The two, reunited after a long separation, naturally had much to say to each other.
They wished they could sit down and talk to their hearts' content, but the timing was not right.
Watching Godrick's soldiers closing in, Bai Shi stepped in front of the group.
The Tarnished behind him nodded vigorously, like chicks following a mother hen. Updates are released by ππ π§ππΒ·π§ππ§πΒ·π«π’π±
Although they didn't know why this Banished Knight had come to help them, he seemed to know their big brother Hakan.
And since big brother Hakan was a good person, his friend was surely not a bad one.
Now, they were truly saved!
Bai Shi continuously flung out storm blades, effortlessly shredding the charging Godrick soldiers.
Hakan watched, stunned by the power of Bai Shi's attacks.
"Well, a lot has happened. Let's talk about it later when we have the chance."
"By the way, you've gotten so strong."
Bai Shi laughed heartily, overjoyed.
"Haha, of course! I'm the man who will become Elden Lord, after all."
Godrick's soldiers kept charging from all sides, their numbers seemingly endless.
These soldiers hadn't come for Roderika and the others.
It was because Hakan, in his mad dash, had successfully avoided every wrong turn and was about to run straight to Godrick's throne room.
The defenses here were naturally the tightest in the entire castle, hence the sheer number of soldiers.
Bai Shi didn't know what to say. Hakan's luck was truly abysmal.
But on second thought, if they had run anywhere else, they would have eventually run into Godrick's soldiers anyway.
And at that point, Bai Shi wouldn't have been there to save them.
Only this path was the one Bai Shi and his group had to take to reach Godrick's throne.
In a way, perhaps this was a blessing in disguise?
He pushed the thought aside.
Enemies continued to swarm them, but it had no effect on Bai Shi.
A number was no pressure at all.
If they wanted to overwhelm him with sheer numbers, they'd first have to exhaust his four Flasks of Cerulean Tears and three Flasks of Crimson Tears.
And even if they did manage to drain his flasks, there was still Fengling Yueying's infinite health, mana, and staminaβthe real heavy hitters.
As Bai Shi continued to clear out the mobs, Erlisa and Nepheli caught up from behind.
The other two Tarnished were slower, still about ten meters away.
But then, disaster struck.
A shadow fell over the two Tarnished.
The Tarnished who had fought the Fell Omen alongside Bai Shi reacted first.
He grabbed the Tarnished who had been leading the way and dove with him to the side.
A massive, grotesque figure crashed down where they had just been standing.
In each of its two hands, it held a ceremonial straight sword, which it plunged deep into the ground.
With its twisted, spider-like form, it was none other than a Grafted Scion.
The two on the ground, grateful to have escaped, immediately tried to get up.
However, a giant cleaver shot out from a small nearby door, slicing the guide Tarnished in two.
The cleaver's wielder slowly squeezed out of the small doorway, its bloated body almost bursting the frame.
Its body was covered in countless red, ring-like wounds, barely concealed by a few scraps of cloth. It was a Fell Omen.
The last Tarnished, caught between them, lasted only a few seconds before being skewered by the Grafted Scion.
The Grafted Scion and the Fell Omen stood side by side, blocking Bai Shi's group's escape route.
Meanwhile, in front of Bai Shi, more and more soldiers surged forward, completely surrounding them.
Godrick's soldiers before Bai Shi parted to form a path.
Then, an ancient, decrepit voice reached their ears. "Tarnished, you dare throw my castle into chaos."
"And you're the ones who challenged me, aren't you?"
"Daring to say you'd come for my head. What audacity!"
Accompanying the voice was a metallic clattering sound.
Before long, Godrick's figure came into full view.
Godrick's body was immense and incredibly thick, far larger than depicted in the game.
Both his arms and legs were made of two Troll limbs grafted side by side.
From them, numerous smaller limbs branched out like leaves.
Godrick now wore a massive, custom-made breastplate and was draped in a deep green, peacock-patterned blanket.
Every part of his body was covered in mismatched pieces of armor.
The noise from before was the sound of the armor on these limbs clashing against each other.
Not only that, but besides the golden greataxe in his main hand, the small hands on his body also held various weapons.
There were swords, hammers, spears, crossbows, and even a dagger.
Bai Shi was a little perplexed. He could understand the other weapons, but what was the dagger for?
Godrick dragged a rope in his right hand. As he approached, the group could see what was on the other end.
It was Tarnished, many of them.
Their limbs had all been removed, yet strangely, they weren't bleeding.
The spots where their limbs used to be were perfectly smooth. Ropes were tied tightly around their necks, and their faces were already blue from the strain.
Godrick threw these Tarnished before him and said to Bai Shi's group:
"This will be your fate! To be used as sacrifices for my grafting!"
Nepheli frowned. Those Tarnished must have been sent by her foster father this time.
She recognized a few of their faces.
She never imagined they would be captured by Godrick.
Their current grotesque state must be the result of Godrick using a ritual to remove their limbs.
That despicable Godrick! To commit such an atrocity as grafting, he had even defiled the wind itself.
But Nepheli did not let her anger consume her.
Bai Shi was the commander on this battlefield, and she had to follow his orders.
Nepheli knew all too well that insubordination would have dire consequences for the battle.
Bai Shi smiled coldly.
"With just you? 'Grafted' Godrick?"
Veins bulged on Godrick's forehead. He gripped his axe with both hands and slammed it into the ground, crushing the Tarnished into a bloody pulp.
"Silence! I am the Golden Monarch! 'Godrick the Golden'!"
"Seize that Tarnished for me!"
The surrounding soldiers charged forward, overcome with a sudden frenzy.
But the Grafted Scion and the Fell Omen were faster than the soldiers.
As they charged, they paid no mind to the soldiers at their feet, trampling several to death.
The other soldiers quickly steered clear of the two behemoths, falling in line behind them instead.
"Erlisa, you take care of the two behind us."
Erlisa nodded and single-handedly blocked the path of the two hideous monsters.
"Nepheli, Hakan, protect the other Tarnished. Be careful."
Nepheli agreed earnestly. Hakan's expression was grim, but he too gave a firm nod.
As for Bai Shi, he slowly walked toward Godrick.
"Godrick, as promised, I've come to take your head."