Breathing heavily, Rinko lifted his blade, his face calm but his eyes steely with determination. He took a step forward, poised to end the fight. "This train's not going anywhere near Vale," he said, his voice cold and resolute.Torchwick's smug grin twisted into a sneer as he raised his cane, pointing it directly at Rinko. "You'll pay for that!" he snarled, pulling the hidden trigger within the cane. A flash of light burst from the weapon as it fired an explosive projectile straight toward Rinko.Instinct kicked in. Rinko's shinobi reflexes, honed through countless battles, activated as he dashed toward the incoming projectile, moving in a blur. With precise timing, he sidestepped the explosion just as it detonated behind him, the force of the blast propelling him forward at breakneck speed. Dust and debris scattered in the air, shrouding the battlefield for a moment.Torchwick's eyes widened in surprise, his grip on the cane tightening. In an instant, Rinko was upon him, emerging from the cloud of smoke with lightning speed.Before Roman could react, Rinko drove a fist into his gut with brutal precision, knocking the air from his lungs. Torchwick doubled over, gasping in shock.Rinko followed up without hesitation, unsheathing his short sword in one swift motion and slashing at Roman's neck. His blade sang through the air, but Torchwick's Aura flared just in time, absorbing the impact.Even with his Aura softening the blow, the sheer force of Rinko's attack sent Torchwick flying into the air, his body twisting awkwardly.As he tumbled, he could barely comprehend what had happened-then he felt the sharp sting of Rinko's boot connecting with his jaw. The kick hit with stunning force, snapping Torchwick's head back as the impact sent him crashing into the wall of the train car.Roman collapsed to the floor in a heap, groaning in pain. His cane clattered to the ground, slipping from his fingers as he struggled to pull himself up. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his vision blurred from the onslaught.Rinko stood tall, his blade gleaming under the dim light of the train. His breathing was steady now, his focus unbroken. "It's over, Torchwick. You've lost," he said quietly, his tone leaving no room for doubt.Torchwick spat out a bit of blood, his body trembling as he fought to rise. "You...you little..." he muttered, but the strength was leaving him, and he knew it. His escape plan had failed.Rinko took slow, deliberate steps onto the cold metal floor of the train, his mind racing as he prepared for the impending confrontation. His heart sank as the doors to the previous carts burst open, revealing a hulking Faunus gripping Yang and Weiss by their heads, their struggles futile against his powerful hold.Behind them stood Neopolitan, her presence striking as she swung her parasol with an air of confidence and grace, a smirk playing on her lips.Torchwick leaned against the control panel, his grin widening as he took in the scene before him. "Well, isn't this a surprise?" he chuckled, his voice dripping with mockery. The smugness in his tone was palpable, and Rinko could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He was outnumbered, and the stakes had just risen dramatically.Rinko's gaze hardened, narrowing as he focused intently on the Faunus holding his sister. The sight ignited a fierce determination within him. "Let them go!" he shouted, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him.The Faunus chuckled darkly, tightening his grip as Yang and Weiss winced in pain. "And why would I do that?" he sneered, his eyes glinting with malice.Rinko stepped forward, drawing his sword with a swift motion. "Because if you don't, you'll regret it," he said, the confidence in his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.Torchwick raised an eyebrow, amused by Rinko's bravado. "Oh, really? And what are you going to do? You think you can take on all of us?"Rinko squared his shoulders, determination hardening his resolve as he prepared for the inevitable confrontation. Just as he began to formulate a plan, something unexpected happened-the Faunus's grip on Yang slackened, and she hit the ground with a heavy thud."Huh...?" The Faunus let out a confused exhale, his eyes widening in disbelief as he looked down. His arm had been severed cleanly at the elbow. Blood sprayed from the wound, splattering the metal floor beneath him. "ARGHH!" he screamed, dropping Weiss as he clutched the bleeding stump where his arm used to be.In the chaos, Rinko noticed a shift in the atmosphere. Neo's smug confidence faltered as her eyes widened in shock, her gaze turning toward the source of the sudden attack.Emerging from the shadows was Raven Branwen, her blade dripping with the Faunus's blood, her presence both commanding and menacing.Raven's piercing gaze locked onto Rinko's, and instead of the relief he had once expected, anger surged through him like a storm. She was the reason his father, Jacques Schnee, had been taken from him. The hatred he had buried beneath his calm exterior now flared to life."Rinko," Raven called out with authority, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Get Yang and your sister out of here. I'll handle this."But Rinko didn't move. His jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as he stepped toward Raven, completely ignoring the Faunus's agony. "You?" he said, his voice low and seething with barely controlled rage. "You have no right to order me around. After what you did, you think I'd ever listen to you?"Raven's expression remained cold, though there was a flicker of impatience in her eyes. "This isn't about us. You need to focus on saving them."Rinko's glare only hardened. "I don't take orders from you," he said, his tone icy. "I'm not letting you walk out of here like nothing happened."The Faunus, still clutching his bleeding stump, growled through gritted teeth, his eyes wild with rage. "You'll... both pay for this!" he spat, stumbling to his feet, desperate to regain control.But Rinko barely acknowledged him. His focus was entirely on Raven. "Get out of my way," he said firmly, lifting his blade. "Or I'll make you."Raven smirked, though there was no warmth in it. "You're letting your emotions blind you, Rinko. I didn't come here to fight you.""You think that matters?" Rinko's voice was steady, but the hatred behind his words was clear. "This fight is between us, whether you like it or not."The tension between them thickened, Raven's gaze holding steady as Rinko advanced. His stance was composed, but the fury simmering beneath the surface was palpable.Before either could make a move, the Faunus roared in desperation, throwing himself toward Rinko with reckless abandon. Without hesitation, Rinko sidestepped the wild attack, slashing his blade across the Faunus's torso, and sending him crashing to the ground.With the Faunus subdued, Rinko turned his cold gaze toward Raven, his eyes burning with a quiet intensity. The air between them was thick with tension, as if the very space they occupied was charged with unresolved animosity. Raven's hand hovered near her sword, her posture relaxed yet alert. She knew what was coming, and she met Rinko's icy stare with one of her own."You'll regret this grudge of yours," Raven said, her voice low and measured, as if she was speaking from experience.Rinko's grip tightened on his blade, his knuckles white. The memory of his father-of Jacques Schnee being taken by this very woman-flashed in his mind, fueling his rage. Composed as ever, his face betrayed none of the storm raging within him. His gaze never wavered, focused solely on Raven, as if nothing else in the world mattered at this moment."Maybe," Rinko muttered coldly, his voice calm but filled with an undercurrent of barely contained fury, "but I'll make sure you regret it first."Without another word, Rinko dashed forward, his speed almost blinding as he aimed his blade at Raven's throat. The sound of metal slicing through the air was sharp, deadly. But Raven was quicker. Her reflexes kicked in, and in an instant, her sword was out, blocking the strike with a resounding clash of steel.The force of Rinko's blow sent a shockwave through the air, but Raven stood her ground, her eyes narrowing as she parried the attack."You think you can best me, boy?" Raven growled, a slight smirk forming on her lips, though her eyes were deadly serious.Rinko didn't respond. His next move was already in motion as he shifted his weight and twisted his body, bringing his sword down in a swift diagonal slash aimed at her side. Raven sidestepped with expert precision, her blade cutting through the air as she countered with a quick, upward strike.Rinko ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding the edge of her blade. His movements were fluid, calculated, like a predator stalking its prey. But Raven was no stranger to combat, and she matched his every move with ease, her expression betraying no sign of strain.The two danced across the floor of the train, their blades clashing again and again, the metallic sounds echoing through the narrow space. Sparks flew with each contact, lighting up their faces in the dimly lit cart. Rinko's strikes were relentless, precise, but Raven's defense was impenetrable, her experience showing in every graceful motion."Is that all you've got, Schnee?" Raven taunted, her smirk growing as she deflected another one of Rinko's powerful blows. "You'll never be strong enough if you let your emotions control you."Rinko's eyes darkened at her words, his jaw clenched. "You don't get to talk about strength," he hissed, swinging his blade in a rapid, unpredictable pattern. "Not after what you did to my family."Raven's expression hardened at that, her playful smirk vanishing. "Your father wasn't worth saving," she said coldly, her voice laced with contempt. "You should thank me for taking him out of the picture."Rinko didn't respond. He spun low, feinting a strike to her legs before springing up, aiming for her exposed side. Raven anticipated the move, but just barely-his blade nicked her arm, drawing blood.She hissed in pain, taking a quick step back. "You've improved," she admitted, glancing at the cut, though her tone was anything but complimentary.Rinko didn't acknowledge her words. He pressed forward, not giving her a moment to recover. Their blades clashed once more, but now there was an added ferocity to Rinko's strikes, his movements becoming faster, more aggressive.Raven, however, remained calm. She parried his attacks with ease, but the slight narrowing of her eyes betrayed her realization-Rinko wasn't fighting just to win. He was fighting to prove something. To himself, to her.Suddenly, Raven moved with blinding speed, vanishing from her spot in a flash of red light, only to reappear behind Rinko. Before he could fully react, her blade was at his throat, the cold steel pressing against his skin."You're predictable," Raven whispered into his ear, her voice almost mocking. "You'll never beat me like this."For a split second, Rinko's world slowed, but instead of freezing, his mind raced. In a fluid motion, he twisted out of her grip, ducking under her sword with a roll, putting distance between them.Both stood there, breathing heavily, staring each other down, their blades at the ready."Predictable?" Rinko said, a rare smirk tugging at his lips. "I haven't even begun."[End]