next."The group moved on, dodging debris and monsters as they made their way through the ruined city. At one point, they crawled through a hole in a wall, navigating through the remains of a once-bustling shopping district. Cars were overturned, their windows shattered, and the occasional distant roar reminded them of the constant danger.Finally, after what felt like hours, the museum came into view. It stood tall at the end of the street, its stone walls still intact, though the entrance was blocked by debris. Zhang motioned for the group to stop, crouching behind an overturned car."We'll enter from the side," he said quietly. "Stay low, stay quiet. There's bound to be something in there we can use."Carter nodded, gripping his knife. "Lead the way."Zhang led them around the side of the museum, finding a small entrance that had been forced open. They slipped inside, the air thick with dust and silence. Inside, the museum was dark, save for the faint light filtering through cracks in the walls and ceiling. Statues of warriors lined the halls, and old weapons—swords, spears, shields—were mounted on the walls."Perfect," Zhang whispered. "Let's arm up."The group quickly scavenged what they could. Zhang picked up a spear, testing its weight before nodding in approval. Maria grabbed a long sword, while Carter took a large, curved blade. Jason found a shield, its metal surface dented but still sturdy.As they prepared to leave, Zhang paused, glancing at the map again. "We'll move through the city carefully. No loud noises, no fights unless necessary. If we run into trouble, we fall back."The group nodded in agreement, their faces set in determination. They were armed now, but the city was still a dangerous place. Zhang led them out of the museum, and they continued their journey, navigating through the crumbling streets, hiding from the monsters, and moving ever closer to their next objective.The war wasn't over, and survival was still uncertain, but they had a plan—and for now, that was enough.