Five Perfect Matches

The AetherWeb was practically melting down outside, but inside the testing room of the Maris Center, Marcella paid no attention to the digital frenzy. She sat in a sleek metallic chair, her gaze fixed on the glowing screen of her Holocom. The quiet hum of the climate control system was the only sound breaking the silence.

"Ms. Vance, the maris protocol is initiating. The central system is currently scanning the continental database for your optimal mates. Your results will be delivered directly to your device in precisely ten minutes." The staff member stood a respectful distance away, his hands clasped behind his back.

Marcella gave a tight nod. She gripped the armrests. Anxious anticipation clawed at her chest, making her breath shallow. She was an S-tier female now. That title carried immense weight, undeniable power, and a massive shift in her destiny. She could only imagine the caliber of males the system would pull to match her new, elevated status.

The ten-minute countdown felt like a slow, agonizing crawl through molasses. Finally, a sharp, melodic chime cut through the quiet room.

Ding!

Maris Center: Ms. Vance, the system has successfully matched you with five mates. Their official profiles are attached below. Congratulations on your new marriage arrangements!

Marcella exhaled a shaky breath and tapped the flashing icon. Data files unrolled across her screen.

Mate #1: Dante Alarie. Age: 25. Height: 6 foot 2. Beast Form: Phoenix. Abilities: Fire, Wind. Rankings: 5-Star, 5-Star. Compatibility: 100%.

Mate #2: Cassian Vane. Age: 24. Height: 6 foot 2. Beast Form: Nine-Tailed Fox. Abilities: Illusion, Fire. Rankings: 5-Star, 5-Star. Compatibility: 100%.

Mate #3: Xander Croft. Age: 23. Height: 6 foot 1. Beast Form: Elk. Abilities: Domain, Strength. Rankings: 5-Star, 5-Star. Compatibility: 100%.

Mate #4: Ryker Vossen. Age: 22. Height: 6 foot 1. Beast Form: Frostbound Serpent. Abilities: Poison Mist, Ice. Rankings: 4-Star, 4-Star. Compatibility: 100%.

Mate #5: Kaelen Bellerose. Age: 20. Height: 6 foot 1. Beast Form: Lynxcove. Abilities: Speed, Invisibility. Rankings: 3-Star, 3-Star. Compatibility: 100%.

Marcella scrolled past the impressive statistics, her brow furrowing in confusion. The system provided combat metrics and elemental affinities, but no photos. Not a single headshot or candid image was attached to any of the five profiles.

Was the system treating her impending marriages like a set of blind boxes?

She leaned back against the cool metal of her chair. Pragmatic acceptance quickly washed over her initial anxiety. It did not matter. If these five males turned out to be hard on the eyes, she could simply file for divorce. The therian laws heavily favored females, especially high-tier ones. In her past life, she had been a beauty-obsessed reader. She used to leave thirsty comments on polyamorous novels, begging to feast on gorgeous men. Maybe she was just living out her indulgent fantasies now.

"A hundred percent compatibility across the board?" The staff member leaned over his own terminal, his eyes bulging as he caught sight of the finalized metrics. He gasped, staring at her as if she were a descending goddess. "Our center has not processed ratings like this in decades."

Couples boasting a flawless compatibility rating were local legends. From an evolutionary standpoint, they had the highest chances of conceiving gifted female offspring. The thought of Marcella birthing five powerful females sent a visible tremor of excitement through the man.

He straightened his posture, suppressing his hype to maintain professionalism. "Ms. Vance, the system has already forwarded your profile to these five gentlemen. They are required to add your Holocom contact and relocate to your residence within a one-month window. You can use this preliminary period to chat and establish a rapport before they move in."

"That works for me." Marcella tapped her screen, saving the files.

"Furthermore, your new S-tier status unlocks premium civic privileges." The staff member gestured toward the grand glass exit. "You are now eligible to apply for an S-rank luxury estate, a high-end hover vehicle, and an elite robot helper. Shall I process those applications right now?"

"Of course." Marcella did not hesitate.

Turning down a free mansion and luxury transport was simply not an option. When Marcella left the Maris Center, a pristine hover car waited at the curb, its doors gliding open as an S-tier robot chauffeur bowed. She slipped into the plush leather interior, leaving her meager past behind.

Light-years away on Kythera Planet, the atmosphere inside the sprawling Alarie estate was far less triumphant.

"Dante, you need to listen to reason. Sylvia Rostova just awakened as an S-tier female with a unique ability. You did not secure a match with her through the system, but you must take the initiative. You have top-tier abilities. Our family holds immense power. She will undoubtedly be interested if you just show your face!" Mona Dancy paced the length of the opulent living room, her sharp heels clicking against the polished marble floor.

Gideon Alarie stood by the window, nodding in agreement. "Your mother is right. In the beastworld, every female wants a husband who is strong, handsome, and wealthy. You check every single box. Why are you dragging your feet?"

Dante slouched on the sofa, rubbing his temples. A stubborn resistance flared in his chest. "Mom, Dad, I have zero interest in her. Stop trying to force this."

Mona stopped pacing and glared at her son, placing her hands on her hips. "An S-tier female with a supernatural ability, and you are not interested? What kind of imaginary standard are you holding out for? Tell us right now! Your father and I will scour the entire galaxy to find her!"

Dante opened his mouth to argue back, but a sharp alert from his wrist cut him off.

Ding!

Center of Maris Affairs: Greetings, Dante Alarie. The system has matched you with a female. Her detailed information has been forwarded to your Holocom. Please add her contact immediately and arrive at her designated location within one month. Failure to comply will result in a penalty of 1,000,000 galactic credits and 10,000 merits. Furthermore, the system will permanently cease matching you. Congratulations on your new marriage!

Dante froze in place. The irritation washed out of his muscles, replaced by a sudden spike of adrenaline. A match?

He rapidly tapped the screen, pulling up the new file.

Female: Marcella Vance. Age: 20. Height: 5 foot 5. Psionic Power: S-tier. Ability: Wood-Based. Tier: 1-Star. Compatibility: 100%.

His gaze glued itself to that final line. One hundred percent. His heart slammed against his ribs. The system had actually found him a flawless match. He had spent his adult life waiting for this exact moment. His previous stubborn apathy vanished into thin air, morphing instantly into intense, eager excitement.

"Mom, Dad, the system just matched me. It is a perfect hundred percent compatibility." Dante shot up from the sofa.

Gideon and Mona gasped, jumping up in elation.

"Praise the heavens! Who is the lucky female?" Mona grabbed his arm, her eyes wide with desperate curiosity.

"Her name is Marcella Vance." Dante smiled, a massive grin breaking across his face.

Mona immediately pulled up the AetherWeb. Two trending topics about her awakening appeared instantly. Her initial excitement surged, but as she dug deeper, her expression darkened. The dark rumors and tabloid-style accusations jumped off the screen.

"Wait, it says here Marcella divorced five mates just yesterday." Mona frowned, her voice dropping an octave.

Gideon paused for a moment, then waved a hand to dismiss the issue. "Divorced? That is actually fantastic news. Dante will not have to fight off a horde of other males for her daily attention."

"People are claiming she is malicious. They say she has a toxic temper and torments her husbands every single day behind closed doors." Mona kept scrolling, reading the nasty comments aloud.

"Let them talk, do not worry about that." Gideon scoffed, clapping a heavy hand on his son's shoulder. "Dante is a 5-star Phoenix therian. He is built tough. A little hitting or scolding from a female will not hurt him at all."

Mona tapped on a photo of Marcella. She blinked in stunned silence. The female staring back at her was breathtakingly gorgeous. As someone who placed heavy value on physical aesthetics, Mona felt her lingering doubts evaporate in an instant.

"Your father is right, son. Considering the flawless compatibility rating and a face like that, you just need to put up with her attitude. Males who complain about being scolded or hit by their beautiful females are simply too weak." Mona nodded firmly, tapping the screen.

Dante let out a breathless laugh, at a loss for words. He truly had the best, most pragmatic parents in the galaxy.

"Do not just stand there! Go pack your belongings right now and get moving. You need to secure your position as her first mate to arrive." Gideon pointed toward the sweeping staircase.

"We need to assemble a gift package. Gideon, help me raid the family vaults. We must prepare some rare gifts to boost our son's favorability ratings before he even lands on her planet." Mona swiped her screen away, her mind already shifting to logistics.

"Got it!" Gideon agreed instantly.

The two elders rushed out of the room, their voices echoing down the grand hallway as they debated which artifacts to pack. Dante stood alone in the quiet living room. He looked down at his Holocom screen. His long, well-defined fingers danced across the holographic keyboard as he pulled up the contact request for Marcella. A fiery anticipation burned in his chest as he hit send.