Black Sheep 2

The world of Cyber Steam Online (CSO) was a sprawling labyrinth of dark corridors, twisted alleys, and chaotic cities where only the strong survived. Jest navigated the digital streets with ease, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of weakness or opportunity. In this world, he was no longer bound by the human limitations that plagued him in reality. Here, his power was absolute, his control unchallenged.

Jest's avatar was as meticulously designed as his real-life persona. Clad in dark, form-fitting armor with intricate, glowing patterns etched into the fabric, he was a figure of both elegance and intimidation. His face was obscured by a sleek, expressionless mask that reflected the cold, detached nature of the man behind it. Only his eyes, a pale green with flecks of silver, were visible, cutting through the shadows like twin blades.

As he walked, the sounds of distant battles and the occasional scream echoed through the streets. CSO was a world where alliances were fragile, and betrayals were common. It was a place where the only constant was chaos—a concept that Jest had come to embrace and even revel in. He was not a hero, nor did he aspire to be one. In this world, he was the villain, and he wore that title with pride.

A message notification flashed again in the corner of his vision, drawing his attention away from his surroundings. It was another message from Gray.

"Meet me at the usual spot. We have business to discuss."

Jest's smile widened beneath his mask. Gracelyn, or Gray as she was known in CSO, was one of the few players who could match his ruthlessness and cunning. Together, they had carved out a reputation as one of the most dangerous duos in the game—a pair that others either feared or sought to destroy. But every attempt to take them down had ended in failure, with Jest and Gray standing triumphant over the digital corpses of their enemies.

He adjusted the settings on his HUD, setting a waypoint to their meeting location. The "usual spot" was an abandoned clock tower in the heart of one of CSO's many ruined cities. The tower, once a grand symbol of industrial might, now stood as a relic of a forgotten age, its gears and cogs slowly rusting away in the endless night of the game's atmosphere.

Jest arrived at the tower's base, his senses on high alert as he approached the entrance. Even in this digital world, he never let his guard down. He had learned long ago that complacency was the death of control. As he stepped into the shadowy interior of the tower, he was met with the soft, rhythmic ticking of the ancient clock mechanism, a sound that echoed eerily through the hollow structure.

Gray was already there, standing at the edge of the platform high above the ground, her form silhouetted against the dim, flickering lights of the city beyond. Her avatar was as striking as her real-life self—tall, with an almost ethereal beauty that was offset by the cold, calculated look in her eyes. Her long, silver hair flowed like liquid mercury down her back, and her armor, much like Jest's, was a dark, intricately designed masterpiece that seemed to absorb the surrounding light.

"Punctual as always," she said without turning around, her voice a soft, almost melodic tone that carried an undercurrent of danger.

"I despise wasting time," Jest replied as he joined her on the platform. "What's the situation?"

Gray's lips curved into a smile, though there was no warmth in it. "We have a problem," she began, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "The Cirque Phantom has been attracting too much attention. The other guilds are starting to form alliances, hoping to take us down before we grow too powerful."

Jest's eyes narrowed behind his mask. The Cirque Phantom, the underworld circus he ruled within CSO, was a beacon of fear and power. Its performers, each a master of some dark art, were a force to be reckoned with. But with power came enemies, and it seemed that their success had drawn the ire of the game's other players.

"Let them come," Jest said calmly, his voice betraying no concern. "They'll fall like the rest."

Gray turned to face him, her silver eyes gleaming with a predatory light. "I expected you to say that," she said with a hint of amusement. "But I have no intention of waiting for them to come to us. I propose we take the fight to them, on our terms."

Jest tilted his head slightly, considering her words. Gray was not one to act impulsively; every move she made was calculated to yield the maximum advantage. If she was suggesting a preemptive strike, it meant she had already analyzed the situation and deemed it the best course of action.

"Which guilds are we targeting?" he asked.

Gray's smile widened. "The Serpent's Fang and the Iron Wolves," she replied, her voice dripping with anticipation. "They're the ones most likely to lead the charge against us. If we cripple them now, the others will fall in line."

The Serpent's Fang was a guild known for its stealth and subterfuge, a collection of assassins and spies who thrived in the shadows. The Iron Wolves, on the other hand, were a brute force, a guild of warriors who valued strength above all else. Both were formidable in their own right, but against Jest and Gray, they were mere obstacles—ones that could be removed with precision and force.

Jest nodded slowly, the gears of his mind already turning. "We'll need to plan this carefully," he said. "Take them down in a way that sends a message to the others."

"Agreed," Gray said, her eyes gleaming. "I've already begun working on a few… enhancements to our arsenal. We'll be ready to strike within the next few days."

Jest couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. In this world, he and Gray were unstoppable—a perfect blend of strategy, power, and unrelenting will. Together, they would not only survive the coming storm but thrive in it.

"Good," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Let's show them why they should fear the Cirque Phantom."

Gray nodded, her smile fading as she became all business. "There's one more thing," she added, her tone more serious. "There's been a player—a solo one—who's been making a name for themselves in CSO recently. They go by the name Revenant. No guild, no allies, but they've been tearing through high-level players like they're nothing."

Jest raised an eyebrow beneath his mask. "A rogue player?"

"Possibly," Gray replied. "But what's interesting is that they've been avoiding any interaction with us. It's almost as if they're deliberately staying out of our way."

"Do you think they're a threat?" Jest asked, his mind already analyzing the potential risks.

"Not yet," Gray said, shaking her head. "But it's something to keep an eye on. We can't afford any surprises."

Jest agreed silently. Surprises were unacceptable. In a world as chaotic as CSO, control was everything, and anything that threatened that control needed to be addressed swiftly and decisively.

"Keep me updated on Revenant," he said. "If they become a problem, we'll deal with them."

"Of course," Gray replied, a hint of dark excitement in her voice. "Now, let's get to work. We have a war to plan."

Together, they began outlining their strategy, their minds working in perfect sync as they plotted the downfall of their enemies. It was in these moments, amidst the planning and the anticipation of the coming conflict, that Jest felt most alive. Here, he was in his element—a world where power was earned through skill, cunning, and ruthlessness. And with Gray by his side, he was unstoppable.

As they finalized their plans, Jest couldn't help but feel a dark satisfaction. The Creed family might see him as a joke, but in this world, he was a force to be reckoned with—a player whose name was whispered with fear and respect.

And soon, the world of Cyber Steam Online would learn just how dangerous the Jest of the Creed family could be.