Wake Up As Ozpin

Ozpin was running out of time.

Or rather—time was running out on him.

The loops were unstable.

The Relic was malfunctioning.

Reality itself was coming apart at the seams.

Step One Hundred and Fifty-Six: Fix Time Before Time Fixes You.

---

Step One Hundred and Fifty-Seven: The Only Possible Expert

Ozpin needed a second opinion.

Someone who knew more about magic than he did.

Someone who understood the nature of Remnant's artifacts.

Someone who had experience dealing with time.

…Which meant he had to talk to himself.

Or rather—his past self.

Step One Hundred and Fifty-Eight: Summon the Spirit of Ozma Without Breaking Reality Further.

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Step One Hundred and Fifty-Nine: A Very Stupid Idea

Summoning his past self was not a good idea.

It was risky.It was dangerous.It was also the only option he had left.

So—fine.

He turned to the hourglass.

The Relic of Choice.

And, very carefully, he placed both hands against the glass.

A pause.

A heartbeat.

And then—a pull.

---

Step One Hundred and Sixty: The Conversation He Never Wanted to Have

When Ozpin opened his eyes, he was somewhere else.

A void.A space-between-spaces.A realm of swirling sands and distant echoes.

And standing before him—

Was himself.

Or rather—Ozma.

The man he had once been.

The original.

Step One Hundred and Sixty-One: Do Not Freak Out.

Ozma studied him with unreadable eyes. "So. You finally noticed."

Ozpin exhaled. "Noticed what, exactly?"

Ozma tilted his head. "That you are trapped in a dying loop."

Pause.

Step One Hundred and Sixty-Two: That's Worse Than Expected.

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Step One Hundred and Sixty-Three: The Truth About the Loops

Ozpin narrowed his eyes. "Explain."

Ozma sighed. "The Relic of Choice has always had limitations. It does not merely grant choices—it can also preserve them."

Ozpin frowned. "Preserve?"

Ozma nodded. "When the world is on the brink—when the path diverges too drastically—it does not allow fate to continue. Instead, it resets."

Pause.

Step One Hundred and Sixty-Four: The Relic Has Been Doing This for a Long Time.

Ozpin's stomach sank. "You mean… this isn't the first time?"

Ozma's expression was grim. "No."

Step One Hundred and Sixty-Five: Reality Has Reset More Times Than You Can Count.

Ozpin clenched his fists. "Then why do I remember?"

Ozma sighed. "Because you have already lived through too many resets. Your soul is resisting."

Pause.

Step One Hundred and Sixty-Six: He's Becoming Immune to the Loop.

Ozpin inhaled deeply. "How do I stop it?"

Ozma shook his head. "You don't."

Step One Hundred and Sixty-Seven: Try Not to Scream.

---

Step One Hundred and Sixty-Eight: The Real Problem

Ozpin steeled himself. "Then what can I do?"

Ozma studied him. "The Relic is stuck. It is resetting time instinctively—like a body trying to heal itself."

Ozpin's grip tightened. "So we break the cycle."

Ozma's gaze darkened. "You misunderstand. This cycle is all that is holding Remnant together. If you break it carelessly, the entire timeline could collapse."

Pause.

Step One Hundred and Sixty-Nine: He Cannot Simply End the Loop.

Ozpin exhaled sharply. "Then what's the solution?"

Ozma's expression was unreadable.

And then—

"You must make a choice that has never been made before."

Pause.

Step One Hundred and Seventy: The Only Way Out… Is To Change Fate Itself.

---

Step One Hundred and Seventy-One: The Final Task

Ozpin stepped back.

His mind was racing.

A choice that had never been made before.

What did that mean?

What hadn't he done?

What could he do?

The hourglass pulsed.

Time was running out.

Step One Hundred and Seventy-Two: Find The Choice That Will Break The Cycle.