Strongest Kingdom: My Op Kingdom Got Esekaid Along With Me

The realization hits him hard. He paces, his mind racing. 'To resurrect even one of the lowest rank soldiers, I need a thousand gold coins. This doesn't make sense. How could everything just vanish?'

He stops abruptly, glaring at the remaining items.

Alix can only sigh helplessly.

"Let's see if the Divine Items are still here, at least."

He walks to a section of the Treasury's wall and presses his hand against a seemingly ordinary panel. The stone shifts and grinds as a secret door slowly opens, revealing a small, dimly lit chamber. Inside, three pedestals stand, each holding a glowing artifact.

Alix breathes a small sigh of relief.

"At least these are still here..."

He steps forward, his eyes drawn to the first item—a crimson sword, its blade etched with runes that pulse faintly like a beating heart. The hilt is wrapped in black leather, with a ruby embedded in its crossguard. The air around the sword seems to shimmer with heat.

"Hellfire Edge... The blade that can cut through anything, even space-time itself. It's said one swing could sever dimensions."

He moves to the second pedestal. A simple silver ring rests there, unassuming in its design, but the air around it hums with a faint energy.

Alix: "The Null Ring... Wipes out any curse, debuff, or negative status effect. Even Divine-level curses will get weakened by fifty percent. A literal cheat code."

He picks it up, slipping it onto his finger. A cool, soothing sensation spreads through his body.

Finally, he turns to the third pedestal, where a golden book lies, its cover engraved with intricate patterns that seem to shift under the light. Despite its beauty, Alix frowns.

"The Eternal Codex... The one Divine Item I still can't figure out. It won't open, and no one's ever been able to decipher its purpose."

He lifts the book, feeling its weight. The gold gleams, its surface untarnished by time. Alix remembers trying to sell it once, only for potential buyers to laugh after learning it couldn't be used.

"Even as a Divine Item, it's worthless if no one knows what it does."

Still, he places the Codex back gently, his gaze lingering on it.

Still, he places the Codex back gently, his gaze lingering on it.

'Most top kingdoms have dozens of Devine item, and I only have three. But for a free-to-play player, this is a miracle.'

He steps back, taking in the sight of the two Divine Items.

Alix already wears the Null Ring, its comforting hum a reminder of its passive protection. As for the Hellfire Edge, he hesitates.

"I've always been cautious with this thing..." he mutters, staring at the crimson blade. "In the game, it drained HP constantly. But still..."

Curiosity wins. He reaches out and grasps the hilt. The moment his fingers close around it, a rush of scorching heat surges up his arm.

Suddenly, a transparent screen materializes before him:

Warning: Insufficient Level to Wield Hellfire Edge. Current Penalty: -10% HP per second. Death in 10 seconds if usage continues.

His eyes widen in alarm.

"Are you kidding me?!"

His HP bar, now visible in the corner of his vision, plummets rapidly. Without another thought, he slams the blade back onto its pedestal. The draining sensation stops immediately, and his HP stabilizes.

He exhales sharply, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"That was close... Way too close. Damn thing's just as dangerous as I remember."

He glares at the sword, his heart still pounding.

"Wait a second..." he mutters, his brows furrowing. "Why did it say 'insufficient level'? I'm max level—level 1000. There's no way I'm under-leveled for anything in this game."

Suspicion growing, he swipes his hand through the air, summoning his status screen. The glowing panel appears, and his eyes scan the familiar layout. But what he sees next makes his stomach drop.

Status: (Level 1000 lock) Level 100 (10% Unlocked)

"What?!" Alix's voice echoes in the chamber. He frantically scrolls through the details, disbelief flooding his features.

"This can't be right! I was maxed out! I spent years grinding to hit 1000—no way I'm back at 100!"

Then, at the bottom of the screen, bold text catches his attention:

To unlock your levels, gain citizens and expand your kingdom.

He glances back at the Hellfire Edge, its runes pulsing faintly.

"That explains why I can't use you. I'm not even close to the level I need to wield that thing."

He swipes the status screen away and rubs his temples, trying to calm his racing thoughts.

"Alright, fine. If that's how it is, then I'll play by the rules. I'll rebuild the kingdom, gather citizens, and unlock my levels, piece by piece."

Alix steps out of the Treasury, determination hardening his features. The dim corridors of the castle stretch before him, lit only by flickering torches. As he approaches the main gate, he calls out, his voice resonating through the empty halls.

"Guards! You're coming with me."

The two remaining royal guards appear almost instantly, their heavy footfalls echoing as they march to his side. Their monstrous forms loom in the torchlight—one, a hulking orc clad in black plate armor, his tusks gleaming, and the other, a lithe lizardman with emerald scales, his eyes sharp and vigilant.

"Your Majesty," the orc rumbles, bowing slightly. "What are your orders?"

"We're going outside. I need to see the state of the capital."

The guards exchange brief glances before nodding in unison.

"As you command."

The trio steps through the castle's grand entrance, the massive iron doors creaking open to reveal the sprawling city beyond. Alix inhales deeply, the familiar yet unsettling scent of the Monster Kingdom hitting him—a mix of damp stone, faint sulfur, and the earthy musk of creatures.

He descends the stairs, his boots clicking against the obsidian steps, and surveys the city. Towering spires made of jagged blackstone pierce the sky, their surfaces etched with glowing crimson runes. Streets of dark cobblestone wind through the city, lined with grotesque statues of ancient beasts. The lanterns flickering along the roads emit an eerie green light, casting long shadows on the cracked walls of buildings.