Chapter 24:
Don't let Dudley's wild look and quirky behavior fool you; he was actually the calmest person in the room!
After this quick encounter, he realized that if it came down to a real fight, he wouldn't stand a chance against Hagrid.
That punch he threw didn't even use Ripple energy, and deep down, Dudley knew that even with it, he couldn't take Hagrid head-on. The differences in their backgrounds and Dudley's limited training with Ripple energy were just too significant.
Sure, Hagrid might not have the greatest magical strength—he was expelled from school, after all—but his combat skills were way above average for a wizard. Just think about the magical creatures he kept as pets: dragons, acromantulas, three-headed dogs, and blast-ended skrewts.
The first two are some of the most dangerous creatures out there! The three-headed dog might not have a specific danger level, but it's definitely not harmless. And the blast-ended skrewt? Hagrid bred that from a manticore and a fire crab! He even tried to get a chimera egg during his teaching days.
To hang out with such a wild bunch of dangerous magical creatures and even get a manticore to mate with a fire crab? That says a lot about Hagrid's strength! To take him down, Dudley knew he had to catch him off guard and act fast.
So, Dudley went for Hagrid's legs, throwing punches at his weak spots. The plan was to slow Hagrid down. Thanks to the life skills he learned, Dudley had a solid understanding of human joints, and since Hagrid was a half-giant, his joints were in the same spots as a regular person's.
When Hagrid reached out to grab him, Dudley dodged like a slippery eel, knowing he couldn't afford to get caught—being caught would mean game over for him. In the midst of the chaos, Dudley quickly pulled out a potion bottle from his bag, bit the cap off, and downed it in one go.
First up was the Enhancement Potion (Inferior)! It boosts the effects of other potions.
Next, he took the Bone Regeneration Potion (Inferior) to heal his injured fist. Sure, Ripple Energy could heal bones, but Dudley wasn't quite there yet in his training. He had hurt himself while trying to hurt Hagrid, and he needed to recover fast.
Then came the Health Restoration Potion (Inferior) because he had lost quite a bit of blood and needed to replenish it. Lastly, he drank the White Fresh Essence (Inferior) for healing injuries. After downing all four potions, Dudley felt a lot better. His earlier moves had been impressive but painful, and he knew he'd remember that pain!
But he wasn't done yet. Dudley pulled out four more potions, but this time, instead of drinking them, he tossed them at Hagrid. The fragile vials shattered, releasing a cloud of earthy yellow gas. All four were Slow Potions, designed to make Hagrid's reactions sluggish.
Sure, they were inferior potions—Dudley was self-taught and hadn't had any formal training—but he was still pretty impressive for his age! He even had a potion called 'Chaos Seasoning' that could confuse opponents, but he didn't want to risk facing a truly mad half-giant, so he skipped that one.
If only he had more potions to work with, he would have loved to show Hagrid what stacking buffs really meant!
While potions might not be as flashy as spells, they could still pack a punch.
Sure enough, Hagrid's reactions slowed down, but being a half-giant, he was still tougher than most. The potions didn't completely do the trick, but they helped!
Dudley picked up the broken rifle from the ground. Instead of shooting, he held it upside down. He focused his Ripple Energy, channeling warm energy into his hands and transferring it to the rifle.
It didn't look any different, but it was crackling with golden arcs of electricity—definitely noticeable at night!
Dudley swung the rifle like a baseball bat, aiming for Hagrid's right leg.
With a loud crash, Hagrid went down again, but this time it was serious—he had broken a bone!
But Dudley wasn't finished. He tossed aside the battered rifle and quickly got into a low stance, preparing for his final move.
This was his secret weapon, the highest-level skill he had: LV5 Iron Mountain Lean! Originally a move from Anime, it was simple yet powerful. After some tweaks, it was even stronger, though it did look a bit awkward.
Dudley took a deep breath and focused his Ripple Energy, channeling energy through his body and concentrating it in his shoulders. Then, with all his might, he pushed upward at a 45-degree angle.
Hagrid felt an incredible force hit him, making him feel like his insides were shifting. This big guy was surprisingly strong!
But Dudley wasn't done yet. The LV5 Iron Mountain Lean was a combo move. He sank his shoulder again and pushed down at a 45-degree angle. "Iron Mountain Lean, I actually quite like it!" he exclaimed.
With rapid-fire movements, Dudley began to push up and down like a pile driver. The power of his LV5 skill was unleashed! In the next moment, something unbelievable happened—Hagrid's massive body was actually sent flying!
Both Dudley and Hagrid were shocked by the sheer power of it, and Dudley gained a whole new appreciation for his LV5 skills. "So strong! So terrifying! I really like it!"
What seemed like a simple up-and-down motion was packed with technique. Dudley managed to execute the Iron Mountain Lean without any injuries, unlike when he punched Hagrid earlier.
Hagrid crashed into the door, falling heavily outside. Dudley stood over him, looking down with a smirk. "You're not welcome here! now get lost!"
Note : Guys, some power stones will be really helpful.
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