****(POV)

Today is the big day!

Clothes? Check!

Resplendent scales? Check!

Luggage? None!

Now, as a proud member of the Raz clan, I need to always walk around in my morphed form. It is a sign to tell the others not to mess with me. They can insult me, they can parade their strength too, but they aren't allowed to hurt me in any way.

Walking around in human form is a surefire way to be misunderstood as a servant. After all, that is the fate of anyone failing the awakening.

Once that happens there are two options, either said individual quits our clan's ancestral ground to roam the world…or he is worked to the bone. Well, the second one can be a good option for anyone with connections to a powerful clan member.

That is why strength, one dictated by bloodline purity, is key in the clan. The lucky sons of heaven having the purest bloodline have members of the opposite sex literally throwing themselves at their feet. *Sigh* How irksome!

Having a powerful bloodline also means being favored by our god himself too. The Ancient Overlord Snake Deity is blessing the powerful with even more power. Meanwhile, I am here weak and helpless.

At least I have hope. That is better than most of the ones that live here. After all, 90% of the people here are in fact slaves. It sounds like I'd be living in a paradise as the top 10%, but 80% of these servants are assigned to the top 1% of the awakened. I have none.

Now, today we will perform the random warping ritual. Well, it's not really random. It will be going to a place called Anta- the Starter continent. The only reason we are able to do this is a blessing from our god. Of course, a snake deity knows how to track its prey before devouring it in one bite.

There is a downside to this, however. Warping across space is usually extremely hard. At least, it's close to impossible when it's done one-sidedly. This tweak makes it so we can't bring any powerful item at all lest the space tunnel ruptures.

For example, any of our geniuses wouldn't be able to bring their treasured sword with them. They all have a mythical grade weapon made from the spine of one of our deceased experts. If my clan could we'd send a rank 4 genius fully armed to guarantee success. Without their weapon, the risk is too high as their lives are extremely valuable. That is why they send me.

By the way, the space rupturing is extremely bad. It would mean getting catapulted into the void directly. There is absolutely no way for a human to survive there, even with the most powerful bloodline.

Now, the complete plan is for me to build a warp gate once I get there. This allows easy and quick teleportation, at a price of course.

It requires sacrificing part of one's bloodline power to activate it. It is super complicated and relies on bloodline resonance. That's a principle where many individuals across the world can sense each other faintly thanks to their blood link.

Ah, it sounds bad but in fact, isn't. It is actually what we call a false sacrifice. This means that it only weakens one's bloodline for a few years. While a horrible fate for the geniuses who value their great bloodline purity above all else…for me it doesn't matter.

I get to the clan hall. A huge building made of white bones. Usually, I wouldn't have the right to access this place.

I slowly enter while trembling a bit from the excitement.

Here is where all the greatest heroes are resting, where the new promising generation is taught, and where the clan ancestor and the elders decide our future.

Coming from the depth of the hall, I can sense somhting. There is an overwhelming aura. I can feel my bloodline slowly pulsating to a silent ryhthmn.

"You're here, Raza. Kneel in front of the Snake Deity."

That's elder Zakka's voice! I turn around and there he is, as cold as usual. He is very serious about clan affairs. Accompanied by a young man. One that I know all too well, a genius of our clan, Kaz the Ruthless. He glances at me in passing.

I start shivering, cold sweat dripping down my back, one look of his was all it took. My heart is beating faster. I know I am no match for him.

He's already looking somewhere else. For him I am insignificant, nothing but an insect that he doesn't even truly take notice of. But I am used to it.

I kneel on the cold rocky ground before the statue of our god. It is extremely well sculpted, emanating the aura of an ultimate apex predator. One that has devoured many other gods in its life. One that has no equal, or at least that's what we are taught. Not that I'd ever say that aloud.

I keep kneeling for an hour, then the voice of the elder drifts in my ear.

"It is time."

It is indeed. He slowly guides the way toward an altar in an adjacent room. An altar of bones too. Our god truly loves his trophies so this place has been built to his liking.

"You know how this works, Raz. Drop your blood on it and let me do the rest."

I simply nod. Cutting my palm with my own claw I slowly drip it all over the skulls, it instantly disappears as if getting drunk instantly.

Before long I can feel it. I am linked to it. I can hear it whispering to me. My task is to find our god a new hunting ground, one where our clan will be able to reign supreme. This is what he wants. This is what I will do.

That's when Kaz opens his mouth.

"You will die, you know? You are far too weak."

I can't help but give a helpless smile. I am resolved to do this. I will set up that warp gate once I get there. As long as I accomplish great merit for the clan all my dreams will come true:

I will become respected.

I will get a loving wife.

I will build us a beautiful home.

I will have some tiny humans or lizards offsprings soon running all around the place.

I will simply be happy.

Is this all a dream? Perhaps. Even I know that much. But no matter what I cannot resign myself to forgetting my aspirations! A portal finally appears. As I cross it, I find myself smiling from ear to ear.

Starter continent, Raza will conquer you! All for a better life!