The First Dragon God-Chapter 76: To Grow Stronger, Terrified Miguel And Mia

The tremors in the ground had long since ceased, but the weight of the monster’s presence still lingered like a heavy fog.

The air felt thick, carrying a faint trace of dust and decay, and the silence that followed the beast’s departure was oppressive, as though the world itself was holding its breath.

Leo and Ves stood motionless, their gazes fixed on the horizon where the creature had disappeared.

The massive beast, with its obsidian scales and glowing red eyes, had left an indelible mark—not just on the city but on their minds.

Leo glanced at Ves. Her expression was unreadable, her eyes distant as if she were still replaying the events in her head. He sighed softly, feeling that the same storm of thoughts in his mind was likely raging in hers.

For a moment, he wanted to say something, to break the silence with reassuring words.

But he knew better. Words wouldn’t erase the image of the towering monster or the lingering dread it left behind. Words wouldn’t make the danger any less real.

Strength. Absolute strength. That was the only answer.

Leo’s gaze hardened with determination as the thought took root. He glanced down at Fiona, who was trembling slightly, her fur bristling as though she could still feel the vibrations of the beast’s footsteps.

His heart tightened at the sight. He knelt beside her, running his hand gently along her back and scratching behind her ears.

"Hey, it’s alright," he murmured softly. Fiona’s trembling slowly subsided, her body relaxing under his touch. She let out a small huff, leaning into his hand.

"Leo, I have something to tell you," Ves said suddenly, her voice breaking through the heavy silence.

Leo turned his head toward her, curious. She was still looking into the distance, her hands clenched tightly at her sides.

"What is it, Ms. Ves?" he asked, standing up and brushing the dust from his knees.

"The title and skill weren’t the only things I got when I bit Ryan," she said, finally shifting her gaze toward him. "I also got stronger."

Leo blinked, his curiosity deepening. "What?"

Ves hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering with something unspoken. Then she spoke, her voice calm but firm. "I can grow stronger by turning people into zombies. It’s faster than killing monsters."

Leo stared at her, his eyes widening in surprise. He hadn’t expected this—hadn’t even considered it. The weight of her words sank into him like a stone, stirring a mix of emotions he couldn’t immediately identify.

"It makes sense, doesn’t it?" Ves continued, her tone measured. "With the… zombie part of me, I suppose this was always possible. But knowing it and experiencing it are two very different things."

Leo’s thoughts churned. The revelation was unsettling, not because it felt unnatural, but because of what it could mean for Ves—and for them.

If she could grow stronger by turning people, it would change everything. The fact that it was faster than fighting monsters added an even greater complication.

But as he looked at her, he knew. Ves wouldn’t want this. Her very nature would reject it. This was why she was telling him—why she had shared this burden with him.

Leo exhaled deeply, his expression softening. "I won’t tell you what to do," he said quietly. "Do whatever you think is right. I trust you, Ms. Ves."

Ves’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and she gave him a small nod of gratitude. Leo returned the gesture, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

But then his gaze drifted to the building behind them, and his expression darkened. He could already imagine the chaos and fear that would await him inside.

The group would need leadership, reassurance—but he wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.

"Ms. Ves," he said, his voice firm. "I’ll be gone for a while. You can take care of the building and the others however you see fit."

Ves turned to him, her brows furrowing in concern. "Where are you going?"

"To become stronger," Leo replied simply.

"You need to rest," Ves insisted, stepping closer. "You’ve been fighting nonstop. Your body needs time to recover. Eat something, sleep, then go."

Leo shook his head, a small smile on his face. "Don’t worry. I’ll be fine."

Ves opened her mouth to argue, but the determination in Leo’s eyes stopped her. She sighed, lowering her gaze. She knew she couldn’t change his mind.

"Be careful," she said softly, watching as he turned and began walking away.

The wolves followed silently, their movements fluid and purposeful. Ves stood there for a long moment, watching until Leo’s figure disappeared into the distance.

With another sigh, Ves turned and walked back toward the building. She glanced at Ryan, who was still snarling softly on the ground. With a flick of her fingers, she commanded him to stand and follow her.

His movements were jerky, unnatural, as he rose to his feet. The sight of him filled her with a strange mix of emotions—disgust, pity, and a faint flicker of satisfaction.

When she stepped into the building’s ground floor, she was met with silence. The space that she had expected to be bustling with survivors was now empty, save for two figures sitting near the far wall.

Miguel and Mia.

Their faces were pale, their eyes wide with fear and confusion. Ves didn’t need to ask why. She knew.

As she approached, she saw their gazes lock onto Ryan. Their expressions twisted in horror.

"Ryan?!" they shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the empty space.

Ves stopped a few steps away, her own expression unreadable. Ryan stood behind her, his pale skin and lifeless eyes making him look like a specter.

"Yes," Ves said calmly. "It’s Ryan."

Miguel’s mouth opened and closed, as if he were searching for words but couldn’t find them. Mia clutched her daggers, with her gaze intently fixed in Ryan.

"What… what did you do to him?" Miguel finally asked, his voice trembling.

Ves’s gaze didn’t waver. "I turned him into a zombie."

The bluntness of her words seemed to hang in the air like a heavy weight. Miguel and Mia stared at her, their expressions shifting from shock to something closer to disbelief.

"How? Why?" Mia whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Because I can and he betrayed us," Ves replied evenly.

The tension in the room was suffocating. Miguel clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he struggled to process what he was hearing.

Mia, on the other hand, looked at Ves with a mix of fear and uncertainty. "Can you… control him?"

"Yes," Ves said simply. "It’s the reason why he’s standing here and not attacking you."

Miguel’s shoulders slumped slightly, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He glanced at Ryan, then back at Ves.

"This world… it’s turning us into monsters," he muttered.

Ves’s gaze softened slightly. "Maybe. But it’s also forcing us to survive. And this is how I’m choosing to survive."

Silence settled over them once more, the unspoken tension filling the room.

Ves glanced at Ryan, then back at Miguel and Mia. "You can leave if you want. I won’t stop you."

Miguel stared at her for a long moment, then shook his head. "We’re not leaving. Not yet."

Ves nodded, a faint glimmer of relief in her eyes. Without another word, she turned and walked deeper into the building, Ryan following close behind.

Mia watched her go, her thoughts racing. Miguel placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"We’ll figure this out," he said quietly.

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Mia nodded, though her gaze remained fixed on Ryan’s retreating figure and different thought were storming around in her head.