Chapter 2 - Digital Shadows and Real Skies
Zaphro's POV
After our intense talk in Hell Village, we decided to go back to the first map to grind for a bit. Leveling on the second map had become way too risky lately—AI-class mobs had started spawning more frequently, and while we could handle some of them, the unpredictable behavior of those AIs made everything ten times harder.
We stayed logged in for about two hours before deciding to call it a day. It felt like we needed a break—not just in-game, but in real life too.
We didn't log in the next day at all. A surprise series of exams got announced at school, and as graduating students, we knew we had to set a good example. After we finished the tests, the squad met up at the school mess hall for lunch. I took that chance to get everyone's numbers so we could stay in contact outside of Enigma Online PH.
After lunch, we all decided to head to Aryus's bar in District 10 of the Nexus Area. Before that, we passed by Accel and Jenson's house to pick them up. Apparently, Jenson didn't go to school again—Dan told us he had a habit of skipping, and nobody really questioned it anymore.
Speaking of Dan, the guy almost fainted when he saw Ayana in person. Mia Diaz—that's her real name—was a third-year student from SPC. Tall, pretty, fair-skinned, with long hair and a body that'd make heads turn—totally Dan's type.
My best friend stood there, jaw dropped, eyes practically bulging.
"You might wanna close your mouth, unless you're expecting flies," Mia said, rolling her eyes with a playful smirk.
"Eh… You're assuming too much," Dan replied, trying to play it cool, but that huge grin betrayed him.
"Che! Look at your face."
Whilmer—Shion in-game—had that studious look, kind of like me. Not a nerd, though. He wore stylish glasses and a navy blue polo under a white hoodie with black stripes, paired with cream-colored pants and black shoes. He looked sharp.
I had on a shiny grey vest layered over an apple-green hoodie, half-zipped down. No glasses for me—just contacts, same shade as my avatar's eyes. Some students had already started to recognize me on campus, thanks to that.
"I take it this is Ayana, you're Zaphro, and that one is Slicer?" Whilmer asked, gesturing to each of us.
"That's right," Mia answered with a nod.
"You know what, Ayana—you look even prettier in real life," Whilmer added with a charming smile.
Whoa. Smooth. I glanced at Dan—his face said it all: defeated.
"Thanks for the compliment, Whilmer. But—speaking of serious matters," Mia said, suddenly shifting her tone. Her playful smile disappeared.
She leaned closer and lowered her voice.
"There are rumors going around… about a new anomaly in EOPH."
The table fell silent.
"A dark cloud—like, literally—has been appearing in various map locations, both on the first and second continents. They call it the 'Dark Matter Cloud.' It's said to bring storms—violent digital storms that corrupt the local environment in-game. Players caught in it get forcibly logged out… and they're never seen online again."
I blinked. "You mean like… they can't log back in?"
"That's the strange part. Nobody knows. They just vanish. Their accounts stay offline. Some are saying it's a bug. Others believe it's something else—something hidden by the devs."
I'd heard murmurs of it too. Glitches, errors, rogue code. But like most, I didn't take it seriously. Now, seeing Mia's serious expression made my chest tighten.
"Are there any confirmations from the GM or staff?" Shion asked, adjusting his glasses.
"None. But something about it feels… wrong. Like it's not just a glitch. My guess is that it's connected to GM Rowan and the rogue AI activity—leftovers from the old Crimson Order protocols. He might still have those backup programs"
The name hit me like a gut punch.
The Crimson Order again. They were purged into the system along with the executioner data. But who knows what this rogue GM can do?
That hidden AI faction we thought was deleted long ago. They'd only recently started appearing again—after that fight. The fight where I lost control and… awakened the Demonic Angel glitch.
A chill ran down my spine.
That anomaly… it can only be him.
That topic stayed with us the entire trip to Accel and Jenson's house. Instead of taking the transport station, we opted for our hoverboards—sleek, aerodynamic machines that zipped through the air like futuristic skates. Accel and Jenson's hovers were the latest model: HK-AH32s. Fast, expensive, and packed with functions like double boosters and gliding.
Mine and Dan's were older—HK-AH28s—but still solid. We tried to keep up, even pulled a few tricks along the way. We caught people's attention as we wove through alleyways, skimmed over rooftops, and soared off rails. Jenson even surfed an air current like he was showing off.
It was like being kids again.
Eventually, we reached a transport station in District VI of Sierra Area. Accel's house was all the way in District II, so it took about thirty minutes to get there. Jenson paid the fare—VIP route, of course. Cost him around 7,550 pesos total. The premium price meant no long lines, no crowding. Just comfort and speed.
We entered our transport tubes and, in less than five seconds, arrived in the heart of the Nexus Area.
The moment we stepped out, I called Aryus to let him know we'd arrived. Verillion—Daniel Bly in real life—was already at the bar. Aryus, or Manuel Watson, sent me a preloaded map of the area. I uploaded it straight to our chrome watches.
"Establish fastest route," I commanded.
"Calculating data… establishing route…" a robotic female voice replied.
"Completed."
A red line appeared on the hologram screen.
"Race you there!" Accel shouted.
The Nexus Area was once part of the Visayas region. Surrounded by vast oceans and crumbling coastlines, it had since been restored and rebuilt as one of the most eco-progressive areas in the archipelago. Manuel's bar, "Many's Haven," sat right next to the artificial coastline. The sky was cloudy, the breeze cool—perfect weather for a seaside stroll.
"Let's take the beach route," I told Dan.
"Agreed."
We hopped down a set of stairs that led us to the sand. The ocean stretched out before us, calm and silver under the dim sky.
"This view's amazing," Dan whispered.
"Yeah. It really is."
But as we walked, I couldn't help but remember that this part of the sea wasn't natural anymore. Years ago, nuclear waste and chemical pollution nearly destroyed it. The apocalypse wasn't just some old story—it almost happened. And somehow, we cheated it.
Humanity recovered. We rebuilt. Now, nuclear power was outlawed globally. The world switched to cleaner energy—hydro and solar power. But one more stood above them all: Zeus Stone.
Formed from five elemental fusions, this synthetic mineral became a powerful energy source—radioactive in origin, but carefully neutralized for use in hovercrafts, transport tubes, and just about every tech in our lives. Even our boards ran on it.
Eventually, we arrived at Many's Haven. Daniel (Verillion) greeted us by the backdoor.
"Fast, aren't you guys?" he said, holding a drink in his hand. Green shirt with "OBSCURE" printed in bold, brown faded pants, and sandals. Classic Daniel—laid back but always ahead of the game.
Aryus—or Manuel—stood beside him, dressed smart-casual in layered shirts and beige pants. Chill vibes all around.
"Welcome to Many's Haven!" he said with a grin.
"Nice place, man!" Whilmer commented.
"Come on in. We can talk inside."
Inside, the bar was cozy yet elegant. Dim lights, polished counters, soft ambient music. Tables lined the edges while a mini-stage stood prepped with instruments. The bar was fully stocked.
Surprisingly, Jin, Erenir, and Erik were behind the counter—in full bartender outfits. Turns out they weren't just playing staff roles. Maxwell, Julian, and Dylan—those were their real names—were Manuel's cousins. Business partners, too.
Honestly, I thought they were just NPCs in real life.
This felt like a real break. We'd been through hell lately in the game, and just sitting here, away from glitches and corrupted AIs, was enough to breathe again.
But deep down… something felt off. Like the peace was temporary.
Because if what Mia said was true—if the anomaly was real—then Enigma Online PH is up for another obstacle.
Something was waiting in that cloud.
And I had a feeling we were all about to get swept right into it.