The wind howled across the train roof, carrying with it the distant screeches of Manticores circling above. Team RWBY sprinted, leaping from one cart to another with urgency etched on their faces. The train shuddered beneath their feet, the rhythmic clatter of wheels against tracks drowned out by the roar of Grimm wings.

Weiss stumbled briefly as a Manticore swooped low, its claws scraping the roof just inches from her. She rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, and pushed herself up without breaking her pace.

"Stay close!" Ruby called over her shoulder, her voice strained as she kept her scythe hand instinctively twitching for a weapon she didn't yet have. "We're almost there!"

Yang glanced back, catching sight of the Manticores closing in. One spread its leathery wings wide, preparing to pounce. Without hesitation, she grabbed Blake's arm and shoved her forward.

"Go!" Yang shouted. "Don't slow down!"

Blake nodded, her expression tense but focused. Her ears twitched at the screeches behind them, but she forced herself to focus on the carts ahead.

The final leap to the storage cart loomed. They gathered their strength and jumped as one, landing hard on the roof. Ruby was the first to scramble to the edge of the hatch, yanking it open and motioning for the others to follow.

"Inside, now!" she urged.

One by one, they slid through the hatch into the dimly lit storage cart. The metallic clang of boots against the floor echoed in the enclosed space. Ruby was the last to land, pulling the hatch shut above her with a grunt.

For a moment, there was silence, save for their heavy breathing. Then Ruby's eyes widened as her gaze fell on something in the shadows.

A split second later, she let out a startled gasp.

A body lay sprawled across the floor—a guard, his torso severed cleanly in half. Blood pooled around the remains, staining the metal floor a sickening crimson. The sight was grisly, the smell sharp and metallic.

Blake froze, her hands trembling as she stared at the lifeless guard. "Adam..." she whispered, horror flashing across her face.

Yang clenched her fists, her teeth bared in a snarl. "He's gone too far this time," she growled. "I don't care what it takes—he has to be stopped!"

Blake hesitated, her gaze fixed on the guard's body. The memories of her time with Adam—the dreams they once shared, the path he'd twisted—flooded her mind. Yang placed a firm hand on her shoulder, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"We'll stop him together, Blake," Yang said firmly.

Blake nodded, her resolve hardening.

Ruby, shaking off her own shock, motioned to the back of the cart where their weapons were stored. "Let's gear up!"

They moved quickly, each one retrieving their weapons. Yang slid her hands into Ember Celica with practiced ease, clenching her fists to feel the familiar weight. Weiss reached for Myrtenaster, twirling it briefly to ensure it was intact.

Blake grabbed Gambol Shroud, holding it tightly as if drawing strength from the weapon itself. Her expression was unreadable, but the determination in her eyes spoke volumes.

Ruby turned toward a crate containing not only Crescent Rose but also the weapons of Team JNPR. She carefully lifted her scythe, the red blade catching the faint light. With a flick of her wrist, she extended the weapon, the sound of it locking into place like a reassuring heartbeat.

"JNPR and Rinko will need these," Ruby said, her arms full as she gathered their weapons.

Yang nodded, adjusting her gauntlets. "Then let's not waste any more time. They're gonna need all the help they can get."

With their weapons in hand, they climbed back up to the roof. The wind hit them like a wall, and the Manticores were waiting.

Weiss looked back to see Ruby, still in the cart, "Ruby?" She asked.

"Keep the Grimm distracted! I'll go within while you guys fight off the grimm! I'll give Rinko his weapon first, it's faster if I go here."

The rest of her team exchanged uneasy glances before nodding. "Becareful, Ruby." Weiss said.

Ruby gave a smile, "You too, guys." They then dispersed. Blake, Weiss and Yang fought onto the moving train while Ruby ran from cart to cart inside.

Adam & Rinko

Adam moved like a viper, his strikes precise and deliberate. Each swing of his blade, Wilt, cut through the air with deadly intent. Sparks flew as metal clashed against the hard floor whenever his blade scraped the surface. His red, glowing semblance trailed in the air like a menacing haze, painting streaks of crimson as he darted forward.

But Rinko was no ordinary opponent.

With calm precision, Rinko weaved through Adam's attacks, his movements fluid, almost casual, as though anticipating each strike before it came. His eyes stayed locked on Adam's, reading his next moves, calculating his openings.

Adam's frustration boiled as he growled, his next attack more forceful. He brought Wilt down in a wide, vicious arc, intent on cleaving Rinko in two. But Rinko sidestepped with effortless grace, his footwork almost mocking in its elegance.

In that moment, Rinko saw his opening. With a swift pivot, he drove his foot into Adam's chest.

Bam!

Adam staggered backward, his boots screeching against the floor as he fought to regain his balance. His aura flared around him, a defensive shimmer of crimson, as he glared at Rinko with fury in his eyes.

"You think you can mock me?" Adam spat, his voice low but venomous.

Rinko didn't respond. He merely tilted his head, his expression unreadable, as if weighing Adam's words and finding them unworthy of an answer.

Adam's lips curled into a snarl, and he lunged forward again. This time, his strike came upward in a brutal, arcing slash, the tip of Wilt aiming for Rinko's chest.

But Rinko's response was faster. With a sharp motion, he raised his hand and struck Adam's wrist with his knuckles. The impact jarred Adam's grip, and Wilt slipped from his fingers, clattering to the ground with a metallic ring.

Adam hissed in pain and staggered back, momentarily disarmed. His aura pulsed as he glared at Rinko, the humiliation of losing his weapon evident in his narrowed eyes.

Rinko didn't waste the opportunity. His movements were swift and calculated. He stomped on Wilt's blade with the heel of his boot, the force sending it flipping into the air. The weapon gleamed in the dim light as it spun, deadly and unpredictable.

Adam's gaze snapped to the weapon, and he instinctively reached for it—but Rinko was faster.

With a quick kick, Rinko struck the blade's hilt mid-air, sending it hurtling toward Adam. The motion was deliberate, precise.

The weapon slammed into Adam's chest with a dull thud, the force knocking him back. His aura absorbed the blow, preventing the blade from piercing him, but the impact was enough to make him stumble.

Adam growled, clutching his chest as he steadied himself. His eyes burned with rage, but there was something else there too—confusion.

"How..." Adam began, his voice low and dangerous, "how are you this skilled?"

Rinko stood still, his posture relaxed, as if he hadn't just disarmed and outmaneuvered one of the most feared warriors of the White Fang. He flicked an invisible speck of dust from his sleeve and finally spoke.

"You rely too much on intimidation," Rinko said calmly, his voice carrying the quiet authority of someone who had seen far worse than Adam. "All that anger clouds your judgment. It makes you predictable."

Adam's grip tightened around his empty hand, his knuckles whitening as his aura flared brighter. His eyes locked onto Rinko with unbridled fury, his hand trembling as he snatched up Wilt from the ground. He wasn't finished—not by a long shot.

Rinko stood unwavering, his calm gaze meeting Adam's rage-fueled glare. "If this is all you've got, Adam," Rinko continued, his tone chillingly cold, "then you're wasting my time."

Adam's aura erupted like a wildfire, bathing the room in crimson light. A guttural growl escaped his throat, his rage boiling over into raw, untamed power.

"Rghh...! I'm only getting started!" Adam roared, his voice filled with fury and resolve.

With a burst of speed, Adam dashed forward, Wilt arcing through the air with deadly precision. His strikes came fast and deliberate, each slash aimed to maim or kill.

Rinko dashed to meet him, the two clashing in a flurry of movement. Adam's blade was a blur, slicing through the air with an almost feral intensity. Rinko moved with the poise of a seasoned fighter, dodging and weaving through the calculated onslaught. But Adam wasn't letting up.

As Rinko ducked under a horizontal slash and countered with a sharp punch aimed at Adam's ribs, Adam's free hand shot out and caught his fist mid-strike.

"Gotcha!" Adam sneered, his voice dripping with satisfaction.

Rinko's eyes narrowed as he felt the crushing grip around his hand. He quickly realized what had happened—Adam's speed had increased dramatically. Fueled by his rage and aura, Adam was pressing his advantage.

Before Rinko could react, Adam yanked him forward with brutal force and slammed his forehead into Rinko's with a thunderous crack.

The impact sent a jolt through Rinko, and he staggered back, his vision swimming for a brief moment. Adam didn't waste the opportunity. He surged forward with Wilt, swinging the blade in a brutal arc aimed at Rinko's abdomen.

Clang!

Rinko's aura flared brightly, absorbing the blow and preventing the blade from slicing into him, but the force of the attack sent him sliding back. He gritted his teeth, his breathing sharp as he steadied himself. Adam was already raising his blade for another strike.

Rinko's gaze hardened, the calm calculation in his eyes returning.

As Adam brought Wilt down in a powerful vertical slash, Rinko sidestepped the attack with precision, the blade missing him by mere inches.

With fluidity born of experience, Rinko countered. He drove a solid punch into Adam's gut, the impact forcing a gasp from Adam as the wind was knocked out of him. Without missing a beat, Rinko followed up with a sharp knee to Adam's jaw, the force snapping his head back.

Time seemed to slow as Rinko twisted his body mid-movement, his leg whipping around in a perfectly executed back kick. His foot connected squarely with Adam's chest, the blow powerful enough to lift Adam off his feet and send him hurtling backward.

Adam crashed into the metal door at the far end of the room with a resounding bang, the impact leaving a visible dent in the reinforced steel. He groaned, sliding down to one knee as he clutched his chest, his aura flickering faintly around him.

Rinko lowered his stance, his sharp gaze fixed on Adam, waiting for the next move.

Adam, his breaths ragged, pushed himself to his feet. Despite the punishment he had endured, the fire in his eyes burned fiercer than ever. His crimson aura flared around him like a living flame, surging with his unrelenting fury as he gripped Wilt tightly in his hand.

Rinko stood tall, his calm, unwavering gaze fixed on Adam. With measured steps, he slowly advanced, each movement exuding quiet resolve.

"I won't let you get your way with the others," Rinko said, his voice as cold and steady as steel. "If you want them, you'll have to kill me first."

Adam sneered, baring his teeth like a cornered predator. "Burn in hell, Schnee!" he roared, launching himself forward with murderous intent.

With a powerful leap, Adam closed the distance in an instant, bringing Wilt down in a vicious overhead slash. The blade screamed through the air as Adam followed with a relentless flurry of swings. Rinko, composed as ever, dodged each strike with razor-sharp precision, his movements fluid and deliberate.

Adam's frustration grew with every missed attack. His crimson blade began to glow ominously, gathering energy for a devastating attack. With a feral growl, Adam unleashed a powerful Moon Slice, slashing his sword in a wide arc and sending a blazing crimson energy wave hurtling toward Rinko.

Caught off guard by the sudden projectile, Rinko's eyes widened. He sprang to the side just in time, narrowly avoiding the deadly energy as it carved through the door and the ceiling behind him. The sound of metal groaning and crumbling echoed through the space. Rinko's heart pounded—if that strike had landed, his aura would have shattered, and he might've been seriously injured.

Adam wasn't finished. With a roar, he lunged again, bringing Wilt down in another brutal slash. Rinko rolled forward, the blade missing him by mere inches, the sharp edge slicing through the air above him.

Adam pressed his advantage, surging forward and landing a solid kick to Rinko's chest. The force sent Rinko stumbling backward, but he managed to twist mid-fall and land on his feet, his boots skidding against the floor.

As Rinko steadied himself, the sound of creaking metal behind him drew his attention. The doors burst open, revealing Ruby, her crimson cape billowing as she stepped into the chaos. She clutched the weapons of Team JNPR tightly in her arms.

"Rinko!" Ruby called out, her voice ringing above the din.

"Ruby?" Rinko's eyes narrowed, briefly flicking to her before snapping back to Adam.

"Catch!" Ruby shouted as she tossed a pouch through the air.

Rinko caught it effortlessly, his movements as smooth as ever. He opened the pouch and pulled out a single kunai, its blade gleaming in the dim light.

"Ruby," Rinko said firmly, his gaze still locked on Adam, "get to the others and give them their weapons." He turned slightly toward her, his eyes softening for the briefest moment. "I'm counting on you."

Ruby paused, her silver eyes wide with determination. "I won't let you down," she said, her voice filled with resolve.

In a blur of rose petals, Ruby activated her Semblance, darting past Rinko and Adam in a flash. The sudden burst of speed disoriented Adam, forcing him to shield his eyes against the whirlwind of petals.

Rinko seized the opening without hesitation. In an instant, he closed the gap between them, the kunai in his hand gleaming as he moved with lightning speed. Adam barely had time to react before Rinko was already upon him, his cold blue eyes boring into Adam's with unshakable resolve.

Team JNPR & Cardin

The rest of Team JNPR and Cardin were locked in the heat of battle, their movements a chaotic dance of survival against the relentless Grimm.

Nora grinned wildly as she grabbed a nearby table, her muscles straining as she swung it like a makeshift hammer. With a triumphant yell, she slammed it down onto a snarling Manticore, the wood splintering on impact as the Grimm crumbled beneath her sheer force.

"Who needs a weapon when you've got me!?" she declared, her laughter echoing through the cart.

Pyrrha, ever the warrior, moved with grace and precision. In one fluid motion, she drove the pole into the chest of an oncoming Manticore, her aura shimmering as she pushed it back through the shattered window.

Ren was a blur of calculated strikes, his movements calm and deliberate. He sidestepped the lunging jaws of a Grimm, his palm glowing faintly with aura as he delivered a sharp strike to its chest. The force of his blow sent the creature hurtling through another broken window, its wings faltering as it plummeted to the ground below.

Jaune, though less experienced than his teammates, fought with determination. Grabbing one of the broken table supports, he wielded it like a club. He swung with all his might, striking a Grimm that was bearing down on Ren and knocking it off balance.

"Got your back, Ren!" Jaune shouted, his breathing heavy but his resolve unshaken.

"Thanks, Jaune," Ren replied with a rare hint of a smile, pivoting to finish off another Grimm with a precise kick.

One by one, the Grimm fell under their combined efforts, but the onslaught didn't stop. The air was thick with the growls of Manticores and the flapping of leathery wings.

"There's no end to them!" Cardin growled, smashing his mace into a Grimm's face. His aura flickered dangerously low, but his anger kept him moving.

"They're coming from everywhere!" Pyrrha shouted, her eyes darting to the windows as more Manticores swarmed the train.

"Guys, I'll be going to the front of the train, most of the civilians are there, I need to protect them." Cardin said as he gripped his mace.

"Take care, Cardin." Jaune spoke as Cardin nodded in return. Team JNPR and Cardin splits up.

The group broke into a sprint, charging toward the next cart. As they reached the connecting platform, they could see another fierce battle unfolding ahead.

Qrow and Maria stood back-to-back in the center of the cart, surrounded by Manticores. Qrow, wielding Harbinger in scythe mode, moved like a tempest. His strikes were swift and devastating, cutting through the Grimm with brutal efficiency.

Maria, despite her age, fought with frightening precision. Her twin mini-scythes danced through the air, each slash perfectly timed to intercept a lunging Grimm. Her mechanical eyes glowed faintly as she scanned the battlefield, her movements sharp and calculated.

Qrow sliced through the last Manticore in his path, spinning Harbinger in his hands before resting it on his shoulder. He turned as Jaune and the others approached.

"Qrow!" Jaune called, his voice filled with urgency.

Qrow's crimson eyes scanned the group quickly, noting their lack of proper weapons. "Kid... you good?"

Jaune nodded, panting. "Yeah.. Phew.."

"Glad to hear it," Qrow said, smirking faintly. "But these Grimm aren't playing around. You need to be ready."

"That's just it," Jaune said, his tone serious. "We need to get to our weapons. These Grimm—they're strategizing. It's not random!"

At Jaune's words, Qrow's expression darkened, and Maria raised an eyebrow.

"Strategizing?" Qrow muttered. "That's not good."

As the group caught their breath, their gazes instinctively shifted to Maria. Something about her presence was strikingly familiar.

"Wait..." Nora squinted. "Isn't she...?"

Jaune's eyes widened. "Yeah... she's—"

"Maria Calavera," Qrow interjected, his voice tinged with respect. "The Grim Reaper herself. She's the one who taught Ruby about her Silver Eyes back in Mistral."

"The Grim Reaper?" Ren said quietly, his tone carrying both awe and disbelief.

Maria smirked, adjusting her mechanical eyes. "Introductions are nice and all, but we don't have time for pleasantries," she said briskly. "If these Grimm are strategizing, we've got bigger problems than my reputation."

Jaune straightened, determination hardening his features. "Then we need to regroup and arm ourselves. We can't hold them off like this forever."

Qrow nodded. "Agreed. We'll get to the others and figure out our next move. Stick together, and don't do anything reckless."

"Reckless?" Nora said with a laugh. "You do know who you're talking to, right?"

Qrow sighed but couldn't suppress a faint grin. "Yeah, unfortunately, I do."

With that, the group moved toward the next cart, their resolve stronger than ever.

[End]

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