Chapter -22 Hagrid' final tactic.

Chapter 22

"The opponent's power must be greater than mine." Even though Dudley felt pretty confident in his own strength, he didn't think he could take on Hagrid.  

So, he decided to bring out the big guns.  

The .30 caliber automatic rifle, with its 7.62×63 millimeter ammo, is a popular choice for hunting 

and shooting. It has a high initial velocity and can effectively take down medium-sized animals 

like deer, wild boars, and foxes. Plus, it can even penetrate through trees and bushes, making it 

a solid option.  

Dudley figured that regular firearms could take down wizards, but he wasn't sure how much 

damage they could do to a half-blood wizard like Hagrid, who had giant blood.  

If he could just get his hands on a more powerful weapon, that wouldn't be a problem at all.  

Unfortunately, while Ripple Energy can enhance weapons, it only works on those held in hand; whether it can enchant bullets is still up for debate.  

On the bright side, Dudley's LV2 firearms skill would boost the lethality of his shots.  

"You big oaf, I'll make sure you go down easy," Hagrid said, pulling out his little red umbrella and aiming it at Dudley. "Are you ready?"  

Dudley, facing away from Hagrid, didn't notice him using Ripple Energy to straighten the rifle.  

"Dudley, don't!"  

Petunia and Vernon shouted, trying to stop him, but Dudley wasn't about to listen this time. He 

wasn't the type to be pushed around, especially since Hagrid had bullied his family.  

Plus, he was determined to get that task reward!  

Suddenly, a red beam of light shot out from the tip of Hagrid's umbrella, and Dudley, keeping a 

close eye on Hagrid, rolled to the side to dodge it.  

Not all spells track their targets, and thankfully, the one Hagrid used didn't.  

Whether a spell hits or misses depends on the target's ability to dodge it; if it's dodged, it's really dodged.  

So, even if a wizard might have less power, they need to be quick on their feet.  

"But aren't spells supposed to be shouted out?"  

Dudley wondered as he dodged the spell; he hadn't heard Hagrid say any incantation.  

He knew there was a fancy technique called silent casting that didn't require chanting, but he 

didn't think Hagrid would know such advanced stuff. It must mean he cast a spell that doesn't 

need an incantation. Not all spells require one; for instance, the 'Transfiguration Charm' can be 

cast without speaking for basic transformations. But you have to understand the material 

transformation first, or things might not turn out as planned. That's why transfiguration is taught 

separately from charms. Of course, not all transfiguration spells are incantation-free; in some 

special cases, incantations are still needed.

Hagrid's spell was indeed a transfiguration spell, just as Dudley guessed. It missed Dudley and 

hit a nearby wooden cabinet, which suddenly grew in size.  

"Magic?!" Harry exclaimed, his eyes wide with wonder.  

For someone from the modern world, the first thought upon seeing magic is usually Magic, followed by the idea of wizards, and witches come later. 

Hagrid raised his hand and cast another spell, but Dudley skillfully dodged again. If spells keep 

missing their target, they're pretty much useless. 

Honestly, spellcasting is a lot slower than firing a bullet; Dudley had plenty of time to react.  

'I wonder if other wizards cast spells like this too.'  

After dodging another spell, Dudley aimed his gun at Hagrid.  

With the advantage of using a firearm and being familiar with shotguns, Dudley felt just as 

confident as a wizard with a wand.  

He didn't want to aim for Hagrid's head; that would be a disaster if he accidentally killed him.  

So, he aimed for Hagrid's right shoulder.

"Bang!"  

A faint smell of gunpowder filled the room.  

Hagrid's shoulder took the hit, making him stagger back a bit.  

The defense was broken, but it didn't seem like it was.  

Hagrid's coat, made of some unknown material that looked a bit dirty, managed to absorb some of the impact, and being a half-giant, he was tougher than a regular human, so he only bled a little.  

If it were a regular wizard, ordinary spells wouldn't really faze Hagrid.  

To put it in gaming terms, a half-giant's magical and physical resistance is top-notch.  

"Bang!" Another shot rang out.  

Without hesitation, Dudley aimed for the right shoulder again.  

At this close range, while it didn't penetrate, the impact still made Hagrid stagger.  

But that was enough.  

Third shot!  

Still aimed at the right shoulder.  

Almost at the same time, the fourth shot went off.  

This time, Dudley aimed for Hagrid's wrist, the hand holding the wand.  

"Bang!"  

The little red umbrella fell to the ground.  

'This thing is way more useful than a wand,' Dudley thought, giving his shotgun a pat.  

Even though he had never used a wand before.  

He had heard that at Hogwarts, all Muggle-made devices would stop working; he was curious about how that worked and wanted to learn more if he got the chance.  

He remembered there was a life skill he hadn't unlocked yet called mechanical modification.  

No matter if he could learn magic or not, he didn't want to be defenseless against a wizard.  

Taking precautions and having an extra card up his sleeve was Dudley's style.  

Dudley walked over, resting the shotgun lightly on his shoulder, with one foot on the couch. He glanced around the messy room, then at the worried faces of the Dursleys, and finally at Hagrid, who was sitting on the ground without his wand.  

"Hey, big guy, what do you think of this little iron stick now?"  

It would've been even cooler if he had a cigar in his mouth at that moment.  

"Awesome!" Harry exclaimed, his eyes sparkling.  

He genuinely thought Dudley looked incredibly cool right now.  

It was just a matter of taking advantage of Hagrid's inexperience; if it had been a wizard who was used to dealing with Muggles, Dudley wouldn't have had such a good chance.  

After all, Hagrid had been expelled after just a few days of school and could only manage a few basic spells.  

He didn't know any of the more advanced spells like the Shield Charm, Rebound Charm, or anything similar Charms.  

Hagrid lowered his head, his messy hair and thick beard hiding his expression.  

He seemed really shaken up.  

Muttering to himself, he made a buzzing sound.  

"I really am not cut out to be a wizard."  

His face went from red to pale.  

"I'm sorry, I mean, I'm really sorry!"  

"I don't even know who I'm apologizing to," he mumbled, mixed with low sobs.  

'I have to take Harry away; he has to go to Hogwarts!'  

'It's Professor Dumbledore's task; I'm sorry, I can't.'  

Suddenly, Hagrid grabbed the little red umbrella that had fallen nearby and pointed it at Dudley's back.  

A red light burst from the tip of the umbrella.  

"Dudley, watch out!" Harry shouted and the Dursleys' screams echoed throughout the small house.

Note : Guys, some power stones will be really helpful.

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