Zodiac Familiars

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Avrora blinked, tilting her head as she looked up at Lynn, her eyes full of confusion.

Her expression seemed to say: "Why did you pull your foot back?"

She rubbed her belly instinctively, and just like that, the pangs of hunger hit her full force.

"Um!"

She pouted, clearly a little upset.

"So hungry…"

She'd already been starving, but after unleashing the power of her Princess of Azure Ice form, her hunger had only gotten worse.

Stupid Original! How could he make someone work on an empty stomach?!

---

Meanwhile…

Cyrora watched as Lynn released Avrora from her restraints. Her eyes blinked—surprised and a little suspicious.

He actually let her go? Just like that?

She couldn't wrap her head around it.

But then—Opportunity!

Cyrora quickly tried to signal Avrora with her eyes.

Unfortunately, she might as well have been glaring at a wall.

Avrora, still consumed by hunger, didn't notice a thing.

Cyrora was so furious she could barely breathe straight.

This IDIOT!!

"Ya—mmpf!"

Lynn casually clamped a hand over Cyrora's mouth, silencing her completely.

"You're being a bit annoying."

"Mm! Mmm!"

Cyrora's eyes widened as she let out muffled whimpers, her soul form struggling violently.

But no matter how hard she fought, Lynn's grip didn't loosen in the slightest.

With an annoyed glance at her stubborn resistance, Lynn gave Cyrora a rough little shake—then straight-up tossed her into his Devil Piece Space.

. . .

"???"

Cyrora froze, suddenly drifting through a vast, endless galaxy.

What the hell…?

Where did he throw her?!

Gulp.

No… no way.

Cyrora swallowed hard, completely stunned.

He just flung her into another space… like it was nothing?

What kind of godlike power is that?!

No—wait. Maybe it's some sort of spatial manipulation?

Even so this is outer space!? Right?

She glanced around.

That familiar blue planet—Earth—was nowhere to be seen.

Can she even go back?

The thought sent a chill down her spine.

Exile.

That was the word that popped into her head—and it scared her.

No way!

She had to find a way back!

Cyrora clenched her fists, her eyes burning with determination.

But then, a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Hey~ we got a newbie?"

Descending from what looked like a cosmic palace of stars, a girl named Luna floated over, curiously circling Cyrora.

"…"

A child?

Cyrora blinked, surprised by Luna's appearance.

She was about to ask something—but then it hit her: A kid? In space?

And on top of that… she didn't smell human. Not even close.

There was no scent of any known race coming off her.

Instantly, Cyrora's guard went up.

Just then, another girl drifted into view—Stella.

Glancing at Cyrora, she explained lazily, "Just a newbie on probation. Guess Master tossed her in here to cool off?"

That last bit sounded more like a guess.

Luna rolled her eyes.

Obviously. Stella was just making it up.

Luna shook her head and ignored Stella's nonsense. Instead, she leaned toward Cyrora with a bright look in her eyes.

"So~ you were being naughty?"

"…"

Stella gave Luna a strange look. "Hey… have you developed some weird kink or something?"

Luna shrugged. "This place is boring. Master totally knows that—so he probably sent her in to entertain us."

"Uh…"

Stella hesitated. "You really think so?"

"Mhm!" Luna nodded confidently. "Definitely!"

Cyrora: "???"

Wait a damn minute.

Do they seriously think I'm just some easy target?!

She may be stuck in space, but that didn't mean anyone could just walk all over her. She was the Fourth Primogenitor, dammit!

Cyrora was just about to act when—Snap.

A hand suddenly locked around her arm.

Her body went stiff.

This feeling… it was way too familiar.

It was like—That guy… had done the same thing to her before.

Cyrora looked up at the girl gripping her arm—

And for a split second, she saw a breathtaking, dazzling—zodiac Star chart!

More specifically…Capricorn?!

Cyrora's eyes went wide.

Capricorn's Astral Core?!

It immediately reminded her of her own Familiar Beast.

But no. Something was off.

Cyrora shook her head.

This wasn't her Capricorn. But it was incredibly similar.

A zodiac Star Familiar… What was it doing here?

Weren't those supposed to be exclusive to her?!

Cyrora's expression turned grim and uncertain.

Master!

She recalled the earlier conversation between Luna and Stella.

Their so-called "Master"

Could it be—Lynn?

It didn't take her long to connect the dots.

After all, she wouldn't be here if not for him.

So…Was this place actually a different dimension?

The more she thought about it, the more details jumped out at her.

For example—Why was the sun… so small?

And why were there pieces floating around—like some kind of chessboard?

Still, even if she'd figured out the truth—

It wasn't like she could escape.

Worse still—

The fact that Lynn had a zodiac Star Familiar like she did... that alone set off alarm bells in her head.

That bastard. 

Could he be planning to eat her?

The more she thought about their matching abilities, the more it made sense.

If it were her in his place—She'd absolutely do it.

Absorbing a familiar of the same origin could cause an explosive leap in power.

So…What now?

Convinced she had uncovered Lynn's intentions, Cyrora fell into deep thought.

She didn't even notice the other "constellation girls" starting to gather around her.

And after getting blasted by Luna's star chart just now, she finally realized: Lynn's power totally eclipsed hers.

Well, that was mostly because she hadn't fully recovered her strength yet.

If she had access to all her power, she'd be confident in going toe-to-toe with him.

He had a zodiac Familiar? So did she!

No big deal!

But right now, she was definitely at a disadvantage.

Which made it all the more suspicious: If Lynn wanted her gone, he could've easily finished her off while she was still weak.

Instead, he threw her into this space.

There's gotta be something he's not telling me.

Cyrora's eyes lit up with certainty.

And truth be told, she wasn't that far off the mark.

The only thing she got wrong?

Lynn wasn't planning to eat her. Well, maybe, but not like devour.

He just wanted her to join the familia.

Or more precisely—He wanted to claim her Familiars.

— — —

In the underground tomb…

After sending Cyrora into the Devil Space, everything quieted down.

Lynn crouched down in front of Avrora, who was sitting on the icy floor like a pouting duck.

He gently ruffled her golden hair, then pulled out a bottle of milk.

YUP, that milk.

"You want some?"

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