Science to conquer a magic world!

Victor returned to the village, his mind brimming with new ideas. The raw chaos of the wilds had allowed him to test and refine his combat techniques, but now he was ready to put everything he had learned into action. He had discovered how to control mana with the precision of a scientist, and now it was time to share that knowledge with the villagers.
As Victor entered the village square, Elira waited for him, her usual calm demeanour tinged with curiosity. "Victor! How did the wilds treat you?" she asked.
Victor grinned. "I've learned much, Elira. More than I could have hoped for. I now understand how to use mana with the precision of a formula—no more relying on raw, instinctual power."

Elira raised an eyebrow. "That sounds… dangerous."

"Not if you understand the science behind it," Victor replied, walking toward the gathering of elders. "I propose a new way of defending the village—using controlled reactions, pressure, and temperature to manipulate the environment. This isn't magic as you know it. This is the application of scientific principles to combat."
The elders were skeptical but intrigued. "How do you intend to do that?" asked Odar, a village elder and the most experienced with traditional magic. "We've always relied on elemental magic to defend the village. How can science offer something different?"

Victor smiled. "Let me show you."

He gestured for everyone to step back as he prepared his demonstration. He had already gathered his tools and materials—basic metals, a small vial of chemicals, some crystals, and a few objects from the surrounding forest. With a few precise adjustments to the mana flow in his body, he started to manipulate the air around him.

Victor took a copper pipe and attached a small crystal to it. He used his mana to channel energy into the crystal, causing it to vibrate at a specific frequency. This vibration triggered a reaction in the surrounding air molecules. He carefully adjusted the mana flow to increase the energy density inside the pipe. Slowly, the air inside the pipe began to compress, increasing the pressure exponentially. He created an air cannon.

With a flick of his wrist, Victor released the compressed air through a small opening at the pipe's end. A blast of wind shot out with incredible force, knocking over a pile of wooden crates several meters away.

"This is just the beginning," Victor said, his eyes gleaming excitedly. "What I just demonstrated is a simple application of Bernoulli's principle—by compressing air and releasing it, I'm using pressure differentials to create a force. This is no different from using gunpowder to fire a projectile, only much more controlled and precise."

The villagers stood in awe, the blast's power still rippling. Odar was visibly impressed but still hesitant. "And what about the more destructive forms of magic? Fireballs? Lightning?"

Victor raised his hand, showing the villagers a small vial of chemicals. "What if I told you we could harness fire and lightning, not through raw elemental manipulation, but through controlled chemical reactions?"

He set the vial down and carefully mixed its contents, forming a volatile mixture that would burn at an incredibly high temperature. Victor carefully adjusted the mana flow to accelerate the reaction. A series of small sparks ignited the mixture, creating a burst of flame. The fireball expanded rapidly, but Victor's precise control over the chemical process ensured that the flame spread controlled without the risk of uncontrolled ignition.

"By controlling the chemical makeup of the reaction," Victor explained, "I can manipulate the rate at which it burns. Instead of conjuring fire from nothing, I'm using chemical combustion—hydrocarbons, oxygen, and the right amount of mana to trigger an exothermic reaction. With this, we can produce fireballs, but we can also control their intensity and size. This method is far more reliable than conventional fire magic."

Victor turned his attention to a nearby stone. He ran his fingers over the surface, channeling mana to it and increasing its molecular density. Within moments, the stone began to freeze. "The same goes for freezing," he said. "Instead of relying on a nebulous concept like 'ice magic,' I'm using the principles of thermodynamics. By manipulating the movement of molecules and applying rapid heat transfer, I can lower the temperature of the stone and turn it to ice—instantaneously."

With a flick of his hand, the stone shattered, and the ice turned to vapor as it absorbed heat from the surrounding air. "All of this is just basic physics. Magic, as I've understood it, is just another form of energy manipulation."

The villagers were stunned, their previous understanding of magic challenged by Victor's scientific approach. Odar was the first to speak. "This… this changes everything. What you're describing isn't magic. It's engineering."

Victor nodded. "Exactly. And now, we can use it as a weapon."

The villagers gathered around as Victor continued to demonstrate his newfound methods. He showed them how to create controlled explosions by combining compressed air with volatile chemicals. He demonstrated how to create barriers of extreme heat or cold and harness the kinetic energy of moving objects for combat.

He used a series of small rocks in one demonstration, manipulating their molecular structure with mana. With a precise calculation of mass and velocity, he sent them flying through the air, propelled by chemical combustion, faster and more accurately than any traditional projectile spell. The rocks struck their targets with pinpoint accuracy, causing small craters to form on the ground.

"We can use this for more than just defense," Victor said. "By applying the same principles to our offensive capabilities, we can create a force that no one can match. Whether it's controlling air pressure to disrupt enemy lines, using chemical combustion to disable their weapons, or freezing their projectiles mid-flight, this science is far more reliable and effective than relying on sheer power."

The village elders exchanged looks, their skepticism fading as they saw the practicality of Victor's approach. Odar stepped forward, his voice filled with respect. "Victor, you've proven that this science can be applied in ways we never thought possible. But what of the future? How can we refine this and make it sustainable?"

Victor's eyes gleamed. "We've only scratched the surface. I've learned to apply scientific principles to magic, but now we must refine and build on this foundation. We can develop new formulas, new reactions, and new techniques. And we will do it together. This village will not just be a place of defense—it will be a hub of innovation. The future of magic is not about power—it's about precision."
The villagers, now fully on board with Victor's vision, began discussing how they could integrate this new knowledge into their daily lives. Plans for refining air pressure systems, chemical-based weapons, and even mana-powered devices spread quickly. What began as a simple defense strategy had evolved into a scientific revolution.
Victor smiled as he looked around at the eager faces of the villagers. They were no longer just followers of traditional magic. They were scientists in their own right, applying logic and reason to a world filled with mysticism.
And this was just the beginning.