The First Dragon God-Chapter 122: Because He’s Leo

Tatiana flew through the sky, the wind whipping past her as she cradled Leo’s limp body in her arms.

The ruined city stretched below, a maze of crumbled buildings and lifeless streets.

Her grip on him was firm but gentle, as though afraid he might disappear if she loosened it.

She glanced down at him. His face was pale, his breathing ragged, and shallow. Bloody bruises and deep gashes with blood flowing out of them, could be seen all over his body, staining his clothes and giving it a sticky feel.

He looked fragile—too fragile for someone who had just fought an Exalted Rank opponent and survived.

Tatiana’s crimson eyes softened.

If it was anyone else, she wouldn’t had paid any attention to them but something about Leo strikes a chord with her.

During Leo’s fight against Liliana, she saw him have multiple close shaves with death, and each time, and each time she wanted to step in.

She was barely holding herself back from grabbing Liliana and trashing her, but when she remembered that this was for Leo and it was the only he could complete his evolution requirements, she held back.

She was very happy for the mysterious and enigmatic purple-golden light that kept saving Leo’s life each time he was at the brink of death.

Immediately after Liliana unleashed the full pressure of an Exalted Rank, Tatiana thought that Leo would die but he didn’t.

He had stood his ground against Lilliana. Despite the overwhelming difference in power, he kept getting back up. He didn’t quit.

And that terrified her without a doubt.

Why did you push yourself this far? she wondered. Was it worth nearly dying for?

Of course she knew the answers to these questions but at some point, she expected him to just give up but he didn’t.

She had no idea but she felt very proud.

Her thought went to the purple-golden sun had appeared again. That mysterious power that seemed to awaken only when Leo was on the brink of death. It was the only reason he survived.

And Tatiana felt that using it might had taken quite a toll on him.

’You won,’ she thought, tightening her grip on him.

The base came into view—a tall residential building standing stubbornly against the skyline and other ruined buildings around it.

As she landed softly on the balcony, Tatiana pushed open the door with a flick of her wrist, walking through the empty living area before making her way to Leo’s room.

She laid him gently on the bed, her crimson eyes scanning his body. The bruises, deep cuts, and burns covered him from head to toe.

His shirt was barely hanging on, torn and soaked in blood. The sight stirred something unfamiliar in her chest—worry, frustration, relief.

For a moment, she just stood there, watching him. His face looked so different now—no defiance, no stubborn grin. Just a battered, unremarkable, young human male.

She stared at his bloodied body for a while and sighed.

"Guess I have no choice."

With deliberate movements, she reached for the hem of his ruined shirt. Her fingers hovered there for a moment, hesitation flickering in her gaze.

"This… is necessary, I’m only doing this because I have to." she muttered under her breath.

Still, a faint blush crept up her cheeks as she peeled the tattered fabric away, revealing the damage underneath. She had done this before, she has no idea why she’s blushing now.

Actually, now that she thought of it. She did blush the first time.

"Oh Tatiana, what has come over you? Are you really falling for him?" She muttered in a very low voice.

Her voice was so low that would had been difficult for anyone standing right beside her to hear her.

She shook her head, chasing the unwanted thoughts away as she turned her attention back to Leo’s injuries.

Deep gashes marred his torso, some still oozing blood. Bruises bloomed across his ribs, dark and angry. And the sight caused her fingers twitched.

"Tsk. Lucky you." She smiled.

Carefully, Tatiana retrieved a clean cloth and a bowl of warm water she had prepared earlier. She dipped the cloth into the water, wrung it out, and began wiping away the blood and dirt.

Her touch was gentle, more so than she expected. Each time Leo stirred or winced in his unconscious state, she paused, watching his face for any sign of pain.

Her hand brushed against a particularly deep wound on his side. The cut had barely started to close, despite his regeneration ability.

Tatiana frowned, pressing the cloth a little firmer against it. Blood stained the water in the bowl a deep crimson.

The room was quiet except for Leo’s ragged breathing and the soft sound of water being wrung from the cloth.

Tatiana continued cleaning his injuries, working slowly and carefully. Every now and then, her fingers would brush against his skin, sending a strange warmth through her that she quickly pushed aside.

"Focus," she scolded herself. "This isn’t the time for… whatever this is."

Once his wounds were clean, she reached for a roll of bandages. As she began wrapping his torso, Tatiana leaned in closer, her face inches from his.

The scent of blood was still strong, but it wasn’t as strong as before.

Leo stirred again, letting out a faint groan. Tatiana froze, watching him carefully. But he didn’t wake. His breathing slowed once more, falling back into that deep, exhausted rhythm.

Tatiana sighed in relief and continued her work.

By the time she finished, Leo was fully bandaged—his chest, arms, and legs wrapped neatly, the worst of his wounds cleaned and covered. He looked less fragile now, though the exhaustion still clung to his features.

Tatiana sat back, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.

"There. All done," she whispered.

But she didn’t move. For a long time, she simply sat there, watching him.

The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the room in a soft, golden twilight. Shadows lengthened across the walls, and the quiet sound of the city’s ruins filtered through the window.

Tatiana leaned back in the chair beside the bed, crossing her arms.

"What am I even doing?" she whispered to the empty room.

Her gaze drifted back to Leo’s face and she remained there, her crimson eyes never leaving him.

She stayed through the silence, watching over him until sleep finally claimed her as well.

Tatiana sat beside him, her expression unreadable. She watched the slow rise and fall of his chest, listening to the faint, raspy breaths that echoed in the silent room.

Minutes passed.

Then hours.

She didn’t move.

Her fingers brushed the edge of the blanket covering him, as if reassuring herself that he was still there.

’Why do I care so much? You’re just a mortal… right?’ she wondered.

The door creaked open.

Tatiana didn’t turn her head.

Ves stood in the doorway.

Her face drained of color the moment she saw Leo.

He lay motionless, bandaged from head to toe, his face pale and bruised.

"Leo…?" Ves whispered, stepping inside. Her voice trembled.

Then her eyes shifted.

Tatiana.

Sitting there.

Calm.

Watching.

"You. What did you do to him?" Ves hissed, her voice rising with each word.

Tatiana finally looked up, her crimson eyes meeting Ves’s furious gaze.

"Don’t jump to conclusions. He’s alive," Tatiana said smoothly.

Ves stormed across the room, her fists clenched.

"Alive? This—" she gestured to Leo’s broken form—

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"this is alive to you?"

Tatiana didn’t flinch. "Barely. But yes."

"You…!"

Ves lunged forward, grabbing Tatiana by the collar of her dark blouse.

Tatiana remained still, her expression calm even with Ves inches from her face.

"How did this happen? Why did you allow it to happen?" She said in a slow, hissing voice.

Tatiana sighed, brushing Ves’s hands off her.

"Sit down. Let me explain."

Ves didn’t move.

Her breathing was ragged, her eyes locked on Leo’s still form.

Tatiana’s gaze softened. "He fought Lilliana."

Ves’ eyes narrowed in confusion. "Lilliana? Who’s Lilliana?"

"My stepsister. An Exalted Rank Off-worlder," Tatiana replied.

Ves took a step back, disbelief clouding her face.

"You made him fight an Exalted Rank vampire?! Are you insane?! We’re you trying to kill him?!"

"I didn’t make him do anything. He chose to fight her," Tatiana said, her tone cool.

Ves clenched her fists. "Why?"

"Because he needed to." Tatiana crossed her legs, settling back into the chair beside Leo’s bed.

"It was the only way for him to complete his final evolution requirement."

Ves stared at her.

"You knew he wasn’t ready," Ves whispered, her voice trembling with rage. "This was the reason why you put him through that hellish training yesterday. You knew this would happen."

Tatiana closed her eyes briefly. "I knew the risk. But I also knew he could survive."

"Survive? Survive?!" Ves’s voice broke. "Look at him! He’s barely breathing!"

Tatiana opened her eyes again, sharp and cold.

"Keyword: he is breathing."

Ves froze.

Tatiana’s gaze softened, just a fraction. "Because he won."

The room fell silent.

Ves looked back at Leo. His face was peaceful despite his injuries, like he was finally resting after a long, exhausting journey.

"He won…?" Ves whispered.

Tatiana nodded. "It’s shocking but be actually won. He defeated an Exalted Rank Off-worlder."

Ves collapsed into the chair beside the bed, burying her face in her hands.

"I don’t understand. How did he…?" she whispered.

Tatiana glanced at Leo, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"I guess the only thing I can say is because he’s Leo."

Ves exhaled, looking at Leo’s face again. She reached out, brushing her fingers lightly across his hand.

Tatiana stood, brushing her coat down.

"He’ll wake up soon. His injuries are healing faster than I expected."

Ves looked up at her.

"And if he doesn’t?"

Tatiana paused at the door, glancing back.

"He will," she said, before disappearing.

Ves stared after her for a long moment before turning her attention back to Leo.

Minutes passed.

The room was silent again.

The only sound was the slow, steady rhythm of Leo’s breathing.