Prologue
Enigma Online PH.
The year was 2345 when the world saw the launch of the most groundbreaking virtual experience ever created. It was the first of its kind—a hyper-realistic online game where not just the mind, but the entire physical body of the player entered the game world.
This unprecedented leap in gaming was made possible by a revolutionary piece of technology known as the DS, or Dimension Splitter. Through it, players could shift themselves—flesh and all—into a parallel dimension where the game took place. Inside this world, a player's physical form changed to match their chosen Avatar body, though a few things remained rooted in reality. One's gender stayed the same, and facial features couldn't be modified. Only the hair and eye color could be altered during character creation.
At its core, Enigma Online echoed the structure of classic MMORPGs. Players leveled up, grew stronger, hunted powerful items, and battled both monsters and other players. The game offered both PvE (Player versus Environment) and PK (Player Kill) modes. If a player was killed by another, their HP dropped by 1%. For fifteen seconds, they'd lose all control over their avatar before being automatically teleported to a respawn area—where their HP would instantly be restored to full.
But unlike traditional games, pain was very real in Enigma Online. Since the physical body existed in the game world, players could feel the impact of their injuries—though limited to only 60% of actual pain. The developers had incorporated high-tech modifications within the game's environment to ensure that no one was seriously harmed. Because of this, the game was restricted to teenagers and adults—individuals proven to have a higher threshold for pain, according to scientific studies.
Three months had passed since the Philippines server officially opened on July 10, 2345, and as of now, the player count hovered around 3,256. The developers had taken great care to ensure that no bugs or system glitches compromised the integrity of the PH server before its launch.
Despite its growing popularity, Enigma Online sparked controversy in the real world. Certain groups voiced concerns, questioning the true purpose of the game. Was it really just for entertainment? They argued that there were plenty of safer, healthier ways for people to enjoy their free time. After all, this was a game where players could get hurt.
Yet, in spite of the backlash, Enigma Online launched successfully—and players continued to pour in.
So what, really, is the purpose of this game?
Is it adventure? Thrill? Fun?
Or something deeper—perhaps a test of courage?
Maybe it's not about defeating monsters or conquering bosses.
Maybe it's about something else entirely.
Because in Enigma Online, there are no main objectives.
No final enemy to slay.
All you have to do... is keep fighting.