Cornered and bleeding, Mustang cauterizes his own wounds and burns Lust until her Stone gives out. Pride is named for the first time, both Barrys die, and Bradley quietly watches the whole battle from the shadows.
Summary
King Bradley reaches Laboratory 3 and tells the guards he will go in alone to aid Mustang. Underground, Lust withdraws her claws from Roy's abdomen, calls the homunculi the next evolutionary step nearer the Truth, and leaves him to bleed while she deals with the other intruders. Roy, helpless beside a fading Havoc, begs his subordinate not to die before him. Elsewhere, Alphonse and Hawkeye trail Barry to a vast white hall with giant stone doors, where the armored soul has finally caught and destroyed his own body. Watching it rot, Al grows anxious about how long his own soul can remain bound to its armor.
Key Events
In town, Ling and Lan Fan keep dismantling Envy and Gluttony without lasting result. When onlookers gather, Envy orders Gluttony to devour the crowd, but a voice he calls Pride rings out, scolds his recklessness, and commands retreat, which Ling permits given the danger he senses. At the lair's entrance, Lust cuts the charging Barry to pieces, then advances on Riza and Al. Piecing together her hints about the colonel, Hawkeye breaks down and empties gun after gun into her to no avail. Alphonse shields Riza, revealing his new circle-free transmutation as Lust carves at his armor, and he refuses to abandon her even as she pleads with him to flee.
Notes
Roy suddenly appears, praises Al's resolve, and pours flame over Lust while Alphonse raises an earthen shield. Having carved a flame circle into his own hand and sparked it with the flint of Havoc's ruined lighter, and having cauterized his wounds shut to survive, Mustang burns her again and again until her Philosopher's Stone runs dry and she crumbles to dust, warning as she dies that suffering will one day cloud his eyes. Bradley eavesdrops, sheathes his sword, and calmly calls an ambulance. Barry's dying body scratches away his blood rune, killing both Barrys at once. Alphonse returns to Winry as promised, but his left arm falls off during their tearful reunion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Roy Mustang defeat Lust in Chapter 39?
In Chapter 39, "Complications at Central," Roy Mustang carves a flame transmutation circle into his own hand, sparks it with the flint from Havoc's ruined lighter, cauterizes his own wounds shut, and burns Lust again and again until her Philosopher's Stone runs dry and she crumbles to dust.
Who is named "Pride" for the first time in Chapter 39?
A voice that Envy addresses as Pride rings out during the fight in town, scolds Envy for recklessly ordering Gluttony to devour a gathering crowd, and commands a retreat, marking the first mention of Pride's name in the story.
What happens to both versions of Barry the Chopper in Chapter 39?
Barry's original, decaying body finally catches and destroys itself while hunting its own soul, and its dying body scratches away its blood rune, killing both the original Barry and the armored Barry at the same time.
What does King Bradley do after witnessing the battle in Chapter 39?
King Bradley secretly eavesdrops on the fight at Laboratory 3, then calmly sheathes his sword and calls an ambulance without revealing what he witnessed.
What happens when Alphonse reunites with Winry in Chapter 39?
Alphonse returns to Winry as he had promised, but his left arm falls off during their tearful reunion, showing the damage his armor took protecting Riza Hawkeye from Lust.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Chapter 39: Complications at Central? The Fullmetal Alchemist Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Fullmetal Alchemist anime series, manga, and official materials. Fullmetal Alchemist was created by Hiromu Arakawa, published by Square Enix, and animated by Bones. All rights to Fullmetal Alchemist and its characters belong to their respective owners. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
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