Meanwhile with Cinder... she was pissed off.

"Those damn soldiers!! First, they ruined my plans for Mountain Glenn!! Then they killed the Wyvern!! AGH!!" She yelled pulling her hair.

Emerald tries to calm her down, "W-we still have Adam in contact, right?"

Cinder looks at Emerald, "That's... true..."

"And we still have the virus Watts gave us to plug into the CCT." She added making Cinder smile.

"That's right~ We still have the element of surprise in our side." Cinder spoke evilly. Her thoughts were cut short when Mercury enters their run with a ice pack on his groin.

"What happened to you?" Emerald asked Mercury.

"Tried to flirt with some chick named Mari Kurokawa. She got mad and said I need to watch my tongue. And then kicked me in the balls. HARD." Mercury said then started groaning in pain.

Cinder's frustration turned to a mixture of amusement and irritation as she listened to Mercury's account. She sighed, running a hand through her hair, trying to regain her composure.

"Typical," Cinder muttered, shaking her head. "You need to be more careful, Mercury. We can't afford any more setbacks."

Mercury winced as he adjusted the ice pack. "Yeah, yeah. Lesson learned."

Emerald glanced between them, trying to shift the focus back to their plans. "So, what's the next move, Cinder? With the Wyvern gone and our plans in Mountain Glenn ruined, we need to adapt."

Cinder's eyes narrowed, a predatory gleam returning to her gaze. "Indeed. We need to accelerate our plans. We can't let those soldiers and Huntsmen keep gaining the upper hand."

She turned to her computer, bringing up schematics and plans. "First, we need to ensure the virus Watts gave us is ready. The moment we have access to the CCT, we deploy it. It will create chaos and disrupt communication, giving us the advantage."

Emerald nodded, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "And what about Adam? Can we count on him?"

Cinder's expression darkened slightly. "Adam is a wild card, but we can use his hatred and determination to our advantage. We'll keep him in the loop, but we won't rely solely on him."

Mercury, still wincing from his injury, added, "And what about the students and those damn soldiers? They're not going to sit back and do nothing."

Cinder's smile returned, colder and more calculating. "Let them come. We've faced worse. With the virus, we'll cripple their communication and coordination. When the time is right, we'll strike where they least expect it."

She looked at her subordinates, her eyes gleaming with malevolent intent. "This isn't over. Not by a long shot. They may have won a few battles, but the war is far from decided."

Emerald and Mercury exchanged a glance, both feeling a mixture of dread and anticipation. They knew the path ahead would be dangerous, but with Cinder's ruthless determination, they were ready to follow her lead into the darkness.

It was then that Cinder thought of another plan, 'I can chat up and flirt with those soldiers. Especially that one with the weird hairstyle. What was his name? Anthony. I'll use my feminine charms to procure secret information~'

She smiled to herself and began to leave the room and search for Anthony to commences her plan.

As Cinder made her way through the corridors of her hideout, a sly smile played on her lips. She reveled in the thought of using her charms to manipulate one of the marines, particularly Anthony. If she could extract valuable information from him, it could turn the tide in their favor.

Emerald noticed Cinder's departure and called out, "Cinder, where are you going?"

Cinder glanced back, her smile never fading. "Just a little reconnaissance. I have a new plan in mind, one that might give us the edge we need."

With that, she left, her mind already plotting how best to approach Anthony. She knew his usual patrol routes and decided to head towards the training grounds, where the marines often congregated.

Anthony was at the training grounds, running drills with a few other marines. The intensity of their exercises was palpable, each movement precise and practiced. As they finished their routine, Anthony took a moment to catch his breath, wiping sweat from his brow.

It was then that he noticed a figure approaching. Cinder, with a calculated sway in her step, walked confidently toward him. She wore an enigmatic smile, her eyes glinting with mischief.

"Anthony, isn't it?" she called out, her voice honeyed and smooth.

Anthony turned, recognizing her immediately. His expression turned wary, but he kept his demeanor neutral. "Cinder. What do you want?"

She laughed lightly, a sound that seemed almost genuine. "Is that any way to greet someone? I was just passing by and thought I'd say hello. Can't a girl be friendly?"

Anthony raised an eyebrow, not buying her act for a second. "Friendly, huh? What's your game, Cinder?"

Cinder pouted playfully, closing the distance between them. "No game. I just thought we could... get to know each other better. After all, we're both here for a reason, aren't we?"

Anthony crossed his arms, his stance unwavering. "And what reason would that be?"

Cinder took a step closer, her voice dropping to a seductive whisper. "I think you know, Anthony. We're both looking for answers, trying to navigate this new world. Maybe we can help each other out."

Anthony's eyes narrowed, sensing the trap but deciding to play along for now. "Help each other out, huh? And what exactly do you want to know?"

Cinder's smile widened, sensing she had a foothold. "Oh, just a few things. Like, what are your superiors planning next? How do you intend to handle the White Fang? Simple questions."

Anthony chuckled, shaking his head. "You really think I'm going to spill military secrets just because you batted your eyelashes at me?"

Cinder's expression hardened for a moment, but she quickly recovered, maintaining her charm. "I was hoping you'd be more cooperative. But I can be very... persuasive."

Before she could make another move, Anthony's expression turned serious. "Listen, Cinder. You're not the first to try and manipulate me, and you won't be the last. But I'll give you a piece of advice—find another game to play."

Cinder's eyes flashed with anger, but she hid it behind a sweet smile. "Very well, Anthony. But remember, I'm always around if you change your mind."

With that, she turned and walked away, her mind already concocting her next move. Anthony watched her leave, knowing this wouldn't be the last time they crossed paths. He'd have to stay on guard, now more than ever.

"Yeah. Later, Cider." Anthony called out forcing Cinder to stop and turn towards him hiding her anger with a smile.

"It's Cinder."

"Yeah, that's what I said. Later, Ninder."

"It's Cinder."

"Like I said, Cherry."

"Cinder."

"Rednic?"

"It's... Cinder..." She spoke feeling her buttons being pushed and nerves fighting.

Anthony was doing his damnedest to not laugh and smugly grin.

Cinder's forced smile barely concealed her irritation as she tried to maintain her composure. Anthony's persistent mispronunciation of her name was clearly getting under her skin, and he relished every moment of it.

"It's Cinder," she repeated through gritted teeth, trying to keep her tone sweet and calm.

"Right, right, Ginger," Anthony replied, his expression innocent but his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Taking a deep breath, Cinder forced herself to stay calm, but it was clear her patience was wearing thin. "You know what, Anthony? Enjoy your little joke. We'll see who has the last laugh."

With a final, tight-lipped smile, she turned on her heel and walked away, her frustration evident in the way she stalked off. Anthony watched her go, a satisfied smirk spreading across his face.

"Have a nice day, Tinder!" he called after her.

Cinder didn't turn around, but Anthony could see her fists clench at her sides. He knew he had successfully thrown her off her game, at least for the moment. As she disappeared from view, he chuckled to himself and turned back to his fellow marines, ready to share the amusing encounter.

As Cinder moved away, she spotted David and Igor fixing up their MRAP.

As Cinder approached, she wasn't aware of what's in the exhaust. Until...

"Alright Igor. Start the engine!" David said as Igor started the vehicle and both heard a slug like noise coming out the exhaust. And hit something.

Both men looked to see Cinder. Covered in oily blackish slug.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...shit." David uttered trying his best not to laugh.

Cinder stood there, her face contorted with rage and disbelief, as the oily blackish sludge dripped from her clothes and hair. Her earlier irritation with Anthony paled in comparison to the fury she felt now.

David and Igor exchanged a glance, both clearly struggling to maintain their composure. Igor, looking as though he was about to burst out laughing, quickly turned away to avoid eye contact with Cinder. David, on the other hand, tried to keep a straight face but couldn't help the corners of his mouth twitching.

Cinder wiped a streak of sludge from her face, her eyes blazing. "You... you incompetent fools!" she spat, her voice dripping with venom.

David took a cautious step back, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "Hey, it was an accident. We didn't know you were standing there."

Igor coughed to cover up his laugh, turning the engine off. "Yeah, uh, sorry about that. We'll, uh, get you a towel or something."

Cinder glared at them both, barely holding back from unleashing her fury. "A towel? A towel won't fix this! You will both regret this, I promise you that!"

She stormed off, leaving a trail of sludge behind her. David and Igor waited until she was out of earshot before they both burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"Man, did you see her face?" David gasped, clutching his sides.

Igor nodded, wiping a tear from his eye. "I don't think I've ever seen someone that angry. We're so screwed if she decides to come after us."

David shrugged, still chuckling. "Well, at least it'll make for a good story."

They turned back to their MRAP, still laughing, knowing full well that they'd just made a powerful enemy even angrier.

Cinder meanwhile, was trying to get the slug off her as she passed by a septic truck with a large tank filled with sewerage and "chocolate".

In still a bit fury and cunning she stealthy threw a glass arrow at the tank.

With a satisfied smile on doing damage to UNE property, but ignoring the warnings and running away the Marines did.

"Hmph. What are they so scared about-" Cinder spoke but immediately cut short as the septic truck bust with smoking sewerage.

And Cinder was in close proximity.

The explosion of the septic truck was both sudden and catastrophic. A loud, gut-wrenching noise preceded the release of a vile wave of sludge and sewerage, engulfing everything nearby. Cinder, standing too close, was instantly drenched in the revolting mixture, her earlier triumph turned into a humiliating defeat.

Her scream of horror and disgust echoed through the area as she realized the extent of her predicament. The thick, foul-smelling mess clung to her, seeping into every crevice of her clothing and hair. It was far worse than the oily sludge from the MRAP—this was pure, unfiltered filth.

Marines in the vicinity, who had been quick to run at the sight of the initial glass arrow, now doubled over in laughter or hastily covered their noses and mouths to avoid the stench. They couldn't believe their eyes as they watched Cinder, the once-menacing enemy, now reduced to a pathetic, smelly figure trying to clean herself off in vain.

From a distance, Anthony spotted the chaos and shook his head with a smirk. "Guess karma really is a bitch," he muttered to himself, amused by the irony of the situation.

Cinder, meanwhile, was nearly in tears from a mix of anger and utter humiliation. She turned and fled the scene, desperate to find somewhere, anywhere, to wash off the disgusting filth. The remnants of her dignity and her plans to charm information out of the soldiers were all but obliterated by the foul-smelling sludge that clung to her every step.

Later on, Emerald was giving Cinder a hose bath outside due to the smell.

Emerald sighed, trying to block out Cinder's incessant complaints as she hosed her down. The facemask and goggles were barely enough to shield her from the stench, but she persevered, knowing there was no other way to help her leader.

"This is humiliating!" Cinder fumed, shivering under the cold water. "Those damn soldiers will pay for this!"

Emerald rolled her eyes behind the goggles. "Maybe if you didn't try to sabotage their equipment, we wouldn't be in this mess."

Cinder glared at her. "You think this is my fault?!"

Emerald bit her tongue, choosing her words carefully. "I just mean that we need to be more careful. Those soldiers aren't pushovers."

Cinder's anger flared, but she knew Emerald had a point. "Fine. But we need a new plan. One that doesn't involve getting covered in... this."

Emerald turned off the hose and handed Cinder a towel. "Agreed. We'll come up with something better. Something they won't see coming."

Cinder's eyes narrowed, her mind already racing with new schemes. "They'll regret ever crossing me. Mark my words."

Emerald nodded, hoping that their next attempt would be more successful—and less messy. "Let's get you cleaned up inside. We'll regroup and come up with a plan that ensures our victory."

Cinder wrapped the towel around herself, her determination undeterred despite the humiliation. "This isn't over. Not by a long shot."

It was then a bird flew above and pooped on Cinder's head.

Cinder froze, her anger reaching a boiling point as she felt the bird's droppings land on her head. She clenched her fists, shaking with fury, while Emerald stifled a laugh behind her facemask.

"You've got to be kidding me," Cinder muttered through gritted teeth. She wiped at the mess with the towel, her rage only intensifying.

Emerald couldn't help but chuckle. "Maybe it's a sign we need to rethink our approach."

Cinder shot her a deadly glare. "Enough. We need to get back inside. I can't take any more of this."

As they headed back inside, Emerald quietly resolved to come up with a better plan, one that would help Cinder regain her dignity and ensure their success. Cinder, meanwhile, was already plotting her next move, determined to turn the tables on the marines and show them just who they were dealing with.

The next day, Shino and David were showing Teams RWBY, JNPR, CFVY and CMEN about using Pepper Spray.

Cinder and a few laughed assuming that the spray was nothing more than breath fresher. And volunteer for the two Marines to spray it at them.

Shino and David exchanged a knowing glance, barely able to conceal their amusement at the impending lesson. The assembled students and Cinder, still riding the wave of confidence from the previous day's chaos, seemed skeptical.

David held up the canister of pepper spray. "Alright, so who wants to volunteer first?"

Cinder, with a smirk, stepped forward. "I'll go first. I've dealt with worse."

"Alright then," Shino said, shaking the canister. "Just remember, this is no joke."

Cinder rolled her eyes. "Just do it."

David shrugged and aimed the spray at Cinder's face, giving a quick, controlled burst. For a moment, Cinder maintained her smug expression, but it quickly twisted into one of sheer agony as the spray took effect. Her eyes burned like fire, and she doubled over, coughing and gagging as the intense pain set in.

Emerald, Mercury, and several students who had been chuckling at the start were now watching in horror.

Cinder screamed, her voice hoarse, "What... what is this?!"

Shino stepped forward, offering her a damp cloth. "That's pepper spray. Non-lethal but incredibly effective for incapacitating someone. Now, who's next?"

The other volunteers hesitated, clearly rethinking their decision. David looked at the crowd, a small smile playing on his lips. "Anyone else still think it's just breath freshener?"

No one moved. Even the most skeptical among them seemed to understand the serious nature of the lesson. The marines continued their demonstration, showing proper techniques and discussing the importance of understanding non-lethal defense measures.

As the lesson wrapped up, Cinder, still recovering from the effects, shot a glare at David and Shino. "This isn't over," she hissed, but there was a newfound respect in her eyes, a grudging acknowledgment of the power these marines wielded.

David nodded, his expression serious. "We know. And we'll be ready."

The next day, Anthony and Igor were showing Teams RWBY, JNPR, CFVY and CMEN the tasers.

Again, Cinder thought they were useless and a joke.

Anthony just amps up the voltage to 100,000 volts on the taser and aims at Cinder and asks if she's ready.

Cinder, still defiant and eager to prove her resilience, stood with her arms crossed. "Go ahead. Let's get this over with."

Anthony, trying to keep a straight face, aimed the taser at her. "Alright then. Here we go."

With a quick flick of the switch, the taser shot out its probes, delivering a powerful shock directly to Cinder. Her body seized up immediately, muscles locking as the high voltage coursed through her. The look of sheer shock and pain on her face was unmistakable. She fell to the ground, unable to move or speak for a moment.

The other students watched with wide eyes, some covering their mouths in disbelief.

After a few agonizing seconds, Anthony released the trigger, and Cinder collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

"Y-You..." Cinder struggled to speak, her voice weak and trembling. "You... did this... on purpose..."

Anthony crouched down beside her, helping her sit up. "You volunteered. And this is a serious lesson. Tasers are no joke. They can incapacitate even the toughest opponent."

Igor nodded, stepping forward. "Exactly. We want you all to understand the tools and tactics we use. These are designed to save lives, but they can also stop a threat quickly and effectively."

The other students, now fully grasping the severity of the demonstration, nodded solemnly.

Cinder, her pride wounded but her understanding deepened, reluctantly accepted the hand up from Anthony. "Alright... I get it now."

"Good," Anthony said, helping her to her feet. "We hope none of you ever have to use these, but if you do, you'll know just how effective they are."

As the lesson continued, there were no more volunteers eager to test the taser. The demonstration had made its point clear.

The next day, students gotten a chance to spare with the marines or each other.

Cinder moved around aimlessly picking her target. Till she spots a American female Marine away from the other marines and students. She appears to look like Pavel but a female.

Cinder approaches the young woman who coldly looks at her, "Hello ma'am, would you like to spare?"

The female MARSOC Marine Raider named Bula Walker looks at Cinder with a stoic expression responds with a simple nod.

Like her twin brother Pavel, she's also a master in CQC due to her training with her parents. In other words, Cinder is about to learn the FAAFO. Fuck Around And Find Out from her.

Cinder sized up Bula, underestimating her just as she had underestimated the other marines. "Let's see what you've got," she said with a smirk, confident in her own abilities.

Bula nodded again, stepping into a combat stance. "Ready when you are."

They began circling each other, the students and other marines giving them a wide berth. Cinder moved first, lunging at Bula with a swift punch. Bula effortlessly sidestepped, her movements precise and controlled. She countered with a quick jab to Cinder's ribs, making her grunt in surprise.

Cinder spun around, trying to land a kick, but Bula blocked it and retaliated with a sweep to Cinder's legs, knocking her off balance. Cinder barely managed to stay on her feet, her frustration growing.

"Is that all you've got?" Cinder taunted, trying to mask her annoyance.

Bula's expression didn't change. She simply moved forward again, her strikes and blocks executed with military precision. Cinder found herself constantly on the defensive, barely able to keep up with Bula's relentless and disciplined attacks.

In a final attempt to regain control, Cinder charged at Bula with a flurry of punches. Bula deflected each one with ease, finally catching Cinder's arm and using her momentum to flip her onto the ground. Cinder landed hard, the wind knocked out of her.

Bula stood over her, extending a hand to help her up. "You have potential," she said, her voice calm and measured. "But you rely too much on power and not enough on technique."

Cinder grudgingly took Bula's hand, pulling herself to her feet. "I'll keep that in mind," she muttered, her pride bruised but her respect for the marines growing.

The students who watched the sparring session were visibly impressed. They had seen firsthand the difference between raw power and disciplined skill, a lesson that would stick with them throughout their training.

As Cinder walked away, she couldn't help but reflect on the experience. She realized that if she was going to achieve her goals, she needed to be smarter, not just stronger. And perhaps, she thought, she could learn a thing or two from these marines after all.