Nemesis clenched her tiny, furry fist, the soft white fur doing little to convey the volcanic rage bubbling inside. Reincarnation. As if being a dominatrix extraordinaire in her past life wasn't enough, she was now Nemesis, a bunny beastman girl in a world decidedly lacking in advanced technology, and overflowing with testosterone. And fur. Everywhere. Her reflection in the nearby stream mocked her: wide, innocent blue eyes, a fluffy white tail twitching nervously, and the generally fragile demeanor that made her want to scream.
"System, status," she hissed, her voice a surprisingly deep contralto for such a petite creature.
[System Online. Host: Nemesis. Current Favourability (Malik): 32. Current Favourability (Djibril): 28. Current Favourability (Zephyr): 38. Current Objective: Increase Favourability with Husbands.]
Husbands. The word tasted like ash in her mouth. Malik, the red and white fox beastman, a cunning strategist and notorious flirt. Djibril, the white tiger beastman, a stoic warrior with a hidden soft spot. And Zephyr, the earth and fire dragon beastman, a volatile force of nature wrapped in scales and muscle. All three were powerful, respected, and distinctly not used to being told what to do. And she was supposed to... win them over?
"System, how am I supposed to dominate anyone looking like this?" she demanded.
[Dominance is not purely physical, Host. It is a state of mind. The System will assist in enhancing your natural abilities and providing rewards for achieving favourability milestones with your husbands.]
Right. State of mind. She could work with that. Nemesis took a deep breath, forcing down the urge to crush something. She would play the part of the fragile bunny, learn the tribe's customs, and slowly, subtly, weave her way into the fabric of their lives. She would become indispensable. And then… then she would reign.
Her first test came that evening. The tribe was gathered around the fire, gnawing on roasted roots. A particularly obnoxious female, Bruka, a hulking bear beastman with a sneer permanently etched on her face, shoved Nemesis roughly. "Watch where you're going, rabbit! You're too weak to even hunt for your own food." Bruka, Nemesis knew, resented her for her "fragility" and coveted her powerful husbands.
Nemesis bit back a retort, forcing her eyes to well with tears. "I… I'm trying to learn," she whimpered, just loud enough for Malik, who was nearby, to hear. "But I'm not very strong."
Malik, predictably, bristled. "Leave her alone, Bruka," he growled, his fox ears twitching. He scooped Nemesis up, settling her on his lap. "She's still adapting. Besides," he added, with a sly glance at Bruka, "it's not strength that matters, but cleverness."
[Favourability (Malik) +3. Reward: Minor Healing Potion x2.]
Nemesis blinked. Healing potions? Useful. She snuggled against Malik, feeling his muscles tense beneath her. "Thank you, Malik," she whispered, batting her eyelashes. Internally, she was plotting Bruka's downfall.
The following days were a delicate dance. Nemesis learned to forage for herbs, using her system-granted knowledge to identify rare and potent ones. She learned to mend clothes with surprisingly nimble fingers, earning grateful smiles from the tribe members. She even managed to defuse a simmering argument between Djibril and Zephyr by suggesting a new training method that utilized both their elemental powers.
Each act of kindness, each display of unexpected skill, brought her closer to her goal. Malik became her confidante, drawn to her sharp wit and strategic mind. Djibril, initially aloof, found himself protecting her with a fierce possessiveness. And even Zephyr, the most unpredictable of the three, seemed drawn to her calm strength, a counterpoint to his fiery nature.
But her progress wasn't without its challenges. The Ape tribe, a brutal and territorial group, had been harassing the tribe for weeks, raiding their food stores and attempting to kidnap the women. They coveted the tribe's ingenuity, especially the small, white bunny beastman who seemed to have a solution for every problem.
One afternoon, while gathering herbs, Nemesis found herself surrounded by ape beastmen. Their leader, a hulking brute named Grugg, leered at her. "The clever one," he grunted. "We take. Make tribe strong."
Nemesis's heart hammered against her ribs, but she refused to show fear. "You'll have to catch me first," she said, a defiant spark in her blue eyes. Then, she did something unexpected. She unleashed a burst of energy, a technique she had been secretly cultivating with the help of her system, creating a smokescreen of herbs and pollen. The ape beastmen coughed and stumbled, giving her the chance to flee towards the tribe's camp.
She reached the camp breathless, warning the others of the impending attack. Malik, Djibril, and Zephyr rallied the tribe, preparing a defense. The battle was fierce, but the tribe, bolstered by Nemesis's warning and the unexpected traps she had helped prepare, managed to repel the Ape tribe, driving them back into the forest.
That night, as the tribe celebrated their victory, Nemesis stood beside her husbands, feeling a tremor of satisfaction. She was still a fragile bunny, but she was no longer helpless. She was Nemesis, the strategist, the manipulator, the future ruler of this wild world. And as she looked into the eyes of her three powerful husbands, she saw something she hadn't expected: not just affection, but a flicker of… anticipation. They might be hiding their true desires, but she knew, deep down, they craved her dominance. The game, as they say, was afoot. And Nemesis was about to change the rules.