He quickly unwrapped the bandages tying the coffin to Claudia and noticed that her lifeforce had greatly diminished.

"What happened? Can you hear me!?

" he called out but she was barely able to keep her eyes open.

Max tapped him on the shoulder and bent down to inspect the coffin,

"Oh this is just amazing! Is it really what I think it is?!

" and then he suddenly turned towards Hao Xuan in shock,

"You...are a lot colder than I thought you would be...

"

"What the ** are you talking about?!

" he glared back.

"Are- Didn't you have her carry the coffin on purpose? If this is what I think it is, it should extract lifeforce from anyone not on death's door upon direct contact. But if you enter the coffin with a life-threatening injury that lifeforce is then slowly transferred to you over a long period.

"

Hao Xuan's expression turned grim as he looked around and found Baba Jezda's figure not too far from them leaning over a well.

"You did this on purpose?!

"

And she answered coldly without turning around,

"I could have, but she was informed of the consequences, it was her choice to shoulder the responsibility...someone had to.

"

"I could have-

"

"No, not without greatly weakening you in the process.

"

Delirious, Claudia continued to grin foolishly while mumbling to herself like a child,

"Did I...do good...are you happy...master...

"

"Shh, don't speak,

" he whispered into her ears,

"Is she going to be okay?

"

"She won't die once she is in the coffin- *Rumble* -bring it over, quickly!

"

It was a cut unlike any other and when it was wide enough something bright yellow could be seen on the other side.

"That is the river of time. When the entrance is fully opened you will get inside the coffin along with the girl and he will push you into the river,

" Baba Jezda informed him.

"He who? MAX?! Have you lost your mind?!

"

"He won't do anything to harm you, he can't, I made sure of that already,

" she replied while turning around.

"What about you? Where are you going?

"

"To keep him busy for as long as I can. It appears Yami was...overpowered faster than I expected.

"

"He's...dead?

"

"No, he has been wiped out of existence. Death is a mercy we are not usually granted...

"

Hao Xuan remembered his last words,

"He knew this was going to happen, didn't he?

"

"He was many things but a fool was not one of them. This was the most obvious end to their encounter.

"

Hao Xuan went silent which prompted Baba Jezda to finally look him in the eye,

"What? No last words to an old woman who is going to sacrifice herself for you?

"

"Out of the goodness of your heart, I'm sure.

"

"Kehehe, goodness of the heart. You have a good sense of humor, tell me that joke when we meet in the old life!

" she snickered and stepped out of the room, slamming her cane on the side of the exit to bring down nearly half of the structure on itself.