At the sound of his words, a man appeared—though he was light-years away. Yet to Ash, it felt as if they were standing face to face.
The man was Vane, with short gray hair and eyes like literal crystals, standing right in front of Universe One.
Ash's Eyes of First Dawn had evolved alongside him, which was why he moved with such meticulous intent now.
Vane's arrival didn't catch him off guard; Ash had sensed the man the moment he stepped back into the multiverse after his seclusion.
And Vane had sensed him as well.
"So, you're the little brother," Vane muttered, his voice carrying almost no emotion.
Ash smiled knowingly. "Ah, yes, that would indeed be me." He paused, then added, "How's my dear brother, anyway?"
Snap.
Vane snapped his fingers, and the space beside him warped as Archie—better known as the Eternal Deceiver—appeared.
His condition was abysmal.
