Boom!
Tree trunks snapped, and dust flew everywhere. Tetsuya Hoda smashed through several thick trees, each requiring three men to circle, yet he hadn't even grazed Caleb's clothes. He stopped, panting heavily, and glared ferociously at Caleb.
"What kind of man dodges like a flea? Come at me head-on, just like before!"
Caleb looked at Tetsuya Hoda with contempt, as if viewing an idiot. "Just because your brain is fried doesn't mean everyone else is like you."
Caleb was happy to stall. Tetsuya Hoda's Second Stage Transformation couldn't last long. If it could, he wouldn't have been beaten to the point of existential doubt before using the ability.
"How much longer can you maintain that state?" Caleb asked, recovering his stamina and magic power. "If you can last another ten minutes, I'll surrender."
Tetsuya Hoda's already ugly face contorted further. He could tell Caleb was also using a temporary method to evade attacks. Caleb might be able to last ten minutes, but he couldn't. Five minutes would be pushing it.
Seeing Tetsuya Hoda's pained expression, Caleb felt a wave of relief. If Tetsuya Hoda had attacked again without speaking, he would have seriously considered calling for backup. In reality, Caleb's current magic power couldn't sustain his movements for ten minutes either, maybe seven or eight minutes at best. And he would be utterly drained afterward.
"Surrender and lose half."
Caleb continued to stall. "If you concede now, we'll drop this whole thing."
Tetsuya Hoda might not be the brightest, but he wasn't completely stupid. He knew Caleb was stalling, but he genuinely didn't want to continue the fight. Because he genuinely couldn't touch Caleb...
Tetsuya Hoda suppressed his anger. "You were the one who started this! How can you have the gall to suggest just dropping it?"
"What? Are you expecting me to apologize?"
Caleb raised an eyebrow. Stabilized. It seemed his opponent was truly running on empty.
Tetsuya Hoda clenched his fist, truly wanting to risk it all. But in the end, he held back because the skill's duration was almost up.
"Cough cough..."
The two stood there glaring at each other for a moment. Tetsuya Hoda then collapsed onto the ground, coughing up a few mouthfuls of blood, and slowly reverted to his human form.
"Tsk tsk. Such a short duration. You have no shame showing that off."
Caleb prodded Tetsuya Hoda's leg with his foot, confirming the opponent wasn't faking and was truly incapacitated. Only then did he fully relax.
Tetsuya Hoda wanted to retort, but the side effects were too severe. He didn't even have the strength to speak. Once the skill wore off, he was virtually a cripple, and Caleb killing him would be no different from stepping on an ant. This was why he took the easy way out.
"That was exciting. It's definitely different from bullying delinquents." Caleb exhaled a deep breath, full of emotion.
It wasn't a pretty victory, but he won. And it was a true 1V1 victory.
As for dealing with the other two third-years... Let's be honest, I'll plan that later once I've developed a bit more.
Ignoring Tetsuya Hoda, who was sprawled on the ground like a dead dog, Caleb walked up to the completely dazed Issei Hyoudou.
"Hyoudou-kun."
"..."
"Hyoudou-kun!"
"..."
"Hyoudou-kun!!!"
"Ah! I'm here!" Issei Hyoudou jumped, finally snapping out of his daze.
Caleb pouted. Just in time. Any later, and he would have resorted to physical methods of arousal... awakening.
"I know what happened today was a huge shock to you." Caleb patted his shoulder, adopting the expression of a kindly mentor, and smiled. "I still have some things to deal with. If you have any questions, you can come find me tomorrow."
"Ah... oh, don't worry. I'll keep it a secret." Issei Hyoudou covered his mouth, looking serious, guaranteeing his silence.
"Uh... actually, it's fine if you tell people," Caleb scratched his head. "Because no one else will believe you."
Issei Hyoudou: "..."
"Of course, keeping it secret is best."
Caleb subconsciously looked at Issei Hyoudou's arm. If the Boosted Gear hasn't fully integrated yet... He decided to be honest. Caleb wanted a Longinus (Sacred Gear) too.
Issei Hyoudou had no idea what Caleb was thinking. Right now, he just wanted to go home and calm down.
"Um... Since Uesugi-kun is busy, I'll leave now. My mom is waiting for me to eat dinner."
"Oh, sure," Caleb said. "Do you need me to walk you out?"
"No, no need."
Seeing the blood on Caleb's clothes, Issei Hyoudou shook his head vigorously.
Caleb waved, turning back to Tetsuya Hoda. The Longinus could wait. First, he needed to resolve the current issue.
Just as Caleb was grabbing Tetsuya Hoda's ankle and dragging him out like a sack of trash, Issei Hyoudou returned.
Caleb: [?_??]
"Um... Uesugi-kun, I don't know how to get out..." Issei Hyoudou looked utterly miserable, terrified that Tetsuya Hoda would claim they were working together. If he hadn't been completely lost, he wouldn't have come back.
Caleb patted his shoulder in understanding. "Then you can come out with me."
He was taking Tetsuya Hoda to the Occult Research Club for further interrogation anyway. Issei Hyoudou cautiously glanced at the extremely weak Tetsuya Hoda. Seeing no reaction from the opponent, he nodded quickly like a frantic chicken.
"By the way, why did you show up here with Tetsuya Hoda today?"
Since he had nothing else to do, Caleb started chatting with Issei Hyoudou. Issei Hyoudou froze, beads of cold sweat running down his face. If Caleb knew he was there to help Tetsuya Hoda, he would likely not be leaving the woods on his own two feet. Caleb was dragging Tetsuya Hoda with his right hand, leaving his left hand perfectly free.
"Well... um..."
After stammering for a long time, Issei Hyoudou couldn't come up with a good excuse and finally just told the truth.
Caleb was completely unconcerned that Issei Hyoudou was Tetsuya Hoda's accomplice. Issei Hyoudou's involvement would have made no difference to the outcome of the fight.
"I'm going to the club now, Hyoudou-kun. You know the rest of the way, right?"
"Yes, yes!" Issei Hyoudou quickly said, looking at the club building in front of him. He had wanted to leave the moment they exited the magical barrier and entered the campus, afraid that Caleb would hold him accountable for siding with Tetsuya Hoda.
After seeing Issei Hyoudou off, Caleb allowed Tsubaki Shinra and Akeno Himejima to reveal themselves.
Tsubaki Shinra looked confused. "Caleb, why didn't you let us show ourselves to that person?"
"Wouldn't it have been much easier if we helped you carry him?" Akeno Himejima was also curious. "You could get treated sooner."
Caleb waved his hand, casually saying, "Minor injury, no big deal. If you had been seen, and it got out, it would cause trouble later."
"Tetsuya Hoda deliberately bringing an ordinary person was probably part of his plan."
Tetsuya Hoda couldn't speak, but hearing Caleb's words, he still managed a weak groan. His scheme had been completely seen through. And his previous concerns were correct—this pretty boy was backed by women. If he hadn't brought Issei Hyoudou, he likely wouldn't have even gotten the chance for a 1V1 fight today.