Wake Up As Ozpin

Cinder Fall had never felt this level of rage.

She had spent years perfecting her craft.

She had trained, manipulated, and schemed.

She had prepared for every possible outcome.

And yet—

Here she was.

Utterly and completely defeated.

Not by strength.

Not by tactics.

Not by some miraculous hero moment.

No.

By a middle-aged man with a tea addiction and an unholy amount of free time.

Step Two Hundred and Fifty-Eight: Ozpin Has Won.

---

Step Two Hundred and Fifty-Nine: Cinder's Immediate Response

Cinder's hands shook as she clenched the paper.

Her mind raced.

This wasn't possible.

It couldn't be possible.

And yet, the evidence was right in front of her.

Every detail.

Every decision.

Every backup plan she thought no one knew about.

Step Two Hundred and Sixty: Question Reality.

She stared at Ozpin.

He simply took another sip of tea.

Like this was casual.

Like this was normal.

Like she wasn't seconds away from incinerating him.

Step Two Hundred and Sixty-One: Resist the Urge to Explode.

Cinder forced a breath through her teeth. "How?"

Ozpin raised an eyebrow. "How what, Miss Fall?"

"How do you know?" she hissed. "Who told you?"

Ozpin tilted his head. "You assume someone told me?"

Step Two Hundred and Sixty-Two: Make Her Doubt Everything.

Cinder's fury faltered. Just for a second.

Because if no one told him—

If he had known all along—

Then what else did he know?

---

Step Two Hundred and Sixty-Three: The Perfectly Timed Interruption

Before Cinder could recover, the door behind her swung open.

Emerald stumbled in, pale and frantic.

"Cinder, we have a problem—"

Then she saw Ozpin.

Saw Cinder holding the paper.

Saw Ozpin's calm expression.

And immediately froze.

Because she understood.

Step Two Hundred and Sixty-Four: Emerald Just Realized Everything is Over.

---

Step Two Hundred and Sixty-Five: Mercury Arrives, Makes Everything Worse

Footsteps.

"Yo, Cinder, what's going on?"

Mercury strolled in.

Saw Emerald's horrified face.

Saw Cinder trembling with barely contained rage.

Saw Ozpin sipping tea like a Bond villain.

And immediately realized he had made a mistake.

Step Two Hundred and Sixty-Six: He's About to Regret This.

---

Step Two Hundred and Sixty-Seven: Ozpin's Final Power Move

Ozpin set his teacup down.

Folded his hands.

And in the calmest voice imaginable, he said:

"Good evening, Miss Fall. Miss Sustrai. Mister Black."

A pause.

A horrible, suffocating pause.

Then—

"Shall we discuss your future?"

Step Two Hundred and Sixty-Eight: Absolute Domination.