"I'm looking forward to the day we finally meet."
The cocoon had shattered completely, leaving behind only faint trails of golden and void-black light that slowly faded into the emptiness.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
The weight of the Author's words still lingered in the air like smoke from a dying fire — casual, almost friendly, yet carrying implications that shook the very foundation of how they viewed their existence.
Ash's reddish-purple eyes were distant, his expression calm but deeply thoughtful as he processed everything.
Elysia clung to his arm, her golden eyes soft as she leaned her head against his shoulder.
"Interesting, isn't it?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"He never planned to control anything. He set you up… to become the strongest fictional character in existence."
Ash let out a low, genuine laugh, the sound rich and warm as it echoed softly through the void.
"Truly," he replied, shaking his head slightly.
