"Shit!" Leo cursed under his breath. "We were supposed to leave now."
"Maybe, they just delayed it because of this accident?" Alice hesitantly spoke.
Rei frowned and said, "That could be the case, but they might come to check the ship as well.
"Terrana, I am going to try something. See if you can take control of this spaceship," Leo said somberly before closing his eyes.
He put his right hand on the Terrana's core on his lap and touched the small monitor in front of him with his left hand.
Leo used his ability, Electric Pulse, and connected to Terrana via the electric currents he could produce.
Afterward, he invaded his electric pulses into the monitor in front of him, successfully becoming a bridge for Terrana to invade and take control of the spaceship.
"If we control the spaceship and leave, it will become clear that the culprits who caused this incident are in this ship," Rei said, his frown deepening, but then he shook his head. "Never mind, go ahead. Let's leave."
"We lost our personal ride, so we'll need a new one, right?" Lia asked.
Rei sighed and nodded.
"Our new spacecraft was exposed to the enemy. 100k wasted."
"Let's get an ever smaller and cheaper spacecraft this time until we can get more money and get a bit stronger," Alice said with a wry expression. "Our starting is rough, but that's expected since we ventured out into space for the first time."
Lia nodded.
"Where should we go?" Leo asked. "We have to land on an advanced planet with facilities to travel out in space to leave again."
"The passengers would surely know that the ship is hacked once we launch it, but since our faces are not spread, we'll be safe," Rei said with a nod. "Let's go a bit far, but not too far, or it will make passengers anxious. We'll land the ship on some planet and leave again as soon as possible."
"Also, announce the departure and destinate to all passengers when you launch the ship," Rei added.
Leo nodded before he and Terrana started working.
Rei leaned back and took a deep breath. Some powerful Exceed passengers might be on this ship, so it was better not to go too far with a hacked ship and force them to move. Although it was just his guess, his mindset was always to think like he was in a worst-case scenario in troubled situations and decide based on that.
'Not so fun start…' Rei sighed, but it was not like he expected a smooth sailing start to his journey.
"Rei, how is your injury? It seems that my barrier didn't save you fully," Lia said as she looked at the dried blood at Rei's temple.
"Xander and I were at the center of the impact. If not for the barrier, I would be a meat paste. So, worry not; this is just superficial injuries."
Rei reassured them before closing his eyes. "I need to rest a bit. Wake me up if something happens."
Leo sat on the left side of Rei, while Lia at his right side.
Alice was on the right side of Lia and was depressed as she did not help the team much except for taking them out. Even in that situation, the barrier already prevented them from being buried deeper, so they could get out on their own with some effort.
'I am useless most of the time. I can't even use my ability anymore.'
'I need to get my First Seal to help everyone, but...'
'Tears of a zealot in praying… why do I have such a difficult ingredient in the list?'
'I want to help everyone. I want to help Rei.' Alice internally sighed in frustration.
Alice knew Leo had found the place to get the blood he wanted. Even without that, he could make his catalyst anytime. But she couldn't even begin to see her ingredient's possible location.
'Tears of a zealot in praying…' Alice looked at Rei, whose eyes were closed and resting since he was tired after the intense confrontation with Xander.
'Zealot…'
Alice closed her eyes. If she asked herself her happiest moments, they were with Rei. If she asked who was closest to her and dear to her, it would be Rei.
The one who picked her up from hell and gave her the meaning of life and enjoyment was Rei.
'I will become one.'
He showed her light when she was sinking into darkness. If not for him, she wouldn't be any more, yet he didn't demand much from her and remained like a caring angel, teaching her to enjoy life.
The possibility of devoting her life to Rei and staying with him all her life seemed sweet. Her love only belonged to one person, and so did her life.
'I will become a zealot, pursuing to become the best for Rei.'
Her heart warmed at the prospect of devoting her life to Rei, and she made a decision.
A zealot of her lord, her boss, her dearest.
Two drops of tears left her eyes, the tears of a zealot.
Those two drops of tears were the strongest form of ingredients that she could get, for she devoted her life and her love to Rei.
The most powerful form of zeal was pure, uncompromising, and unconditional love for another, which Alice decided to give to Rei.
It strangely felt beautiful and fulfilling when she made this decision.
Those two tears vanished upon reaching her cheeks, entering her Exceed Tree's root area where her other two ingredients were floating.
And soon, all three started combining.