Godrick, Deceased

"Let's get straight to it..."

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

He'd had to be careful before, but now that he had help, he didn't need to hold back. He could just go all out.

"Hmph, you lowly Tarnished, prepare to die!"

The limbs behind Godrick began to writhe, and two axes dragged across the ground, one before the other, leaving long streaks.

"..."

Godrick's speed suddenly increased, and he charged directly at Lin Luo and the other two.

The immense impact kicked up dust, and in the blink of an eye, Godrick's Great Axe was before Lin Luo's eyes.

"Clang!"

(I wanted to use the sound 'ding dang' like in Cat Jing Dang, but couldn't find the right word.)

The Black Sword was raised, and the greatsword clashed directly with the great axe, a piercing shriek of metal on metal ringing in everyone's ears.

As the two powerful auras collided, Melina and Nepheli retreated out of the range of their clash.

Melina shed the long robe she always wore, revealing a refined, light armor underneath. The vital areas were well-protected. She held a Glaive in her right hand, which looked very similar to the weapons of the Black Knife organization.

Nepheli was more direct, pulling out two massive axes. The axe blades looked several times larger than her head. Truly a warrior woman... Nepheli.

"Godrick, you really are something!"

Lin Luo raised his sword, resting his other hand on the Black Sword. They met each other's gaze.

In Godrick's eyes, Lin Luo held contempt, mockery, and... pity?

A lowly Tarnished, pitying me??

This made Godrick incredibly enraged.

"Die!"

Godrick raised the surrounding limbs and swung another axe towards Lin Luo's head.

If it were just Lin Luo, he might have temporarily retreated.

But this time...

Melina leaped lightly, her longsword flashing. Runes boiled on the blade, and she thrust forward with a single strike.

A beam of golden light flew towards Godrick, carrying a scorching aura.

"Screech!"

The arm holding the axe behind Godrick was severed with a crack. The huge axe also fell to the ground.

"Damn you! Vile Tarnished!"

Godrick let out a pained howl, followed by a frenzy of attacks. The hundreds of limbs behind him began swinging their various weapons, be it swords or halberds, all aimed at Lin Luo before him.

Lin Luo naturally wouldn't let this opportunity pass.

He increased the power in his sword-wielding arm.

Godrick naturally felt the immense force from Lin Luo pressing down on his axe.

This strength, it left him momentarily unsure how to respond.

"This... impossible! Tarnished, how could you possess such power!"

With no other options, Godrick abandoned all pretense and hurled the weapons from his back at Lin Luo in a single barrage.

A chaotic flurry can defeat a master; that's something you only see in novels.

Lin Luo had sparred with this Godrick countless times. He knew exactly what Godrick was capable of.

The Black Sword directly deflected Godrick's axe. The blade instantly severed dozens of limbs.

The Death Rune on the Black Sword burned at the wounds, preventing even blood from flowing.

"Ahhh!!"

Godrick had never experienced such pain. He looked at Lin Luo with astonishment.

"Tarnished! How dare you? Steal the Death Rune?"

"Hmph, lowly Tarnished! That is not something you can touch!"

"You keep calling yourself a lowly Tarnished, have you had enough?"

At this moment, Nepheli had somehow slipped behind Godrick. Her two massive axes struck Godrick the Grafted's shoulders directly, and blood spurted out.

"Feeling the power of a Tarnished, aren't you!"

If you can't find the book by its title, try searching for the author. They might have just changed the name!

Nepheli took a step back and swung her axe at Godrick's right leg again. The sudden surprise attack made Godrick stumble, and he knelt on the ground.

"Lion's Claw!"

Seeing this, Lin Luo naturally followed up with another Ash of War. This wasn't like playing a game; when Godrick fell, you had to beat him down hard. You had to kick him while he was down. He didn't have invincibility frames!

A streak of blood-red flame erupted from Lin Luo's left hand.

Godrick felt his vision blacken, his consciousness blurring instantly.

His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.

Melina wasn't idle either; she brought her hands together, and golden Runes began to unleash a prayer.

Tendrils of golden light drifted slowly towards Godrick, followed by beams of golden laser fire descending from the sky, striking Godrick's body fiercely.

Each golden beam caused black smoke to rise from Godrick's form. These must be purification prayers; such prayers would likely be more effective against Godrick than damage-based ones…

Well, just as I'd expect from my wife.

Lin Luo thought to himself.

Lin Luo didn't hold back. Although he always upheld the principle of one-on-one duels, when it came to choosing between his wife and his principles, he firmly chose the former.

He delivered a powerful knee strike directly to Godrick's jaw. The immense force momentarily cleared Godrick's head.

Before Godrick could savor these two seconds of clarity, and as his senses slowly returned, he felt a chill in his chest, which quickly turned to heat, followed by a bone-piercing agony.

The Black Sword had pierced Godrick's chest, and black and red sword energy churned violently within him.

"Aaaargh...!"

Godrick let out a heart-wrenching scream. Faintly, the roars of countless souls could be heard—those were likely the original souls of the individuals Godrick had grafted.

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

Godrick collapsed onto the ground, the power of the Death Runes continuing to burn him.

Godrick struggled to crawl across the ground.

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

It seemed he still harbored hope for his own fate…

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

Melina followed closely behind.

Seeing that Lin Luo likely had other intentions, Nepheli did not step forward to deliver the killing blow to Godrick.

However, it seemed Godrick wouldn't survive in his current state.

"Tarnished! Tarnished… Spare me…"

Godrick's voice was weak, sounding like he was at his last breath.

"Please, spare me!"

Godrick crawled towards Lin Luo, embracing his leg.

Lin Luo sidestepped him and looked at Godrick, whose gaze kept drifting towards the dragon carcass.

"As I suspected..."

Lin Luo shook his head.

"You were planning to use this corpse for one last grafting, weren't you..."

"You could accept facing Radahn, disguising yourself as a woman and fleeing; you could accept challenging Malenia, kissing her feet to beg for your life..."

"But... you cannot accept, as a descendant of kings... groveling to a 'lowly Tarnished'!"

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

"Ha... ha... haha..."

Godrick was taken aback upon hearing this, then he began to laugh.

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

Godrick struggled to his feet and walked around Lin Luo.

"Both of us... descendants of warriors... I... truly pity..."

Lin Luo remained still, watching him quietly.

Godrick lay down beside the dragon carcass, abandoning the idea of grafting this time.

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

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

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