The Joke’s on You 5...Bang
As Jest and Gray stood in the eerie silence of Sector 9, the remnants of their battle still crackling in the air, a series of system notifications began to scroll across Jest's HUD, their bright, glowing text cutting through the darkened industrial landscape of Cyber Steam Online.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]: You have dealt a critical hit to Revenant. +5000 XP.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]: Revenant's health has dropped below 20%. Activating Phase Shift Ability.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]: Revenant has escaped using [Phase Shift].
Jest's eyes narrowed as he read the notifications. Revenant's sudden disappearance wasn't just a retreat; it was a calculated move. The [Phase Shift] ability was a high-level skill that allowed a player to briefly slip into another dimension, effectively becoming untouchable for a short period. It was an advanced technique, one that required both significant experience and a deep understanding of the game's mechanics.
[PLAYER UPDATE]: Revenant's escape has triggered a temporary debuff on all nearby allies. 10% reduction in attack speed for 5 minutes.
The message was followed by a slight flicker in the air around them as the debuff settled over Jest and Gray. It was a minor inconvenience, but one that added to his growing irritation. Revenant was playing a dangerous game, and they were clearly more skilled than he had initially anticipated.
Gray, seemingly unaffected by the debuff, glanced at Jest with a mixture of curiosity and annoyance. "They're slippery, I'll give them that," she said, her voice tinged with a dark amusement. "But next time, they won't get away so easily."
Jest nodded, his mind already working through the implications of Revenant's escape. The rogue player's sudden appearance, the advanced abilities they wielded, and their uncanny resemblance to Jest's own combat style—it all pointed to a deeper connection, one that he needed to uncover before it became a threat.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]: PvP combat zone cleared. Cirque Phantom maintains control of Sector 9.
As the notification flashed across his HUD, Jest felt a brief surge of satisfaction. Despite Revenant's escape, the Cirque Phantom had successfully defended their territory. The sector was secure, at least for now, and their dominance remained unchallenged.
Jest accessed his character menu, the interface appearing before him with a soft chime. His stats and abilities were laid out in neat rows, each one meticulously balanced to maximize his combat effectiveness. He quickly reviewed his status:
[Jest]
Level: 75
Class: Shadowblade (Mastery 98%)
Health: 85%
Mana: 60%
Attributes:
Strength: 130
Agility: 145
Intelligence: 120
Stamina: 110
Active Buffs:
[Shadow Infusion]: +25% attack speed, +10% critical hit chance (Active for 10 minutes)[Poison Edge]: Next 3 attacks apply poison damage over time
Debuffs:
[Phase Shift Residue]: -10% attack speed (Active for 5 minutes)
Jest noted the remaining time on the debuff and the active buffs still in play. The battle with Revenant had drained some of his resources, but he was far from being out of the fight. The key now was to anticipate Revenant's next move and to ensure that the Cirque Phantom remained one step ahead.
Gray opened her own menu, the faint glow illuminating her sharp features as she checked her status. Her character, [Gray], was just as formidable, a Necromancer with a focus on illusion and control magic. Her skills complemented Jest's perfectly, making them a lethal duo in both offensive and defensive maneuvers.
[Gray]
Level: 73
Class: Necromancer (Mastery 95%)
Health: 92%
Mana: 80%
Attributes:
Intelligence: 150
Dexterity: 130
Endurance: 115
Willpower: 140
Active Buffs:
[Veil of Shadows]: +20% evasion, +15% illusion duration (Active for 12 minutes)
[Soul Harvest]: Next enemy kill restores 25% mana
Debuffs:
[Phase Shift Residue]: -10% attack speed (Active for 5 minutes)
As they finished reviewing their statuses, another notification appeared, this time bearing a more urgent message.
[SYSTEM ALERT]: Anomalous activity detected near Cirque Phantom HQ. Possible unauthorized access attempt.
Jest's eyes flicked to Gray, who had seen the same alert. Their headquarters was their most fortified position within CSO, a digital fortress that housed their most valuable resources and strategic assets. An attack there could be disastrous, especially if Revenant was somehow involved.
"Looks like they're not done with us yet," Gray said, her tone now more serious.
Jest nodded, his mind already racing through the possible scenarios. The attack on their HQ could be a diversion, a way to draw them away from something more critical. Or it could be the beginning of a larger assault, one that Revenant had been planning all along.
"Let's not keep them waiting," Jest replied, his voice cold and determined.
With a quick command, he activated a [Shadow Step] skill, the ability allowing him to traverse long distances in an instant by merging with the shadows around him. Gray followed suit, her own [Dark Portal] spell opening a rift in space that would take them directly to their headquarters.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]: Skill activated: [Shadow Step]. 5-minute cooldown initiated.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]: Skill activated: [Dark Portal]. 10-minute cooldown initiated.
The world around them blurred as they moved through the darkness, the familiar surroundings of Sector 9 dissolving into a void of shifting shadows. In seconds, they reappeared at the gates of Cirque Phantom's HQ, a towering structure of twisted metal and dark stone, surrounded by a shimmering barrier of protective wards.
The headquarters was quiet—too quiet. Jest's instincts screamed that something was wrong, and as they approached the main entrance, his suspicions were confirmed. The wards, which should have been impenetrable, were flickering weakly, as if something—or someone—was trying to breach them.
[SYSTEM ALERT]: Protective wards at 70% strength. Unauthorized access attempt detected.
Jest immediately began scanning the area for signs of intrusion, his senses on high alert. The system's internal defenses were still active, but they were clearly under strain. Whoever was responsible for the breach was using advanced techniques, the kind that could only be executed by a player with intimate knowledge of the game's inner workings.
Gray moved beside him, her hands glowing with necromantic energy as she prepared to reinforce the wards. "This isn't a normal hack," she muttered, her tone laced with concern. "They're using some kind of bypass protocol, something that's not supposed to be in the game."
Jest's mind raced as he considered the implications. The ability to bypass high-level security protocols wasn't just a sign of skill—it was a sign of inside knowledge. Someone was either very good at reverse-engineering the game's code, or they had access to information that was supposed to be locked behind the highest security levels.
[SYSTEM ALERT]: Wards at 60% strength. System integrity compromised.
"They're getting through," Jest said, his voice grim. "We need to shut them down before they break in."
Gray nodded, her focus entirely on the wards as she began casting a series of reinforcement spells. The shimmering barrier flickered more brightly for a moment, then stabilized slightly, the strength climbing back to 65%. But it was a temporary fix, and they both knew it.
"Find the source of the breach," Gray said, her tone sharp. "I'll hold the line here."
Jest didn't hesitate. He activated a [Shadow Cloak] ability, his form becoming nearly invisible as he moved through the shadows surrounding their headquarters.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]: Skill activated: [Shadow Cloak]. +50% stealth, -30% detection chance. Duration: 3 minutes.
As he moved silently through the darkened corridors, his senses on high alert, he finally caught a glimpse of movement near one of the lower access points. A figure was hunched over a terminal, their hands moving rapidly across the holographic interface. It was Revenant, or at least, it looked like them.
[SYSTEM ALERT]: Unauthorized access detected at Terminal A-3.
Jest approached slowly, careful not to make a sound. Revenant was focused, completely absorbed in whatever they were doing. The closer Jest got, the more he could see that Revenant wasn't alone. There was another figure, cloaked in shadow, standing just behind them, their presence almost imperceptible.
Jest's heart raced. This was it—the moment he had been waiting for. He had caught Revenant in the act, and now he had the chance to end this once and for all.
With a swift, fluid motion, he deactivated [Shadow Cloak] and lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air toward Revenant. But just as he was about to strike, the cloaked figure behind Revenant moved, faster than he could react.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]: Warning! Incoming attack from an unknown player.
The next thing Jest knew, he was hit with a powerful wave of energy, his health bar dropping as he was thrown backward, slamming into the wall behind him. He recovered quickly, his eyes locking onto the new enemy.
[SYSTEM ALERT]: Health reduced by 30%. Active skill [Dark Surge] detected.
The cloaked figure stepped forward, revealing themselves fully for the first time. They were tall, their features obscured by a dark, hooded cloak that seemed to shift and ripple like liquid shadow. Their eyes glowed faintly beneath the hood, a malevolent red that sent a shiver down Jest's spine.
[SYSTEM ALERT]: Unknown player detected. Initiating player scan… Scan failed. Player information unavailable.
Jest gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on his weapon. Whoever this was, they were no ordinary player. The fact that the system couldn't identify them was a clear sign that something—or someone—was manipulating the game's very code.
Revenant stood beside the cloaked figure, their form flickering slightly as they deactivated their hacking attempt. The breach in the wards closed, but the damage had already been done.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]: Breach attempt aborted. Wards stabilizing at 50%.
The cloaked figure turned to face Jest fully, their gaze intense and unyielding. For a moment, the world around them seemed to still, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
Then, without a word, the figure raised a hand, and a pulse of dark energy shot toward Jest, faster than he could react.
[SYSTEM ALERT]: Warning! Incoming attack—[Dark Nova] detected.
The blast hit Jest squarely in the chest, sending him flying backward once more. His health bar plummeted, dropping to critical levels as the darkness engulfed him.
[SYSTEM ALERT]: Health reduced to 10%. Emergency systems activated.
Jest struggled to regain his footing, his vision blurring as the system's emergency protocols kicked in. The pain was intense, even through the VR interface, but he forced himself to stay conscious, to stay focused.
But before he could make another move, Revenant and the cloaked figure vanished, their forms dissolving into the shadows like smoke.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]: Revenant and Unknown Player have escaped.
Jest staggered to his feet, his breathing ragged as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. This wasn't just a rogue player; this was something far more dangerous, something that could potentially upend everything he had built within CSO.
As he made his way back to Gray, who was still holding the line at the headquarters' entrance, Jest knew one thing for certain: the game had just changed, and the stakes were higher than ever.
This wasn't over—not by a long shot.