Summary:
The chapter opens with Father having just absorbed the Truth and declaring that he has become a god. However, he is surprised to find that Hohenheim is still standing and asks him how he managed to survive. Hohenheim explains that he was able to outwit Father by creating a counter-circle to the one Father used to absorb the souls of Amestris. This allowed him to escape and also created a “buffer zone” that prevented Father from absorbing more souls.Meanwhile, Edward battles Pride, who has taken the form of a giant monster. He is able to hold his own for a while, but soon realizes that he is outmatched. Just as Pride is about to deliver the killing blow, Edward is saved by the arrival of Scar and Lan Fan. They are able to distract Pride, allowing Edward to use alchemy to destroy his perfect eye.Back with Hohenheim and Father Hohenheim explains that the counter circle he used also allowed him to communicate with the souls that Father absorbed. He asks the souls to lend him their power, and they respond by attacking the Father from within. This weakens the father and allows Hohenheim to trap him in the soul realm.As the chapter draws to a close, Hohenheim explains to Edward and Alphonse that he plans to use the souls of Amestris to create a counterbalance to his father’s power. He also reveals that he used his own body to create a philosopher’s stone that can be used to heal the souls that father absorbed. The chapter ends with Hohenheim using the Philosopher’s Stone to begin the healing process.