Wake Up As Ozpin

The loop was gone.

The world had moved forward.

And now—

Ozpin had to figure out what came next.

Step Four Hundred and Forty: Live.

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Step Four Hundred and Forty-One: Walking Back to a New World

The Emerald Forest felt different.

The air was lighter.

The ground felt real.

For the first time in countless lifetimes—

Ozpin was not walking toward another death.

He was walking toward a future.

Step Four Hundred and Forty-Two: What Does That Even Mean?

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Step Four Hundred and Forty-Three: Beacon, Still Standing

By the time he reached the edge of the forest—

Beacon came into view.

Intact.

Whole.

Alive.

The first time he had ever seen it without the weight of knowing it would fall.

Step Four Hundred and Forty-Four: No More Fate.

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Step Four Hundred and Forty-Five: The Student Reactions

He barely had time to step through the gates before—

"HEADMASTER!"

A blur of red.

Ruby tackled him.

"WHERE WERE YOU?!"

Step Four Hundred and Forty-Six: Forgot About This Part.

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Step Four Hundred and Forty-Seven: The Mop-Knight Speaks

Jaune stepped forward.

Still holding his legendary mop.

"We thought you were DEAD!"

Ozpin blinked.

"I wasn't gone that long."

Yang crossed her arms. "Dude. It's been TWO WEEKS."

Step Four Hundred and Forty-Eight: Wait, What?

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Step Four Hundred and Forty-Nine: The Glynda Factor

And then—

The real problem.

Glynda appeared behind him.

Holding a clipboard.

Expression perfectly neutral.

"Ozpin."

"Professor Goodwitch."

A long, dangerous silence.

Then—

"Do you have any idea how much paperwork I have done in your absence?"

Step Four Hundred and Fifty: Oh No.

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Step Four Hundred and Fifty-One: Ozpin's Fate Worse Than Death

"I—" Ozpin began.

"No," Glynda interrupted.

"You don't get to 'I' your way out of this, Ozpin. You disappeared in the middle of a post-invasion recovery, left me with Ironwood, and somehow—SOMEHOW—QROW became the acting headmaster."

Ozpin blinked. "Qrow?"

"QROW."

Step Four Hundred and Fifty-Two: Mistakes Were Made.

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Step Four Hundred and Fifty-Three: A Very Drunk Acting Headmaster

Qrow stumbled into the courtyard.

Holding a clipboard.

Drunk.

"Oh hey, Oz. You're alive. Neat."

Pause.

"You owe me so much paperwork."

Step Four Hundred and Fifty-Four: This Might Actually Be Worse Than Fighting Salem.

---

Step Four Hundred and Fifty-Five: The Future

The students were laughing.

Beacon was thriving.

For the first time in forever—

Ozpin wasn't preparing for war.

There was no script.

There was no doom looming overhead.

There was only what came next.

And for the first time in countless cycles—

That was his choice to make.

Step Four Hundred and Fifty-Six: Time to Start Living.