Episode 54: Beyond the Inferno (2009 series)

As Envy writhes within the firestorm unleashed by Mustang’s vengeful rage, Hawkeye must take drastic measures to prevent the Flame Alchemist’s hatred from going out of control.

Full Synopsis = The year is 1909. At the conclusion of the Ishval Civil War, Major Roy Mustang finds Cadet Riza Hawkeye making a grave for an Ishvalan child and tells her to hurry to camp before she is left behind. But Riza states that the war will never be over for her. Remembering that, four years prior, she had entrusted her father's research notes - tattooed on her very back - to the man who would use that knowledge to become the hero of a massacre and that she had chosen to join the military and participate in that massacre of her own free will, Riza declares that there is no way she can atone for her sins and asks Roy to use his Flame Alchemy to burn her back and destroy the notes so as to prevent the creation of yet another Flame Alchemist. Agreeing to free her from the weight of her father's burden, and Roy complies.

The year is 1915. As the Colonel and the Lieutenant walk through the tunnels beneath Central City in search of Envy, Hawkeye raises her sidearm and aims it squarely on the back of her commander's head. Mustang demands that the Lieutenant explain the meaning of this to him, but Riza grins and remarks that the real Roy always calls her by name when they're alone. Furious at being found out, Envy drops his Mustang disguise and tries to flee, but Riza shoots him in the head as she remarks that her previous statement was merely a lie to draw out the impostor. She fires again and again, emptying her pistol and drawing two more and then drawing her rifle when out of ammunition again. However, the Homunculus refuses to die and manages to get ahold of Hawkeye, gleefully promising to present her shattered corpse to her commanding officer. Suddenly, an inferno erupts upon Envy from an adjacent corridor as the real Flame Alchemist - drawn by the sounds of gunfire - appears on the scene. Eyes steeled by vengeance, Roy chides Riza for disobeying orders and recommences his vicious attack on Envy until the Homunculus's body ceases to regenerate and crumbles to dust. However, Envy's larval form squirms from the husk and attempts to wriggle away, only to be held fast by the Colonel's boot. Finally reaching the end of his long path to revenge, Roy prepares one final flameburst to take the creature's life, but Riza draws another revolver and takes aim at Colonel Mustang, demanding that he lower his hand. She declares that Roy has done enough and that she herself will finish the Homunculus off, but Roy refuses to let anyone else kill Envy. Suddenly, Edward and Scar appear in the corridor and Fullmetal uses his alchemy to take hold of Envy from beneath the Colonel's grasp, to which Roy - eyes full of hatred - commands that Ed return his quarry or risk having his Automail arm burned away with the creature. But Edward refuses still, remarking that Roy needs to take a look at his own rage-warped visage and ask himself whether that's the face he wishes to wear once he has become Führer. Scar intercedes as well, commenting that he has no right to turn Roy from the path of the vengeful beast, but that any world with such a beast at its head would surely fall to chaos. When Riza adds that she will not let Roy be consumed by vengeance, but also intends to do away with the Homunculus, Roy softens a bit, but - unable to let go of his hatred - asks Riza what she intends to do if he refuses to let go and she is forced to shoot him, to which Hawkeye replies that she will end her own life as well, following him into the afterlife. Hearing this, Roy finally lets go, refusing to accept such a sorrowful outcome. He apologizes to his comrades and assures Riza that she can lower her weapon.

Envy, from his position in Edward's hand, scoffs at all this human sentiment and makes a last ditch effort to turn all the people present against each other, remarking that overcoming hatred and coexisting is not something that is within human ability. But Ed, finally seeing the source of Envy's hatred for humans, remarks solemnly that the Homunculus is jealous of them - jealous that his own kind cannot care for and support each other the way the supposedly inferior humans do. Incensed by this assertion, Envy forces himself free of Edward's steely grasp, further injuring his own body in the process as he attempts to crawl away. He remarks that he has been humiliated beyond imagination, by Mustang who stole his power from him, by Hawkeye for daring to show him mercy and - most of all - by Edward for understanding the deepest secret emotion of his heart. Bidding them all a tearful farewell, Envy reaches inside his body and rips out his own Philosopher's Stone, taking his own life. As Envy and the stone crumble to dust, Roy laments the Homunculus' cowardice.

Inside Central Command, Sloth rises from Alex Armstrong's attack and regenerates his body, much to the surprise of the onlooking Central soldiers. As more arrive with intent to shoot Olivier Armstrong, she takes command of them and helps defend them as more Mannequin Soldiers swarm into the room. Informing them that their bullets will prove ineffective and advising them to destroy the upper jaw to avoid being eaten alive, she orders the men into pairs and commands that each pair stake their honor to bring down at least one of these pale monsters. Regaining his composure, Sloth remembers his mission to eliminate the Major General, but is held back by her brother Alex, who suffers further beatings on his dislocated left arm for his trouble. With only one arm to defend himself, Alex is ruthlessly pummeled by the massive Homunculus, causing great alarm to several of the Central soldiers. But as Olivier assures them that her brother is not so weak as to be killed in such a manner, Alex positions his body in such a way that causes Sloth's blows to pop his left shoulder back into place. Having regained the use of both arms and confirmed his sister's faith, Alex begins his own vicious onslaught on the beast, using his fists and his alchemy to inflict massive damage upon his inhuman foe.

Meanwhile, as Central Command's main gate continues to take fire from the Briggs Tank across the street, Brigadier General Clemin orders that they return cannon fire despite the fact that the civilians in the area haven't yet completed their evacuation of the adjacent buildings. Before the order can be carried out, however, an explosion rocks Clemin's office and Captain Buccaneer bursts in with his men, capturing all the enemies inside. Clemin demands to know how they reached this point and the soldiers from Briggs explain that they not only used 2nd Lt. Falman's encyclopedic memory of the Central Command layout, but also used an entry tunnel being dug single-handedly by another of their comrades - master alchemist Izumi Curtis.

Deep underground, Van Hohenheim has finally arrived at Father's inner sanctum and expresses his disdain for his old friend's behavior. But the Homunculus replies that the man from whose body he was born will now become a part of him. }}

Episode Notes

 * This episode is adapted from content in Chapter 61: The Hero of Ishval, Chapter 91: A Reunion of Alchemists, Chapter 94: The Flames of Vengeance and Chapter 95: Beyond the Inferno.
 * Appearing in the background of the episode's title card is the Flame Alchemy sigil tattooed on Riza's back.
 * While clues in the manga suggest that the Ishval Civil War ended in 1908, this episode confirms that the war reached its conclusion in 1909.
 * The Adult Swim showing of this episode heavily altered the ending theme song, in which Hohenheim and Father confront one another down in his lair. The credits were placed much earlier (during Izumi and Buccaneer's infiltration) and all of Hohenheim and Father's dialogue to one another is cut. This was done obviously for time-restraints; a recurring theme on Adult Swim.