The First Dragon God-Chapter 102: Meeting The First Requirement

Leo pushed himself off the ground, his muscles aching with every movement. His body was covered in dirt, dried blood, and bruises, an undeniable evidence to the countless battles he had fought throughout the day.

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His knuckles were raw, the skin torn from repeatedly striking against hardened exoskeletons and thick hides. His breathing was labored, his stamina drained to its limit, but beneath the exhaustion, a quiet satisfaction coursed through his veins.

The setting sun bathed the ruined cityscape in hues of deep orange and crimson. The jagged remains of buildings cast long, eerie shadows across the cracked pavement, and the air was thick with the scent of blood, sweat, and the faint stench of decay.

The wind carried a whisper of dust, swirling around the scattered remains of the monsters he had slain.

The ground was littered with corpses—mutant creatures, some with shattered exoskeletons, others with gaping wounds where Leo’s fists had struck with unrelenting force. The earth itself bore the scars of his battle, cracked and broken from the sheer intensity of his and the mutant praying mantis strikes.

Despite his battered state, a smile tugged at Leo’s lips. He had made significant progress. He was more than halfway to completing his first requirement, and at this pace, in just a few more days, he would have it done.

His legs felt like lead as he trudged toward Fiona and the wolves. His entire body protested each step, but he ignored the pain.

As he neared them, he saw Fiona standing tall, her silver fur streaked with dirt and blood. The rest of the pack lingered nearby, standing on alert despite their exhaustion.

Leo crouched beside Fiona, running his fingers through her fur, checking for any injuries.

She huffed softly, nudging his hand as if to assure him that she was fine. He did the same for the other wolves, his fingers brushing over their thick coats, ensuring they hadn’t sustained any serious wounds.

"Good job, all of you," he muttered, his voice tinged with fatigue. The wolves let out soft whines, their tails wagging slightly at his praise.

He let out a slow breath and glanced toward the distant skyline, where the sun dipped lower, casting a golden glow over the ruined city. It was time to head back.

With slow, heavy steps, he and the wolves made their way home.

.....

Later That Night

Leo sat at the small dining table across from Ves, his bandaged knuckles resting against the wooden surface. The plates before them were empty, the remnants of their meal scattered across them.

Ves leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, watching him with an amused expression before she reached across the table, tapping his hand lightly over the bandages.

"It looks like I’m going to be patching you up every day from now on because I know you’re going to go and break your body again tomorrow."

Leo chuckled. "You already did a great job today. I’d probably be worse off if you didn’t force me to sit still long enough to wrap these up."

Ves rolled her eyes. "You’re terrible at taking care of yourself."

He gave her a lopsided grin. "I know that. I’m glad I have you."

She scoffed but didn’t deny it.

A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the occasional sound of the wind outside.

After a moment, Ves tilted her head slightly.

"So? How was it?"

Leo leaned back in his chair, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Brutal, but good. I made a lot more progress than I expected. I’m already past halfway on my first requirement."

Ves raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed.

"Not bad. At this rate, you’ll have it done in no time."

"That’s the plan," Leo said, exhaling deeply. "What about you? How’d things go on your end?"

Ves shrugged. "Mia and Miguel are getting stronger. We ran into some tougher creatures today, but we handled it. Nothing too crazy."

Leo nodded. "Good. We need to be ready."

Ves’s expression grew serious for a moment. "Yeah… we do."

Another silence fell between them, this one heavier with unspoken thoughts. The tournament loomed over them, a storm waiting on the horizon.

But for now, they had this—these quiet moments, this fragile normalcy.

Eventually, Ves stretched her arms above her head, yawning. "We should get some sleep. Big day tomorrow, right?"

Leo smirked. "Always."

...

The routine became a cycle.

Each morning, Leo set out into the ruins, tracking down and fighting every mutant creature he could find.

His body adjusted to the relentless battles, his movements becoming sharper, his instincts keener.

His strikes hit harder, his reactions grew faster. The pain became something familiar, a constant companion rather than a hindrance.

The creatures he faced varied—mutant wolves, hulking boars, insectoids, and even a few stray zombies.

Each fight pushed him further, forcing him to adapt, to refine his technique without the aid of his weapons or skills.

He was getting stronger.

At night, he returned to the apartment, greeted by Ves, who made sure he ate, tended to his wounds, and listened as he recounted his progress.

Their conversations remained light, but beneath the surface, there was an unspoken understanding between the both of them.

They were both pushing themselves, preparing for what was coming.

Leo’s fights became more efficient, his understanding of raw hand-to-hand combat deepening. He no longer relied on brute force alone.

He learned to anticipate movements, to read the subtle shifts in his opponent’s stance, to counter before they could strike.

He wasn’t just fighting anymore—he was refining his craft.

He had long since abandoned the hesitation that came with battle. Now, he struck without thought, without pause. Every move was calculated, every strike meant to disable or kill.

It was astonishing the amount of progress he made in just three days. If Tatiana saw him right now, she would be shocked no doubt.

On the third night, as Leo sat on the couch, the faint glow of the system screen illuminated his face. He pulled up his status window and looked at his progress.

[Evolution Requirements for Warden]

[Defeat enemies without using skill or weapon. (100/100)]

Leo exhaled, a small smile playing on his lips.

This is it. Finally did it.

For the first time in days, he allowed himself to relax, leaning back against the couch as the exhaustion settled over him.

The hardest part of his evolution requirement was complete.

Now, only three tasks remained.