As Raven attempted to slice through Kakashi, he deftly evaded each strike with his nimble movements, slipping through her attacks like water. Spotting an opening, Kakashi moved in, swiftly pressing his palm against her wrist to disrupt her grip. Raven's sword clattered to the ground, momentarily out of reach.Eyes wide with surprise, Raven staggered back, caught off guard by Kakashi's sudden counter.Recovering quickly, she twisted around, using the momentum to deliver a powerful kick to Kakashi's chest. The force sent him flying back, skidding across the floor as he steadied himself.With a fierce glint in his eye, Rinko rose from the ground, unfazed by the impact. His gaze held steady on Raven, a hardened resolve burning within him.She retrieved her sword, the blade glinting coldly as she leveled it at him. "So, you really want your father back that badly, huh, Rinko?" she taunted, her voice dripping with scorn.Rinko's jaw tightened, eyes narrowing. "He still owes me something."Raven arched an eyebrow, her smirk tinged with mock curiosity. "And what would that be?"Rinko held her gaze, grip tightening on his short sword as years of resentment flashed across his face. "Being a real father."Without another word, he launched forward, movements swift and relentless, his blade aimed directly at her heart. The slash came down with unwavering intent, but Raven sidestepped, her blade flashing up in a sharp parry as steel clashed against steel.She met his gaze, her own amusement fading into something sharper. "You know what type of person he is, he's a selfish asshole." she sneered, retaliating with a powerful swing that nearly grazed his cheek.Rinko twisted away, each move calculated as he closed in on her. His strikes reflected years of disappointment and unanswered questions. Neo, seizing the opportunity, dashed toward Torchwick. In one swift motion, she grabbed him by the arm, her parasol twirling in her other hand. Torchwick, still dazed from Rinko's earlier strike, managed to smirk as he realized what was happening."Time to make our exit, Neo?" Torchwick muttered, a mixture of relief and frustration in his voice.Neo gave a small, curt nod. Without hesitation, she activated her Semblance—Mirage. The air around them shimmered like heatwaves, and in seconds, she and Torchwick vanished from sight, leaving nothing but a faint ripple where they once stood.Meanwhile, Rinko and Raven continued their fierce clash, blades flashing and ringing with each strike. Finally, Raven, clearly having had enough, delivered a forceful push, sending Rinko sliding across the room. He landed gracefully at the far corner, his stance steady as he faced her down.Raven's gaze narrowed. "I don't have time to play these silly games with you, Schnee. Take Yang and your precious sister and leave." Without waiting for a response, she slashed the air, activating her portal semblance.As Raven stepped through the swirling rift, Rinko's eyes sharpened with determination. In a blur of movement, he lunged forward, diving through the portal just before it sealed. He burst out on the other side, colliding with Raven mid-step. They hit the ground, rolling in a flurry of limbs and dust as the sudden impact sent them tumbling across the floor."What—?!" Raven's voice broke in shock, her composure shattered as she fought to regain her balance. Using the momentum, she managed to push Rinko off with a forceful kick, sending him skidding back. 'He's faster than I thought,' she thought, a flash of both annoyance and admiration in her eyes as they both scrambled to their feet, unscathed but ready for more.In a heartbeat, Rinko—now fully focused—dashed toward her, closing the gap with his short sword raised. Raven barely managed to sidestep, the blade grazing a few strands of her hair as she pivoted, her instincts kicking in."Still clinging to this grudge, Rinko?" she taunted, gripping her sword tightly as she steadied her stance, her voice dripping with mock amusement. "I thought you'd have outgrown it by now."Rinko's eyes narrowed, unfazed by her words. "Funny, I was about to say the same thing about running away," he shot back coolly, his tone sharp and unyielding. He lunged again, this time feinting with his blade before aiming a swift kick toward her torso.Raven deflected with her forearm, twisting around and countering with a swift slice of her sword. Rinko parried, their weapons clashing in a burst of sparks as each pushed against the other, neither willing to yield an inch."Your strength won't be enough, Rinko," Raven said through gritted teeth, meeting his unflinching gaze. She pushed him back with a sudden surge of power, but he landed gracefully, already preparing for the next attack.Raven steadied herself, the faint smile never fading. "If you're so desperate to keep fighting, then let's see just how much of a Schnee you really are."Behind Rinko, murmurs began to stir; Raven's followers had noticed the commotion. Rinko's gaze flicked momentarily to the shadows of her camp, his mind assessing the new danger. This is bad, he thought, realizing the fight was about to turn from a personal clash to a standoff.In a swift, calculated motion, Rinko pulled back his sword and delivered a sharp kick to Raven's knee, causing her to stagger. She dropped, momentarily thrown off balance. Wasting no time, Rinko advanced, his blade flashing as he struck a powerful slash across her chest.Raven's aura crackled in protest, the force of Rinko's strike overwhelming its defenses until it finally shattered. Raven gritted her teeth, her initial confidence slipping as she felt the sting of vulnerability. She met his cold gaze, now realizing just how unyielding his resolve was.Around them, her followers began to step forward, closing in to defend their leader. Rinko, breathing heavily but steadily, raised his blade, and prepared for whatever came next. "Back off," he growled, voice low but laced with a warning, daring anyone to challenge him.But Raven raised a hand, signaling them to stop. She held his gaze, a strange respect now mixing with the lingering bitterness in her eyes. "This isn't over, Rinko," she said, voice steady despite her aura's collapse. "But you've proved something... and I'll be sure to remember it."With that, she slowly rose, still keeping a careful distance, a silent agreement passing between them. Rinko lowered his sword, his eyes never leaving her, as both realized this battle would have to wait for another time."R-Rinko?" A voice from behind caught Rinko's attention. This voice...!'Father?!' Kakashi turned as he saw a glimpse of Jacques Schnee from the distance, in a metal cage designed to hold giant Grimm like an Ursa.Just as the recognition settled in, the bandits lunged forward with a battle cry. "Get him!" they yelled, closing in on Rinko with drawn weapons. But he was ready.With swift, precise movements, he sidestepped the first attacker, ducking under a swinging blade. As another bandit attempted to strike, Rinko spun, slipping out of their reach with practiced ease. Leaping over a third assailant, he landed gracefully behind them, his expression calm but lethal.He advanced quickly, dispatching the bandits with calculated strikes and evading each attempt to subdue him. His focus remained razor-sharp, all while his thoughts lingered on the sight of his father—a man he thought he'd forgotten but now couldn't ignore.As the last bandit fell, Rinko turned to face Raven, who stood watching him, her expression unreadable but tinged with something dangerously close to disdain. Rinko clenched his jaw, his voice low and resolute. "This isn't over, Raven. I'll be taking him with me."Raven's eyes narrowed, fury igniting in her gaze. "You piece of—!" Knowing her aura was still recharging, she threw herself forward with reckless determination, charging at him as if her only chance was to overwhelm him with sheer force."Father! I'll get you out of here!" Rinko called, sparing a glance toward the cage."S-son! Watch out!" Jacques cried, his voice laced with panic.Rinko twisted back around just in time to intercept Raven's blade, the force of her strike making his muscles strain as he absorbed the blow. "Rnghh!" he grunted, his back slamming hard against the iron cage, sending reverberations through the metal bars.Raven's eyes blazed. "You think you can just swoop in here and ruin everything?!" she hissed, pressing her weight into the blade, trying to break through his guard."And you think you can destroy what's left of my family?!" Rinko's retort was sharp, his eyes blazing with conviction. With a surge of strength, he broke free from her pressure, pushing her backward with a forceful shove."Enough!" Raven's fierce cry echoed as she lunged forward, her blade slicing through the air with lethal intent. But Rinko, his stance grounded in precise focus, caught the slight crack in her defense. In a swift counter, he sidestepped her strike, pivoting with calculated speed, and drove his blade into her side.Raven's eyes widened, her breath catching in shock. She staggered back, her hand instinctively moving to the wound. "W-what...?" she gasped, her voice laced with pain and disbelief as she felt her aura failing."This ends here," Rinko declared, his eyes fierce, resolved. But Raven's expression hardened through the pain. In a last surge of willpower, she raised her hand, summoning her Semblance once more. A dark portal flared open behind her, swirling ominously. Before Rinko could react, she grabbed his arm, the blade still embedded in her side, and yanked him toward the portal with a surprising burst of strength.Raven knew that she couldn't just attack Rinko although they were close to one another, he still had his aura which was a problem for her. Thus she thought of a better and efficient way of getting rid of Rinko within their camp.Sending him back to Mountain Glenn.With a sharp tug, she hurled him into the swirling void, her voice strained yet defiant. Rinko barely had time to register the sensation of being ripped through dimensions before he was thrown out the other side, tumbling onto the cold, hard floor of the train.He hit the metal with a dull thud, his body rolling against the side of the train car as he struggled to regain his bearings. Dizzy and disoriented, he pushed himself up, only to see the portal shrinking rapidly before him."No..." he breathed, desperation clawing its way through his chest. He stumbled forward, reaching out, his fingers mere inches from the closing gateway. "No!" His voice rose in anguish as the portal vanished completely, leaving him alone in the silence of Mountain Glenn's abandoned train."Damn it!" Rinko slammed his fist on the metal floor. Rage and frustration surged through him, his hand slamming into the metal floor. He could feel the ache from where he'd hit the wall, but the sting was nothing compared to the crushing sense of defeat settling over him. Raven had outmaneuvered him in the end, and his father was still out of reach, locked away in her camp.For a moment, he sat there in silence, breathing heavily as he tried to still his racing heart. He wouldn't allow this to break his resolve—he'd come too far for that. Rinko slowly rose to his feet, steadying himself. This wasn't over. Raven might have escaped today, but he would find her again. And next time, he wouldn't leave without his father.[End]