Godrick, Dead

"Let's take him head-on..."

Lin Luo looked at the menacing Godrick, then turned to the two women.

I was going to be more careful, but now that I have help, there's no need to hold back. Just charge in.

"Wretched Tarnished, die!"

The limbs behind Godrick began to writhe. Two axes dragged across the ground, one before and one behind, leaving long trails.

"..."

Godrick suddenly accelerated and charged straight at the three of them.

His immense momentum kicked up countless clouds of dust. In the blink of an eye, Godrick's Great Axe was before Lin Luo.

"Clang!"

(I wanted to use the dang from Dingdang Cat, but I couldn't find the character.)

The Black Sword rose, and the greatsword collided head-on with the massive axe. The piercing ring of metal echoed beside them.

As the two overwhelming auras clashed, Melina and Nepheli retreated beyond the range of their confrontation.

Melina shed the robe she wore year-round, revealing a fitted set of light armor beneath. Every vital area was properly protected. She held a mission dagger in her right hand, one that looked remarkably similar to the weapons used by the Black Knife organization.

Nepheli was much more straightforward. She directly pulled out two enormous axes, their blades several times larger than her own head. Truly worthy of a warrior woman... Nepheli.

"Godrick, you really are something!"

Lin Luo raised his sword and braced his other hand against the Black Sword. The two locked eyes.

What Godrick saw in Lin Luo's gaze was contempt, mockery, and... pity?

That wretched Tarnished... is he pitying me??

That only enraged Godrick further.

"Die!"

Godrick lifted the surrounding limbs, and another axe hacked toward Lin Luo's head.

If Lin Luo had been alone, he might have temporarily avoided the blow.

But this time...

Melina leaped lightly into the air. The blade in her hand flashed as runes boiled across it, and she swung.

A streak of golden light flew toward Godrick, carrying a searing heat.

"Slash!"

The arm behind Godrick that held the axe was severed on the spot, and the enormous weapon crashed to the ground.

"Damn it! Despicable Tarnished!"

Godrick let out a howl of pain, then launched into a frenzied assault. Hundreds of limbs behind him swung their weapons—swords, halberds—every one of them aimed at Lin Luo.

Naturally, Lin Luo would not let this opportunity pass.

He increased the strength in his sword arm.

Godrick could naturally feel the immense force pressing up from beneath his axe.

This strength left him momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

"This... is impossible. How could a Tarnished possess such power?!"

With no other options, Godrick stopped caring about anything else and sent all the weapons behind him crashing down on Lin Luo at once.

The saying that random blows could kill a master only happened in novels.

Lin Luo had fought Godrick too many times. He knew exactly what Godrick was capable of.

The Black Sword knocked Godrick's axe away, and its edge instantly severed dozens of limbs.

The Black Sword's Rune of Death burned within the wounds, preventing even blood from flowing out.

"Ah!!"

Godrick had never suffered such agony before. He stared at Lin Luo in shock.

"Tarnished! How dare you steal the Rune of Death?"

"Wretched Tarnished! That is not something you are allowed to touch!"

"Are you done calling me a wretched Tarnished over and over?!"

At some point, Nepheli had slipped behind Godrick. Her two massive axes cleaved straight into the grafted creature's shoulders, and blood immediately burst forth.

"Feel the strength of the Tarnished!"

Nepheli stepped back and slashed at the grafted creature's right leg. The sudden ambush made Godrick stagger, and he dropped to one knee.

"Lion's Claw!"

Seeing this, Lin Luo naturally followed up with another Ash of War. This was not a game—once Godrick was down, he had to beat him mercilessly. Beat the dog while it was down; Godrick had no invincibility frames!

A streak of blood-red flame burst forth with a wave of Lin Luo's left hand.

Godrick only felt darkness fall before his eyes, and his consciousness immediately began to blur.

His legs gave out, and he fell to his knees.

Melina was not idle either. She brought her hands together as golden runes began to release an incantation.

Strands of golden light slowly drifted toward Godrick. Then beams of golden light descended from the sky, striking Godrick fiercely.

Every ray of golden light sent black smoke rising from Godrick's body. It was probably some kind of cleansing incantation. Against someone like Godrick, it was likely even more effective than offensive incantations...

Mm, as expected of my wife.

Lin Luo thought.

Lin Luo did not stop either. Though he had always upheld the principle of one-on-one duels, when choosing between his wife and his principles, he firmly chose the former.

He drove a knee fiercely into Godrick's chin, and the tremendous impact cleared Godrick's mind for a few moments.

Before Godrick could savor those two seconds of clarity, as his senses slowly returned, he first felt cold in his chest, then warmth, followed by bone-piercing, heart-drilling pain.

The Black Sword plunged into Godrick's chest, black-red sword energy wreaking havoc within his body.

"Ah...!"

Godrick instantly let out a heart-rending scream. Faintly, countless other souls seemed to howl as well—the original souls of those whose limbs Godrick had grafted onto himself.

"No! Impossible! I am the Golden King!"

Godrick collapsed to the ground as the power of the Rune of Death continued to burn him.

Godrick crawled across the ground with difficulty.

Lin Luo could tell that Godrick's gaze was still fixed on the dragon corpse nearby.

It seemed he still held hope for his fate...

Lin Luo shook his head and stepped over Godrick, walking in front of him.

Melina followed closely behind.

Seeing that Lin Luo seemed to have other intentions, Nepheli did not step forward to deliver the killing blow.

But from the looks of it, Godrick would not survive anyway.

"Tarnished! Tarnished... spare me."

Godrick's voice came out with great difficulty. He was clearly at the end of his strength.

"Please, spare me!"

Godrick crawled toward Lin Luo and reached for his leg.

Lin Luo simply dodged aside and looked at Godrick. Godrick's gaze still drifted, intentionally or not, toward the dragon corpse.

"As expected..."

Lin Luo shook his head.

"You still dream of using that corpse to perform one final grafting..."

"You could accept fighting Starscourage Radahn, then fleeing disguised as a woman; you could accept challenging Malenia, kissing her feet to beg for your life..."

"But... you cannot accept that, as a descendant of kings... you would wag your tail and beg before a 'wretched Tarnished'!"

Lin Luo slowly drew his sword and pointed it at Godrick.

"Ha... ha... hahaha."

Godrick froze when he heard that, then finally laughed.

"Tarnished... I... acknowledge... you!"

Godrick struggled to his feet and walked around Lin Luo.

"Both descendants of warriors... I am truly... pathetic..."

Lin Luo did not move. He only watched quietly.

Godrick lay down beside the dragon corpse. This time, he abandoned the thought of grafting.

"...I am... the Golden King..."

"...One day, we shall return home..."

"...Together, return to the homeland at the foot of the Erdtree..."