"The other guy is definitely stronger than I am."
Even with all his self-confidence, Dudley didn't think he could out-muscle Hagrid. So, he decided to use a firearm instead.
He chose a .30 caliber automatic rifle, which uses 7.62x63mm ammunition. This is a very common type of ammo, used for hunting and shooting. It's got a high muzzle velocity and great penetrating power, good for taking down smaller creatures like deer, wild boar, and foxes. It can even go through some obstacles, like trees and bushes, so it's a decent piece of equipment.
Dudley was sure a regular gun could kill a wizard, but he wasn't so sure about how much damage it would do to Hagrid, who has giant's blood. If he had a more powerful firearm, it wouldn't be a problem at all. Unfortunately, while his Ripple Breathing technique can enhance weapons he holds, he's not sure if it can enchant bullets.
Luckily, his level 2 firearm skill boosts the gun's damage.
"You big oaf, I'm going to set you straight," Hagrid said, pulling out his little red umbrella again and pointing it at Dudley. "Ready now?"
Since his back was to Hagrid, he didn't see Dudley use his Ripple Breathing to straighten the rifle.
"Dudley, don't!"
Petunia and Vernon tried to stop him, but this time, Dudley wouldn't listen. He's never been one to just stand by when he's being bullied, especially not when Hagrid was messing with his family. Besides, that quest reward... he was going to get it!
A red beam of light shot out from the tip of Hagrid's umbrella. Dudley, who was watching Hagrid's every move, rolled to the side and dodged it. Not all spells are homing spells, and at least Hagrid's wasn't.
Whether a spell works depends entirely on if it hits the target. If you dodge, you've truly dodged it. That's why even if a wizard isn't the strongest, they must be quick and have good reflexes.
"But don't you have to say the words for a spell?" Dudley wondered as he dodged. He hadn't heard Hagrid say anything. He knew about silent casting, a very advanced technique that doesn't require incantations, but he figured Hagrid wouldn't know how to do that.
That must mean Hagrid was casting a non-verbal spell. Not all spells have incantations. For example, some basic Transfiguration spells don't need a spell to be spoken, they can be cast directly. However, you need to be very clear on what you're trying to transform, or you'll get something you didn't want, which is why Transfiguration is a whole separate subject from Charms. Of course, some specific Transfiguration spells still require an incantation.
It turned out Dudley was right. The spell Hagrid cast was a Transfiguration spell. It missed Dudley and hit a cabinet instead, which visibly grew fatter before their eyes.
"Superpowers?!" Harry shouted, his eyes wide.
As a normal person living in the modern world, the first thing you'd think of when you see a spell is superpowers or a sorcerer, not a wizard.
Hagrid raised his hand and sent another spell flying, which Dudley easily dodged again. A spell that can't hit its target is useless. Honestly, spells are a lot slower than bullets, at least Dudley had plenty of time to react.
"I wonder if other wizards' spells are like this too."
After dodging another spell, Dudley aimed his gun at Hagrid. With his firearm skill, Dudley was just as comfortable with the rifle as a wizard would be with a wand.
He couldn't aim for the head. It would be bad if he actually killed the guy. Dudley aimed for Hagrid's right shoulder.
*Bang!*
The faint smell of gunpowder filled the room.
Hagrid's shoulder took a heavy hit, and the impact pushed him back a step. The shot broke his defense, but not really...
The coat Hagrid was wearing was made of some unknown material. It looked dirty, but it was able to absorb the bullet's impact and cushion the blow. Plus, with his giant's blood, Hagrid's body was much stronger than a normal human's. The shot only drew a little bit of blood. Most wizards wouldn't be able to do any real damage to Hagrid with a normal spell. In a word, his magical and physical resistance were top-notch.
*Bang!* Another shot. Without hesitation, he aimed for the right shoulder again.
Because it was a short-range shot, it couldn't penetrate Hagrid's defense, but the impact of the bullet still made him stagger.
It was enough.
The third shot!
Still at the right shoulder.
Almost at the same time, the fourth shot rang out. This time, Dudley aimed at Hagrid's wrist—specifically, the hand holding the wand.
*Bang!*
The little red umbrella fell to the ground.
"This thing is way better than a wand," Dudley said, patting his rifle. Not that he'd ever used a wand.
He'd heard that Hogwarts makes all Muggle machines fail. Dudley wanted to study the principle behind that someday. He remembered a skill he hadn't unlocked yet called "Mechanical Modification."
Whether he could learn magic or not, he couldn't let himself be defenseless against wizards. It's always a good idea to have a backup plan, which is what Dudley loves to do.
Dudley strode forward, casually slinging the rifle over his shoulder, and put one foot on the sofa. He looked around the messy room, then at the worried Dursleys, and finally at Hagrid, who had lost his wand and was sitting on the ground.
"You big oaf, what do you think of this little iron stick's power now?"
If only he had a cigar to puff on right now, it would be perfect.
"Cool!" Harry exclaimed, his eyes gleaming. He honestly thought Dudley looked amazing right then.
Dudley was lucky he was facing Hagrid, who didn't have much experience with Muggles. Hagrid had only gone to school for a short time before he was expelled, and his wand was snapped, so he only knew a few basic spells. Spells like the Shield Charm, the Deflection Charm, or the Metal-Charming Spell were completely unknown to him.
Hagrid hung his head, his long, shaggy hair and thick beard hiding his face. He seemed very disheartened. He muttered to himself, a low, buzzing sound.
"I really wasn't meant to be a wizard."
His face went from pale to red.
"I'm sorry, I mean, I'm so sorry!"
He was apologizing to someone, his words mixing with quiet sobs.
"I have to take Harry. He has to go to Hogwarts!"
"This is a task from Professor Dumbledore... I'm sorry, I can't..."
Hagrid suddenly grabbed the little red umbrella that had fallen nearby and pointed it at Dudley's back. A red beam of light burst from the tip of the umbrella.
"Dudley, look out!" Harry yelled.
The Dursleys' screams echoed through the small cottage.
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