Using the trees as his way of moving around this unknown part of the mountain, Zio avoided many dangerous beasts on his way, these beasts came in many different sizes and some of them could still kill Zio even if he was hiding in the tree but they didn't.

Zio's sent and aura didn't match their normal food and no beast would waste their energy on something they are not sure about, their food consist of other beasts who have powerful energy source inside them while on the other hand, Zio had nothing.

He was just like an insect that would be ignored by the big animals in the forest, these animals hunted for food not for enjoyment so they had no need to kill and eat Zio because he didn't meet their requirements.

Zio understood this and didn't do anything stupid to provoke them, no matter how docile a wild or magical beast is, they can be dangerous.

All the hunting lessons that Zio's father thought him are coming to use now, Zio understood what to do and what to not, making his way towards the cave he saw from the top of the tree he was very careful, observing every branch before stepping on it.

Looking twice to see if there is any predator hiding within his sight, after some time he finally reached near the cave.

Zio noticed that there are no magical beasts near this area but he is not surprised as he can clearly see the reason right in front of his eyes.

The dragon that killed the vulture, he looked at the sleeping dragon carefully, holding his breath, trying not to alert the sleeping dragon, Zio then looked at the cave right behind the dragon, luckily the dragon is a lot bigger than the cave so if Zio is able to get inside before the dragon can do anything.

Zio also noticed something else near the cave, a lot of bones, and these were not from magical and wild beasts, these were from humans, seeing this Zio wondered if humans ever lived here.

He then remembered the stories about his ancestors climbing the mountain and never coming back, Zio thought that the dragon might be the reason behind it, how could such powerful ancestors not come back after successfully climbing the mountain.

The only option is that they encountered this dragon and died, thinking about it Zio felt chills running down his spine, he wondered what if the dragon gets up and kill him just like those humans.

Zio knew this might be the perfect chance for him to sneak by as the dragon is sleeping, so he started to move, every step he is taking is slow and steady, he is trying to make as little notice as possible.

As he got closer to the dragon he realized how big this fellow really is, the eyes of this dragon is as big as him, ignoring the dragon he slowly made his way towards the cave but he was out of luck.

The dragon suddenly opened its eyes and looked at Zio, Zio didn't notice the dragon at all as his back was turned, the dragon's green eyes looked at Zio but it was clear that it had no interest in Zio but it still lifted its head slowly.

Zio felt the vibration on the ground and the crackling sounds that the dragon made while getting up, Zio slowly turned around and saw the dragon staring at him.

Zio froze on the spot, not knowing what to do he also stared at the dragon without showing any emotions.

"A little human, this is the first time I have seen one"

Suddenly the dragon spoke in a very rough male voice, Zio was stunned, he couldn't believe that the dragon could communicate in human language.

The dragon lowered his head and carefully examined Zio.

"I didn't think humans would be so weak, with all the memories my parents left behind before dying, they seemed much stronger"

The dragon murmured but Zio could hear the deep voice of the dragon easily, being such a massive being it is not easy for them to be silent.

"Hello mister dragon nice to meet, I will be going then"

Zio said and turned around trying to sneak into the cave.

"Where do you think you are going"

The dragon spoke in a heavy tone causing Zio to freeze on the spot, he once again turned around and looked at the dragon.

"Then where should I go?"

Zio asked, acting as if he doesn't know anything.

"Don't try to outsmart me, little human, I am the great dragon, with the tempest bloodline flowing inside me"

The dragon boasted about his superiority when he realized that Zio was trying to sneak into the cave by fooling him.

"I don't care about you little human but you cannot go inside the cave unless you defeat me, it is the ironclad that has been passed down for centuries, but seeing how weak you are, don't even think about taking a step inside"

The dragon said.

"Wow, so you defeated all these strong humans?"

Zio asked while pointing at the human bones near the cave.

"Hmm, OF COURSE....not, it was my parents, they were the ones who defeated these humans and their parents before them, I thought I would also have a grand battle with a human when one comes by but who thought that the first human is actually a little human with no power"

The dragon sighed in disappointment.

"By the way, Mister Dragon, you said something about the tempest bloodline or something, I would like to hear about it, it sounds so cool"

Zio asked as he looked at the dragon with his big cute eyes, the dragon looked at Zio and a massive smug appeared on his face, Zio could even see the long razor-sharp teeth inside the mouth of the dragon.

"Of course, of all the dragons, the tempest bloodline is one of the strongest, with the power to manipulate winds and weather we reign supreme over the sky"

The dragon started to boast about its prestigious bloodline and how awesome it, is, the dragon was so engrossed in it that for a second he completely forgot about the current situation and ignored Zio, thinking about how he reign supreme over the sky like no other dragon.

Zio saw the chance and slowly made his way inside the cave, as he got in the dragon noticed and got angry.

"YOU LITTLE BASTARD, YOU DARE FOOL ME"

The dragon roared in anger.

"Shut up stupid lizard"

Zio said and ran into the cave while also shooting an obsidian arrow at the dragon, the arrow just bounced off the dragon's scale like it was nothing but it gave Zio enough time to run into the cave.

"Oh shit, I am dead, fuck I will get killed by that thing"

The dragon suddenly started to panic when he saw Zio has already entered the cave, he got scared shitlessly, he didn't even try to attack with his winds because he is scared to scare the being inside the cave.

"That little bastard, he will get himself killed and I will die as well, what should I do, I cannot get out from here"

The dragon really started to panic now.