With his goal achieved, Caleb didn't continue taunting his opponent. There was no need. However, he also didn't offer any explanation. Any explanation would have to wait until he identified the "rat." After observing him for so long, Tetsuya Hoda's suspicion level was low.
Caleb was currently more interested in the utterly dumbfounded Issei Hyoudou than the raging Tetsuya Hoda. Don't misunderstand; he had no intention of a gay relationship. Neither in the past, present, nor future did he have such plans. Perhaps due to the Cuckold-Bait template, Caleb had yet to encounter the male protagonist from his memories.
He originally just wanted to gain some practical combat experience and rule out a suspect, and now there was an unexpected bonus. With about a year left until the main plot started, he wondered if the Boosted Gear (Dragon Gauntlet) was already residing within Issei Hyoudou.
Caleb examined the stunned Issei Hyoudou up and down while placating Tetsuya Hoda.
"No reason. I just don't like you."
Tetsuya Hoda: "???"
You don't like me? Do you have any idea how many people don't like you?
You mess around with all the hot girls, you get constant love confessions, and now you've even snagged the highly popular seniors... I just wanted to pick up some leftovers, and that's still not allowed?
Caleb didn't know Tetsuya Hoda's inner thoughts, and he wouldn't care even if he did. Seeing Tetsuya Hoda glare at him without speaking, Caleb took the offensive.
"Stop with the garbage talk. Let's see what you've got."
"Fine! I'd like to see what ability you have. You're just a newly awakened hybrid, after all."
Caleb rolled his eyes. Hearing him, an outsider would think Tetsuya Hoda was some High-Class Pure-Blood Youkai.
With magic coursing through him, his Insight Eye was enhanced. Caleb spotted Tetsuya Hoda's weakness and charged forward. His Beginner Physique Mastery perfectly mobilized all his muscles, pushing his superhuman physical strength to 200%.
Bang!
Caught off guard by Caleb's punch, Tetsuya Hoda staggered backward. He was alarmed. He hadn't expected Caleb's speed and strength to be on par with his own. Youkai were the strongest race physically, especially the Oni lineage, renowned for their incredible bodily strength. Although he only had a diluted Oni bloodline, he should still be superior to a Succubus hybrid.
Tetsuya Hoda retaliated, unwilling to be outdone.
Issei Hyoudou only saw a black blur pass by before Tetsuya Hoda and Caleb were locked in a wrestling match. That's right, wrestling. Caleb hadn't learned any martial arts techniques, and neither had Tetsuya Hoda. Both relied entirely on their physical fitness and reflexes. It was a head-on clash: a punch from you, a kick from me. The one who flinched was a coward.
Issei Hyoudou couldn't clearly see their movements. He could only hear the whoosh of punches cutting the air and the bang bang bang of impacts. He stared blankly at the two blood-splattered figures, muttering, "Fake... it's all fake... I must be dreaming..."
Meanwhile, the fight between Caleb and Tetsuya Hoda grew increasingly intense. Relying on the regenerative power from his Oni bloodline, Tetsuya Hoda didn't hesitate, even hoping Caleb would trade blows. But as the fight wore on, he realized something was wrong. Being punched by Caleb felt normal, the same as the initial hit. But why did it feel like he was also taking damage whenever he hit Caleb?
Caleb grinned, wiping a split lip. Mirror Reflection was incredibly useful in close-quarters combat. He took advantage of Tetsuya Hoda's distraction and rapidly accelerated his attack. Tetsuya Hoda was once again at a disadvantage, struggling to keep up. He was a freshman who had just enrolled a little over a month ago. Besides his innate bloodline ability, he had no other techniques.
Seeing Caleb getting more and more excited, Tetsuya Hoda decided on a final desperate move. He crossed his arms over his chest, tanked a kick from Caleb, and used the opportunity to create distance. Tetsuya Hoda bit his tongue, his mouth full of blood, and began chanting something. Caleb didn't understand the words but knew he couldn't let his opponent continue. He charged forward quickly to interrupt, but he was a step too late.
Tetsuya Hoda roared, spitting blood, and his entire body bulked up even further. His shirt was completely shredded, and only half of his pants remained, exposing his bulging, muscled calves. Caleb estimated that his calves were nearly as thick as his own waist.
His eye twitched. I just wanted to find a soft target to test the waters. Why did he have to go "Hulk" on me?
Looking at the transformed Tetsuya Hoda, who looked like a literal black bear demon, Caleb instinctively backed up two steps. Based on their initial fighting power, Caleb had a slight edge over Tetsuya Hoda. But after Tetsuya Hoda's Second Stage Transformation, Caleb was no longer a match. It was a shame he didn't have any regeneration talents or skills. Otherwise, the reflected damage from Mirror Reflection alone would allow him to wear down the "Black Bear Demon" Tetsuya Hoda.
Caleb's retreat was noticed by Tetsuya Hoda, whose bloodshot eyes narrowed. He laughed hysterically. "Trying to run now? Too late!"
"Who said I was running?"
Caleb sneered. This was his first real fight in the supernatural world. Even if he lost, he couldn't run. Besides, Akeno Himejima and Tsubaki Shinra were nearby. If he really couldn't win, he could always call for backup.
What? Outnumbered?
Tetsuya Hoda was the one who brought backup first. Issei Hyoudou was a man, and Tsubaki Shinra and Akeno Himejima were women. As everyone knew, one man could fight two women. I'll take the disadvantage, so the fighting strength on both sides should be about equal. Therefore, by calculation, he and Tetsuya Hoda were still in a True Man 1v1 Battle.
"Akeno, are you going to step in, or should I?" Tsubaki Shinra said, worried, seeing Tetsuya Hoda use his Second Stage Transformation.
"What's the rush?"
Akeno Himejima pouted, signaling her friend to look closely again. "That little pervert Caleb is clever. If he really couldn't handle it, he would have called for help already."
Tsubaki Shinra looked closely and saw that while Caleb was retreating awkwardly, he hadn't sustained any serious injuries.
"He'll be fine until he runs out of magic power."
Akeno Himejima said she wasn't worried, but she was still paying close attention to the fight. Magic power was a general-purpose resource. Besides enhancing his Insight Eye, his other talents could also be strengthened with magic. Caleb had long confirmed this, but he had subconsciously ignored it since he couldn't practice magic. Talents like Mental Resistance and Disguise were significantly more effective with the use of magic. Yuuki Shinomura, for example, used magic with her Disguise talent and a low-level illusion spell to perfectly cross-dress. Forget ordinary people; even those with magic, but lacking perception or detection abilities, couldn't see through it.
Under the enhancement of magic power, Caleb's Beginner Physique Mastery was fully dedicated to agility. After transforming into a "Black Bear Demon," Tetsuya Hoda's strength and speed increased significantly, but his flexibility inevitably decreased. With the complex forest terrain and thick tree trunks for cover, as long as Caleb focused on evasion, Tetsuya Hoda truly couldn't do much to him for the time being.