Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Episode 40: Homunculus (The Dwarf in the Flask)

At Fort Briggs, officers speak in hushed tones about General Raven's sudden disappearance, the implication of General Olivier Mira Armstrong hanging heavy in the air. In Central, Olivier wastes no time, confronting Roy Mustang with sharp, cutting remarks, dismissing his perceived rise to power. She then faces Fuhrer King Bradley, bluntly admitting she removed Raven for his incompetence. Bradley, amused by her ruthlessness, grants her Raven's council seat, though he claims control of Briggs, a loss Olivier accepts with a hard, unreadable expression.

Far to the north, Major Miles and Captain Buccaneer observe their troops, discussing the news from Central. General Armstrong will remain there, new officers are coming to take her place. Despite this, Miles declares the 'will of Briggs' is unshakeable; they will stand together. They compare themselves to bears defending their den, ready to resist any outside interference.

In a busy military cafeteria, Riza Hawkeye and Roy Mustang share a seemingly casual meal. Hawkeye uses carefully coded language, ostensibly discussing 'former classmates' in the North, but Mustang sees past the words. His face pales as he deciphers her true message. The horrifying truth is laid bare: Selim Bradley, the Fuhrer's young son, is a Homunculus.

A flashback transports us to the ancient kingdom of Xerxes, where Slave Number 23 toils in an alchemist's lab. A shadowy, one-eyed entity residing in a glass flask speaks to him, mocking his nameless existence. This entity, calling itself the Dwarf in the Flask or Homunculus, bestows upon the young man the name 'Van Hohenheim.' It begins to teach him alchemy, reading, and writing in exchange for blood, forming an unsettling bond.

Years pass, and Hohenheim serves the King of Xerxes, alongside his master, the Homunculus. The aging King, desperate for immortality, demands the secret. The Homunculus instructs him to construct vast irrigation canals across the nation, claiming them necessary for a grand ritual. Hohenheim watches, concerned, as the canals are completed, unaware they form a gigantic transmutation circle. Under the cover of night, soldiers begin to slaughter border villagers, providing the necessary 'blood anchor' for the ritual. Hohenheim hears the rumours of 'bandit attacks' and a cold dread settles over him, realizing the true purpose of the canals.

A total solar eclipse darkens the sky, initiating the Flask-man's ritual in the palace. The King and his court, believing they will gain immortality, are instead consumed by violent dark energy. Shadows erupt from the circle, devouring everyone. Hohenheim screams as he is caught in the vortex, the souls of every person in Xerxes forcibly extracted in a blinding flash. He awakens amidst the corpses of his nation, a man who looks exactly like him standing over the dead King. The Homunculus explains it used Hohenheim's blood to create a human vessel for itself. They are now both living Philosopher's Stones, each containing half the souls of Xerxes, condemning Hohenheim to an eternal burden.

In the present, Hohenheim travels by train, encountering Izumi Curtis and her husband, Sig. Izumi suffers a severe coughing fit, collapsing and vomiting blood, a consequence of her failed human transmutation. Recognizing her affliction, Hohenheim offers aid. He places a hand on her, using his incredible alchemical power to rearrange her organs and improve blood flow, offering her immediate relief. Izumi, astonished, demands answers, intuiting that his power and knowledge of 'The Truth' are far beyond normal. Hohenheim, with a melancholic smile, reveals his true nature: he is a Philosopher's Stone in the form of a man. He cannot replace what she lost, but he can offer her some measure of comfort before he departs.

A montage unfolds, accompanied by Edward Elric's voiceover, explaining the dark history and nature of the Philosopher's Stone. We see Alphonse in the snowy North, Scar's group traversing mountains, and Mustang and Hawkeye preparing for future moves in Central. A map of Amestris is displayed, ominously revealing that every major historical conflict forms a point on a massive, country-wide transmutation circle. The full, terrifying gravity of the situation settles, as the fate of the entire nation hangs in the balance.