Lightning Is the Only Way

"We think the neighboring territory has been taken over. That's why you five will scout out the territory," a mighty hyena transmitted to five small snakes.

"Are you sure-"

BANG!

The talking snake was slapped away by the hyena. "You lower class beasts have no right to your opinion. The only reason why you're still alive is that you look like sea beasts! Now, if you don't want to die, you will go and scout!" the hyena shouted.

The other four snakes looked at their brother with rage and pity. Yet, they weren't angry at him, but at this Tribe.

They had been born into the Hyena Tribe. Their parents had been captured sea snakes, who had been forced to reproduce. Before the snakes even understood anything, their parents had been killed. After that, they had been raised by the hyenas.

The Hyena Tribe, as its name suggested, was a Tribe led by the Hyenas. Over 90% of their population was made out of Hyenas from the same family. Describing it as a Clan was actually more accurate than describing it as a Tribe.

"You either scout or you will die right now!" the Hyena shouted. "You still have a chance to survive as long as you bring us good intelligence. We didn't put so many resources into your growth so that you can do nothing. Learn your place, trash!"

The snakes were angry. All of them were only mid-rank Spirit Beasts. Yet, in a Tribe full of high-rank Spirit Beasts, they couldn't even defend themselves. Every day, they had to endure insults from the hyenas, not being allowed to strike back.

Yet, what were they supposed to do? They were under constant supervision, making it impossible for them to flee into the sea. On top of that, fleeing to another Tribe would force them to go through the fatal Prey Process.

Becoming the Prey of another Tribe was incredibly dangerous. They would need to fight multiple beasts one-on-one, and only if they won all fights would they become part of the Tribe. On top of that, beasts that joined via the Prey Process generally had lower standings.

These five snakes were rather smart. That's why they realized that they could do nothing else but follow the tyrannical hyenas.

"Okay," the same snake from before said in defeat. There was nothing they could do.

The hyena snorted. "Good! Then, go! If you don't come back in five hours, you will receive a severe punishment."

The snakes didn't object and just traveled to the mountain range bordering the River Tribe. A small meerkat, another low-class citizen, had already dug a tunnel to the river separating the two Tribes. Without talking, the snakes entered the tunnel and entered the other territory.

Like this, nearly five hours passed.

Shortly before the five hours were up, one of the snakes returned, incredibly injured. The hyena saw that but didn't react. "Report," it demanded.

its face. "My siblings have betrayed the Tribe," it

fully buy the story. "And you didn't go with them?" it asked

fear. "I… I was too afraid of dying. They decided to become Prey, but I don't want

still didn't fully believe the story. "Why

snake looked incredibly angry. "When I told them that I would return,

"Why?" the hyena asked.

state of the territory. They said that if no one returned, you wouldn't

that you managed to escape from

devastating, and I played dead, knowing that they wouldn't want

did you survive the venom?" the hyena asked, more

that I would die but quickly realized that I didn't feel as weak as I thought. That's when I realized

the territory?" it asked,

snake took a deep breath to calm down. "Just as you have expected, the Sand Tribe has been annihilated. Only sea beasts are left behind the mountains. Currently, they are searching for new sea beasts in

hyena thought for a bit. "Did you

was the reason why my siblings didn't want me to return because, if I

"Is their

killed the Lord. Right now, the Tribe is being led by an incredibly smart sea snake, who battles

valuable territory needs a powerful leader." Then, the hyena turned around. "Go back to your den. You will be rewarded with

"With all due respect, but why do you

wise and beyond your ability to comprehend. We have never told you anything specific about our neighboring Tribes. The fact that you knew that the Sand Tribe leader had venom showed me that you didn't make

from another Tribe in under five hours. No rational beast

a slight laugh. "Also, we still have your smaller siblings with us. If you betrayed us, you know

its head. "Okay," it conceded with

snake left

their Tribe, and all the high-ranking hyenas

other hyenas that walked alongside it. Every hyena that entered the shadow was forced to meet the Matriarch, but they better had a very

walking for a while, the three hyenas stood before a white but relatively small hyena. Nearly every other hyena massively towered over this

with a seemingly

smile. "Great Matriarch, I come to

"Anything