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'His strength is definitely greater than mine.'
Even confident in his own physical abilities, Dudley was not delusional enough to believe he could defeat Hagrid through brute force alone.
That was why he would use the gun.
A .30 caliber automatic rifle, chambered in 7.62×63 mm ammunition — a widely popular standard, commonly used in hunting and sport shooting. It featured high muzzle velocity and strong penetration power, capable of bringing down medium-sized animals such as deer and wild boar, and even piercing light obstacles like wood and brush.
It was a respectable weapon.
Dudley believed ordinary firearms could kill a wizard.
But how much damage would they inflict on a half-giant like Hagrid? That remained uncertain.
With heavier weaponry, there would be no doubt.
Unfortunately, while Hamon Energy enhanced weapons held in hand, it was uncertain whether it could reinforce bullets once fired.
Fortunately, his Firearms LV2 skill increased lethality.
"Big idiot… I'll make you understand."
Hagrid once again pulled out his small red umbrella and aimed it at Dudley.
Because he had been facing away earlier, he hadn't seen Dudley undo the knot in the rifle using Hamon Energy.
"Dudley, don't!"
Petunia and Vernon tried to stop him.
This time, he did not listen.
He had never been the type to accept humiliation in silence — especially when it involved his family.
Besides… that mission reward would be his.
A red light flashed at the tip of the umbrella.
Dudley rolled to the side, dodging.
Not all spells possessed automatic tracking — and clearly, Hagrid's did not.
If it missed, it simply missed.
A wizard might not need physical strength, but fast reflexes were essential.
'But… shouldn't he have spoken an incantation?'
Dudley hadn't heard a single word.
He knew silent casting existed — an advanced technique — but he doubted Hagrid had mastered it.
Which meant this was a spell that required no verbal component.
Not all spells did. Basic forms of Transfiguration, for example, could be executed directly, provided the caster understood the structure of the object.
Hagrid's spell confirmed it.
He missed Dudley and struck a wooden cabinet instead, which visibly began to swell and distort.
"A… superhuman?!"
Harry's eyes widened.
For someone raised in modern society, the first association was superpowers. Magic came second.
Hagrid fired another spell.
Dudley dodged again.
It didn't matter how many spells were cast if none connected.
In truth, a spell's speed was far inferior to that of a bullet. Dudley had more than enough reaction time.
'Do all wizards cast spells this slowly?'
After another clean dodge, he raised the rifle.
With his skill active, his familiarity with the weapon was as natural as a wizard's bond with their wand.
A headshot was out of the question.
He had no intention of killing Hagrid.
He aimed for the right shoulder.
BANG!
The sharp scent of gunpowder filled the room. The impact forced Hagrid to step back.
The defense had been broken… but not completely.
The heavy coat he wore — filthy in appearance, made of some unknown material — absorbed part of the impact. Combined with his half-giant constitution, far superior to an ordinary human's, the result was minimal.
He bled slightly.
Nothing more.
Against ordinary wizards, many spells wouldn't even affect him.
In gaming terms: maxed-out magical and physical resistance.
BANG!
Second shot.
Same shoulder.
At close range, the bullet didn't penetrate deeply, but the force drove him back again.
Enough.
Third shot.
Fourth — almost simultaneous.
This time, Dudley aimed at the wrist.
More precisely, at the hand holding the umbrella.
BANG!
The small red umbrella fell to the floor.
"This works a lot better than a wand."
Dudley lightly tapped the rifle.
Though he had never actually used a real wand.
He knew Hogwarts possessed some mechanism that caused Muggle machinery to malfunction. He didn't understand the principle, but he intended to study it someday.
Among his locked skills was one called Mechanical Modification.
Whether or not he learned magic, he refused to remain defenseless against wizards.
Prevention.
It was always wise to have a card up your sleeve.
That was his style.
He advanced, resting the rifle on his shoulder.
One foot stepped onto the sofa as he surveyed the wrecked room.
His parents were tense.
Hagrid sat on the floor, disarmed.
"Well then, big guy… still think this 'iron toy' is useless?"
If he had a cigar between his lips, the image would've been perfect.
"That was… incredible!"
Harry's eyes sparkled with admiration.
Dudley looked absurdly cool.
But to be fair, Hagrid was inexperienced. A wizard accustomed to dealing with Muggles wouldn't have left so many openings.
Hagrid had been expelled early. His wand had been broken. He knew only a handful of basic spells.
Advanced magic… he knew none.
Hagrid kept his head lowered.
His expression was hidden beneath his tangled hair and thick beard.
But he looked shaken.
He muttered something incomprehensible.
"I… I'm really not cut out to be a wizard…"
His face shifted between red and pale.
"Sorry… I… I'm sorry…"
It wasn't clear who he was apologizing to.
Then he raised his head.
"But I have to take Harry. He has to go to Hogwarts! It's Professor Dumbledore's orders… I can't disappoint him…"
Suddenly, he grabbed the fallen umbrella and, in a desperate motion, pointed it at Dudley's back.
Red light burst from its tip.
"Dudley, watch out!"
Harry shouted.
Petunia and Vernon's screams echoed through the shack.
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