Gunpowder. Yes in most cases you have to propel the object. What I’m saying is the physics of kinetics are there, that really can’t be forgotten.

Even if they made some kinda super condensed handheld railgun it would’ve also worked the same.

The propellant doesn’t matter. The payload does. Idk why they didn’t think of kinetic force vs energy. Since they absorbed energy.

Hell they could’ve done some kinda sound based shockwave.