Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Episode 30: The Ishvalan War of Extermination

On his deathbed, Berthold Hawkeye, Roy Mustang's alchemy teacher, bitterly condemns Roy's choice to become a State Alchemist, calling it a waste of talent. He refuses to give Roy his forbidden research, but with his last breath, directs him to his daughter, Riza. At Berthold's funeral, Roy expresses his naive idealism to change the country, and Riza, trusting his vision, reveals the secret: her father's "Masterpiece of Flame Alchemy" is tattooed across her entire back. This dangerous inheritance, etched onto her skin, binds their fates together.

In the present, Edward Elric is comically tackled by Hayate, Riza's dog, a brief moment of levity before a serious conversation. As Riza methodically cleans her pistol, Edward confesses his conflict after stopping Winry from shooting Scar, feeling pathetic for his indecision. Riza, understanding the impossible moral choices of a soldier, offers to tell him the story of the Ishval Civil War. This sets the stage for the heavy truths to come.

Meanwhile, in a dark, underground hideout, a bloodied and broken Dr. Marcoh faces Scar's relentless interrogation. Marcoh, his face swollen and tears streaming, admits his guilt is overwhelming. Scar demands to know the truth behind the military's experiments and Marcoh's sins against the Ishvalan people. The flickering light casts long shadows, emphasizing the weight of the confession about to be unleashed.

Riza narrates the tragic origins of the Ishval conflict over sepia-toned images, explaining Ishval's harsh, religious nature and its resistance to Amestrian annexation. Tensions erupted into full civil war when an Amestrian officer accidentally shot an Ishvalan child. This local riot quickly escalated into a national uprising, leading to Führer Bradley's Executive Order 3066 and the systematic deployment of State Alchemists, including a younger, hardened Roy Mustang, to begin the "War of Extermination."

The full horror of the extermination is depicted through graphic combat scenes. Riza, as a sniper, describes the chilling clarity of her kills. Major Basque Grand, the Iron Blood Alchemist, uses his brutal alchemy to manifest massive chains and cannons, obliterating rebels and buildings alike. The desert sand is shown soaking up the blood of innocent civilians, with no mercy extended to children or the elderly caught in the crossfire of this systematic slaughter.

In a brief moment of respite in a military camp, Roy Mustang and Maes Hughes share a weary exchange; Hughes excitedly shows Roy a photo of his girlfriend, Gracia, and speaks of marriage. Roy cynically warns him about the "death flag" of talking about loved ones in wartime. Soon after, Roy and Hughes are shocked to find Riza Hawkeye on the front lines, her innocence replaced by a cold, hollow expression. The trio questions the morality of their orders, feeling like monsters as they watch the city burn.

Solf J. Kimblee, the Crimson Alchemist, arrives to mock the moral struggles of Roy and Riza. He scoffs at their guilt, declaring that soldiers should take pride in their skills and never avert their eyes from those they kill. Kimblee's chilling philosophy, that a soldier's only duty is to follow orders and perform efficiently, reveals a truly disturbing pleasure in destruction, challenging their very humanity.

The scene returns to Dr. Marcoh, who reveals to Scar the true, sinister reason for the war: the creation of Philosopher's Stones. A flashback shows Marcoh overseeing the horrific process, sacrificing thousands of Ishvalan prisoners to complete a stone, its red glow testament to the lives consumed. Kimblee is given one of these stones, immediately using it to amplify his explosive alchemy, wiping out an entire residential block with terrifying efficiency and a disturbing laugh.

As the war nears its end, High Priest Logue Lowe meets King Bradley, offering his own life in exchange for the sparing of the remaining Ishvalan people. Bradley coldly rejects this plea for mercy, stating that one life cannot equal tens of thousands. He mockingly challenges Lowe's faith, daring him to have his "God" strike him down, and declares that the extermination will continue. Bradley's ruthless pragmatism leaves the High Priest utterly devastated.

In the war's aftermath, Roy and Hughes stand amidst the ruins, realizing they were mere pawns in a genocide. Roy, looking at the desolate horizon, vows to reach the top of the military to prevent such atrocities from happening again. Hughes, with a sad smile, promises his support from the shadows. Later, Roy asks Riza to be his assistant and makes a grim pact: if he ever becomes corrupted, she is to shoot him. Riza accepts, solidifying their shared commitment to atoning for Ishval.

Riza concludes her harrowing story, leaving Edward stunned by the immense weight of their plan. She explains Roy's intention to become Führer, restore democratic parliament, and then face trial and execution alongside all officers complicit in war crimes. Edward is deeply moved by their self-sacrificial resolve, realizing they are prepared to die to atone for their past. Riza's calm acceptance underscores her long-settled commitment to this heavy fate.

Riza sternly tells Edward to focus on his own goal of restoring his and Al's bodies, reminding him his "hands are already full." She gives him vital advice: never forget the dead and never avert his eyes from them. As Edward processes this, the scene shifts to Dr. Knox's clinic. Here, May Chang swoons over her mental image of a handsome, human Alphonse, who remains politely bewildered by her intense reaction. This brief comedic interlude offers a necessary, lighthearted reprieve.

The episode ends with a chilling return to the present. Dr. Marcoh's cell is discovered empty, splattered with fresh blood. On the back wall, the word "VENGEANCE" is scrawled in massive, dripping red letters, an unmistakable message from Scar. Envy's reflection is seen in a pool of blood, scowling at the discovery. This final scene confirms Scar has claimed another victim, escalating the conflict and ensuring the past's horrors will violently define the present.