I awoke as the sun was just peeking over the horizon, causing the sea to look a brilliant blue. As I stood and stretched I realized I needed a place to call home as sleeping on the steps of an abandoned building was not the most comfortable thing I have done. Opening my interface I saw that I had several new commands available, the PIM had fully integrated with the Interface.

I turned on the scan feature and watched as my mini-map located at the top left corner of my vision suddenly displayed a new button. It would now flash red and orange icons would appear on the map should any stealthed individuals be detected within twenty meters. I felt a little safer with that feature activated.

Turning to the locked door of the building I examined the lock and then opened the lock pick case. I somehow knew that I had to use the number three pick with the tension tool. It only took a couple of minutes and the lock clicked open. I quickly put the lock pick tools away and then pushed open the door. As I entered the room I noticed a thick layer of dust overlay everything.

I knew that the tracks I would leave in the dust would be a sign that someone had been present, I just hoped that anyone checking would find the door locked and would assume it was the City watchmen checking the building. I saw that on the nearby wall was a set of lockers, more practice for me I decided.

Moving slowly over to the wall amidst the clouds of dust I pulled out the lock picks and went to work. After several hours I had cracked open all the lockers, but not surprisingly they were all empty. Anyone who had stored things here at the city terminal would have removed their belongings after being brought back from the island. Putting the picks away I glanced around the room, at the far end was a small platform that had another door recessed into the wall.

Making my way there I had to squeeze my nose shut in an effort not to burst out coughing. The dust was everywhere, rising up in fine clouds as I walked across the room. Finally, I made it to the four stairs that led up to the platform. There was less dust up here near the door and I began to breathe easier. Taking out the picks I went to work and had the door open in less than a minute.

Going into the next room I saw that it was a control room and had several hourglass timers each with a number on it. I guessed that the numbers would match up to the cable cars, and to judge by the chart on the wall with start and stop marks, and colored lines that corresponded to the hourglass timers I am pretty sure this is how they controlled the speed and arrival times of the cable cars.

It was all very fascinating and it showcased how something complex could work with primitive technology. I made my way through the room poking into drawers and looking at the papers scattered around the desks. Clearly the room had been abandoned fairly quickly, with papers left where they had been placed by the workers. I even found a roster outline with the names of several workers who had traded shifts.

Making my way across the room I came to another door, this one was not locked. It led into the heart of the operation, where cable cars would swing around the great gear and then stop on the exterior platform allowing the people to depart and board. I could see the opening in the wall that led to the exterior platform. Making my way to this opening I observed a cable car, it was just inside the building on front of the exit where it would have stopped at the platform.

Opening the door on the car I was struck by how much it resembled a cable car that would be found at any mountain resort. Looking up I saw the small hatch that led to the roof. Reaching up I opened the hatch and then with a small jump I grabbed the edges of the roof and pulled myself up. I was finally able to observe the cable that supported the cars. It had a diameter of about 7 centimeters and was made of some alloy woven into strings for strength.

Jumping up onto the cable I began to walk, it was doable, at least here, once out over the sea, I was not so sure. As I sat down on the roof of the cable car I began to think I needed an edge here. If I fell from the cable into the ocean that would be it, the drop was at least a thousand feet. The wind blew pretty hard out over the ocean and I would have nothing to assist with me balance.

I could get some kind of pole about forty feet long would do and that would help with my balance but to carry a pole like that for over a kilometer with my arms stretched out would be too much, even for my nano-enhanced muscles. What I really needed was my dragon wings. Not to fly over but to help in case of balance problems. Sighing to myself, I knew that I had to come up with something.

Taking a break from my mind racing around in circles I opened up the skills and abilities tab and then studied what I saw. I decided to copy everything from my messages tab and to include any other skills or abilities I could think of.

Elf

This race loves both the sea and the forests

Long-lived they are the masters of life magic

They favor the healing and magic class

Both hunters and melee warriors do arise

The Elf’s favor the night and worship the moon goddess

Racial ability quickness, for 5 seconds elves can move at twice normal speed

Strength - starting level one = 50 your strength starting level one =200

Agility – starting level one = 50 your agility starting level one =200

Intellect – starting level one = 50 your intellect starting level one = 50

Health – starting level one = 50 your heath starting level one = 200

Speed – starting level one = 50 your speed starting level one =200

+ Racial ability limited time double speed

You have found a Companion

An NPC that will follow your leadership

New ability learned

You have mastered the ability of metamorphic change

You can now shift your body from human to demon

Be warned the transformation will allow others to see you as a Demon

You have accepted a holy entity into your party

The faction change has been recorded

Komhether is now aligned with the Demonic prince Torn

New ability to persuade the followers of the Gods to see the truth and join you

Skillset

Lock picking, the basics

Lock picking advanced

Lock picking master level

Pickpocketing, your guide to personal riches through the efforts of others

Climbing walls and hanging around, the right time and approach to let yourself in

Restraints, they are not for the free

What’s yours is mine and what’s mine is mine, confidence benefits a con man

Some gave all and all gave some, how to read a mark

You have discovered a hidden class

Thief

This class allows you to develop a subclass to display to the public, all classes are available

If you are found out you will incur one hundred percent reputation loss with all City NPC guards and King and will be imprisoned by the state

Class bonus

The ability to hear when others speak of you if they are in the shadows

Nanobot integration into game avatar

Defensive capability, self-healing

Offensive capability, electrical discharge from hands

Strength increase four times normal human

PIM integration into Gaming Interface

Stealth detection enabled

Upgraded map functions

Ability to make calls to the Real World

Ability to access Gnet from within the game

Ability to leave and enter the game

Avatar integration into gaming matrix

You are not recognized as a player and the gaming AI has no control over you

Dragon skills and abilities

Dragon eyes the ability to see as Dragons do

Dragon Shadows the ability to become one with the shadows

all attacks done within Shadows will have a one hundred percent critical success

Dragon skin your skin assumes some of the armor characteristics of a Dragons skin

Portal

the ability to portal people with or without their consent

Mark of the Succubae

a permanent connection between you and a Succubae

you now are very attractive to all members of the opposite sex

Both the Dragon and Demon abilities were not operating fully, my lack of Dragon and Demon blood was telling, I was fortunate that I still had them, I was sure that I had retained them as part of the permanent buff Gaiatoci had given me. I somehow had to develop a work around for them to become fully functional.

My thoughts went to the metamorphic change ability; I remembered that Sebastian had stated without Demonic blood I would only be able to affect small changes with my body. Are wings a small change I wondered. Taking a deep breath I activated the ability and thought really hard about growing wings.

I could feel a sudden flow of mana flooding my back and a very strange feeling came over me. I felt suddenly tired, I could barely move, having no choice in the matter I sprawled out on the roof of the cable car. Waking up I felt very tired almost exhausted, but I could move. As I went to stand up, suddenly wings opened up on each side of my back. With an involuntary snap of the wings, I sprang to me feet.

Lifting my wings I extended them, they were covered in gray feathers and extended outwards about five meters. “Holy smoke,” I whispered to myself. “I look like an angel.” It was quickly apparent that the use of the wings was a natural function of my body. Folding them down I noticed that they lay almost flat against my shoulders and back stopping just above my ankles.

With the use of a long cloak, I believe that I could safely walk around with the wings undetected. As I was thinking of this my stomach suddenly knotted up, I was starving. I jumped down and re-entered the control room. Going through the room I entered the main room and beelined straight to the serving counter. Jumping over it I quickly went through the boxes that were left on the shelves.

I finally found what I wanted, some sort of snack food, it was hard as concrete and tasted like what I thought concrete would taste but I needed the calories. I must have burned several thousand when the wings through metamorphosis appeared. Eventually, I was done, I could eat no more. I was still starving but did not think I would pass out from hunger. I saw hanging on several of the hooks the faded and discolored clothing that the workers had at one time worn. Grabbing the largest I put it on and admired the results.

I looked terrible but it hid the wings, I needed to make it back to the abandoned park where I would meet Sebastian and Komhether. Giving one final look around I left the building stopping to re-lock the door. Making my way to the park I gathered my share of funny looks and even had a couple of citizens press copper coins into my hand.

Clearly I looked like a beggar and that probably helped me as most people would glance at me with pity or scorn and then not look at me again. The visible invisible I had once heard the destitute street people called in the real world and I could see that it was true. Finally, I arrived and let myself into the park.

The two fellows were there waiting for me and as I approached Sebastian glanced at me and jumped up. “What has happened to you?” He cried, “It has been only one night on your own and you look like hell.” Shrugging out of the faded rags I stretched forth my wings with a crack. “It’s a long story but before I tell you, I need you to get me a cloak to cover up the wings and then some food, any kind of take out from the closest place. I really need to eat right now.” I spoke tiredly; I was really feeling the lack of real food.

Nodding he called out to Komhether, “Let’s go, the Prince needs some things and it is a bit of a rush to see he gets them.” As they were leaving I could hear Komhether say, “He really does look like one of the angelic hosts with those wings. They have all disappeared since the Gods were banished; I bet he could convince anyone he is a being of light.”

I nodded my head and lay down on the grass and closed my eyes, my last thoughts were I am no angel.