A severed arm was nothing; Godrick was a demigod, after all.
Even if he was the weakest!
An ultimate, unparalleled abomination!
In the game, he was very weak, according to the lore.
By blood, he was Queen Marika's grandson, and everyone in this world looked down on him.
Even Morgott, the Fell Omen, sent a projection to help, fearing he'd be killed. That projection was still formidable, and Godrick was on his radar.
Because of his diluted blood, Godrick was weak, but ambitious. During the Shattering, he attacked the Royal Capital, was routed, and fled disguised as a woman. Challenged Radahn and lost. Challenged Malenia and lost, surviving by licking her boot. Helpless, he turned to grafting to gain strength. This bizarre method led him to foolishly declare himself king.
If not for Morgott watching over his pathetic nephew, he would have been crushed long ago. Without that protection, his Great Rune would have been taken.
In summary, as a descendant of the Golden Lineage, Godrick the Grafted was weak and incompetent, repeatedly crushed by other forces during the Shattering, reduced to grafting for survival. Countless Tarnished became his victims, a truly heinous crime.
That was the game, though the game couldn't fully portray it.
In reality, during Kaito's two days in town, he sensed the residents' oppression, their fear. They lived one day at a time.
Now, Godrick's pale face was contorted in madness.
He walked to the dragon's corpse, muttering.
"Dragon, thou'rt a trueborn heir... Lend me thy strength, o kindred... Mighty dragon, thou'rt a trueborn heir... Lend me thy strength, o kindred... Forgive me, o great ancestral spirit... Witness!!"
"Ancestral spirit" referred to Godfrey.
As Kaito watched Godrick graft the dragon's head onto his severed arm, gaining its power, his strength surged.
In the game, this made him clumsier, easier to fight.
But in reality, it was different.
Game portrayal aside, his strength was real.
Other Tarnished might have been stopped by Morgott, but some got through. Those who reached Godrick were killed by him. So he had some strength.
He was simply the weakest among the demigod BOSSes.
Don't forget, those who defeated him in the lore were other demigods.
If even the weakest was this strong, then the stronger ones were even more formidable.
Kaito could defeat Godrick without pressure, but what about Morgott?
He might win, but it wouldn't be easy! He might even be injured!
"Guess I need to grind more levels."
Watching Godrick complete his second phase and grow stronger, Kaito set aside his thoughts.
"Finished your performance? Then, prepare to die."
"Hmph! Now I have limitless power! Enhanced by the dragon!"
"Heh, I'm really looking forward to seeing how strong you've become."
Kaito raised his rock greatsword. Godrick, one hand holding the golden axe, used the dragon head on his other arm to unleash a terrifying high-temperature flame!
The Fire Keeper and Melina grew nervous. But Kaito had told them: unless absolutely necessary, do not interfere.
His command was absolute.
Seeing this, Kaito smiled. Dragon's breath.
If it were an ancient dragon's breath, maybe. But that dragon corpse wasn't that large, and Godrick had killed it.
It couldn't be that strong, right?
Dodging the flame, Kaito closed in at high speed.
Seeing the flame couldn't hit Kaito, Godrick swung his golden axe in a raging cyclone.
Bam—!!
"Hmm? Stronger? Well, it had to do something! Otherwise, just breathing fire would be useless!!"
Kaito dodged, but felt the force behind the axe blow.
Impressive.
But that was it.
Channeling more divine power, Kaito moved faster.
Simultaneously, rock-element cubes floated around him, transforming into rock spears that flew at Godrick.
Godrick, unfazed, blasted them with dragon fire.
If that failed, he just swung the dragon head to knock them away. Easy.
Hmm...
"Godrick, that's enough. I've gauged your strength."
"Hmph! Laughable! My strength is beyond this! You're the arrogant one!!"
"Hahaha, isn't it normal to be arrogant when you have the skills?"
Kaito easily matched the enhanced Godrick. His axe swings were stronger, but that was it.
The dragon's breath was blocked with stone walls.
The more Godrick fought, the more frustrated he became.
He understood now. Kaito was toying with him!!
He had the power to kill him but was using him as a whetstone, a gauge for his own strength!?
"Damn you!!"
Enraged, Godrick attacked madly, recklessly.
But the more enraged he was, the more his strength seemed to increase, yet his skill deteriorated.
Seizing an opening, Kaito raised his rock greatsword for the final blow.
This strike would kill him.
If Kaito didn't care about this castle, if he didn't plan to use it as a base to gradually rule this world, he would have just dropped a Tendo Mukatsumasa and been done.
After clearing, this would all be his!
Wasn't caring for one's subjects standard practice for a king?
He wasn't a tyrant.
Clang—!!
But just as Kaito thought this, a golden figure materialized, blocking his greatsword with a wooden cane, effortlessly.
"Tarnished, stop. If you leave now and promise never to return, I'll spare you. But if you persist in becoming Lord, you will die here, forever."
His voice was cold. He floated in the air, his cane holding Kaito's sword.
His eyes were icy.
"So, you came after all. Or were you here the whole time? You didn't appear, maybe to use me as a whetstone for your nephew, or to teach him that external power won't make him truly strong?"
Morgott!
Even as a projection, Kaito felt immense pressure.
He hadn't even sensed him nearby?
'Hah, this world was deep. Pushing through with current strength was impossible without grinding levels.'
'That makes sense. Otherwise, the parent-child activity system would have restricted me more. If I cleared this world too easily, where was the challenge?'
"Uncle!"
"Godrick. You have brought shame upon the Golden Lineage."
His words were harsh, but his familial concern was clear.
Godrick's face reddened; he was speechless.
Morgott coming to save him was enough; what could he say?
"Tarnished, leave. Abandon the path to Lordship."
"Hah, abandon? Laughable."
Maybe Morgott was strong, his true body stronger.
But this was just a projection!!
And Kaito had only felt pressure. Had he used his full strength?
Why hadn't he used his full power?
Precisely to guard against you, Morgott!
Since Morgott hadn't appeared, Kaito had to be cautious, for whatever reason.
Now, that caution was proven wise!
"Ha, Morgott. A mere projection can't threaten me. Even with your true body, I have the power to suppress you. So... your threats are useless!"
Shrrrk—!!!
A massive rock spike erupted from the ground.
It pierced Godrick clean through. Morgott barely dodged.
"Damn...!!! Gwaaah!!!"
"Your King... won't accept this!!"
"I... am the Lord of Gold!"
"Someday... I'll return home... together... return to the Erdtree's roots..."
Godrick's eyes widened. How had he not sensed it?
Normally, he would have dodged such a spike, but now he couldn't!!
But Kaito had never shown his full strength!
"..."
With his last words, Godrick coughed blood, gave Morgott a final look, and slumped, lifeless.
Morgott's face darkened. He understood the strangeness and power of that spike.
Now he knew. Against Kaito's previous level, he could have fought. But against Kaito now, his projection was no match.
His figure began to fade. Better to retreat than fight a losing battle. He would wait for Kaito to come to the Royal Capital and kill him personally!
"I will remember you, Tarnished. You, driven by the flame of ambition."
"Fear the dark that lurks within... The Fell Omen shall not forgive you..."