The four of them exchanged glances before speaking.
Leon smirked. "Of course, we've all followed you on Vanguard. Your battles are impressive. Though, I must say... it's quite unique having a female Khodam while you're originally a guy."
Dylan grinned. "Honestly, it's kinda cool. Angel and Valkery are both beautiful, but knowing the truth behind them is... intriguing."
Jin Hou nodded in agreement. "I respect your fighting spirit. It doesn't matter to me whether your main form is male or female. Strength is what counts."
Miranda crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "To be honest, I don't really care. As long as you can fight and protect yourself when needed, that's what matters."
Angel couldn't help but smile at their reactions, feeling a sense of relief that they didn't seem to judge him based on his dual identity.
At that moment, their tablets suddenly beeped.
Announcement:
To all Khodam users, please be extra cautious. For your safety, it is recommended to sleep in your Khodam form. For those who haven't awakened their Khodam yet, the government will provide special facilities.
This precaution is necessary due to the recent arrival of several Havoc Spiders. They have been targeting Khodam users worldwide while they are asleep in their original forms. The estimated number of victims has surpassed 100.
Be vigilant, as the enemy this time is cunning. If you encounter a Havoc Spider or any alien spacecraft, please report immediately to the Vanguard hotline.
---
After the announcement, the room fell silent for a moment.
Leon clenched his fists. "They're targeting people while they sleep? Cowards."
Dylan frowned. "That's just messed up. We need to increase security around here."
Jin Hou calmly added, "Staying in our Khodam forms while sleeping seems like the safest option for now."
Miranda nodded in agreement. "It's better to be uncomfortable than dead. We'll take turns keeping watch, just in case."
Angel looked at his friends, appreciating their readiness to protect him. "Thanks, guys... I guess sleeping won't feel as safe as before."
Leon patted Angel's shoulder. "Don't worry. With us here, nothing's gonna touch you."
"Alright, we should transform into our Khodam forms first."
Leon was the first to transform. His body morphed into a white werewolf. His face still retained human features, except for two sharp fangs visible in his mouth. His hands remained mostly human but were covered in white fur, ending with long, sharp claws. His legs grew longer, with his muscular thighs covered in fur. His torso from the chest down was also covered in thick white fur, with his face remaining mostly human—though he had white wolf ears on top of his head and a long wolf tail behind him.
Dylan followed, transforming into a tiger-man. His face now resembled a fierce tiger, but his body remained human-like, with impressive muscle mass. A black tail swayed behind him, and his head bore lion-like ears.
Jin Hou then transformed, but his change was more subtle. He looked like a handsome young man with a monkey tail, his physique well-balanced with lean muscles. His hair turned golden and seemed to move as if alive. Seeing this, Angel couldn't help but ask, "Can you sell your hair?"
Jin Hou shook his head. "My hair can't be sold."
Dylan smirked. "Too bad. You could make a fortune with that golden hair."
Miranda huffed. "Why are you guys even talking about selling hair? Focus, will you?"
Feeling a bit awkward as the only one without a humanoid Khodam, Miranda transformed into a small red and pink dragon.
"This is the only form that fits inside the apartment. Looking at you guys, I feel like a pet," Miranda sighed.
Dylan grinned. "Don't worry, we'll take good care of you."
"You jerk! Don't treat me like a real pet!" Miranda snapped.
Everyone burst out laughing, making Miranda pout even more. Determined to strike back, she glanced at them and smirked.
"Oh, I guess I'm living with one girl and her three husbands," Miranda teased, causing Angel to blush.
"H-Hey! What are you talking about? Didn't you check the site?" Angel stammered.
"Who cares about that? The important thing is your Khodam is a woman," Miranda replied with a smirk.
Angel glanced at the three guys, hoping one of them would help, but they just looked amused.
"Well, since this apartment is spacious and has four guest rooms, we might as well stay here," Leon suggested.
"Hey, shouldn't you ask Angel first?" Jin Hou pointed out.
Angel hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I-It's fine. Honestly, I'd be happy to have company. I'm usually alone at home."
Dylan, still in his tiger form, grinned. "Since your real body is a guy, you can sleep with me in your Khodam form, no problem."
Before Dylan could continue, the small red dragon bit his leg.
"Ow! Stop biting me!" Dylan yelped.
"Back off, you pervert!" Miranda growled.
Angel didn't know how to respond, so he just kept quiet.
"Let's just sleep in separate rooms. There are plenty here," Angel finally suggested.
They each chose their own rooms.
Angel entered her room, feeling a mix of strangeness and happiness. Previously, she had always lived alone.
For safety reasons, it was better to sleep in Khodam form, so Angel tried on the new sleepwear she had just bought. It fit well, but since she had large wings, she transformed into Valkery, whose wings could be deactivated, and wore the loose sleepwear.
There wasn't much difference except for something missing between her legs and a heavier chest. Other than that, it felt the same.
Valkery soon fell into a peaceful sleep.
The next morning, Valkery remembered that there were four guests in her house. Since Vanguard's funding had made her quite wealthy, she didn't worry about expenses.
That morning, she prepared a hearty breakfast, cooking a variety of delicious dishes that filled the dining table.
When Leon, Dylan, Jin Hou, and Miranda woke up, they were stunned to see a mountain of food on the dining table.
"Am I still dreaming?" Dylan muttered.
"Ahhh!" Dylan yelped as the small dragon—Miranda—bit him. "Guess it's not a dream."
"Hey! Can't you bite someone else? Stop biting me!" Dylan protested.
Miranda huffed. "Look, Leon's all covered in white fur, and Jin Hou's legs are too human-like. I don't have the heart to bite them. Your legs are all muscular and tough—perfect for dragon teeth."
Valkery chuckled, holding a spatula. "Come on, dig in."
Dylan grinned mischievously. "Whoever marries you is gonna be one happy guy."
Another bite from Miranda made him yelp again.