NIGHT WATCH

*Chapter 30: Nightwatch Rising*

The city slumbered under a blanket of midnight clouds when Li Wei's group gathered at the academy's hidden garage—adrenaline buzzing through their veins. Gone were their student robes; now each wore the runed suit and angular mask provided by Headmistress Zhou. They looked at each other in awe, transformed: Jin Ming stretched in his dark car, grinning as its engine purred; Yan and Mei Fen adjusted the mirrored visors on their silent, rune-lined bikes; Bao Yu gripped the wheel of his eco-van with newfound confidence, blending nervy excitement with pride.

Their earpieces crackled to life—Li Wei's voice, calm and resolute as captain: *Nightwatch, roll out.* One after another, headlights flickered and engines rumbled down the campus's shadowy drive, invisible to early risers or curious night staff.

The plan was simple: make circuit patrols through the city center and riverside district, watching for anything strange. No magic unless there was no other way—and above all, keep their cover. It was all nerves and banter at first, Mei Fen playfully racing Yan through the empty marketplace, Jin Ming taunting his own reflection as he zipped past closed shopfronts. But as they crossed into the old warehouse district, Bao Yu's comms pinged urgent: "Guys, trouble on Harbour Road—masked figures, same type from the village. Three, maybe four."

Within moments, the team slipped into position: cars blocked alley escape, bikes darted to cut off retreat, while Li Wei and Chen Xiulan advanced on foot, blending with the shadows. The confrontation exploded fast—no spells, just movement and muscle.

- Jin Ming broke cover first, leaping from his car as two attackers surged towards him. He dodged low, using his arms to drive one back into the van before sweeping his legs in a textbook judo scissor, flooring his opponent.

- Yan and Mei Fen burst from their bikes, Yan's staff a blur of rotating defense and sudden jabs. Mei Fen feinted left with a high kick, slipped under a punch, and spun her bike helmet like a shield to bash an attacker's head.

- Chen Xiulan ran up a parked delivery van, launching herself off its roof and landing squarely between two foes. Her mask gleamed as she blocked a wild punch, grabbed a sleeve, and flipped her attacker onto the pavement before rolling away and using a wrist lock to disarm another.

- Bao Yu, never the biggest fighter, coordinated from behind—sliding car doors open to trap one enemy, then tossing rope for Rui (who'd ridden along) to hogtie the still-struggling foe. He even used illusion runes to make shadows move, spooking the last attacker and letting Li Wei tackle him from behind.

The brawl was quick, brutal, and breathtaking—every teammate moving in sync with their training and instincts. All but one masked figure was caught, but their escape was cut off by Yan, who blocked the alley exit. The remaining foe hissed, dropped a black feather, and melted into the night—leaving only a cryptic warning scrawled on the wall: *Not your city after all.*

Breathing hard, the team regrouped, bruised but exhilarated. They gathered the feathers, examined the message, and melted back into the city as Headmistress Zhou's voice came gently over the line: "Well done, Nightwatch. The city is safer tonight—and your legend has begun."