Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3

The third chapter of the Arrowverse event Crisis on Infinite Earths brought about the prophecized death of The Flash. There was a twist, however, as the Barry Allen of Earth-1 was replaced in destiny’s crosshairs by the Barry Allen of Earth-90.

The death of The Flash during Crisis on Infinite Earths had been predicted since the first episode of The Flash. The Reverse Flash, Eobard Thawne, calibrated his alterations of the timeline against a newspaper from the future, which predicted that Barry Allen would mysteriously disappear during a Crisis where the skies turned red and lighting filled the skies. While this newspaper would change somewhat over the years, the message remained the same.

Given that Barry Allen sacrificed himself to save the multiverse in the original Crisis on Infinite Earths comic book mini-series, it seemed that this also would be the fate of the Arrowverse’s Barry Allen.  This seemed even more certain as Crisis of Infinite Earths: Part 3 progressed and Barry Allen made his way into the secret abode of the Anti-Monitor on Earth 1, with Cisco Ramon, Caitlin Snow and Pariah, discovering the anti-matter cannon responsible for generating the anti-matter waves destroying the multiverse. They also discovered the Barry Allen of Earth-90 on a treadmill which powered the cannon, trapped behind a force-field and unable to escape.

With the aid of Cisco Ramon (who had earlier had his Vibe powers restored by The Monitor), the heroes were able to free the older Flash. Unfortunately, this triggered a fail-safe that would destroy Earth-1 before all of the other Earths. Pariah summoned Black Lightning from his Earth, hoping his powers might be able to disrupt the cannon. When this proved insufficient, Barry realized this was the moment where he was meant to sacrifice himself, using his speed to destroy the cannon.

Before Barry could begin his deadly run, the older Barry Allen used a trick he had learned to steal the Speed Force energy from his younger counterpart. Justifying his actions by pointing out that The Monitor said “The Flash must die in Crisis. He never said which one,” the older Barry convinced Cisco to place him back within the force-field. As the other heroes fled through a breach, The Flash of Earth-90 thought of his wife, Tina, and began to run. With the energy he absorbed from his younger counterpart added to his own, he was able to overload the anti-matter cannon and save the Arrowverse from further deterioration.

More: Arrowverse: Predicting Who Dies In Crisis On Infinite Earths