NOVEL NEXT Chapter 201: Welcome To The Familiar Zone
"What exactly is this Familiar Zone?" Azel asked as Nyala fastened the final button of his crisp black suit jacket.
The fabric felt strange against his skin — He couldn't honestly remember the last time he wore a suit.
What need did he have for a suit here?
In the realm of gods and goddesses?
Yet Nyala's expression as she carefully straightened his collar told him she took this very seriously.
He allowed her to fuss over him, though his curiosity got the better of him.
Kyone, who was meticulously adjusting her own formal wear, was the one to answer.
She smoothed the wrinkles out of her fitted white shirt, every movement elegant, he could see the curves of her body as usual.
"We currently stay in a plane, as do all gods," she explained, her tone patient like that of a teacher. "By rule, no god or goddess may enter another's plane without permission. It's a safeguard to balance power between godly beings. But the Familiar Zone… that is different."
Azel tilted his head, watching her slide into a dark coat and adjust the sleeves.
Even in something as simple as business attire, Kyone was still beautiful.
The way the coat framed her tall figure, the way the tie pulled attention to her neck — it was almost unfair.
"How is it different?" he pressed.
Kyone gave him a small smile, her silver hair falling slightly as she bent to fix her cufflinks.
"The entrance to the Familiar Zone opens only once every five hundred Earth years. Coincidentally, we got married during the cycle of its opening. Once it closes… five days from now, it will vanish again, inaccessible until the next cycle." She paused, meeting his eyes with calm. "Which means this is our only chance."
He wondered why all powerful goddesses like them needed familiars.
Nyala, who had been humming softly while tugging at Azel's sleeves to make sure they sat just right, chimed in.
"The Familiar Zone allows mortals, gods, and hybrids to form bonds with extraordinary familiars. Contracts made there are eternal, stronger than any mortal pact."
That sparked something in Azel's mind.
His lips curved into a grin. "So… what, I could get a dragon? That wouldn't be so bad."
Kyone's laugh was soft.
She placed a hand over her lips to hide them elegantly. "A dragon is commonplace in the Familiar Zone. Pray you attract something rarer."
"Rarer than a dragon, huh…" he muttered.
He was about to imagine possibilities when Nyala tugged his lapel sharply, pulling his attention back to her.
"You look perfect now, Hubby." She beamed proudly, her golden hair shining under the soft divine glow of the room.
Then she narrowed her eyes at Kyone. "Unlike some people, I don't need to use cleavage as bait to get attention."
Kyone's brow twitched, her hand pausing on her tie. "…Excuse me?"
"You heard me." Nyala pointed a finger at her, pouting. "You could've just willed clothes onto yourself instantly. But no. You had to strip down and pull on every button while leaning forward so your chest was on full display."
Azel sighed but then he was curious.
Kyone's expression sharpened, her voice filled with indignation.
"And you? You could've willed clothes onto him in an instant as well. But instead you dragged your hands across every inch of his body under the excuse of dressing him. You should be ashamed."
"That's different!" Nyala shot back, puffing her cheeks. "Touching him is affectionate. Flaunting yourself is shameless!"
"Affectionate?" Kyone repeated, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "That's just your excuse."
"Hmph!" Nyala spun dramatically, her golden hair whipping behind her. "Fine, if showing off is what you want, I'll stoop to your level."
Before Azel could stop her, the divine shimmer of magic rippled across Nyala's body.
Her clothes dissolved into nothing, leaving her entirely bare in front of them both.
Her soft curves caught the glow of divine light, and her breasts bounced slightly with the movement.
Azel choked on his breath, his face turning scarlet. He could never grow used to seeing her naked.
Kyone froze, her eyes darting instinctively toward Azel's reaction and the undeniable interest in his gaze.
A pang of jealousy flared in her chest.
'Should I… dispel mine too?' she thought, her hand twitching at her coat.
But doubt gnawed at her. Unlike Nyala's voluptuous figure, Kyone knew she couldn't compete in sheer size.
Her jaw tightened, but she acted.
Striding forward, she placed both hands on Nyala's chest and squished the goddess's bare cleavage together, blocking Azel's view.
"Kyaaaa!~" Nyala squealed, her face lighting up red as she flailed in embarrassment.
Azel dragged a hand down his face, groaning softly.
'These two…'
…
The bickering continued even as they approached the shimmering oval of light that Kyone opened.
A divine portal that would lead them to the entrance to the Familiar Zone.
Azel walked through first, sighing heavily as the two goddesses flanked him.
Nyala still threw sharp, playful glares at Kyone, who returned them with cold, elegant ones.
They looked cute.
Finally the trio stepped through.
And Azel's breath caught.
The world on the other side was like something straight out of a dream — no, straight out of fantasy itself.
Yes he was in a game world but that didn't matter.
A vast sky stretched endlessly, painted in shades of violet and gold.
Colossal mountains floated in the distance, their peaks breaking apart into islands that drifted lazily in the air.
Rivers of starlight ran through the heavens, spilling into waterfalls that cascaded from clouds themselves.
And the creatures…
A thunderous roar split the sky.
Azel looked up just in time to see a colossal dragon soar overhead.
Its scales shimmered sapphire blue, each one glowing faintly like a gemstone, and when it opened its mouth, a torrent of azure flame poured forth.
The heat licked at Azel's face even from afar, prickling his skin.
"Whoa…" he whispered.
Another dragon flew by… this one with wings like crystal, its body translucent, refracting light like a living prism.
Yet dragons weren't the only marvels.
To his left, an enormous stag strode across a meadow of silver grass.
Its antlers stretched toward the sky like living constellations, stars twinkling within their curves.
Each step it took made flowers bloom in its wake.
In the skies above, a flock of phoenixes burst from a blazing whirlpool of fire, their golden-red wings scattering embers that refused to fade.
Even their cries were beautiful like melodies.
Everywhere Azel turned, there were creatures out of myth and legend.
It was overwhelming.
"Beautiful," Azel breathed, the word slipping from him and his reaction was reasonable.
Kyone was marveled as well.
"Welcome to the Familiar Zone," A voice said. "It's been quite a while."