Chapter 140: National Transmutation Array (Part 2)

Kimblee's transmutation array is drawn on the palms of his hands. It features a circle on the outside with an equilateral triangle inside. The orientation of the triangles on each hand is opposite, one pointing up and the other pointing down.

Inside these triangles are symbols representing the sun and the moon. When his hands come together, the two triangles form a hexagram. In Amestrian alchemy, the hexagram represents the elemental composition of the world. By combining the sun and moon symbols, an explosive alchemy can be triggered.

In Amestrian alchemy, every symbol has a special meaning: the sun, the moon, the earth, air, dragons, lions, four-legged lizards, etc.

Mustang's flame alchemy, for example, includes the symbol of a salamander, which represents the fire element among the four elements of wind, fire, earth, and water. Therefore, you would never see a salamander symbol in water or ice transmutation arrays.

In contrast, the corresponding alchemy from Xing uses a simpler transmutation array primarily based on a pentagram. This pentagram represents the five elements of gold, wood, water, fire, and earth, the fundamental forces that make up the world. This array can be used for attack, healing, and defense.

However, because it encompasses the basic elements, its power is weaker compared to specialized elemental arrays, much like the difference between fire alchemy and flame alchemy.

The pentagram is also known as the five-pointed star.

"There's no need to interrogate him now." After understanding Kimblee's alchemy through his transmutation array, Daniel immediately abandoned the idea of capturing Kimblee for questioning.

For most people, even seeing Kimblee's transmutation array wouldn't help them use it. Mustang's array has never been particularly secretive, yet there hasn't been a second flame alchemist. The ability to perform alchemy involves both the array and the understanding of its principles.

If someone can't grasp the underlying principles, they can't perform alchemy. It's like the basic addition facts that even kindergarteners know, such as 1+1=2. Everyone knows it, but understanding why 1+1=2 and 2+1=3 is much more complex, akin to the Goldbach conjecture. The significance of the transmutation array is somewhat similar.

Since interrogation is unnecessary, Daniel prepared to act. Strictly speaking, Kimblee wasn't purely evil; he was a fanatic who respected anyone who adhered to their beliefs, whether those beliefs were good or bad. For example, he respected Winry's parents for continuing to treat Ishvalan war victims during the conflict, and he respected the Elric brothers for their resolve not to kill.

Although Kimblee didn't know the ultimate goal of the Homunculi's plan, he knew a lot about it. Most people believed the Homunculi's plan was to turn the entire country into a Philosopher's Stone. Kimblee was interested in seeing whether the Homunculi or humanity would emerge victorious, driven by the idea of survival of the fittest.

Kimblee assisted the Homunculi because he faced fewer restrictions and could kill freely. He enjoyed killing and would have bonded with any bomb fanatic.

A sociopath by Marvel's scientific standards, if Kimblee appeared in the Marvel universe, he would be a psychopathic serial killer.

Bang.

While pondering Kimblee's nature, Daniel shot him from behind, the bullet piercing Kimblee's heart, halting his transmutation. The sudden gunfire and the blood seeping from Kimblee's chest caused Alphonse to jump in shock as he prepared to defend against Kimblee's explosion alchemy.

An alchemist's body is ultimately that of an ordinary human. In this world, only the Homunculi's bodies are immune to bullets; everyone else is vulnerable.

After Kimblee fell, Daniel immediately approached, swiftly separating Kimblee's hands and taking his Philosopher's Stone. Kimblee was tough, surviving the shot and still trying to use the stone for a final, self-destructive attack.

If Kimblee had been a medical alchemist or understood medical alchemy, he wouldn't have died, but he lacked such knowledge.

The Philosopher's Stone is immensely powerful but is merely a universal energy source. To utilize it effectively, one must understand the basics of alchemy.

"Did you kill him?" Alphonse approached, his armored movements betraying his anxiety despite his expressionless face.

In the previous fight, Alphonse could have easily defeated Kimblee if he hadn't held back. The difference in their physical forms was significant; Alphonse's armor body wouldn't be harmed as long as his blood seal remained intact, while Kimblee was just flesh and blood.

"Are you Al? Where's your brother, the Fullmetal Alchemist? Right, Mustang sent me." Seeing Alphonse's distressed movements, Daniel shook his head helplessly.

Kindness is not a flaw, but indiscriminate kindness is. If Alphonse had a normal human body, he would have been killed, and Kimblee wouldn't have spared those he wanted to protect.

The Homunculi needed the brothers as human sacrifices; otherwise, their nature would have led to their deaths long ago.

"Colonel Mustang... My brother and I got separated." Alphonse briefly explained the situation: they were attacked by the Homunculi and Kimblee, leading to their separation during the battle.

"Which direction?" Hearing there were two Homunculi involved, Daniel asked immediately.

"We got separated over there," Alphonse pointed.

Daniel ran in the indicated direction. Once out of Alphonse's sight, he took out his flying broomstick and took to the air.

"Envy, Gluttony, Edward, and Scar." Alchemy battles create significant disturbances. From the air, Daniel quickly spotted the fighting quartet.

Gluttony had gone berserk, his huge belly opening to reveal a black, eerie eye that launched a devouring beam at Scar. It was less an attack and more an attempt to swallow everything in its path.

Gluttony's rage stemmed from Lust's death, who had been like a sister to him. In the original story, Gluttony sought revenge after Mustang killed Lust.

Gluttony's rampage affected both Edward and Envy, who were also fighting. Envy's strength had significantly improved, partly due to being humiliated by the Xingese prince Yao Lin.

Envy, who despised humans, had been forced to learn some human martial arts to seek revenge. Ironically, before he could, Yao Lin merged with Greed, becoming Envy's ally.

"Gluttony, you can't eat the shrimp! Stop before you repeat the last mistake!" Envy yelled at Gluttony, who ignored him and continued targeting Scar.

As Gluttony prepared another devouring beam, Daniel appeared behind him, slicing Gluttony in half with a sword, shocking Edward, Scar, and Envy.

With Gluttony bisected, his belly began to shrink, and the eerie black eye disappeared.

Daniel's sword, acquired in Xing, was more effective against Gluttony's form than firearms.

"Mustang sent me. Leave this to me; you go ahead," Daniel said, charging at Envy. With two quick sword strikes, he severed Envy's arm and leg.

"Don't worry, they're not my match. Go, I'll join you soon." To maintain appearances, Daniel had to handle the Homunculi carefully in front of Scar and Edward.

"Let's go," Scar said, urging Edward to leave despite his hesitation.

In the past, Scar would have insisted on killing Envy, but learning about the Homunculi's plans and his own guilt over killing Winry's parents had changed him.

"Finally, room." Once Scar and Edward left, Daniel used his surgical fruit power to quickly capture the two Homunculi.

"Greed is tricky to deal with since he's merged with Yao Lin. That leaves only Pride and Wrath. Wrath, huh..." With everything secured, Daniel pursued Scar and Edward's group.

"Have you discovered the secret of this country's alchemy?" Catching up with the group, Daniel quickly gained their trust by claiming to be sent by Mustang and taking credit for defeating the Homunculi. He was then shown Scar's brother's reverse transmutation array and his research notes.

"Only one book? What a pity," Daniel thought. Scar's brother had many research notes, but the sudden war only allowed him to save the most crucial one; the rest were likely destroyed.

Despite only having one book, it greatly deepened Daniel's understanding of alchemy and alkahemy. Meanwhile, Marcoh was tattooing Scar's other arm with the transmutation array.

Scar's brother was a genius, and even though Scar was initially just a warrior with no alchemy knowledge, he could use the array tattooed on his arm to perform alchemy.

One hand for deconstruction, the other for reconstruction. When Scar's brother grafted his own arm onto Scar, he only transferred the deconstruction array, as the reconstruction array was needed to attach the arm in the first place.

These arrays were incredibly powerful, but Scar's limited understanding of alchemy restricted their potential. However, the array on Scar's arm was a revelation for Edward and Marcoh, showing a new approach to alchemy by stopping at the deconstruction phase.

Alchemy's three stages are comprehension, deconstruction, and reconstruction. Before, no one considered stopping at the second stage, but Scar's arm opened a new possibility.

The fundamental rules of alchemy apply to deconstruction as well: you must understand what you're deconstructing, and you can only deconstruct one type of substance at a time. For example, they couldn't deconstruct Daniel's vibranium as they'd never encountered it.

Shortly After a while, Alphonse's group arrived. When they heard that Daniel had killed Kimblee, Edward's expression shifted slightly, but the others showed no reaction.

Everyone present was an adult, their thoughts more complex than the Elric brothers'. Even the younger Mei Chang, being a princess, had encountered more of these matters than the brothers.

Soon, the group split into two teams. Scar led Yoki and the defecting chimeras to contact the scattered Ishvalans to set up the reverse transmutation array. The array spanned the entire country, and the Ishvalans were the fastest to mobilize and the most trustworthy in this situation.

Daniel, Edward, and the others headed to Central to join Mustang and discuss the upcoming plan.

The plan, long in preparation, involved using Eastern and Northern forces' maneuvers to draw President Bradley and high-ranking officers away. Then, Mustang and his allies would attack Central Command to seize power, before confronting the so-called "Father."

Daniel had no objections to the plan and volunteered to deal with Pride.

They swiftly moved towards Central. The journey was fraught with dangers, but they managed to overcome them with their combined strength and the assistance of various allies.

Upon arriving at Central, they reunited with Mustang's group, finalizing their strategy. The team would split again, with one group focusing on seizing Central Command and another confronting "Father" in his lair beneath the city.

During the chaotic battles, Daniel confronted Pride, the most sinister of the Homunculi. Pride, possessing an overwhelming and oppressive presence, engaged Daniel in a fierce fight.

"Well, well, if it isn't the helper," Pride sneered, his shadows writhing menacingly around him.

"Pride, your reign ends here," Daniel responded, his eyes focused and determined.

The battle was intense, with Pride using his shadow abilities to launch relentless attacks. However, Daniel's surgical fruit abilities and combat skills enabled him to hold his ground. The fight dragged on, both sides taking and dealing heavy blows.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team was engaged in their own battles. Mustang's group clashed with Central's defenses, while Edward, Alphonse, and their allies descended into the underground lair to face "Father."

"Father" revealed his true form and intentions, aiming to use the entire nation as a giant transmutation circle to become a god-like being. The revelations and the ensuing battle tested everyone's limits, pushing them to their breaking points.

As Daniel fought Pride, he sensed the urgency of the situation below. With a final, decisive move, he managed to overcome Pride, using his surgical abilities to dismember the Homunculus and contain him.

"Pride is down," Daniel reported through his communicator. "Heading to support the others."

He swiftly moved to the underground lair, joining the fray against "Father." The combined efforts of the team, their unwavering resolve, and their deep bonds ultimately led to a climactic confrontation.

In the end, Edward made a significant sacrifice, giving up his alchemy to restore Alphonse's body. The Elric brothers' journey came full circle, their struggles and sacrifices paying off as they emerged victorious.

The country began to heal, with Mustang's new leadership steering it towards a brighter future. Daniel, having played his part, watched as the nation started rebuilding from the ruins of its past, knowing that the fight for a better world was never truly over.

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