The Horizon Canvas

— What is it? asked Alpha eagerly.

— The solution I am thinking of... it would be extremely dangerous. You could both end up much worse than you are now. Or you might not survive it at all.

Dave and Alpha exchanged glances. The Queen's serious expression and the way she hesitated made it clear that whatever she was about to suggest was not something to take lightly.

— Tell us, said Dave quietly.

Mia stared at them both for a long moment, as if weighing their determination against the risks she was about to reveal.

— Very well. There is a place that exists because this game was never completed. When the world of Harksol came into existence on its own, a new phenomenon emerged at the very edge of our reality. We call it the Horizon Canvas.

— The Horizon Canvas? repeated Alpha.

— It lies beyond the territory of the Demon Lord's domain, at the absolute edge of our world. It is a place where the code of reality becomes... unstable. Malleable. Things that should be impossible become possible there.

Dave's eyes widened as a memory clicked into place.

— Wait... I remember that area. I left an empty space behind the demons' land because I wanted to add more end-game content later. I never got around to filling it in before I... well, before I died.

— Exactly, said Mia with a nod. That empty space you left became something far more significant than you could have imagined. When this world gained its independence from your original programming, that void transformed into the Horizon Canvas. It is a realm where the fundamental rules that govern our existence can be rewritten.

— So if we go there, we could change our code ourselves? asked Alpha hopefully.

Mia's expression darkened.

— Theoretically, yes. But the Canvas does not discriminate between beneficial changes and destructive ones. Many who have attempted to use its power have been... altered in ways they never intended. Some lost their minds entirely. Others were transformed into things that can barely be called living beings anymore.

Dave floated closer to the throne.

— But people have succeeded before, right? Otherwise you wouldn't be suggesting it.

— A few have managed to achieve what they sought, confirmed Mia. But for every success, there are dozens of failures. The Canvas responds to will, intention, and understanding of code structure. One moment of doubt, one unclear thought, and you could find yourself trapped in a form worse than death.

— But the unstable nature of the Canvas is not the only danger you would face, continued Mia, her voice growing even more serious. The demons have claimed monopoly over it and defend it with their lives. They are using the Horizon Canvas to alter their own code and create creatures far stronger than anything that should exist naturally. All of this is in preparation for their war against the rest of the world.

Dave felt a chill run through him.

— That is why I coded the walls of this city to repel modified code, explained Mia. I had to protect my people from these enhanced demons. The creature that attacked last night was likely one of their scouts, testing our defenses.

— So even if we could reach this place, we would have to fight through an army of modified demons? asked Alpha.

— Precisely. And these are not the demons you might have encountered elsewhere in the world. These beings have been fundamentally altered to be faster, stronger, and more intelligent than their original forms. Some barely resemble their former selves at all.

Alpha was quiet for a moment, processing this information.

— How far is this place from here? asked Alpha.

— By land, it would take a month to reach the Horizon Canvas, said Mia. However, I am willing to provide you with an aeronef. That should shorten your journey to three days at most.

— An aeronef? asked Alpha.

— A flying vessel, explained Mia. It is one of our first scout models. It does not have heavy machinery, but in return it provides discretion. Perfect for avoiding detection during your journey.

Dave's mind was already racing with possibilities.

— What about hiring people from your kingdom to help us? I mean, after seeing Hans' strength in action against that demon, I was really impressed. He could definitely be an asset on a journey like this.

Mia shook her head slowly.

— I am afraid that is not possible. Most of my soldiers, including Hans, have had their code modified by me. There is a fundamental limitation with code modification that you must understand: if the individual responsible for rewriting the code of a person or an item is too far away, then the changes gradually shift back to their original code.

— So Hans would lose his enhanced abilities? asked Alpha.

— Precisely. The farther he travels from the palace, the weaker he would become. By the time you reached the Demon Lord's territory, he would be no stronger than an ordinary guard. Worse, the process of reverting is unpredictable and often painful. I cannot ask my people to endure that for a mission they might not survive.

— What about adventurers from the guilds? asked Alpha.

— Most adventurers are far weaker than my royal guard, said Mia thoughtfully. However, I could put up a quest notice to the guild masters. They would be able to handpick a few exceptional candidates who might be strong enough to be of assistance.

Dave's eyes lit up as a memory surfaced.

— Wait, there's one NPC I created specifically to embody the strength of one of the strongest guilds. Suzaku of the Southern Skies Guild. She—

Dave paused, his expression growing more animated as he recalled the details.

— Actually, when the idea of creating her character first emerged, I got so engrossed in fleshing out her backstory and abilities that I spent days working on her. She's sort of a lone wolf type - doesn't really work well with others, but her raw power is incredible. I designed her to be an ally during the final raid on the demon lord's castle.

— And you believe she would be strong enough to face these modified demons? asked Mia.

— Absolutely. She should definitely have enough raw power to be a match for them, even in their enhanced forms. And with my [re_coding] ability, I might be able to make her even stronger during the journey.

Alpha looked thoughtful.

— But if she is a lone wolf, would she even agree to help us?

— That's... actually a good point, admitted Dave. I programmed her to be pretty stubborn about working alone. But maybe if we approach her right, or if the quest is challenging enough, she might be interested.

— I can craft the quest notice in a way that would appeal to someone of her temperament, said Mia. A lone warrior seeking the ultimate challenge would likely be drawn to a mission that others would consider impossible.

Dave felt a spark of hope for the first time since learning about the dangers ahead.

— Yeah, that might actually work. If anyone could help us get through the demon territory, it would be her.

Mia snapped her fingers. A sheet of paper and an ornate pen popped into existence beside her throne, floating in the air. The pen began writing by itself, scratching across the parchment with quick, precise strokes. Within moments, the paper lifted off toward the ceiling as the stones above shifted and rearranged themselves to create an opening. The quest notice disappeared through the gap, which sealed itself immediately afterward.

— It is done, said Mia with satisfaction. The message will reach every guild master within the kingdom by morning.

She leaned back in her throne, her expression becoming more somber.

— I still have some time before I must properly send off the few victims who did not make it during last night's demon attack. A queen's duties are not always pleasant ones.

Her silver gaze moved between Dave and Alpha.

— Do you have any other concerns or questions before you begin preparing for your journey?

Dave floated closer, staring at Mia with obvious curiosity.

— Actually, yeah. Why is your chest flat?

Alpha immediately spun around to face him.

— Dave! You cannot just ask someone that!

Mia burst into laughter, a sound that echoed pleasantly through the throne room.

— Why would she not have a flat chest to begin with? asked Alpha, turning back to the Queen. I mean, a flat chest is just as good as any other...

Alpha's voice trailed off as he realized what he had just said, his pixelated face somehow managing to look flustered.

— Look, I just thought that the size of women's chests determines if they're legal or not, explained Dave matter-of-factly.

— Legal? asked Alpha, confused.

— You know, of age. Big boobs means they're adults, flat means they're a no-no.

Alpha stared at him in disbelief.

— What kind of logic is that?

— Hey, it's my game and I can do whatever I want, replied Dave with a shrug.

Mia continued laughing, wiping a tear from her grey eyes.

— This conversation has been quite amusing, but I must ask you both something. Why would you assume that I am a woman in the first place?