Inside the dimly lit museum, Zhang Wei stood before a display case showcasing ancient samurai armor. The cold, stale air hung heavy around him as he wiped dust from the glass, revealing the detailed craftsmanship beneath. His eyes narrowed as he studied the armor for a moment before nodding to himself. With a quick, deliberate motion, Zhang smashed the glass with the hilt of his spear, careful not to make too much noise. The sound of glass shattering echoed softly, but nothing stirred.He pulled the armor out, dismantling it carefully. He took the shoulder guards—small but sturdy—strapping them to his own shoulders. They would provide protection without restricting his movement. Next, he found a short sword, its blade still sharp despite its age. Zhang tested the weight of it in his hand, then tucked it into his belt.His eyes darted around the room, searching for more useful gear. He spotted a blade spear, sleek and balanced, perfect for keeping enemies at a distance. He grabbed a small war hammer next, feeling the heavy weight of it in his palm. It was a brutal weapon, designed for close combat. He slung it over his shoulder with a grim smile."These will do," he muttered to himself, his voice low but determined.Moving quickly, Zhang also strapped wrist armor onto his arms, finding the pieces lightweight yet strong. He glanced at the others as they scavenged the room. Maria was inspecting a bow and arrow set, pulling the string taut to test its tension. She nodded in approval and slung the bow over her shoulder, grabbing a quiver of arrows to go with it.Carter picked up a crossbow, loading it with a bolt and practicing the motion of firing. His face was focused as he quickly got the hang of it. Jason found a katana, its blade glinting faintly in the dusty light filtering through the cracked windows."Not bad," Carter muttered, holding the crossbow up to eye level. "I'll stick with this."They were all gathering their weapons, but Zhang's eyes never stopped moving. He spotted a dagger lying on a shelf and quickly pocketed it. His gaze then shifted to the exit. They weren't done yet—outside the museum, there was still much to scavenge."Let's move," Zhang said quietly. "The museum's given us what we need. Now we hit the streets."The group nodded, gathering their newly acquired weapons before slipping out of the side entrance. The city lay before them, quiet but tense. Monsters roamed the streets, and the buildings were ruins of their former selves. They moved cautiously, crouching low as they navigated the maze of alleyways and debris-filled streets."Over there," Jason whispered, pointing to a convenience store just across the street. "Might be something left inside."Zhang nodded, signaling for the group to follow. They moved in silence, sticking close to the walls and avoiding the main road. A low growl echoed in the distance, but they didn't stop. They couldn't afford to linger.Inside the store, it was dim and abandoned, shelves knocked over and items scattered across the floor. But there were still supplies to be found. Zhang headed straight for the back, searching the fridges for anything salvageable."Grab what you can," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.Maria found some instant noodles, stuffing them into her bag quickly. Carter located a stash of frozen food, most of it spoiled, but a few packages of frozen meat were still sealed. He took those, wrapping them in cloth to keep them cold as long as possible. Jason found water bottles, slipping them into his backpack.Zhang rummaged through the shelves and pulled out a sturdy rope, coiling it around his arm. He also found a stash of alcohol bottles in the corner. Grabbing a few, he poured them into plastic bags, sealing them tight. If they needed to make fire or disinfect wounds, this would come in handy."Bandages," Maria muttered as she opened a drawer near the counter. She pulled out rolls of clean bandages and tossed some to Zhang, who nodded in thanks. There were a few boxes of painkillers and basic meds as well, which she quickly packed into her bag."Looks like that's everything," Jason said quietly, glancing around the store one last time. "Not much left, but we'll make do."Zhang stood by the door, peering out into the street. The air was still and heavy, the dark clouds above promising more rain. A chill ran through him as he listened carefully for any sign of movement outside. The distant growls had stopped for now, but that didn't mean they were safe."Let's get out of here," he whispered. "We've got what we need. Now we head for the safehouse."They moved quickly, crouching low as they made their way out of the store and back into the street. The city was a wasteland of twisted metal, shattered glass, and crumbling buildings. Cars lay overturned, some hanging precariously from broken structures. The air felt thick with tension as they moved, every sound amplified in the stillness.As they navigated through the narrow alleyways, they kept to the blind spots of the monsters. Zhang led them carefully, watching the creatures as they roamed the streets ahead. They ducked behind abandoned cars, crawled under fallen debris, and kept their breathing shallow.At one point, they witnessed a large creature lumbering down the street, its grotesque form silhouetted against the dim light. The group huddled together behind a collapsed building, waiting for the creature to pass. Its heavy footsteps shook the ground, but it didn't notice them as it continued down the road."Stay low," Zhang muttered as they moved again, keeping out of sight.They continued their slow journey through the city, scavenging where they could and avoiding detection from the monsters. As they moved, the weight of the situation settled on their shoulders. The city was no longer theirs—it belonged to the creatures now. But Zhang was determined to survive, and so were they.After hours of carefully navigating the streets, they reached their destination—a small, hidden safehouse tucked away in the far corner of the city. It wasn't much, but it would provide shelter for the night.Zhang pushed open the door, and the group quickly filed in, grateful to be off the streets. They unpacked their scavenged supplies, laying everything out on the floor."Not bad," Jason muttered as he looked over the food, water, and weapons they had gathered.Zhang nodded, his eyes scanning the room. "It's enough for now. We'll rest here tonight and plan our next move in the morning."They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their journey settling in. The war outside wasn't over, and the monsters still roamed the city. But for now, they had what they needed—and they had each other.Zhang glanced out the small window, watching as the clouds above darkened, signaling the coming storm. The battle wasn't over yet, but they were ready for whatever came next.4o