Kaden had learned quite a bit of interesting ways of thinking in the time rift. He had previously had some basic understanding of formations that Condensation stage formation masters used. At his level he had not been able to directly to access any higher knowledge, but Kaden was good enough that he could produce educated ideas and apply his existing understanding.

For example, Kaden had understood the idea of programming from the ancients. This was the way they made their machines do things. Formations were pretty similar idea, but perhaps one could think of it analogous to something like cogs in a machines, springs and so. Just far more complex. Yet, it was not impossible to create some precision actions by following similar ideas that programming used. They could be mixed together in clever ways to achieve efficient and even some very specific actions.

He expected to be able to refine that efficiency of his formations and crank up the power with the freed potential. Not to mention, open room for new parts.

There was much to learn by combining these two different paradigms. Kaden didn't believe it to be unique. In fact, he was pretty certain he had ran into some already, but didn't just understand what they were. Such as the phone and other machines that imitated ancient tech. They had seemed extremely complex to him, but now knowing what programming was, the more complex parts simply became sections that produced some desired effect, functions. Like ... another cog in the machine that was the formations.

A lot of things made so much more sense know. There were new posibilities to be discovered. To 'program' his own formations? It was very flexible idea to be used in otherwise less flexible methods.

In addition to pondering on formations and how to improve his skill, he also kept working on the new mana system. Previously he had already merged it together with his ordinary mana system, but since it was so separate, it was easy to adjust. Kaden wanted to understand how to make it stronger. At the time it was merely slight upgrade. More like proof of concept.

Such were the things he pondered on as he waited for a proper ship to hijack. He didn't wish to start anything he would have to leave behind suddenly. Therefore he concentrated on his knowledge and experiments he could easily accomplish on the spot.

"If there are no ships by the time the mana storms start at the great remnant, I will have to assume the so called 'season' is over", Kaden thought to himself as he tried to construct small test formations based on his ideas. "That means, there will be little to no materials being hauled over the sea since not much can be collected."

From his nest, he could not obviously see the great remnant, but it would not be too difficult to go see personally. Though, he would only do so once he was pretty sure there would be no ships passing.

To begin with, Kaden was not sure how long he had been in the great remnant with also adding up the time in the time rift. Time that had passed in his own time seemed to have been somewhat longer than what he had spent in the time rift.

How much? Kaden couldn't say for sure. The only signs he could get was the changing of seasons. It wasn't winter yet, but leaves were already falling. What had been just a week, or two at most, in the time of the cataclysm, had been several months in his own time.

Kaden did not have way to check directly. His phone from saint military had continued on its own pace showing the passing of time of about that week or two. After checking it couldn't connect to anywhere and update its status, Kaden crushed the phone. He wasn't sure if it could be tracked. He didn't need it anymore either.

He had not found ones from the Sacronan's soldiers. If Reverend had one, it was likely destroyed since he had not found one from him either. Not that it mattered much.

It did make Kaden think of what could have happened during the time he was 'away'. Also the probability of finding a ship depended on whether people would have something to take over the sea.

In the end, Kaden lived at his temporary nest for roughly two months until he saw a larger ship, equiped with formations on its side, diffusing any mana signatures the ship and anyone on it would have. The good part was that Kaden had time for his studies and getting used to his new body. Bad part was that is was otherwise waste of time.

With the winter coming and the great remnant going towards higher mana density, possibly already enough to generate mana storms, Kaden believed this had to be one of the last that would leave anytime soon. There wouldn't be more ships anytime soon.

"If this one doesn't work out, I will likely have to think of another method", Kaden thought as he prepared to leave. "None of which are very good. I might even have to take a trip across No Man's Land or take a trip basically around the world."

He observed the ship for a moment and let it get a bit further away that no one on the shore would notice anything. It was early morning and unfortunately he wouldn't have cover of darkness. This wasn't a big problem, though.

Kaden had some ideas on how to force the crew to continue. Ways to stop them from doing crazy stuff such as commiting suicide in middle of the ocean and try to take him along. What if a sea beast attacked? And so on. Kaden didn't plan to die on this trip. It was a shame he couldn't construct teleportation formation by himself.

After feeling it was time, he leaped up and beat his wings as he started flying towards the ship.

---------

"This is bullshit", said a crew member on the ship. "We have bare minimum cargo. Thats not going to amount much of pay."

"Sacronan's officers that, unfortunately, rule our land want their tea", the captain replied. "We are too small place to have an actual altar to Stefinos. So once we get this stuff across, we come back with some luxury goods, including that tea, we get paid." The captain was quiet for a moment. "Not that I want to make this trip, but we can't say no to Sacronan nor Saint Empire. They get cranky and start bigger problems when they aren't happy... and as you know, having been placed to edges of society, watch over our little corner of the world, they generally speaking are NOT happy."

Neither the captain nor the crew were happy, but they had been basically forced to fullfill demands for their overlords. People living outside of the two empires were generally looked down upon. Nor would they be allowed to build their own nations. Both of the empires controlled all these areas one way or another with ownership switching as their conflicts progressed.

As for the crew of this specific ship. They were unlucky. Very unlucky.

"What the hell is that?" The same crew member said and pointed to the sky.

The captain turned around and squinted as he tried to see. Then his eyes opened wide.

"Turn on all defenses!!" The captain shouted. "All of them! NOW! Get your weapons out! Its a flying beast!"

---------

Kaden saw people on the ship go basically into frenzy. He had been noticed. He released his core and prepared to fight.

"This is not a problem", Kaden though to himself. "These ships aren't built to fight someone like me."

Unlike most beasts, Kaden knew this stuff. He knew the ship at most had defenses that could confront a High Beast or below. As noted before, they were made to not be noticed at all.

Simply put, they had no chance. They would know they'd lose at the moment they determined Kaden's level to be Cari. Perhaps only some larger warships would be equiped with strong enough weapons and formations to deal with something that strong.

Kaden was pretty sure he could crash through a shield the ship had put up, but he had other plans. The attacks that were shot out, he avoided to his best ability, but it wasn't actually neccessary. They would cause only minor damage. That sort of damage would heal quickly, but Kaden wanted to keep his feathers in as pristine condition as possible simply out of pride.

Instead of crashing through the shield, he shot a Fire Beam at it. He had greater control over it, so he could shoot it at the shield and not hit the ship once it broke, even when he was moving. The Fire Beam was one the spells he had practiced too and there were a few things to test.

The beam and its penetrative power was, as usual, pretty good and the shield shattered quickly to the crew's dismay.

*Screeech!*

Kaden screeched and landed on the ship. His opponents were weaklings in comparison. Kaden's talons separated early Formation stage guard's body into pieces with a single hit. There was one other who was showing despair as he watched how easily Kaden butchered his peer. They had surely by that moment determined Kaden's strength and that there was nothing they could do.

Kaden shot a Wind Blade at the remaining guard, who was bisected effortlessly. More so than the previous and also more cleanly.

The remaining crew members were at best advanced Channel Opening with exception of the captain who was at early Formation stage. They wouldn't even be able to damage a feather.

"Surrender, humans", Kaden said to them. "Perhaps you will live, if you obey."

There were gasps.

"It speaks!" One of the crew members shouted.

"Of course it speaks you idiot!", the captain shouted back. "Its a damn higher beast!" Then he turned to face Kaden. "We are at your mercy, beast. What do you want."

"You will take me over the sea", Kaden replied with his demand.

This demand caused the still living crew members to become somewhat baffled.

"Why the hell should we help a beast?" The captain replied angrily. "If I could, I would make dusters out of your feathers and ..."

"Do you want to live?" Kaden questioned the captain and stepped closer. He clicked his beak a few times to bring around his point more clearly. It could easily kill the man. "Be aware that it would merely be ... inconvenience to me should I fail to convince you. Relatively large one, but nothing I can't deal with, in time."

The captain looked angry, but didn't say anything. It would require some work to make human help a beast.

Kaden gave a look towards rest of the crew. "If you were to decline, I can kill you. Perhaps among your crew there is someone who would rather live and lead the rest on the path where they can survive."

Everyone was silent.

"Obviously, as I am on this ship, if you run into some of the beasts who live in the sea, I will help you fend them off", Kaden sweetened the deal a bit. "As for when we are close enough to the human empires, I will be able to fly rest of the way. What you tell about me, once you arrive, I don't care. I will be too far away for anyone to bother."

"You killed some of my crew", the captain said.

Kaden mentally groaned. He was already thinking of killing the man, but decided not to so, yet.

"I will not have anyone who could be considered warrior near me", Kaden replied. "While they can't harm me, there are a lot of problems they could arrange. You are only alive because you are the captain of this ship. If the corpses bother you..."

Kaden demonstrated a more optimized Life Well. He had practiced targeting the spell, but it did still take some effort, but there was no need to tell the ship's crew that.

They watched as the corpses dried up, turned dark and then grey and eventually began disintegrating. Kaden felt some distaste consuming the corpses without burning them, but since he was planning on using the spell for combat, he decided to ignore the feel. It was at that point basically stream of matter and mana. Not exactly meat anymore, merely materials required for nutrients.

The crew grimaced as they watched the bodies basically disapear.

"Know that I can sense everyone on this ship and even things beyond it", Kaden told them. "I will see if you try something. I can consume all of you, just like these bodies, no matter where you hide. You have only one option. Obey my demand."

Kaden said that last part with a tone that he had enough of arguing. It was time for the crew to choose whether they lived or not.

If they were to decline, Kaden would kill the captain and then ask again and repeat until they would agree. Should number of people go low enough that Kaden felt they wouldn't be able to steer the ship anymore, he would incinerate it all and return to the land.

"... we will do as you say, beast", the captain finally replied.

Kaden nodded and lied down at the ships bow. It was a place where everyone could see him basically at all times. All of the crew knew their lives were in his hands ... talons.