Don't let Dudley's ferocious appearance, aggressive language, and violent actions fool you; on the inside, he was calmer than anyone. The moment he'd traded blows with the half-giant, he knew with absolute certainty that in a straightforward, head-on fight, he was no match for Hagrid.
That first punch hadn't used his Ripple energy, but Dudley was pragmatic enough to know that even with the enhancement, he couldn't overpower the half-giant. The difference in their races was one thing, but the short time he'd had to cultivate his Ripple was another. A few years of training was nothing against the innate, overwhelming power of a half-giant.
Hagrid's skill with magic might have been poor, a clumsy fumbling with a broken wand, but his true combat strength was far greater than that of an average wizard. One only had to consider the "pets" Hagrid raised: dragons, Acromantulas, three-headed dogs, and Blast-Ended Skrewts. The first two were XXXXX-level magical creatures, the highest possible danger classification. A three-headed dog couldn't be far behind. And the Blast-Ended Skrewt, which looked the weakest of the bunch, was a cross-breed of a Manticore (another 5X beast) and a Fire Crab. Hagrid had even tried to acquire a Chimera egg. How weak could a man who could not only mingle with such creatures but even forcibly breed them truly be?
To defeat such a man, Dudley knew he had to use a surprise attack. It had to be a blitzkrieg, a lightning-fast assault that gave his opponent no time to react or bring his superior strength to bear.
He launched himself at Hagrid's legs, his fists a dense, hammering flurry targeting the weak points of his joints. First, limit his speed. The life skills provided by his system were all-encompassing. His LV2 knowledge of physiology meant he knew the human body's weaknesses intimately, and a half-giant was still half-human. The principles were the same.
When Hagrid reached out with his massive hands to grab him, Dudley dodged and weaved like a slippery loach, a nimble monkey. He knew with cold certainty that he could not allow himself to be caught; if that happened, it would all be over.
In a brief opening, he pulled a potion vial from the bag at his waist, bit open the cork with his teeth, and downed the contents in one swift gulp.
The first potion: Enhancement Potion (Poor Quality). It wasn't a direct boost, but it amplified the effects of other potions.
The second: Skele-Gro (Poor Quality). A powerful concoction that could quickly heal bone injuries. His earlier punch had fractured the bones in his hand; he needed to recover that combat potential immediately. His Ripple could heal bone, but his current level wasn't high enough for such a rapid mend.
The third: Blood-Replenishing Potion (Poor Quality). Tearing off his own tail had been a necessary, brutal act, but he'd lost a significant amount of blood. He had to replenish it to maintain his strength and stamina.
The fourth: Essence of Dittany (Poor Quality). A general-purpose healing agent to mend the torn flesh and stabilize his condition.
With the four potions coursing through his system, Dudley's complexion improved significantly. The pain was a sharp, clarifying fire, etching the lesson of this night deep into his memory.
He then pulled out four more vials. This time, he didn't drink them. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled them at Hagrid. The fragile glass test tubes shattered against the half-giant's massive frame, and a thick, yellowish-brown gas erupted, clinging to him.
Slowing Potions. All four of them. The effect was to make the opponent's reactions sluggish. Of course, they all still had the "Poor Quality" suffix; Dudley was a self-taught brewer, after all. The fact that he could produce finished potions at all was a testament to his genius. He also had a Confusing Concoction on hand, but he didn't want to risk facing a truly berserk, disoriented half-giant.
As expected, Hagrid's movements visibly slowed. His half-giant constitution, with its natural, high resistance to magic and potions, prevented the full effect from taking hold, but it was enough. It gave Dudley the opening he needed.
He scooped up the rifle from the floor. This time, he didn't aim to shoot. He held the gun body upside down, gripping it like a club. He channeled his Ripple, the warm, gentle energy of the sun filling his body and concentrating in his hands, then flowing into the cold steel of the rifle. The weapon itself didn't change, but golden arcs of electricity began to flash along its length, starkly visible in the dimly lit shack.
He used all his strength to smash the rifle butt fiercely onto Hagrid's right kneecap. With a sickening, wet crunch, the mountain-like Hagrid collapsed to the ground again. This time, the injury was far more severe; his bone was broken.
But Dudley's assault was far from over.
Tossing aside the now-battered rifle, he closed the distance. He spread his legs and squatted low, dropping his center of gravity into a perfect, immovable horse stance. He adjusted his breathing again, the air hissing between his teeth as he prepared for his final, most powerful trump card.
LV5 Iron Mountain Lean!
It was a core technique from the martial art of Baji Quan, one of the simplest, fiercest, and most powerful moves in his arsenal. Improved by the system, its power was even greater. He stood close to Hagrid's downed form, took a deep breath, and channeled every last ounce of his Ripple energy. He concentrated the power in his slightly lowered shoulder, then released it all, thrusting upwards at a 45-degree angle with explosive, devastating speed and force.
Hagrid felt an unimaginable power surge through him, as if his internal organs had been violently rearranged. It was a force that surpassed even his own immense strength, and a sense of complete powerlessness washed over him. This big oaf... he's actually this strong?
But it wasn't over. The LV5 skill was a brutal, unrelenting combo.
Dudley's shoulder lowered again, and in the same manner, he thrust downwards at a 45-degree angle. "Iron Mountain Lean," he grunted, the words forced out through clenched teeth, each syllable punctuated by a brutal impact. "A technique... I originally... quite liked!"
Another impact. And another.
Dudley's body began to move with the terrifying frequency of a running pile driver. One, two, one, two! The full power of a LV5 skill was on terrifying display.
The next second, an even more shocking scene occurred: Hagrid's massive body, weighing hundreds of kilograms, was actually sent flying. The force of the final blow was so immense that it lifted him off the ground and threw him through the broken doorway. Even Dudley was shocked by the output. So strong! So terrifying! So... likable! The technique was perfect; it allowed him to unleash earth-shattering power with no backlash to his own body.
Hagrid's enormous form crashed in a heap on the rocky ground outside.
Dudley stood in the broken frame, his chest heaving, looking down at the defeated half-giant.
"You're not welcome here," he said, his voice flat and cold, devoid of all emotion.
"Get out!"
***
(End of Chapter)
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