Chapter 22 This Thing Is Far More Useful Than a Wand
'His strength must be above mine.'
Even though Dudley was confident in his own power, he did not believe he could surpass Hagrid's brute force. So he had to use a firearm.
It was a .30 caliber automatic rifle with 7.62×63mm ammunition, a very popular specification widely used in hunting and shooting. With high muzzle velocity and strong penetration, it could effectively kill medium-sized animals such as deer, wild boar, and foxes, and even pierce obstacles like trees or bushes. It was considered a reliable weapon.
Dudley believed ordinary guns could kill a wizard, but whether one could harm a half-blood with giant blood like Hagrid was uncertain. If it were replaced with a more powerful firearm, there would be no question. Unfortunately, Ripple Qigong could only enhance weapons in hand, not bullets, so that remained unclear.
Thankfully, with Firearms LV2, the gun's lethality was increased.
"Big oaf, I'll make you give up." Hagrid once again pulled out his small red umbrella, pointing it at Dudley. "Are you ready?"
Because Hagrid was facing away, he did not see Dudley straighten the rifle with Ripple Qigong.
"Dudley, no!"
Petunia and Vernon tried to stop him, but this time Dudley did not listen. He had never been someone who endured bullying in silence, and Hagrid had threatened his family. Besides, that mission reward—he was determined to claim it.
A red beam burst from the umbrella's tip, but Dudley, watching closely, rolled aside. Not every spell tracked its target; Hagrid's certainly did not. Spells only worked if they hit, and dodged spells were simply wasted.
Thus, wizards might vary in strength, but agility and reaction speed were critical.
'But aren't spells supposed to be spoken aloud?' Dudley thought as he dodged. He had not heard Hagrid chant. Silent casting existed, but it was a high-level skill, far beyond Hagrid's reach. This only meant the spell itself required no incantation.
Transfiguration was one such case. Basic forms could be cast directly, though one had to define the transformation clearly or risk failure. This was why it was taught as an independent subject outside general spellwork. Some advanced cases still required incantations.
As Dudley expected, Hagrid's spell was Transfiguration. The beam missed and struck a wooden cabinet, which swelled noticeably larger in size.
"An esper?!" Harry shouted, eyes wide.
To someone from the modern world, the first reaction to such a display was superpowers or magicians; the term wizard came later.
Hagrid released another spell, but Dudley slipped aside again. No matter how many spells were cast, if they did not land, they were useless. Spell speed was far slower than bullets, giving Dudley plenty of time to react.
'I wonder if others' spells are the same,' he thought.
Dodging again, Dudley raised the rifle. With firearm mastery as his life-skill, his familiarity with it was no less than a wizard's with a wand. He avoided aiming at Hagrid's head—killing him outright would be trouble. Instead, he aimed for the right shoulder.
"Bang!"
The sharp scent of gunpowder spread through the room. Hagrid staggered back as the bullet struck, blood seeping through, though not much.
His dirty coat seemed to be made of some material that absorbed part of the impact, and his half-giant body was far tougher than a normal human's. For him, the shot was only a flesh wound. Against an ordinary wizard, such force would have been overwhelming.
In gaming terms, the half-blood giant's magic resistance and physical resistance were both top tier.
"Bang!" Another gunshot rang out.
Without hesitation, Dudley aimed once more at the right shoulder. At such close range the bullet could not penetrate deeply, but the impact was enough to make Hagrid stagger.
That was enough.
A third shot followed, striking the same shoulder. Almost at the same moment came the fourth shot, this time aimed at Hagrid's wrist—specifically the one holding the wand.
"Bang!"
The small red umbrella dropped to the floor.
'This thing is much better than a wand.' Dudley patted the rifle in his hands, though he had never actually used a wand himself.
He had heard that in Hogwarts, all Muggle-made machinery would fail, though he did not know why. If given the chance, he wanted to study the principle. He remembered that in his life skills there was an unlit option called Mechanical Modification.
Whether or not he could learn magic, at the very least he refused to face wizards without a means of counterattack. Preparing safeguards and stacking extra cards for himself was what Dudley enjoyed most.
He strode forward, resting the rifle lightly on his shoulder, one foot planted on the sofa. His gaze swept across the messy house, then over the worried Dursleys, and finally landed on Hagrid, who had lost his wand and fallen heavily to the ground.
"Big oaf, what do you think of this little iron stick's power now?"
A cigar in his mouth at this moment would have been perfect.
"Cool!" Harry exclaimed, his eyes glowing with admiration. From his heart, he thought Dudley's pose was simply the coolest thing he had ever seen.
Of course, this worked only because Hagrid lacked experience. Against a wizard familiar with Muggles, Dudley would not have had such an easy chance. After all, Hagrid had been expelled from school after only a few days, his wand broken, and knew only a few basic spells.
He could not use defensive magic like the Iron Armor Charm, Shield Charm, Reflection Charm, or Metal Charm at all.
Hagrid hung his head. With his messy long hair and thick beard, his expression was hidden, but it was clear he had suffered a heavy blow. He muttered under his breath, a buzzing sound mixed with low sobs.
"I really am not fit to be a wizard."
His face flushed between pale and red. "Sorry, I said sorry!"
It was unclear whom he was apologizing to, his words mixing with muffled weeping.
"I must take Harry. He has to go to Hogwarts! This is Professor Dumbledore's mission, I cannot…"
Suddenly Hagrid snatched up the fallen red umbrella, raising it to point at Dudley's back.
A crimson beam burst from its tip.
"Dudley, look out!" Harry cried in alarm.
The Dursleys' screams echoed through the house.
(End of this chapter)
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