The ballroom of Beacon Academy was filled with new students on their first night, sleeping bags spread across the floor as they prepared for initiation the following day. Naruto sat cross-legged on his borrowed sleeping bag, still wearing his tattered orange and black outfit—the only clothes he possessed in this world.
Around him, students chatted excitedly about their combat schools, their weapons, and their hopes for team assignments. Naruto remained silent, painfully aware of how little he understood about this world. He overheard fragments of conversation about "Grimm," "Huntsmen," and "Semblances"—terms that held no meaning for him just a day ago.
"You look like you've seen better days," came a cheerful voice.
Naruto looked up to see a tall blonde girl with lilac eyes standing over him. She wore an orange tank top and black shorts—sleeping attire that seemed to draw attention from several male students nearby.
"I'm Yang," she said, plopping down beside him without waiting for an invitation. "Yang Xiao Long. And you're the guy who helped my little sister Ruby last night, right? The one without a weapon?"
"Naruto Uzumaki," he replied, surprised by her directness. "And yeah, that was me. Not that I was much help."
Yang playfully punched his shoulder, harder than most people would consider friendly. "Don't sell yourself short! Ruby said you took down some of Junior's guys with your bare hands. Pretty impressive for someone with no weapon or Semblance."
Naruto rubbed his shoulder, wincing slightly. Without his enhanced durability, that punch actually hurt. "About that... I don't exactly know what a Semblance is. Where I'm from, we use different... techniques."
Yang's eyes widened with interest. "Seriously? You're not from the kingdoms?" She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Are you from outside the walls? How did you survive the Grimm?"
"It's complicated," Naruto sighed. "I had... powers. Different from what you have here. But I lost them recently. Now I'm just..." He gestured to himself. "This."
"Powers, huh?" Yang said skeptically, though her smile never faltered. "Sure, why not. This world's full of weird stuff." She stretched her arms above her head. "Tell you what—we can train together. You've obviously got some fighting skills, even without these mysterious 'powers' of yours."
Naruto perked up at this. "You'd help me train?"
"Of course!" Yang grinned. "Any friend of Ruby's is a friend of mine. Plus, I'm curious to see what you can do."
She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "First things first though—do you know about Aura?"
"Not really," Naruto admitted. "Ozpin mentioned it, but..."
"It's like a force field made from your soul," Yang explained, making a protective gesture around herself. "It blocks attacks, heals wounds, and powers our Semblances—which are like unique abilities tied to our personality."
Naruto thought of his chakra—how it had once flowed through his body, an energy source that empowered his techniques. "So everyone here has this... Aura?"
"Everyone has the potential for it, but it needs to be unlocked," Yang explained. "Most combat school students have theirs unlocked before coming to Beacon, but..." She studied him for a moment. "If you really don't have yours activated, that makes your fighting last night even more impressive."
She glanced around, then beckoned him to follow. "Come on. Let's find somewhere quieter, and I'll see if I can help unlock your Aura."
Naruto followed Yang to a small meditation alcove off the main ballroom. A few potted plants created a sense of privacy, and moonlight streamed through the windows, casting everything in silver light.
"This should work," Yang said, sitting cross-legged and motioning for Naruto to do the same. "Normally this is done by instructors, but my dad taught me the basics."
She placed her hands on Naruto's shoulders, her expression growing unexpectedly serious. "Close your eyes and focus on my voice."
Naruto complied, feeling strangely vulnerable. Without his powers, without his chakra, he was placing his trust in someone he'd just met.
Yang began to speak, her voice taking on a rhythmic quality: "For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee."
A warm sensation spread through Naruto's body—different from chakra, which had felt like fire in his veins. This was gentler, like sunlight spreading beneath his skin. He gasped as a golden glow enveloped him, pulsing outward before settling just beneath the surface.
"Whoa," Yang breathed, pulling back her hands. She looked slightly drained. "That's... a lot of Aura. Like, a really unusual amount."
Naruto looked down at his hands, sensing the new energy flowing through him. It wasn't chakra—not exactly—but it felt... familiar, somehow. As if his body remembered what it was like to channel power.
"Does this mean I have a Semblance now?" he asked eagerly.
Yang shook her head. "Not automatically. Semblances usually develop over time or appear in moments of extreme stress. Mine lets me get stronger the more damage I take." She grinned, flexing her arm. "My hair also catches on fire, which is pretty cool."
"So I need to figure out what mine is," Naruto mused.
"Exactly. But even without a Semblance, Aura will make you tougher, faster, and stronger than a normal person." Yang stood up, offering him a hand. "We should get some sleep. Initiation tomorrow will be a good chance to see what you can do with your new Aura."
As Naruto took her hand and stood, he felt more hopeful than he had since Stephen King had stolen his powers. This wasn't chakra, and he wasn't the immortal shinobi he once was.
But it was a start.
As they walked back to the main ballroom, Naruto noticed something strange. His movements felt... lighter. When he stepped over a student's bag in their path, he found himself clearing it with surprising ease. His reflexes seemed sharper too—he caught a pillow thrown across the room without even thinking about it.
"Whoa," he muttered, looking at his hands in surprise. "Is this the Aura?"
Yang nodded with an approving smile. "You're already feeling it! Most people take a while to notice the difference, but it looks like you're adapting quickly." She playfully punched his arm again. "Maybe you weren't totally full of it about those 'powers' after all."
Naruto couldn't help but grin. The agility he felt now was nothing compared to his former abilities, but after spending a day as an ordinary human, even this small enhancement felt incredible. He experimentally jumped in place, surprising himself when he rose nearly a foot higher than he expected.
"This is amazing!" he exclaimed, drawing curious looks from nearby students.
Yang laughed. "Just wait until you really learn how to use it. Get some sleep, Whiskers. Tomorrow's going to be interesting."
Meanwhile, in Beacon's clock tower, Professor Ozpin sat at his desk, reviewing student files on his scroll. The office was dimly lit, with only his desk lamp and the glowing gears of the clock mechanism overhead providing illumination. A half-empty mug of coffee sat cooling beside him.
The air shimmered, and a portal of swirling purple and gold appeared in the center of the room. Ozpin calmly set down his scroll and reached for his cane.
"Well, this is unexpected," he said, his voice betraying no surprise as Stephen King stepped through the portal, followed by the massive purple form of Thanos.
"Professor Ozpin," Stephen greeted with a casual nod. "Or should I call you by one of your many other names? Ozma, perhaps?"
Ozpin's eyes narrowed slightly. "Who are you? And how do you know that name?"
"I'm the author of your downfall," Stephen replied, the Maiden's power glowing in his eyes. "Or rather, the editor making some necessary revisions to this story."
Ozpin stood, his grip tightening on his cane. "I don't know what you're talking about, but I suggest you leave. Now."
Thanos stepped forward, his massive form dwarfing the headmaster. "The wizard thinks he has power," the titan rumbled.
"Who are you?" Ozpin demanded again, backing toward the elevator.
Stephen smiled. "Don't worry about screaming for help. I've created a convenient plot hole where no one can hear you, no matter how loud you yell."
Before Ozpin could react, Thanos moved with surprising speed for his size. The titan spun around, presenting his enormous purple buttocks. "Submit to the cosmic posterior!"
"What in the—" Ozpin began, but his words were cut short as Thanos backed up, trapping the headmaster between his massive cheeks and the wall.
"Mercy!" Ozpin screamed, his voice muffled by the titan's gluteal prison. "What is happening?!"
"We're taking you out because I think it would make the story more interesting," Stephen explained calmly, examining his nails as if the sight of a millennia-old wizard being smothered by alien buttocks was perfectly normal. "Without the chess master moving pieces around, our young protagonists will have to figure things out for themselves."
Thanos increased the pressure, his face a mask of concentration. "Activating capture butt move," he announced solemnly. There was a flash of light as the Infinity Gauntlet glowed, and the struggling form of Ozpin began to shrink.
When Thanos finally stepped away, where Ozpin had stood was now a small doll with silver hair and tiny spectacles, frozen in an expression of dignified horror.
"Nice," Thanos said, picking up the Ozpin doll and examining it with satisfaction. "A fine addition to my collection."
Stephen King walked to Ozpin's desk, sitting in the headmaster's chair and swiveling around to face the window. The shattered moon of Remnant cast an eerie light across Vale.
"With Ozpin out of the way and Naruto stripped of his powers, things are going to get very interesting indeed," Stephen mused. "Now, let's see how our young shinobi handles initiation without his precious chakra to save him."
Thanos tucked the Ozpin doll into a pouch on his belt. "What about Salem? She's still out there."
Stephen waved dismissively. "Oh, we'll get to her. But first, let's see how our little interdimensional fish out of water adapts to his new reality."
The rising sun cast long shadows through the massive stained-glass windows of Beacon Academy's clock tower, bathing Glynda Goodwitch's stern features in a kaleidoscope of colored light. Her heels clicked sharply against the polished marble floor as she exited the elevator into Ozpin's office, a stack of student files clutched against her chest.
"Headmaster, we need to finalize the initiation plan before—" Her words died in her throat as she surveyed the empty office.
Ozpin's chair was pushed back at an odd angle, his desk uncharacteristically disorganized. His signature mug sat half-full, the coffee inside stone cold. Glynda frowned, adjusting her glasses with one gloved hand. The headmaster was meticulous about his schedule, and they had planned to meet at precisely 7:00 AM to review the day's preparations.
"Ozpin?" she called, moving further into the room. Something crunched beneath her heel—shards of what appeared to be green glass from one of the ornamental vases that normally sat on the windowsill. Nearby, a small scorch mark darkened the otherwise immaculate floor.
Glynda's eyes narrowed as she activated her scroll, her fingers moving swiftly across the screen. "Ozpin, this is Glynda. Please respond immediately." She waited, the silence of the empty office broken only by the rhythmic turning of the giant gears overhead.
No response.
With a sharp exhale, she initiated a call to the rest of Beacon's administrative staff. "This is Professor Goodwitch. Has anyone seen the headmaster this morning?" The chorus of negative responses only deepened the crease between her brows.
Glynda moved to Ozpin's desk, her trained eye cataloging every detail. His scroll was missing, but the cane he carried everywhere—his most treasured possession—leaned against the wall behind his chair. That, more than anything else, sent a chill down her spine. Ozpin would never willingly leave his cane behind.
The soft chime of the elevator announced a new arrival. Professor Peter Port strode into the office, his impressive mustache quivering with each breath. His red hunting outfit stood in stark contrast to Glynda's professional attire, and the axe-blunderbuss combination weapon at his side gleamed in the morning light.
"Glynda! I received your message. Ozpin is missing, you say?" Port's booming voice filled the space, echoing off the windows.
"It appears so," Glynda replied, her voice tight with concern. "His cane is here, but he's gone. There are signs of a struggle, though slight."
Port twirled his mustache thoughtfully, examining the scorch mark on the floor. "Most concerning. Perhaps the security cameras—"
"Already checked," Glynda cut him off, gesturing to her scroll. "The footage from last night shows nothing. Just static from 2:13 AM onward."
"Sabotage?" Port suggested, his jovial demeanor giving way to the experienced Huntsman beneath.
"Possibly." Glynda moved to the window, looking out over Beacon's sprawling campus where new students were beginning to gather for initiation. "But who could infiltrate Beacon without triggering any alarms? And why target Ozpin specifically?"
Port joined her at the window, his broad shoulders squared. "What do we tell the students? The new first-years are expecting the headmaster's welcome speech in less than an hour."
Glynda's grip tightened on her riding crop, her knuckles white against the black leather. "For now, nothing. We proceed as scheduled while Bartholomew and I investigate. The last thing we need is panic on initiation day."
"And the speech?"
A rare moment of uncertainty flickered across Glynda's face before her features settled back into their customary determination. "I'll deliver it myself. I've heard Ozpin give the same welcome for years now." She moved to his desk, pulling up the speech notes on the computer. "Yes, here it is. The same one he gives every year, with minor variations."
Port nodded, his expression solemn beneath his bushy eyebrows. "I'll alert Bartholomew and the other staff, quietly. We'll find him, Glynda."
"See that you do," she replied, already scanning Ozpin's notes. "And Peter? Increase security around the Emerald Forest. If something is happening, initiation would be the perfect time to strike, with all our first-years scattered and vulnerable."
As Port left, Glynda remained standing at Ozpin's desk, a rare feeling of dread settling in her stomach. In all their years working together, through countless crises and dangers, Ozpin had never simply... disappeared. Something was very wrong.
She glanced at the time—thirty minutes until the welcome ceremony. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her blouse and picked up Ozpin's speech notes. The students were depending on her. The school was depending on her. Wherever Ozpin was, whatever had happened to him, she would maintain order until he returned.
Or until she found him.
The amphitheater hummed with the excited chatter of hundreds of new students. Bright-eyed teenagers filled the hall, weapons of all descriptions strapped to their backs, hips, and arms—the next generation of Remnant's defenders gathered in one place.
Among them stood Naruto, his tattered orange and black outfit making him stand out even in this eclectic crowd. Yang had found him again, bringing Ruby and a white-haired girl who had been introduced as Weiss Schnee. The heiress had looked him up and down with barely concealed disdain, particularly at his battle-worn clothing.
"Are those burn marks?" she had asked, pointing to the singed edges of his sleeve. "And what kind of weapon is that?" Her eyes had flicked to the standard-issue training kunai Ozpin had provided him with—a far cry from his former ninja tools.
Before Naruto could form a response that wouldn't involve his recently stolen godlike powers, the lights dimmed, and Glynda Goodwitch strode onto the stage. The students' excited murmurs died down as they realized the stern professor, not the headmaster, would be addressing them.
"Welcome to Beacon Academy," Glynda began, her voice clear and authoritative as it carried across the amphitheater. "Headmaster Ozpin sends his regrets that he cannot be here to welcome you personally, as an urgent matter has required his immediate attention."
Naruto's enhanced hearing, courtesy of his newly unlocked Aura, caught Glynda's slightly elevated heartbeat—a telltale sign of deception that his shinobi training had taught him to recognize. Something was wrong.
"You have traveled here today in search of knowledge, to hone your craft and acquire new skills," Glynda continued, reading from Ozpin's notes but infusing the words with her own strict cadence. "And when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people."
The speech continued, talking about wasted energy and the responsibility of Huntsmen and Huntresses. Naruto only half-listened, his attention caught by the worried glances exchanged between staff members at the edges of the hall. Professor Port's hand remained close to his weapon, and the green-haired professor with the wild hair—Oobleck, if Naruto remembered correctly—was moving too quickly from exit to exit, checking security.
"Something's not right," Naruto whispered to Yang.
She glanced at him, her lilac eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"
"The professors are on edge. And Goodwitch is lying about Ozpin."
Yang followed his gaze to where Port was scanning the crowd with unusual intensity. "You're right. They're acting like they're expecting trouble."
"Your first task begins tomorrow," Glynda concluded. "Be ready. You are dismissed for today." Her final words were clipped, lacking the headmaster's usual philosophical touch.
As the students began to disperse, Naruto caught Glynda's gaze across the crowd. For a moment, the professor's mask of control slipped, revealing genuine concern beneath. Then her eyes hardened again, and she turned sharply, exiting the stage with urgent purpose.
"I'm going to find out what's going on," Naruto said, moving toward the exit Glynda had taken.
Yang caught his arm. "Sure go ahead are you sure that you can do it with out my help." Yang said as she cracked a smile.
Naruto gently removed her hand. "Trust me, Yang. I might not have my old powers, but I've got experience with things going wrong. A lot of experience." He offered her a confident smile that echoed his old self. "Besides, I owe Ozpin. He gave me a chance when I had nothing."
Before Yang could protest further, Naruto slipped into the crowd, following the retreating form of Glynda Goodwitch as she headed back toward the tower. His shinobi training might be all he had left, but it was still more than enough to shadow someone undetected—even someone as perceptive as Beacon's deputy headmistress.
Whatever had happened to Ozpin, Naruto intended to find out. And if someone was responsible, they were about to learn that even without his godlike powers, Naruto Uzumaki was still a force to be reckoned with.
The corridor outside the amphitheater was a storm of activity as students dispersed toward the ballroom where they would spend their final night before initiation. Naruto slipped through the crowd with practiced ease, his eyes fixed on Glynda's retreating form. The professor's normally measured stride had quickened, her shoulders tense beneath her cape as she headed toward the administrative wing.
Naruto waited until most of the students had filtered away before he made his move, quickening his pace to catch up with her. "Professor Goodwitch," he called out, his voice low enough that only she would hear.
Glynda stopped, her back stiffening before she turned. Her green eyes narrowed behind her glasses as she recognized him. "Mr. Uzumaki. Shouldn't you be preparing with the other students?"
"Something's wrong," Naruto said, stepping closer and lowering his voice further. "Ozpin isn't just busy with 'urgent matters,' is he?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Glynda's face before her professional mask slipped back into place. She glanced around the now-empty corridor before responding. "I don't know what you're talking about. The headmaster simply had pressing business elsewhere."
Naruto crossed his arms, his blue eyes meeting hers directly. Even without his former powers, years of shinobi training had taught him to read people. "With all due respect, Professor, you're not being truthful. Your heartbeat increased when you mentioned Ozpin during the speech. Your colleagues are on high alert. And Ozpin wouldn't miss welcoming new students—it's too important to him."
Glynda's grip tightened on her riding crop, and for a moment, Naruto thought she might use her telekinetic Semblance to send him flying down the hallway. Instead, she exhaled slowly, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.
"You're unusually perceptive for a new student," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But this doesn't concern you, Mr. Uzumaki. Whatever your background, whatever skills you brought to Vale, you are now a student at this academy. Your focus should be on tomorrow's initiation."
"Ozpin gave me a chance when I had nothing," Naruto replied, his scarred face solemn. "If he's in trouble, I want to help."
Glynda studied him for a long moment, as if reassessing him entirely. "You can help by succeeding at initiation. The Emerald Forest can be dangerous, particularly for someone still adjusting to how Aura works. Focus on that." Her expression softened almost imperceptibly. "Ozpin saw something in you, Mr. Uzumaki. Something worth taking a chance on. Don't waste that opportunity."
"But—"
"That's enough," Glynda cut him off, her tone brooking no argument. "We have the situation well in hand. Port, Oobleck, and I have been handling crises since before you were born."
Naruto bit back a response about actually being thousands of years old before Stephen King's intervention. That would hardly help his credibility.
"If you really want to help," Glynda continued, "then be ready for tomorrow. The Emerald Forest contains dangers beyond the obvious Grimm. Keep your wits about you." She adjusted her glasses, a hint of genuine concern showing through her stern exterior. "And watch out for your fellow students. Some of them may not be as... adaptable as you seem to be."
Naruto recognized the dismissal in her tone but pressed on. "If you find anything—anything at all about what happened to Ozpin—will you tell me?"
Glynda raised an eyebrow. "And why would I do that?"
"Because whatever happened in that office wasn't normal," Naruto said, choosing his words carefully. "And I have experience with... unusual threats."
A ghost of a smile touched Glynda's lips. "I'll keep that in mind, Mr. Uzumaki." She turned to leave, then paused. "One more thing. The weapon you were issued—that small knife..."
"The kunai," Naruto supplied.
"Yes. It may be insufficient for the challenges ahead. Visit the armory before curfew. Tell them I sent you." With that, she continued down the corridor, her heels clicking against the polished floor.
Naruto watched her go, a familiar determination building in his chest. Without his godlike powers, he was just one more student at Beacon—weaker than many who had trained their Semblances for years. But he still had his mind, his experience, and now, his newly unlocked Aura.
"Emerald Forest," he muttered to himself, turning toward the dormitories. "Guess I'd better get ready."
As he walked, he couldn't shake the feeling that whatever had happened to Ozpin was connected to his own encounter with Stephen King. The timing was too convenient to be coincidence. First, an interdimensional entity strips away his powers, then Beacon's headmaster vanishes overnight.
What had Stephen called himself? "The editor making some revisions."
Naruto's hands clenched at his sides. If that editorial process included removing Ozpin from the story, what other changes might be coming? And how could he possibly fight back against someone with the power to rewrite reality itself?
These thoughts churned in his mind as he made his way toward the armory. Whatever tomorrow brought, he would face it as he always had—with determination, ingenuity, and an unbreakable will. Godlike powers or not, Naruto Uzumaki did not give up.
And somewhere in this world, he suspected, was a certain "author" who needed to learn that lesson the hard way.
Morning sunlight filtered through the trees of the Emerald Forest, casting dappled shadows across the cliff edge where Beacon's newest students stood in a neat line. Each student occupied a metal platform, their weapons ready and expressions ranging from excitement to thinly veiled terror. The forest stretched out below them, a vast expanse of green hiding untold dangers.
Naruto adjusted the weapons harness strapped across his chest. The armory visit had proven fruitful—he now carried a set of throwing knives reminiscent of his shinobi tools, along with a collapsible staff that could channel Aura for enhanced strikes. His tattered outfit had been replaced with a sturdy orange and black combat suit that offered protection without restricting his movement.
Glynda Goodwitch stood at the edge of the cliff, her scroll in hand as she surveyed the students. The absence of Ozpin was conspicuous, and Naruto noticed the subtle tension in her stance. Dark circles beneath her eyes suggested she hadn't slept, likely searching for the missing headmaster through the night.
"For years, you have trained to become warriors," Glynda began, her voice carrying across the cliff face. "Today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."
She explained the rules—find the temple, retrieve a relic, return to the cliff. The first person they made eye contact with would be their partner for the next four years. Naruto listened intently, his mind already mapping potential strategies. Without his chakra-enhanced senses or shadow clones, he would need to rely on his basic training and newly unlocked Aura.
"Are there any questions?" Glynda asked, her stern gaze sweeping across the line of students.
A lanky boy with blonde hair raised his hand. "Um, yeah, so, how exactly are we getting into the forest?"
"You will be launched," Glynda replied matter-of-factly.
The boy's face paled. "Launched? You mean, like, with a parachute or something?"
"No. You will use your own landing strategy."
Ruby, standing a few platforms away from Naruto, leaned forward with a grin. "Wait what!" Ruby said.
Then her silver eyes widened as she spotted Naruto in his new gear. "Wait, is that the guy from the Dust shop? What's he doing here?"
Before Yang could respond, the first platform activated with a mechanical click, catapulting its occupant—a stoic girl with long red hair and bronze armor—high into the air. One by one, students were launched toward the forest.
Ruby's shock turned to excitement as her turn approached. "See you in the forest!" she called to Yang before being flung skyward, her red cape fluttering behind her like wings.
Naruto felt a familiar rush of adrenaline as his platform clicked beneath him. In his former godlike state, being launched would have been trivial—he could have simply floated down or teleported. Now, it would be a test of his most basic shinobi skills.
The platform sprung upward, catapulting him into the open air. Wind rushed past his face as he soared over the forest canopy, the ground a dizzying distance below. Without chakra to cushion his landing or create clones as safety nets, he would need perfect timing and execution.
At the apex of his trajectory, Naruto spread his arms and legs to control his fall, angling his body toward a particularly dense section of treetops. As he descended, he drew the collapsible staff from his back, extending it to its full length. Using techniques ingrained through thousands of years of combat, he calculated his approach, waiting for the precise moment to act.
Fifty feet from the canopy, he channeled his newly acquired Aura into the staff, surprised at how naturally the energy flowed in response to his will. The staff took on a faint golden glow—nowhere near as vibrant as his former Nine-Tails chakra, but comforting in its familiarity.
Naruto struck the first branch with his staff, using it as a pivot point to swing himself in a controlled arc, bleeding off momentum. He continued this pattern, bouncing from branch to branch with practiced precision, each impact absorbed by his Aura-enhanced body.
For a fleeting moment, he felt a shadow of his old self—not the god-like being who could reshape reality, but the young shinobi who had relied on skill and determination before accumulating his vast power. There was something refreshing about the simplicity of it, about feeling the limits of his body and working within them.
His final leap brought him to a clearing where he landed in a crouch, his Aura flickering briefly as it absorbed the remaining impact. Rising to his feet, Naruto surveyed his surroundings, listening for any sign of Grimm or fellow students.
The forest was alive with sounds—distant roars of Grimm, gunfire from other students, and the rustling of leaves in the morning breeze. Somewhere out there was a temple with relics, and somewhere among the trees, a partner waited to be found.
Naruto took a deep breath, centering himself. "Alright," he muttered, a familiar determined smile spreading across his face. "Let's do this the old-fashioned way."
With that, he dashed into the forest, moving with the silent grace that had made him a legendary shinobi long before godhood had ever been within his reach. Behind him, at the cliff's edge, Glynda watched the students' progress on her scroll, her thoughts divided between the initiation and the mysterious disappearance of Ozpin.
And somewhere, unseen, Stephen King and his purple companion observed it all, their editorial revisions to the story of Remnant only just beginning.