Destruction's Right Hand

In Reole, unrest boils over as military reprisals mount, and from the church belfry Lust and Gluttony mock how easily the townsfolk were manipulated. The false Cornello joins them, then sheds the disguise to reveal himself as Envy, a transformation witnessed by Cray, whom Gluttony promptly devours. Envy notes that the State Alchemist killer is bound for East City, worrying Lust since their plans require Edward alive. In a bar, Hughes tells Mustang the murderer is called Scar for the mark on his face and that he slays victims by bursting their heads from within.

Searching a small village near East City, the Elrics hear of a Dr. Mauro whose miraculous cures sound like alchemy. They reach Marcoh's house, where the terrified doctor holds them at gunpoint until Al steps forward to absorb the shot, though Marcoh mistakes Al for the Fullmetal Alchemist. Inside, Marcoh admits he took research material when he deserted and refuses to surrender it, since it was used in the Ishvalan massacre. Ed then uncovers the hidden stash, a red substance resembling both Xenotime's water and Cornello's counterfeit stone.

A military unit under Brigadier General Grand arrives, having trailed the Elrics, and seizes both the incomplete stone and Marcoh, explaining that it once boosted alchemists' power during the Ishvalan war. As the doctor is driven off, Scar intercepts and destroys the car, brushes aside Grand's attempt to wield the stone, and kills him with a touch to the head. Ed grabs Marcoh and flees, but Scar pursues, cornering the group in a tunnel. Recognizing Ed's determined stare as an echo of his lost brother, Scar recalls once removing him from his target list, yet presses on. Al shields Ed and takes a fracture to his armor. Scar tries to destroy Ed's right arm only to find it is automail. At that moment the mustached stranger reveals himself as Major Alex Louis Armstrong, sent by Hughes to protect the boys, and turns his alchemy on the killer. After escaping the tunnel, Ed returns the red stone to Marcoh, deciding he and the villagers deserve it more.

The episode adapts Chapter 6, Chapter 7, and Chapter 8 of the manga and opens the second season. In the English dub, Robert McCollum fills in for Phil Parsons as General Hakuro, though Parsons remains credited for the role, suggesting a last-minute substitution.