The hole on the side of the cave had a deep slope possibly a few hundred meters from the flat plain that was in front. I shot up like an arrow and had my first taste of flying which was a memorable experience since I never had a chance to board a plane or something similar.

The sun was now midway in the sky, maybe two or three hours passed since sunrise and was slightly covered by the veil of ash that came from the large volcano near our home. At first, I had problems with the wind currents and struggled as I was weightless causing me to be pushed back or to a side. Using my tail as a rudder I stabilized myself and was now ready to start exploring the territory.

Placing both the imagining of weightless magic and my coordination of my body in autorun I looked around the vast area around me. My eyes which up until now only had to see a few meters in front within the cave had improved binocular vision. I could probably compete with an eagle as I could spot items far off in the distance.

The domain of Argoris filled with mountainous terrains, a few volcanos sprouted here and there. In front of me was filled with plateaus and canyons all filled with dark brown colored soil probably from the ash that slightly and constantly rain down.

The forest I was prohibited from going over was a few thousand meters away from this area which I guessed from the green covering that place. Sadly the only creatures that could spot around here were the small armadillo type beast which was placed in front of me on my first day in this world.

I skipped them since it would be hard to catch when not placed in a small enclosed area like before, causing me to waste to waste precious energy. Hoping for a large beast like the Ogre or even a lesser dragon, I turn back going in the direction behind the volcano I called home. To the opposite side, a large chain of mountains formed causing many cliffs which the wyverns called home.

From a distance, they look like floating specks but in less than a few minutes I could see the whole colony of winged dragons. Unlike the individual who Argoris called forth in the cave, these were more like Pteranodons with the differences in length, cranial size and lastly the sharp beak instead of a snout.

Being careful so that won’t be seen I started flying at low altitude using the terrain to hide. I spotted a few abandoned bird nests filled with three branches and very long bundles of dried grass, so these place must be where those creatures dwell.

As I got near to observe behind a large boulder there were three large males apparently, from the way they were fighting each other probably for dominance. Unlike the rest, they seemed too occupied in their battle to notice if I attacked from this distance. Other than those three the area, nests were all around with many of them filled with the young and a parent who was feeding them. From rough estimate, their population was in the thousands area, nothing over five or ten thousand though.

Their average size was probably two to three meters not counting the wingspan, so they would be easy for me to take down if it didn’t come to chasing. The three fighting were still bashing and biting each other so I had to be quick before a winner emerges from them.

Slowly taking a pouncing position I readied myself for the sneak attack, I placed myself over the large boulder hoping one doesn’t spot me from the air and alarms the others. A small rush of adrenaline was felt just before my decisive jump which let me see everything I did in seconds feel longer. My jaws were ready to take a bite out of the largest out of the three while my claws were extended ready to slash in case I missed with the bite.

Charging forth I lunged my body and folding my wings in a way that they would not be hit with an air current. The distance was no more than ten or so meters which were enough for them to escape if I made a mistake, but luck was with me today as I chomped down on the largest of the three, opened my wings wide which added a few seconds to take a slash out of the remaining two.

A sharp ear-splitting screech came from the one who was now caught in-between my mandibles, while another was clutched within my left claw which I did a hard grip to crush killing him instantly. The force hitting the third let it dodge and it quickly flew up, the others around took notice and started a stampede as those who could, started flying away as fast as they could, leaving behind their young.

I quickly left the place with my kills, I didn’t want them to migrate from the area. Now that I’ve got breakfast I slowly took my time to enjoy the meal. Both were first mildly cooked with my breath even though they could have been eating as is. The test was not chicken sadly, it was more like dried freshwater fish in a way which I had no problems eating.

The rest of the day was spent flying, it was an addicting, the endless feeling of freedom and the rush from speeding up towards the clouds and using my wings deforming them. With all the moment though, my energy was hitting rock bottom. The continuous use of gravity magic was no small feat and required me to constantly input more mana which had horrible energy consumption.

Just before the sunset, I was on the lookout for more prey, something big hopefully. I didn’t want to spook the Pteranodons like creatures from before for one, the taste of the meat would also get boring after a few times so I wanted variety. One of the worst parts of being reincarnated here was that I was forced to eat meat from the start, I still don’t know how vegetables or fruits would taste with this new body since I have yet to try them out.

During my way around I was in an area which had a maze-like structure, a labyrinth within the cliffs this was to the north of the volcano just between the mountains and the desert-like plateau area with canyons.

It was the morning after my hunt that I spotted an Ogre around here, but since I was full I ignored it and continued my fun. It was near a large mountain just before exiting the maze that some caves could be seen with ogres coming in and out of them. It was a settlement of a few hundred individuals, they were like the ones in the cave about two to four meters in length.

I compared the tribe to that of monkeys instead of a human village, they did not seem to communicate with words but by action. They did master fire at least probably because of the many volcanos found in the area but only to use a weapon since there was no campfire. Their weapons were mainly blunt and made from the tree’s that grew sparsely around here.

A few were returning from hunting giving the meat they had to the young, which ate it as is.

This time I choose to follow one of them who was heading out using the maze. It did not seem to have a family so I, who was not a heartless killer yet, decided that would be the one to pursue.

It went through a series of passages looking for food most likely, I was following from above slowly so that I would not be noticed. Hopping from the top of the rocky cliffs staying at a distance of around fifty meters away at all times.

I began recalling the three I had to fight before, I could not fully eat them and had to focus on the soft meaty parts like their legs. That was a pain to deal with afterward since I had to quickly bury what I couldn’t eat.

The solo ogre finally exited the maze which led to marsh just before the forest. It was time for me to act, as I swooped down from above biting him from above, causing a quick death.

Since this morning I believed my size would create problems with hunting but using a technique with both hunts it was actually to my advantage. Canceling the weightless magic increased the rate I fell, speeding my dissent at that moment, was more like being thrown then just falling normally with the help of my wings. I quickly finished my meal and headed back home.

Guided by the bright moon’s light, it was my only source of illumination on my way back. On the far distance, the bright red lava of the volcano could be witnessed, as I wondered if Argoris would be back.

I decided on using the top hole of the volcano to enter, and inside was Argoris who was resting. She slowly rose and greeted me. I chose to land in front to fill her in on my day’s events to which she listens to attentively.

“Sorry I’m late, I didn’t calculate my time flying and wasted too much energy so I was hungry again.”

Speaking to her through my mind since I could not yet master the language of the Dragons, nor speak like a human.

“It's fine, I just got back not too long ago myself, worry not about displeasing me since you’re just getting used to your body. Now then, I have something to discuss with you, it will long so get comfortable.”

I sat up ready to listen since it will probably be a long talk.

“I decided to stay for one more week before handing you the core, the speed of your growth should continue for a while during which you will need to keep feeding on beasts to increase your mass. It’s only after reaching your maximum size that you will be able to rely on the cores absorption to feed on.”

“While you explained the reason, I still feel it’s an action close to what I know as suicide… are you sure about going through with it?”

“After you have lived countless millennia, that thought doesn’t apply. For me, death is now something I need, not because of any deterioration to my physical body, but because my mind is now at a standstill, the actions I now take are no longer chosen but routines I do automatic without a second thought.”

Saying so while looking down towards me, she laid back down and continued.

“Today I went to the territory of Vernus, the dragon who rules the sky and the one who came from the progenitor who merged with the wind sprite. Unlike me, that dragon only recently reincarnated to which we took an oath of protecting one another when that time comes, so until you reached your full-size Vernus will be the one to protect and look over you in my stead.”

Waiting for me to catch up she gave me some final words.

“A full year is what you will need to reach my size and strength, continue living here normally during that time. Hasten in learning the skills I will teach you this week, which I will help you live as a dragon. And remember we don’t have good relationships with both the earth dragon to the south and the water ruler of the ocean, Levine to tread carefully when you’re away from our territory.”

Finishing what she had to say, I was told to go rest for my body still needs a lot of to grow. Sleeping almost instantly that night, I recovered the magic I had used during the day and so went on the days of learning magic.