The Dawn of the New World

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 fuck 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!"

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

The structure they were in shook back and forth as if a terrible earthquake had rocked the lands.

Max carried the coffin over to Baba Jezda and placed it on top of the well according to her instructions. She stepped back and began chanting in a loud voice, repeating the same four words over and over again while pouring various liquids into the well.

Hao Xuan gently laid down Claudia and walked over to the exit to take a peek at what was happening outside. They were in the last room at the end of a long hall lined with broken statues and shrines on the sides.

Each of the 12 shrines belonged to one of the broken statues across from them. Even in shambles, it was obvious a lot of work, dedication, and love had gone into making those states that belonged to each of the original Titans.

But what was most peculiar was that there were still a few candles burning on some of the shrines.

The walls and ceilings had countless paintings depicting various battles between gargantuan monsters and the Titans.

"It's almost ready," Max suddenly whispered into Hao Xuan's ears bringing him back to reality.

"I told you to keep your distance," Hao Xuan warned, taking a step back from him.

"Oh come now, after everything I've done for you how could you still be so cold?" Max pouted.

"Stay away from me," Hao Xuan muttered under his breath while walking past him.

Max smiled watching his back, "For the moment..."

By the time Hao Xuan came over the previously empty well was now filled with a black liquid. The coffin rested on top just below the mural of Kronos himself.

He was depicted as a rather ordinary-looking man only a few dozen meters taller than the average human. With a great white beard and a kindly demeanor, he was looking down while his gaze resting on the well, or rather the space behind it that was unfurling by itself.

It looked like stitches coming undone, the fabric of time and space taking itself apart without any outside help.

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.