..."Rinko!" Weiss's voice rang out sharply, cutting through the lingering smoke and chaos. Her icy eyes swept the scene—the shattered remnants of the dorm, the battered forms of Cinder's allies, and the scorch marks lining the walls. Her anger was palpable, like a cold wind before a storm.The sudden silence was broken as Cinder's aura erupted anew, a torrent of fiery energy surging from her body.Rinko turned instinctively toward her, his grip tightening on his katana. But before he or anyone else could act, Cinder's aura exploded in a violent shockwave, the pressure rippling outward like a volcanic eruption.The blast sent Mercury, Neo, Emerald, and Rinko crashing against the walls with resounding thuds. Weiss, standing near the door, was hurled out into the hallway, slamming hard against the opposite wall. The force was so intense she crumpled to the ground, a sharp cry escaping her lips."I'M DONE WITH YOU, SCHNEE!" Cinder roared, her voice echoing with a dangerous mix of fury and triumph as flames licked hungrily around her form. She floated above the wreckage, her power radiating with palpable heat. "YOU WON'T RUIN MY PLANS—NOT NOW, NOT EVER!"Outside the room, Weiss struggled to sit up, her right leg's bone cracked, unnaturally from the impact. Pain flashed across her face as she tried to rise but failed, her leg twisted a little from the attempt of rising."RGHH!""Weiss!" Pyrrha's voice called out as she, Nora, and Jaune sprinted down the hallway toward the scene. Pyrrha knelt beside her, gently helping her sit up."She's injured!" Jaune exclaimed, his eyes wide as he looked at Weiss's leg."It's broken..." Weiss hissed through clenched teeth, her usually composed demeanor cracked under the pain. "But—Rinko—he's still in there! He needs help!" Her voice was filled with urgency, almost desperation.It was clear that Weiss wasn't able to activate her aura in time to shield her from the impact of the wall.Pyrrha turned her gaze toward the dorm room. Through the flickering light of the fire, she saw Cinder hovering above a barely recovering Rinko. The young man was struggling to steady himself, his body slumped against the wall from the blast.Inside the room, Rinko gritted his teeth, forcing himself to his feet. He felt the weight of exhaustion pressing on him, and his aura flickered weakly, dangerously close to shattering entirely. He looked up, his sharp eyes locking onto Cinder, who now aimed a blazing hand toward him.The energy swirling in her palm was immense, crackling and glowing with destructive power. One glance told Rinko everything he needed to know—his weakened aura wouldn't withstand the blast. His grip on his katana tightened, but he knew this was beyond him.Cinder smirked, her fiery eyes blazing with triumph as the blast grew brighter.Then, just before the deadly attack could be unleashed—CLANG!Pyrrha's shield struck Cinder's arm with pinpoint precision, throwing off her aim and disrupting the charged energy in her palm. The blast veered off course, scorching a section of the ceiling instead.Cinder snarled in frustration, her fiery gaze snapping toward the dorm entrance as Pyrrha stepped inside, her spear at the ready."Not on my watch," Pyrrha said firmly, her presence radiating calm strength.Behind her, Nora charged in, her hammer raised. "You wanna play with fire? Let's see if you can handle this!" she bellowed as she dashed, slamming her hammer at Cinder, and sending her across multiple empty dorm rooms."CINDER!" Emerald cried out, she managed to pull herself out of her bindings as she faced the members of Pyrrha and Nora.With the use of her semblance, she made Pyrrha and Nora hallucinate their worst fears, giving Emerald time to unbind Neo and Mercury.Pyrrha and Nora managed to get away from her illusions as she shook off their heads, Nora gritted her teeth as she dashed towards Emerald, but was intercepted by Neo."W-Weiss, I'll call for help!" Jaune said, fumbling with his scroll as he hurriedly dialed the rest of Team RWBY, his voice trembling with urgency.Inside the dorm, Rinko's ears caught the sound of Jaune's panicked voice—and the name that struck his core like a dagger.Weiss.His head snapped toward the door, his sharp gaze catching a fleeting glimpse of white hair through the smoke and flickering lights.Without a second thought, Rinko abandoned his defensive stance and sprinted to the entrance, his heart pounding like a war drum. When he emerged into the hallway, the sight before him made his breath hitch. Weiss lay crumpled in Jaune's arms, her leg mangled at an unnatural angle, her aura flickering weakly like a dying flame."W-Weiss!" Rinko dropped to his knees beside her, his sword slipping from his hand and clattering to the floor. His hands hovered over her, trembling with indecision, unsure where to touch without causing her more pain."R-Rinko..." Weiss's voice was faint, barely audible, but the recognition in her icy blue eyes struck him. The regal strength she always carried was diminished, replaced by agonizing vulnerability.Rinko clenched his fists tightly, his jaw locking as fury boiled within him. Cinder... The name seared through his mind like venom, his thoughts growing darker with each passing second.Jaune glanced at Rinko, his expression grim and lined with worry. "She needs medical attention now. I'll get her out of here. You need to go back and help the others."Rinko hesitated for a fleeting moment, his gaze lingering on Weiss's battered form. The thought of leaving her like this was unbearable, but the determination in her eyes, even in her weakened state, pushed him forward."Take her somewhere safe," Rinko said, his voice firm as he rose to his feet, reclaiming his sword. "And keep her out of sight."Jaune nodded resolutely, carefully lifting Weiss in his arms as he prepared to move. "Be careful in there. We'll call for backup."As Jaune carried Weiss away, Rinko turned back toward the dorm, his grip on his sword tightening. The sounds of battle reverberated from within, each clash and cry fueling his resolve.Inside, Pyrrha's spear clashed fiercely against Cinder's weapons, her strikes unrelenting and precise as she drove the Fall Maiden back step by step. Across the room, Nora was locked in an intense fight, fending off three opponents at once, her aura beginning to falter under the relentless assault.Rinko stormed back into the fray, his presence like a thunderclap. He sprinted forward, his blade flashing as he intercepted Mercury mid-attack. With a clean slash, he cut across Mercury's torso, shattering his aura."Augh!" Mercury stumbled back, clutching his chest in pain. His eyes widened as another slash followed, this one drawing blood, though not deep enough to be fatal. "Where did he—?!"Before Mercury could finish his thought, Rinko was upon him again, his movements fluid and relentless. The intensity in Rinko's eyes sent a chill down Mercury's spine. They burned with a singular focus—blood.Mercury collapsed to the floor, gasping for air as Rinko stood over him, raising his blade for the final strike. But just as Rinko prepared to decapitate him, Neo's parasol intercepted his blade."Little runt," Rinko snarled, catching her parasol with one hand. With a surge of strength, he shoved Neo backward, slamming her against a wall.Neo recovered quickly, twisting out of his grasp and countering with an elbow to his ribs. But Rinko anticipated the move, retaliating with a sharp kick that staggered her. As she stumbled, Rinko closed the distance, his katana slashing cleanly through her aura, shattering it like glass.Neo gritted her teeth, frustration flashing across her face. Before she could react, Rinko delivered a knee to her face, sending her sprawling to the ground, blood trickling from her nose.Rinko loomed over her, his darkened eyes fixed on her trembling form. His sword hung low, dripping with Mercury's blood, as he advanced with deliberate intent.Neo's instincts screamed danger—this wasn't a fight she could win. Scrambling to her feet, she grabbed Mercury's unconscious body and vanished into thin air with her semblance, leaving behind a faint shimmer.With Neo gone, Rinko's gaze shifted to Nora, who was locked in a fierce duel with Emerald. He assessed the situation briefly before his eyes landed on Cinder, still trading blows with Pyrrha.The sight of Cinder across the other dorm reignited the searing anger within him. It was her fault Weiss was injured. It was her fault this chaos unfolded."I'm done holding back," Rinko muttered darkly, his voice low and menacing as he sprinted through the wreckage of the dorm. Weaving through the broken walls with precision, he honed in on the heart of the battle, where Pyrrha was still locked in combat with Cinder.Cinder's back was turned, her focus entirely on Pyrrha as she fired her glass bow in a rapid barrage. She didn't notice Rinko until it was too late.With a burst of speed, Rinko closed the gap, his blade slicing cleanly through the air. His katana connected with Cinder's back in a swift slash, disrupting her attack and causing her to cry out in pain."Ugh!" Cinder stumbled forward, the strike visibly weakening her aura but not shattering it. The opening was all Pyrrha needed.Wasting no time, Pyrrha surged forward, slamming her shield down onto Cinder's foot with bone-crushing force. As Cinder reeled from the pain, Pyrrha delivered a devastating uppercut with her shield, the blow catching Cinder squarely on the jaw and sending her hurtling into the ceiling.The impact echoed through the room, and before Cinder could recover, Pyrrha's weapon seamlessly transformed into rifle mode. She fired a point-blank shot, the blast slamming Cinder back down to the floor in a crumpled heap."Augh—!" Cinder groaned, struggling to push herself up, her frustration evident in every labored breath.From across the room, Emerald's eyes widened in horror as she watched her leader being overwhelmed. "NO!" she screamed, abandoning her fight with Nora and charging toward Pyrrha and Rinko in a desperate attempt to protect Cinder."Eyes up here, Em!" Nora's hammer swung wide, narrowly missing Emerald as she darted past. Emerald paid her no mind, her focus solely on Cinder's plight.Rinko stepped forward to intercept Emerald, his movements calm yet deliberate. As she lunged, he sidestepped her clumsy strike and swept her legs out from under her with a swift kick."My patience is wearing thinner by the minute," Rinko growled, his voice devoid of its usual confidence, replaced by cold fury. This wasn't the calculating Rinko Schnee they were used to—it was someone far more dangerous.Emerald hit the ground hard but scrambled to her feet, pulling out her pistols and firing a flurry of bullets at Rinko. Each shot was met with a sharp clang as his katana deflected them with precision, sparks flying with every strike.As her magazines clicked empty, Emerald's panic grew. Rinko seized the moment, closing the distance in a blur of motion. She barely managed to roll out of the way as his blade struck the floor, the impact cracking the tiles beneath them.Meanwhile, Cinder groaned in frustration, her exhaustion evident as she tried to rise. Pyrrha stood over her, weapon aimed squarely at her chest."It's over," Pyrrha declared firmly, her voice steady despite her labored breaths. "You're outmatched. Surrender."Cinder, even in defeat, refused to yield. A bitter smirk crossed her face as she spat defiantly on the barrel of Pyrrha's gun. "Bitch, is that all you've got?"Pyrrha's eyes narrowed, her composure momentarily faltering at the insult.Before Pyrrha could react, Emerald surged back into the fray, exploiting the distraction. She lashed out with a well-placed kick to Pyrrha's side, sending her stumbling back with a sharp gasp."Ugh!" Pyrrha grunted, staggering slightly as the kick threw her off balance.Rinko's eyes narrowed, the simmering fury beneath his calm exterior reaching its peak. He leveled his katana toward Emerald, his voice low and icy. "You should have run while you had the chance."Emerald's back was against the wall—literally and figuratively. She glanced between Rinko, Pyrrha, and Nora, who were closing in like a tightening noose. Desperation flared in her emerald-green eyes. She had one last option: her Semblance.With a sharp exhale, Emerald focused, her semblance casting an all-encompassing illusion. The room was suddenly engulfed in a dense, swirling fog that clung to the air like an oppressive curtain."Ugh! Another one of her tricks!" Nora growled, waving her hammer through the haze in frustration.Pyrrha and Rinko froze, their senses heightened as they scanned for any trace of their enemies. The fog was disorienting, obscuring not only sight but also sound as every step echoed faintly, distorting their perception.Moments later, the fog dissipated as quickly as it had appeared, leaving the dorm in eerie silence. Emerald and Cinder were gone."Tch..." Rinko hissed, sheathing his katana with an audible click. His jaw clenched as he surveyed the empty space where their enemies had been moments before."They escaped," Pyrrha muttered, her grip tightening around her spear as her eyes swept over the wreckage.Nora's frustration boiled over as she slammed her hammer against the floor, the echo reverberating through the broken dorm. "We had them! How could we let them slip through our fingers like that?"Suddenly, the faint hum of an engine reached their ears—a sound unmistakable to those familiar—It was an airship, its rotors humming just above the building.Rinko's eyes narrowed, his mind working quickly. The floor they were on was just beneath the rooftop. "They're heading to the rooftop!" he deduced sharply, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.Without wasting another moment, Rinko sprinted down the hallway, his steps swift and purposeful, with Pyrrha and Nora close behind.He reached the rooftop doors first, throwing his weight against them. The battered doors gave way with a loud crash, falling flat onto the rooftop with a resounding thud.Rinko bolted forward, his eyes scanning the rooftop. There, just as he expected, an Atlas Manta ship was lifting off, its engines roaring as it gained altitude.His sharp gaze caught sight of Cinder standing at the edge of the open ramp, her smirk smug and triumphant. Their eyes locked for a brief moment—a silent exchange of promises for the next time they crossed paths.The ship ascended quickly, blending seamlessly into the stream of other Atlas airships bustling toward Amity Tower.Nora caught up, her hammer resting on her shoulder as she glared after the retreating ship. "Great. Now they've really gotten away," she grumbled, her frustration clear in her tone.Pyrrha stepped onto the rooftop, her expression a mix of weariness and resolve.Rinko didn't respond immediately, his fists clenched at his sides. His piercing blue eyes remained fixed on the sky where the ship had vanished. "This isn't over," he said quietly, his voice low but resolute."We must warn Ozpin."Amity TournamentOzpin, Glynda, and Ironwood stood in quiet observation, watching the Amity Tournament unfold on the massive screens below. The buzz of the crowd and the fierce competition among students should have been their focus, but the weight of recent events lingered heavily in the air.The sudden chime of Ozpin's scroll broke through the atmosphere. He glanced at it, and the name on the screen caught his attention: Rinko Schnee."Pardon me," Ozpin said, his voice calm but with an undertone of curiosity. He nodded briefly to Glynda and Ironwood before stepping aside and accepting the call. "Rinko, greetings. How can I help you?"The voice on the other end was sharp, and serious. "Professor, I have urgent news," Rinko began without preamble. "An enemy breached Beacon Academy. I've sent you recordings of what I uncovered."Ozpin's brow furrowed slightly as he walked toward a console, activating his inbox to receive the files. "Recordings? I see them. Let's take a look."Ironwood, ever alert, took a step closer, his sharp eyes scanning Ozpin's expression. Glynda, too, turned her attention toward the headmaster, sensing the gravity in Rinko's tone.Ozpin played the first file. The room fell silent as the audio began."Don't underestimate the power of a well-executed performance, Emerald. People believe what they see, and I will show them exactly what they need to see. When Penny falls, Atlas' façade will crumble. Their military, their government, their power—all of it will burn."Ironwood's head snapped toward the Ozpin at the mention of Atlas, his jaw tightening. Glynda's lips pressed into a thin line as her hands unconsciously gripped the back of a nearby chair.The recording continued:"We'll use the chaos to turn Atlas' own weapons against them. The androids—designed to protect—will attack the people instead. The Grimm will thrive in the panic and despair."Ironwood stepped closer, his face a mixture of disbelief and fury."And the White Fang... dressed as Atlassian soldiers, they'll make it look like an invasion of Vale. The people won't just lose faith in Atlas—they'll turn against them. And the world... will go through yet another war."The words hit like a hammer:"After the finals... We move to the next phase. Salem's will demands it... Salem... Will be pleased."The recording ended, leaving the room in heavy silence. Ozpin gripped his cane tightly, his expression grim. His gaze flickered to Glynda, then to Ironwood, before turning his focus back to the call.Ozpin took a steadying breath, his usual composure shaken but still intact. He turned his attention back to the call, his voice calm yet edged with urgency. "Where did you obtain this, Rinko? And are you certain of its authenticity?"Rinko's voice on the other end was sharp and resolute. "I encountered them directly. Cinder Fall and her group. They were operating within Beacon, planning this entire scheme under our noses. I managed to gather this information during my confrontation with them."Ozpin's grip on his cane tightened further. The name Cinder Fall, he saw her files... A Haven Academy student.. 'How did Leonardo let someone like her get into Haven without double-checking their background?' Ozpin thought as he pondered for a moment as it raised suspicions."S-Salem..?! Ozpin! We must act immediately! Salem's forces are already on the move!" Ironwood spoke alerted, recognizing Salem.From the other side of the line, Rinko raised an eyebrow, he heard Ironwood's urgent voice from the background. 'They seem to know who Salem is..'The room remained tense as Ozpin turned toward Ironwood, holding up a hand to calm the general. "James, please," he said, his voice low and steady. "We need clarity, not panic. Reacting without a strategy will only hasten their plans."Ironwood clenched his fists but nodded, taking a step back. Glynda, her arms folded tightly, adjusted her glasses, her sharp eyes fixed on Ozpin.Ozpin turned his attention back to the call. "Rinko, you mentioned encountering Cinder Fall. What else can you tell me about her and her group? Their movements, their methods—anything that could give us an edge."Rinko's voice was deliberate, each word carrying weight. "She's clever, methodical, and relentless. She operates with precision, always several steps ahead. Her team consists of a man named Mercury Black, skilled in close combat; Emerald Sustrai, a master manipulator; and a mute woman known as Neopolitan, who specializes in misdirection and illusions. I suspect there are others, like Torchwick since he and Neo are equally connected, but these three were the ones directly involved in this plot."Ironwood bit his lip, "Ozpin, we can't ignore this. If Salem's forces are actively infiltrating Beacon, we need to secure both the school and the Amity Tower immediately.""I agree," Glynda added, her voice firm. "But we can't afford to expose what we know to the students or the public. Panic would only play into their hands."Ozpin nodded slowly. "You're both correct. Ironwood, focus your efforts on reinforcing Amity Tower. It's imperative that it remains secure and functional for the communications network. Glynda, ensure the tournament proceeds without interruption. If their plan hinges on disrupting the matches, we cannot give them that opportunity."Ironwood frowned but relented. "I'll mobilize additional forces and review security protocols for the androids and Atlas' units. But Ozpin, we can't keep this quiet for long. If Salem's name is involved, the stakes are far greater than we anticipated.""Which is why discretion is paramount," Ozpin said, his tone brooking no argument. "We cannot allow fear to spread, not when unity is more vital than ever."Ozpin closed his eyes briefly, letting the words settle before responding. "Thank you, Rinko. Your efforts may very well save countless lives. Stay vigilant."The call ended, leaving the room in a heavy silence once more.Ozpin turned to his companions, his gaze steady but weighted with unspoken worry. "This is a pivotal moment," he said softly. "We must remain steadfast and united. Salem thrives on division and despair. We cannot afford to give her either."Ironwood gave a sharp nod, already strategizing in his mind. Glynda adjusted her glasses, her resolve clear.And as the tournament continued below, oblivious to the shadows gathering around it, Ozpin knew that the real battle had already begun.[End]