Strongest Kingdom: My Op Kingdom Got Transported Along With Me
Chapter 232 - 234: Aetherheart Fruit

Velira exhales, almost frustrated. "I know it's impossible. That's why I'm telling you—it shouldn't have been possible. Not without a Tier 6 strength. But it happened."

Gresren leans forward on the bed, his voice lower now. "I believe you... but you're not the kind to lie about something like this."

Solven frowns. "So, what—are we saying he's hiding his Tier?"

"No. He's not hiding anything," Velira mutters. "He's just… Alix."

Gresren rubs the back of his neck, glancing toward the door. "Then let's wait for him. I want to hear it from the guy himself."

Velira nods. "Yeah. Let's just ask him."

Almost like a cue, the door creaks open.

Alix enters, quiet and composed. His coat is clean now, though the sleeves are still scorched at the edges. Behind him walks Karnessa.

The moment he steps in, the room stills.

Gresren sits up straighter.

Solven blinks and shifts in his bed, more alert now.

Velira watches him closely—eyes searching his face like she's still trying to understand what she saw earlier.

Alix nods to them once. "You're all awake. Good."

Velira gives a short nod—not mocking, not forced. Respectful. "That was… something else. I don't think we'd be lying here if you hadn't stepped in."

Alix gives a faint shrug, his tone calm. "Don't mention it. As long as you didn't forget what you told me."

Velira's gaze softens. She nods, serious. "Of course. A promise is a promise. My clan's now ranked fifth after this victory. That's more than enough."

Alix asked. "More than enough… for what exactly?"

Velira breathes in deeply. "From Rank 1 to Rank 5, the empire grants each clan a Aetherheart Fruit. It will give five years of lifespan to whoever consumes it. My mother… she needs it. She doesn't have long."

Alix's eyes widen a little. "Oh? There's a fruit that gives you more life?"

Gresren glances at Velira, lowering his voice. "Wait—Velira, is it okay to tell him that? Alix isn't part of any faction or kingdom under the Empire. This stuff is supposed to be confidential."

Velira looks at Alix, then back to Gresren without hesitation. "He won us the match. You saw what he did. I trust him. Alix will keep it to himself."

Alix nods once. "You have my word. I won't say a thing."

But inside… he's already celebrating.

So the empire does have a fruit like that… and it's given to the top five clans. That's valuable intel.

Solven exhales. "With five more years, Madam has more time. That's all she needs to break through the next tier."

Gresren nods. "Yeah… she's already at the limit of Tier 4. Give her five more years, and she'll definitely break through to Tier 5."

"Which means," Solven adds, "she gains fifty more years of life."

Velira closes her eyes and lets out a breath she's been holding all day. "That's why this win mattered so much. It wasn't just about prestige or pride."

Alix walks over and leans against the wall, arms crossed. Karnessa yawns behind him, sprawling lazily on a low couch. Her eyes never leave Velira.

"I'm glad it helped," Alix says.

There's a pause. Then Gresren speaks again, more serious now.

Gresren clears his throat again, glancing at Alix. "Say, Alix… if you don't mind me asking—how did you do it? Drawing out the full power of a quasi Tier 6 weapon when you're still Tier 4… that shouldn't be possible, right?"

All eyes shift to Alix.

Alix scratches the back of his head, looking almost sheepish. "To tell you the truth… I don't really know." He pauses, then adds casually, "I've been like this since I was a kid. As long as the weapon's not more than two tiers above my actual level… I can use it. Fully."

Velira blinks. "You mean, no backlash? No resistance from the weapon at all?"

Alix shakes his head. "None. It just… works."

Gresren whistles low. "That's not talent. That's something else entirely."

Velira leans forward slightly, her tone thoughtful. "You might actually be one of them. A real prodigy. Like the ones from the three main continents."

Solven frowns. "You mean those freaks of nature?"

Velira nods. "Yeah. Each of these prodigy are peak geniuses—people born with strange gifts or unnatural talents. They say every true prodigy has at least one unique ability. Something that doesn't follow the normal rules."

Solven turns back to Alix, wide-eyed. "Wow… and yours is just… using any weapon below Tier 6 like it's yours?"

Alix shrugs. "I guess. Never really thought too much about it."

Karnessa smirks from her corner. "My master is really impressive."

Velira's expression turns thoughtful, the light from the enchanted windows catching the faint scar on her cheek. "Still… we should keep your ability a secret."

Alix raises an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because if the Empire finds out," Velira says, her tone grave, "they'll do everything in their power to rope you in. Recruit you, collar you, own you—whatever it takes. A prodigy like that? They don't leave it up to choice."

Gresren nods grimly. "She's right. No prodigy has ever been born on this small continent. So if the Empire finds out about your existence, they'll go crazy."

Alix doesn't look worried. If anything, he looks mildly amused. "Noted. I'll keep a low profile."

Alix glances at Velira. "So, what's our next move? Are we heading to Stage Three?"

Velira hesitates.

Gresren and Solven both look at her, waiting for the call.

After a moment of silence, she sighs and shakes her head. "No. Let's drop out."

Alix straightens slightly. "You sure?"

Velira nods, resolute. "I already got what I wanted. We reached fifth rank. That's all I needed for the Aetherheart Fruit."

She glances at her two teammates. "Besides… look at us. We might be standing, but we're not whole. Our bodies are healed, sure, but our cores are still drained. We won't be able to fight again at full strength any time soon."

Solven leans back with a groan. "Yeah… I still feel like I got flattened by a dragon."

Gresren grunts in agreement. "Same here. I don't think I could swing my weapon straight right now, even if you paid me."

Velira turns back to Alix. "You've already done more than we asked for. We'll pull out before we burn out."

Alix crosses his arms again, thinking it over. "Makes sense. Better to walk away after a win."

Velira smiles faintly. "Exactly."

Solven stretches, his long limbs cracking. "Good. That means more rest time. I like this plan."

Alix glances at her, then at the others. "Alright. Then it's settled."

-----

In the afternoon…

The gates of the imperial city loom behind them, sunlight gleaming off the polished stone. The Ashedge Clan's carriage rumbles steadily along the main road, flanked by a pair of lightly armed escorts. Velvet curtains are drawn halfway, letting the wind carry in the sounds outside.

And the sounds are… loud.

Cheers.

Chants.

A flood of waving hands and excited voices echo through the street as they roll by. Children wave flags hastily painted with Ashedge colors. Merchants pause at their stalls to clap. Even nobles from their balconies nod in acknowledgment.

Velira peeks out the window and her eyes widen. "There's… there's so many of them."

Gresren chuckles from his seat. "Looks like we picked up a fanbase."

Karnessa said lowly. "You mean my master picked up a fanbase."

She jerks her chin toward Alix, who's sitting quietly, gaze fixed out the window.

Solven whistles, leaning over to get a better look. "Would you look at that…" he mutters. "When we came here, people laughed at us. Looked down on us. Like we didn't even belong in the same arena."

He grins. "Now? They're waving us off like we're war heroes."

Velira sits back, still dazed. "It's kind of surreal…"

Alix just watches in silence. His face unreadable, but his fingers tap lightly on the window frame—like he's thinking.

Outside the city gates, just beyond the cheering crowds, a lone figure waits near a stone marker by the road.

Middle-aged. Broad-shouldered. Grey streaks in his tied-back hair. Dressed in travel-worn armor with a thick forest-green cloak hanging down his back.

His presence is quiet—but sharp. Like a blade that's seen a thousand battles but hasn't dulled once.

Velira spots him through the open window and straightens suddenly. Her eyes light up.

"That's… Uncle Hadrik!"

Gresren lifts the curtain, squints. "Huh. You sure?"

"I'm sure," Velira says quickly, already reaching for the door latch. "He's my mother's old squadmate. She used to call him a wall that never falls."