The big three

As Ernest Quelt climb into the social echelon others appeared and prove their own by facing this perilous world. Every one of these races has its very own ranking and humans are nowhere different. Azure Spear Evans retains the third ranking even though he retired and Phantom Thief Eins takes second from the deceased mage. Even after the death of Ernest Quelt no one in the race of humans had ever filled his spot and they never will

"So let me get this straight he's a student?" Eins and Henry settled down at a diner stationed near the Academy along with their guide Sakkari

"Yes... along with that Mr. Neon instructed me that if I get tipped off by an unusual request. I was skeptical of the time but everything he said was spot on. From the emblem of the letter down to its writing scheme, he knows it's the Phantom Thief. But I'm still in awe of the fact that my idol is alive and well, is the massage to your liking Azure nim?"

Even though Eins was the one who thought of searching for Neon he grew ever so bitter in the moment they met their guide. "Would you stop giving him a massage? This is supposed to be a stealth mission. How do you expect us to move in this kind of manner, we're not here for a field trip. Might I remind you that we're here for our dead friend who we thought was I don't know dead!"

As Eins grew ever so furious Henry takes a sip of his tea and added. "You know if I didn't know you any better then I wouldn't have asked Sakkari to rent a soundproof booth. The only one acting weird here is the guy who's making a tantrum. Look, the reason why everyone else is looking might have to do with your stupidity. If you're jealous of how im getting treated then how bout you say that you are the Phantom Thief?"

"Oh, now you're blaming me? Get your balls up! We're doing this, I ain't afraid of you, I knew I shouldn't have treated you with so much respect. Where I see it the two of us are the same age, raise those arms, im gonna make you squeal if I have to," Their auras grew seemingly violent, and just so they wouldn't attract any attention they kept their rage inside that tiny booth

Before these two giants began a stir for the worst Sakkari interferes with something the two can happily agree on. "Are you curious about Lord Neon? He sure is different from the rumors. For instance, he's quite twisted and merciless, I wonder how much a person could change. But I wouldn't say he's insane, you could see him as being more logical than heroic, however violent,"

'Phew! It's a good thing I asked Mr. Neon about some countermeasures, there's no way I can stop these two. Even if some dare humiliate them for being humans it's not to forget they are within the big three. I don't know much about their history but I know you shouldn't piss anyone of their stature and properly tame them,'

It's been a while since Sakkari was asked to babysit these in Neon's stead which lasted four whole days with today being the last. Due to their behavior, they mostly stay in their dorms and wait for Sakkari's return while they sharpen their blades. Despite their difference, they held their weight and reinstate their patience for days that felt like an eternity. At the end of their stay, the two were dropped off at the academy's entrance

"So this is it?" Eins and Henry both said as they came face to face with the school where Eins immediately thought of escaping

"Where do you think you're going?" Henry grabbed his shoulders the moment he saw this thief shriveled up in his boots and decides to leave

"On second thought maybe this was a mistake. Why would he try so hard to lay low if he doesn't want us to know? You might be tough now but the moment he pushes you away it'll feel like shit. Ernest is the only one I trust and respect and if this broke it then I rather leave," Eins tried to yank his hoodie but to no avail did Henry permit such an act

"Eh? Puahahahahaha! Oh dear, who'd known you'd be so sensitive? Don't worry about the little things. He wouldn't do that. I know the guy he's not the type to hold a grudge, but now that he's betrayed there's a maybe. But hey there's still a silver lining that you haven't assumed," Henry patted him on the back as his jolly old laughter came alleviating his doubt and going so far as making him smile

"Spit it out, you got me curious so why stop? Hey, Adams now is not the time to act all silent. Just what made you all so speechless– Oh sweet lord!" As Eins veered his view to the same spot where Henry's vision lingers they saw a boy with the same description as their friend

"Hey, Alex do you know those geezers?" Zane points his finger at the two skeptical figures observing them in a hysterical manner

"Neon!" The two jump head first and Olivia seeing that jump along with Tanya and Zane resulting in Alex's capture

"What the fuck? Get off of me! Damn it," He fails around whilst the two wail at the sight of what they thought was their friend until their body has been teleported

"No! I was getting at the good part!!!" Henry yelled as the two finds themselves in the middle of the rooftop occupying a silhouette reclining on the metal

"Now's not the time we got company–" Even as alert as they were it wouldn't matter if they arrive at the den of such a poisonous encounter

'Odorless poison? What's worse is that it's a paralytic type. Who the hell is this person? A poison of this efficiency and volume could only come from a ranker. Did we get caught? Fuck... those fuckers might have noticed something odd, but it's not like I'll be easy as a wounded prey–'

[System: Your existence is being threatened!]

As Eins grew resilient from the poison's effects his body's innate reaction forbid him from ever raising his noggin. The immense pressure originating in their front was something of a catastrophe where even someone like him would kneel. Slowly they felt its stare piercing their soul as if to warn them of their move and later they heard of another breath. A pulse ever growing and they saw themselves orbited by a freakish monstrosity

"Eins! Can you hear me? I'll try to ward them off. Warn Sakkari! We need every help we could get– Uaack," As Henry's body was lifted into the air his break was silenced by a swift and powerful strike

"Henry!!!" Eins could only yell but his body refuses to even move a finger in the face of absolute power–

"Ow fuck! My balls! Why did you hit me in the nutsack!!?"

Followed by Henry's scream was a voice that Eins doubted he'll ever hear in this world for its origins were no longer. "You fucker! Who the fuck ask you to become a freaking homunculus you son of a bitch! Do you know how hard it was to make that blood less likely to turn someone? But you still did it!"

The immense pressure disappeared and Eins saw Henry held by two freakishly large abominations as he roars in pain. The figure they long sought was before their very eyes an existence in the form of a teenager and a tendency to kick Henry in the balls. His very existence reflects their friend and yet a rise in violence, lack of empathy, and worst mercy was nonexistent

"E-Ernest?" Eins uttered and he waits for the man to turn and faces him and he cried in such a delight

"Buddy it is you– Kieek," As Eins caught his attention Henry was given time to rest as he faced Neon's lightning-fast kick

"You piece of shit! I can't believe that I anticipated one of your bullshit idea for the last time! I'm quite offended that you idiots mistake me for my idiot of a disciple even though we mostly look alike!"

To be honest these two were scared of what might arise when their mate pushes them away and even now their doubtful. Nevertheless, their reunion may have not been the ideal one they had in mind but it was warm yet painful, mostly in the nuts. It lasted for half an hour as Neon tires himself out and he joins the two and his body meets the cold yet comfortable floor

"So... did your balls hurt?" He said as the three had their eyes aligned and reminisce as their body falls for how long they could remember

"Fuck you,"