Enchantress System: Five Beasts, One Goddess

Shouts and excited conversations filled the vast mercenary recruitment hall on Planet F921.

Beastfolk had traveled from every corner of the planet for the annual selection trials, hoping a mercenary company would take them on.

One young female in a sleek combat uniform waited amid the crowd, eagerly watching the selection panel.

Several steps separated her from the surrounding male beastfolk, who'd instinctively backed away rather than risk offending her.

Before long, though, their puzzlement overcame their caution.

"She's here again? Other females get spoiled at home, and this one keeps showing up for the trials."

"Want to hear something even stranger? Apparently, she hasn't matched with even one male."

"Seriously? Why put herself through this when she could have whatever she wants without lifting a finger? Has she lost her mind?"

"Well, females are allowed to apply, you know-there's no law against it."

"Who'd have thought we'd need one? Name a female who's worked in the last few thousand years. Their males do everything for them..."

Their lowered voices did nothing to keep the conversation from Rena Chapman's ears.

Explaining herself wasn't worth the trouble. Sitting around had never suited her, and a life spent eating, drinking, and entertaining herself at someone else's expense held no appeal.

Before coming here, she'd made esports content in the modern world. Making a career in the fiercely competitive gaming industry had taken relentless work and the discipline to stick with it.

Her life had ended abruptly during an all-nighter as she waited for a massive new full-immersion game to launch. Instead of waking up in her own world, she'd opened her eyes in an interstellar society of beastfolk.

Less than 0.01 percent of its population was female. With so few of them, the lengths society went to protect and honor them were naturally extreme.

From the moment a female was born, the Beast God System ensured she'd want for nothing. Adulthood brought an automatic match with the most desirable males.

Joining a female's household was a privilege many males never received. For the chosen few, no honor could compare. Tireless work and fierce battles won them resources, which they handed over to their female. Even being struck or scolded by her was something they'd endure as though it were another privilege.

Such devotion seemed only natural to the females receiving it. Enjoying what their males supplied and bearing children were their only obligations.

Upon her arrival, Rena had received a luxurious residence from the Beast God System, along with notice that she qualified for male matches.

A life without anything worthwhile to do was beyond her imagination, though.

Violent combat games had been both her passion and the foundation of her career. Here, she had an entire universe of actual battlefields to explore. Spending her days in a gilded cage where her only worth lay in having children was out of the question.

She couldn't think of anything more ridiculous.

Movement up ahead brought the line forward, and soon it was her turn before the selection panel.

"Hello, my name's Rena Chapman." She greeted clearly. "I'm here to try for a place in a mercenary company for the third year running!"

Weary glances passed between the judges.

Combat had never been something females took part in. Males far surpassed them physically, and even among females, Rena was unusually frail.

None of that stopped her from coming back for the trials every single year.

Her determination deserved some credit, at least. As for anything else, the judges had nothing left to say.

The head judge casually beckoned a new recruit over. "Take him down, and we'll accept you."

Without drawing attention to it, Rena assessed her opponent.

There was little strength in his arms, and he stood without a firm footing. His fists, though clenched, looked weak. Eye contact with her lasted barely a second before he looked away.

A Level 1 rookie was all he amounted to. Beating him should be easy.

Confident she would win, Rena sprang at him and seized his arm, twisting it sharply.

Panic took over, and the recruit lashed out in every direction.

Within a second, one of his wild movements knocked her hard onto the floor.

Spots flashed across her vision as the taste of blood filled her throat.

Without a trace of sympathy, the head judge lifted his hand. "That's it, Rena Chapman. You're out."

Across the mercenary recruitment hall, beastfolk burst into laughter.

As far as they were concerned, a female entering the selection trials had never been anything but a joke.

Without saying a word, Rena struggled out of the hall.

She'd failed for yet another year.

When would she finally get the chance to experience the interstellar combat she'd dreamed of?

Rena heard a short chime inside her head. A synthetic voice followed. "Enchantress System activated. Please go to the Bonding Center to claim your males at the earliest opportunity."

Irritation flared in her again. "Turn it off. I'm not interested in some Enchantress System."

"You've been given a system created personally for you by the Beast God System. Your exceptionally rare and valuable genes must be preserved for future generations, so it has chosen to help you pursue your greatest wish. Winning a male's affection will earn you improvements to your combat ability and physical strength. Special skills and weapons will also be available as rewards."

That brought Rena to a halt. Excitement began to replace her disappointment. "Wait. You're saying I can become a god of war just by getting males to like me?"

"You can."

Her face lit up at once. "You've got the name wrong, then. You're a God of War System."

Without a hint of feeling, the mechanical voice replied, "My name is the Enchantress System."

"Whatever makes you happy."

Her failed attempt no longer weighed on her as she turned toward the Bonding Center. It was the grandest building in the city center.

Getting males to fall for her wasn't how she wanted to spend her time. Becoming stronger, however, was reason enough to go.

Curved glass formed the Bonding Center's sweeping exterior. Inside, abundant greenery made it feel like an oasis cut off from the surrounding city.

At the heart of the building, Rena stepped onto a circular platform. Light passed over her entire body to confirm her identity, and a holographic screen came to life in front of her.

"Hello, Rena Chapman. No matches are registered to your name. Shall we search for compatible males?"

With a tap, she selected "Yes."

The screen displayed a progress bar that rose from ten percent to twenty, and then continued climbing until it hit ninety.

Another chime confirmed the result as the words "Match Complete" lit up.

Before her appeared five portraits of strikingly handsome males, with names and titles listed below.

Alexander Miller, business magnate. Kade Wright, Commander of the Empire's First Legion. Dominick Knight, ruler of the criminal underworld. Laurence Bennett, president of the Imperial Medical Association. Benjamin Hayes, the Empire's chief scientist.

Beyond the building, news of those matches had already spread across the interstellar civilization and caused an uproar.

Public holographic displays drew crowds who eagerly debated the identity of the female matched to five of the Empire's most powerful males in one go.

Unaware of all the attention, she focused on a name she recognized and struggled to keep her excitement in check.

Kade Wright commanded the Empire's First Legion.

For three years, she'd tried to enter a mercenary company that was only a minor unit within that legion.

Now the commander of the whole legion was hers.