After watching Abner enter the Barrier, Klein closed his eyes for a moment and reaffirmed the decision he had made:
He would temporarily shut out the power of the Unknown and face the Celestial Worthy's influence on his own. He had already found a way to do it.
Abner had said that Klein's help would amount to very little, but if it could ease his burden even slightly, Klein was willing to try.
He would not do it unprepared, though. Not long ago, he had asked the Evernight Goddess for water from the River of Eternal Darkness. Once he shut out the Unknown's power, he planned to enter a dream with the Celestial Worthy and confront him there.
That way, neither of them would win anytime soon... Once Abner returned as a Great Old One, he could use the Unknown's power to "fish" Klein out.
And even if Abner did not return, Klein might not lose. He still had ties to Sharron and the others.
Besides, if he did nothing and Liu Bo was the one who returned, Klein might fare no better. He might even have to release the Celestial Worthy himself to oppose him.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Klein returned to Sefirah Castle. He sat in the high-backed chair and let gray-white mist cover his body.
After looking around and confirming the state of each Crimson Star, Klein leaned back wearily and raised his right hand a little.
This time, he did not create the dummy known as "The World."
Crimson Light rose simultaneously on both sides of the mottled long table, taking shape as members of the Tarot Club: The Hanged Man, The Sun, The Hermit, The Magician, Temperance, and the others.
The sudden summons clearly caught Audrey and the others off guard. For