Benjamin Mark had always believed death would be quiet.

Instead, it was the never-ending beep of monitors, the sterile smell of disinfectant, and the hollow ache of knowing no one would notice he was gone. A very painful point for a short-life-span human.

At thirty-five, cancer had finally won the long war it waged against his body. He lay alone in his tiny Seattle apartment. He moved there after the hospital discharged him with the comforting words.

There was no wife or children. No lover to hold his hand. Only just a lifetime of extra hours, frozen dinners, and spreadsheets that no one would ever thank him for.

As his vision dimmed, a single regret burned brighter than the pain: *I never knew what it felt like to be wanted. To touch someone… or to be touched.

Then darkness took him.

But just as suddenly, light came. Warm and golden, and impossibly real. But it flooded into him.

Benjamin gasped awake on a bed of soft moss. Sunbeams pierced a cathedral-like canopy of leaves hundreds of feet above.

The air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers, damp earth, and something sweet he couldn't name.

Birds sang in melodies he'd never heard. His chest rose and fell without the familiar rattle of sickness. He sat up slowly, staring at hands that were no longer thin and veined, but strong and steady.

"What's going on? A dream?"

He stumbled to a nearby stream and froze at his reflection.

Yes.

The face staring back was his, yet not.

Sharper jaw, fuller lips, piercing ice-blue eyes framed by brown lashes, hair that fell in short waves.

He looked like the kind of man women glanced at twice on the street. Of course, the kind of man he had never been.

"What the hell is this face?" His voice came out lighter but smoother.

A translucent blue panel shimmered into existence in front of his eyes, letters glowing with soft light.

[System Initialization Complete]

Host: Benjamin Mark

Title: Reincarnated Soul (Divine Favored)

The gods of Elyndor have selected you for a second chance. Your previous life was deemed tragic yet pure of heart. Objective: Live fully, love freely, and regret nothing this time.

Starting Skills:

- Enhanced Vitality (Passive): Infinite stamina, rapid recovery, heightened senses.

- Charisma Aura (Passive – Lv1): Subtle pheromone and presence boost. Nearby females feel instinctive trust and attraction.

No forced quests or timers. Enjoy your new world, Benjamin Mark.

Benjamin waved a hand through the panel.

It rippled but stayed. "Elyndor? Gods? This… this is isekai, right?

"Like those light novels I skimmed during lunch breaks." He laughed, the sound shaky. "I'm dead, and this is heaven's joke on me."

The System pinged cheerfully. Location: Whispering Wilds – Border of Verdant Spire Territory. Caution: Predators active. Civilization 3–5 days west.

He stood, testing his body.

Simple leather trousers and a fitted tunic clung to his new frame like they were tailored. No shoes, but his feet felt tough against the moss.

Afterward, hunger gnawed at him, but not the desperate kind he remembered from chemo days. This was healthy hunger.

He then began to walk.

Days blurred into a fever dream of emerald forests. Trees towered like mini-skyscrapers, their trunks woven with glowing vines.

He foraged sweet purple berries that burst with honey-like juice, drank from streams clearer than glass.

His body never tired the way it should have—maybe Enhanced Vitality kept him moving long after his old self would have collapsed. But loneliness crept in all the same.

At night he sat against massive roots, staring at stars that formed unfamiliar constellations.

"Am I really alone again?" he whispered. "Was the second chance just a prettier cage?"

After several days... he'd lost count, his legs finally buckled and his vision swam.

He was running on empty—there was apparently so far Enhanced Vitality could take him.

He collapsed beside a fallen log, breath ragged. "Not… like this," he rasped. "What was the point?"

Later, there was rustling. Soft footfalls on leaves.

A woman emerged from the foliage like a vision from legend.

Tall, nearly six feet, with sun-bronzed skin and long auburn hair braided with flowers.

Her eyes were vivid emerald, sharp and kind at once. She wore armor of supple leather and woven leaves that left her toned midriff bare and accentuated generous curves.

A recurved bow hung across her back, quiver at her hip. Every movement spoke of power and grace.

She knelt beside him, fingers gentle against his throat checking for pulse. "By the Goddess, a man this deep in the Wilds?" Her voice was melodic, warm honey over steel. "Easy, stranger. You're burning with fever from exhaustion."

Benjamin tried to speak, "What… language is that…?" but darkness claimed him again.

"My name is… Sara…"

...

..

.

When consciousness returned, he was swaying gently in a woven hammock high above the forest floor.

Sunlight filtered through walls of living leaves and vines. The air smelled of herbs and spiced wood, and something faintly floral.

He was clean, dressed in a loose tunic of soft green fabric. A cool compress rested on his forehead.

The woman—Sara, he remembered—sat nearby grinding herbs in a stone bowl.

Up close she was even more breathtaking: high cheekbones, plush lips, a scattering of freckles across her nose.

Her armor had been replaced by a simple halter and shorts of the same woven leaf material, revealing long, powerful legs and the gentle swell of hips.

"You're awake," she said, smiling with genuine relief. "Good. I was starting to worry the forest spirits had claimed you."

Benjamin sat up slowly, and his body felt restored. Even better than ever.

"You saved me. Thank you. I'm… Benjamin."

"Sara of the Verdant Spire." She offered a carved wooden cup filled with sweet, cool nectar. "Drink this. It will finish the healing."

He drank gratefully, eyes never leaving her beautiful face.

The System then flickered in the corner of his vision.

Affinity Detected: Sara (Amazon Scout)

Current Disposition: Curious / Protective

Charisma Aura Effect: Moderate attraction increase.

Sara watched him with open interest. "You're no ordinary wanderer. Your scent is… different. And you're the first male to cross our borders in many cycles."

"Male?" Benjamin echoed. "You mean there are no men here?"

She shook her head, a strand of auburn hair falling across her face.

"We are the Amazons of Verdant Spire. Daughters of the Great Mother. We live apart and train as warriors, then tend the sacred groves. When the time comes to continue our line, we journey to human or elven settlements, choose worthy mates for a night, and return. Our blood ensures only daughters are born."

Her gaze lingered on his chest, then lower. "But a man who stays… that is unheard of."

Benjamin felt heat rise in his cheeks. In his old life, women rarely looked at him twice. Now this goddess of a woman was eyeing him like he was treasure.

"I'm n-not from this world, though," he admitted. "You might not believe me but… I died, I think. And woke up here. With… this." He gestured vaguely at the System panel only he could see.

Sara's eyes widened. "A god-touched soul, then? I believe you. and the Queen will wish to meet you."

She leaned closer, voice dropping. "But first, you must regain strength. And I…" She brushed a thumb across his lower lip, the touch electric. "I am your attendant until you are well. It is my honor and pleasure to care for you."

The hammock swayed as she rose, hips swaying with natural grace. Benjamin's heart pounded. This second chance was already more than he'd ever dreamed.

...

The Verdant Spire was a marvel beyond anything Benjamin could have imagined.

From the guest treehouse he could see dozens of platforms connected by swaying vine bridges, waterfalls cascading from higher boughs into crystal pools, Amazon women moving with lethal elegance—practicing archery, sparring with spears, or tending gardens of glowing flowers.

Laughter and beautiful songs drifted on the breeze. Every woman he glimpsed was breathtaking: tall, athletic, curvaceous, with skin in shades of bronze and gold, hair ranging from midnight to sunlight.

And every one of them stared at him with open curiosity and… maybe something hotter.

Sara explained it over a dinner of spiced fruits, roasted meat from some forest creature, and honeyed wine that warmed his blood.

"Word spreads quickly here. The first male in living memory. I mean, men commonly believe we are terrifying and stay away, only because we used to slaughter them at an olden time. Some of my brethren are wary of you... but fear not; most are… eager.

She refilled his cup, fingers brushing his deliberately. "Our Queen Elara will summon you tomorrow. Tonight, you are mine to tend."

The word "mine" sent a shiver down his spine.

"Y-Yes. Thank you."

Night fell, and the treehouse glowed with soft bioluminescent vines.

Sara had—cough, cough! —bathed him earlier.

She insisted it was custom, with warm water scented with jasmine-like petals. Her hands had lingered on his shoulders, chest, thighs, always professional but never quite innocent.

Each touch left passion in its wake. His new body responded with embarrassing eagerness, and Sara's knowing smiles told him she noticed.

Now she sat beside the hammock, brushing out her long hair. The motion made the thin straps of her halter slip slightly, revealing more smooth skin.

"You are tense, Benjamin," she murmured. "Your body is healed, but your spirit carries old weight."

He swallowed. "I've never… In my old life, I never had anyone. Never even kissed a woman before."

Sara stilled. Then she set the brush aside and moved closer, straddling the hammock's edge so her thigh pressed against his.

"Truly?" Her voice was soft, almost reverent. "Then the gods have gifted us both."

The System pinged softly.

[Opportunity: Intimacy Milestone]

Recommended Action: Accept guidance from partner

[Reward upon completion: Level 2, New Skill Unlock]

Benjamin's face burned. "I don't know what to do…"

Sara smiled, cupping his cheek. "Then let me teach you."

She leaned in slowly, giving him every chance to pull away. But he didn't.

Their lips finally met. Soft at first, uncertain.

Benjamin's heart thundered. 'Her mouth tastes like the honeyed wine and wild berries we had earlier.' He thought.

When her tongue brushed his lips he opened instinctively, a low groan escaping as she deepened the kiss.

Sara shifted, climbing fully into the hammock to straddle his lap.

Her weight was perfect; one could say, warm and alive.

Her hands slid into his hair, tugging gently as she rocked against him. The thin fabric between them did nothing to hide how ready he was below.

"Gods, you feel incredible," she whispered against his mouth. Her fingers traced down his chest, pushing the tunic aside to explore bare skin. Every touch sent sparks through him.

Benjamin's hands found her waist, marveling at the contrast of hard muscle and soft curves. Emboldened, he slid upward, thumbs brushing the undersides of her breasts. Sara gasped, arching into him.

"Yes," she breathed. "Touch me. Touch me everywhere, Benjamin."

Clothes fell away like petals.

Sara's body was a masterpiece: full breasts with dusky nipples already peaked, flat stomach leading to wide hips, powerful thighs framing the slick heat between them.

She guided his hands, showing him how to caress, where to linger. When his mouth closed over one nipple she moaned his name, fingers tightening in his hair.

Enhanced Vitality meant he felt everything intensified. Like every slide of skin, every hitch of her breath.

When Sara wrapped her hand around his groin lump he nearly came undone right then. She stroked slowly, eyes locked on his.

"So hard for me already," she purred. "I want to… taste you, Benjamin. May I?"

Before he could process, she slid down, taking his lump into her mouth with slow, deliberate heat.

Benjamin had nearly lost it. His head fell back, a ragged cry escaping. The sensation was beyond anything he'd imagined—wet, tight, and just delightfully perfect.

Sara hummed in pleasure, taking him deeper until he trembled on the edge.

"P-Please," he gasped. "I want… inside you."

"As you wish," She rose with a predatory smile, straddling him again.

Sara guided him to her doorway, sinking down inch by inch.

The stretch, the heat, and the way she clenched around him, it all made Benjamin groaned, as his hands gripped her hips.

'Shoot… I just lost my virginity?' he wondered.

She paused when fully seated, letting him adjust, then began to move.

Slow rolls at first, building rhythm. Her breasts bounced with each motion, head thrown back in ecstasy.

Benjamin thrust up to meet her, instinct taking over. The hammock rocked wildly, but those woven vines held firm.

"H… Harder," Sara urged, nails raking his chest. "Give me everything, Master."

'Don't call me m-master…'

But regardless, he did. He gave her everything.

Flipping them so she lay beneath him, he drove deep, reveling in her immoral cries.

Sara wrapped legs around his waist, feet holding unto his back.

Sweat slicked their skin, and the air was thick with the sounds of flesh meeting flesh in a clap, and breathless moans.

When she clenched around him, climax crashing through her, Benjamin followed… spilling beginnings inside her fleshy home with a guttural groan.

Pleasure whited out his vision immediately, wave after wave until he collapsed beside her, spent and jolting.

The System flashed triumphantly.

[Milestone: First Union Complete]

Level Up! Host now Level 2

New Skill: Fertility Blessing (Passive) – Greatly increased conception chance with compatible partners

New Skill: Empathic Touch – Healing and pleasure amplified through skin contact

[Bond Formed: Sara]

Sara curled against his chest, tracing lazy patterns on his skin.

"You truly are a wonder, Benjamin Mark," she whispered. "Tomorrow the Queen will claim her audience… and perhaps more. But tonight… You Are Mine."

He kissed her forehead, a smile tugging at his lips for the first time in two lives. "A… And you are mine, I guess."

Outside, the forest sang its ancient songs as usual, and Benjamin finally understood what it meant to be truly alive. He never really lived before.

"And we're doing this again tomorrow?" he made a wry smile. "I probably still have a lot of work in this new world too."

...

I woke to warmth wrapped around me, Sara's body pressed close in the hammock, her slow breaths brushing my neck. Her leg was draped over mine, her bare skin soft against my own.

The memories of last night came back all at once—her hands guiding me, her gasps, the way she had moved above me until everything else disappeared. We had come together three times before sleep finally took us.

Even now, hours later, my body stirred at the thought. Enhanced Vitality, it seemed, had no mercy.

Sara's emerald eyes opened as I shifted. She gave a small, satisfied smile. "Good afternoon."

I swallowed. "Afternoon already?"

She nodded, tracing lazy circles on my chest. "The Queen's runners came twice. Elara wishes to see you soon."

The name sent a quiet jolt through me. Queen Elara. Ruler of this hidden village of warrior women. The one who would decide my place here.

Sara rose, stretching in the sunlight that filtered through the leaf-walls. She dressed slowly in fresh leaf-woven shorts and halter, the fabric clinging to her curves

I followed, pulling on the clean tunic and trousers she had left for me. They fit perfectly, as if made for this new body.

We stepped onto the vine bridge outside the treehouse. Verdant Spire spread out below us in daylight—platforms and walkways woven between ancient trees, waterfalls spilling into glowing pools, Amazons moving with purpose everywhere I looked.

Training with bows, carrying baskets of fruit, sparring on open decks. Every woman was tall, strong, beautiful in a way that made my pulse quicken.

And every one of them turned to watch as we passed.

I felt their gazes like heat on my skin. Some curious. Some openly hungry. Sara kept her hand firm on my arm, guiding me forward, chin lifted in quiet claim.

The System flickered in the corner of my vision.

New Affinities Detected: Multiple Amazon Warriors

Charisma Aura Effect: Strong attraction increase across settlement

Current Bonds: Sara (Devoted – Level 2)

[Fertility Blessing active. Caution: High conception probability.]

High conception probability. The words settled heavy in my chest. This wasn't just pleasure anymore. It was purpose.

We climbed higher, spiraling vine stairs that wound around massive trunks, until we reached the heart of the Spire—a colossal oak whose branches formed a natural palace open to the sky. Guards stood at attention along the outer platforms, spears gleaming.

Inside the great hall, beneath a canopy of flowering vines, sat Queen Elara.

She was everything Sara had described and more.

Taller than most, with long raven hair that fell in waves to her waist. Her skin was deep golden bronze, her eyes a striking silver-gray that seemed to see everything at once.

She wore polished green leather armor that left her midriff and thighs bare, accentuating a body both powerful and impossibly curved—full breasts, narrow waist, wide hips. A circlet of glowing leaves rested on her brow.

The hall fell silent the moment we entered.

Elara studied me for a long moment, her gaze steady and unreadable. Then her lips curved slightly.

"So," she said, voice rich and commanding, "this is the god-touched male the Goddess sent us."

Sara bowed deeply. I followed, heart pounding.

"Rise," Elara said.

We straightened. The Queen descended the few steps from her living-wood throne, moving with fluid grace.

Up close, her presence was overwhelming… she stood nearly as tall as me, her scent of wild jasmine and steel filling the air.

She circled me once, slowly, one finger brushing my shoulder, then down my arm. Her touch was light, but it sent fire through my veins.

"Strong," she murmured. "Handsome. And untouched by the ways of common men."

She stopped in front of me again, silver eyes locking onto mine.

"Sara speaks highly of you," she continued. "Of your stamina. Your generosity. The pleasure you gave her."

Heat flooded my face. Sara had told her everything.

"Your Majesty—" I began, voice rough.

Elara raised a hand. "Our borders grow restless. Human kingdoms press closer. Dark things stir in the deep woods. We need strength. Unity." Her palm settled flat on my chest, warm through the thin fabric. "And we need heirs."

A low murmur of agreement rose from the gathered Amazons.

She let her hand slide lower, boldly cupping me through the trousers. My body reacted instantly. I drew in a sharp breath.

Sara made a small sound behind me—part protest, part something else.

Elara leaned close, lips near my ear. "Tonight, under the full moon, we will hold the Welcoming Rite. All unmated warriors may present themselves. The Goddess will guide your choice."

Cheers echoed through the hall.

"But first," she said, voice dropping to a whisper only I could hear, "I will know you myself. In private. To judge if you are worthy of my people."

She gave a gentle squeeze that nearly brought me to my knees, then stepped back with calm authority.

"Sara will prepare you. Bring him to my chambers at dusk."

Dismissed, we turned to leave. As we passed through the outer platform, I noticed a young woman standing apart from the guards, tall like the Queen, with the same raven hair but cut shorter, framing a sharp, beautiful face.

Her armor was lighter, almost ceremonial, and her silver-gray eyes—Elara's eyes—fixed on me with cool intensity.

She crossed her arms, expression unreadable, though a faint flush colored her cheeks. Something about the way she held herself, proud, guarded, almost defiant, stuck with me.

Sara noticed my glance and leaned in. "That is Tamar," she whispered. "The Queen's eldest daughter. She trains the royal guard. Be careful, she does not warm to outsiders easily."

Tamar's gaze followed us a moment longer before she turned away, chin lifted.

We descended the stairs in silence until we reached a secluded bathing pool hidden behind thick vines. Warm steam rose from the water, scented with herbs.

Sara faced me, eyes searching. "The Queen always claims first rights to worthy outsiders. It is tradition." Her voice was steady, but her fingers tightened on my arm. "But you are mine first, Benjamin. Remember that."

I cupped her cheek. "I remember every moment of last night. I always will."

Her tension eased. She nodded, then gestured to the pool. "Come. We have time before dusk. I will wash you… and help you prepare."

As she undressed and stepped into the water, I followed, the weight of the coming night settling over me.

Queen Elara tonight. The Welcoming Rite after. And somewhere in the palace, Tamar watching with those cool silver eyes.

The System updated quietly.

New Event: Welcoming Rite (Tonight)

Potential Bonds: 12+ unmated warriors

[Warning: High stamina recommended.]

I exhaled slowly and sank into the warm water beside Sara. My second life had barely begun, and already it felt like I was being pulled into something vast and unstoppable.

Her hands found me beneath the surface, gentle and sure. I closed my eyes and let the moment take me.

Whatever came next, I would face it.

...

SARA

(Outside the royal chambers, just after leaving Benjamin)

Sara stood motionless for a long moment after the vine curtain fell closed, sealing Benjamin inside with the Queen.

Her chest felt tightened.

A part of it was pride, and another part was something sharper she did not want to name.

"I had found him first. Carried him through the Wilds when he was half-dead. Bathed him, fed him, taught him the first wonders of touch. Last night he had trembled beneath me, looked at me like I was the only thing in the world. His bond with me already feels deep, warm, and alive in a way no fleeting mating from the outer settlements ever had…"

But now Queen Elara would taste him.

Sara pressed a hand to her lower belly, where the faint feel of the new bond pulsed gently.

She was not afraid of losing him… She trusted the soft strength in Benjamin's eyes. The problem was, Amazons were raised on stories of queens who claimed the best for themselves.

Queen Elara was very fair, wise, beloved… and used to having whatever she desired.

Sara exhaled slowly. Let the Queen have her night.

When the Welcoming Rite came, Sara would stand among the mated warriors, but remind Benjamin exactly why he had called her name first.

She turned away, forcing her steps to stay measured as she descended the stairs to wait for Benjamin below.

The drums for the Rite were growing louder. Soon the whole village would gather under the full moon.

Tonight would change everything… for the Spire, for Benjamin, and for her.

She would be ready, nonetheless.

BENJAMIN'S POV

The vine curtain settled, and the chamber felt suddenly smaller.

Queen Elara watched me with those piercing silver-gray eyes, patient as a predator who knows the prey has nowhere to run.

"You are afraid," she said softly.

"Yes." I nodded.

There's no point in lying.

"Good." She stepped closer, bare feet silent on the thick moss. "Fear is good sometimes. It keeps us honest and honorable."

She then took my hand. Her grip was warm and strong.

Next, she led me not straight to the bed, but to a low table where a carafe of dark wine waited beside two carved wooden cups.

"Sit," she said.

I sat on a cushioned bench grown from the tree itself. She poured for both of us and handed me a cup.

"Drink. It will steady you."

The wine was rich, spiced with something that warmed my blood immediately. So I drank gratefully.

Elara sat opposite me, legs crossed, the slit in her emerald silk robe revealing a long expanse of golden thigh. She sipped slowly, studying me over the rim.

"Tell me of your old life, Benjamin Mark."

"Uhm…" I hadn't expected… conversation at all.

I had expected… well, something far more direct.

However, I told her.

The modern city of my world. The endless office days. The illness that stole everything. The loneliness that hurt worse than the pain.

Then dying alone and regretting only that I had never been close to anyone.

When I finished, silence hung between us.

Elara set her cup down. "And now the gods have placed you here, among women who have never known a permanent male. Women who are strong, proud, sometimes fierce in their wants."

Her lips curved faintly. "Do you feel burdened by it?"

I thought about it for a short while.

"No," I said honestly. "Overwhelmed? Completely. But not burdened. In my old life I was basically invisible. Here… I feel seen. Haha, I feel like I'm getting all the attention."

Her eyes softened a little. "That is a respectable answer."

Then she rose and moved behind me; her strong hands settled on my shoulders, kneading gently. And tension I carried began to melt under her touch.

"You carry old weight still," she murmured. "Let it go tonight, won't you?"

Her fingers worked lower, down my arms, then around to my chest. The silk robe brushed my back as she leaned over me. Her scent was like wild jasmine. And her warm skin… It all filled my senses.

I closed my eyes. My body responded instantly, heat pooling low.

Elara's lips brushed my ear. "Stand."

I obeyed.

Then she moved in front of me again, close enough that the silk of her robe grazed my tunic.

"Undress me," she said quietly.

GULP!

"Y-Yes."

My hands shook slightly as I reached for the delicate ties at her shoulder. The robe loosened and slid down her body like water, pooling at her feet.

And god… She was breathtaking.

Full, heavy breasts with dark nipples already peaked. Narrow waist flaring to wide hips. Powerful thighs and the dark triangle between them glistening faintly in the glow of the flowers.

Every inch of her spoke of strength and fertility.

I couldn't help but stare.

Elara smiled. Probably understanding my gaze.

"Now you." she whispered.

I pulled off my tunic, then the trousers.

She watched openly, approval sharp in her expression as my new body was revealed: lean muscle and the evidence of my desire standing proud in-between my legs.

She stepped close, pressing her naked part against me. Skin to skin. Heat to heat.

Then… Her lips…

Her kiss was different from Sara's; deeper, commanding, yet kind of patient.

She tasted of the spiced wine and something else. Something richer, I suppose.

Her tongue coaxed mine, really teaching rather than taking.

I instinctively wrapped my arms around her, hands sliding over the smooth muscles of her back, down to the curve of her hips. She made a low sound of agreement.

We then moved to the wide bed without breaking the kiss. She lay back among the furs, pulling me down with her. Her legs parted, inviting.

But she did not rush anything.

First, exploration.

She studied my body.

Her hands mapped my chest, my stomach, tracing every line as if memorizing me. When she wrapped fingers around my lump, I groaned into her mouth.

She stroked it slowly, deliberately, as she kept watching my face.

"So responsive," she whispered. "Sara was precise."

Damn… I needed to touch her too.