Fullmetal Alchemist Alchemy

A version of a transmutation circle

The **Fullmetal Alchemist Alchemy** system is a far-hard and far-learned magic system from Fullmetal Alchemist.

## Synopsis

The magic system of Fullmetal Alchemist is a very difficult form of magic system. This system requires the user to know three important acts of this metaphysical science/mystical art of manipulating and altering matter, which is known as "transmutation".

1. **Comprehension** - Understanding the inherent structure and properties of the atomic or molecular makeup of a particular material to be transmuted, including the flow and balance of potential and kinetic energy within.
2. **Deconstruction** - Using energy to break down the physical structure of the identified material into a more malleable state so as to be easily reshaped into a new form.
3. **Reconstruction** - Continuing the flow of energy so as to reform the material into a new shape.

The proper application of this craft requires not only a full understanding of chemistry and ancient alchemical theory, but also a sort of natural talent towards recognizing and manipulating the physical objects with energy, which require uncommon levels of intelligence and aptitude. Those remarkable individuals capable of studying and practicing alchemy are known as "Alchemists". Anyone can use this form of system, however, the trade-off is that they have to know every single detail in what the substance they are transmuting along with knowing every single detail of what object the person wishes to reconstruct. Thus the principle of Equivalent Exchange, as the alchemy of Fullmetal Alchemist is more science than mystical. In which, as the concept states: "In order to obtain or create something, something of equal value must be lost or destroyed."

Say you try to transmute a train car full of coal into gold. The Equivalent Exchange is that you will only get a small amount. However, you can try to put some coins on it and create a few bricks, but they will turn to mushy coal after a certain time limit.

In standard practice, Equivalent Exchange is separated into two parts:

* **The Law of Conservation of Mass**, which states that energy and matter can neither be created from nothing nor destroyed to the point of elemental nonexistence. In other words, to create an object with the mass of one kilogram, at least one kilogram of material is necessary; destroying an object with the mass of one kilogram would reduce it to a set of parts, the sum of which would have the mass of one kilogram.

* **The Law of Natural Providence**, which states that an object or material made of a particular substance or element can only be transmuted into another object with the same basic makeup and properties of that initial material. In other words, an object or material made mostly of water can only be transmuted into another object with the attributes of water.

In other words, you might suffer a rebound effect. The "**Rebound**" is the consequences for attempting to bypass the Law of Equivalent Exchange in transmutation are not merely failure and cessation. When too much is attempted out of too little, what occurs is called a Rebound, in which the alchemical forces that are thrown out of balance on either side of the equation fluctuate wildly of their own accord in order to stabilize themselves - taking or giving more than what was intended is often unpredictable and catastrophic in ways such as accidental mutation, serious injury, or death. Human transmutation is strictly taboo as this Rebound can cause people to lose something in order to full in such as an arm, leg, an organ or an entire human body. As of now, there is no equivalent of a human soul.

There have been many consequences for trying to resurrect the dead. Such as Izumi Curtis when she tried to resurrect her dead child yet lost her womb because of that. In the case of the Elric Brothers, Alphonse and Edward, they tried to resurrect their mother that resulted in Edward losing his leg and Alphonse losing his entire body. As for the dead bodies they tried to resurrect, they ended-up making abominations. In addition, for having trespassed in God's domain with Human Transmutation, the initiating alchemists are essentially called into The Gate of Truth to face God itself. Being pulled through the gate grants alchemists great alchemical and universal knowledge - in exchange for paying a physical toll which usually takes the shape of the body parts "taken" by the rebound - and the ability to perform transmutations without a circle.

**Transmutation Circles** are essential when doing transmutations. A Transmutation Circle can either be drawn on the spot when a transmutation is necessary (in chalk, pencil, ink, paint, thread, blood or even traced in dirt) or permanently etched or inscribed beforehand, but without it, transmutation is generally impossible. All Transmutation Circles are made up of two parts:

The circle itself is a conduit which focuses and dictates the flow of power, tapping into the energies that already exist within the earth and matter. It represents the cyclical flow of the world's energies and phenomena and turns that power to manipulable ends.

Inside the circle are specific alchemical runes. These runes vary widely based on ancient alchemical studies, texts, and experimentation, but correspond to a different form of energy, allowing the energy that is focused within the circle to be released in the way most conducive to the alchemist's desired effect. In basic alchemy, these runes will often take the form of triangles (which, when positioned differently, can represent the elements of either water, earth, fire or air), but will often be composed of varying polygons built from different triangles. For example, the hexagram is a commonly used base rune in Transmutation Circles because it creates eight multi-directional triangles when inscribed and can, therefore, represent all four classical elements at once. Other, more esoteric runes (including astrological symbols, symbolic images and varying lines of text) are prevalent and represent a multitude of other, specific functions for the alchemical energy that is released.

A **Transmutation Array** functions similarly. However, unlike a transmutation circle, the runes are not confined to the circumference of the circle and may use the circle only as a small aspect of their function. In some instances, a transmutation array may not even be a circle at all, using different concepts to bring about the circulation or release of the energies involved. Transmutation arrays are often found as full body tattoos on alchemists due to the shape of the human body. It is also possible that the non-cyclical nature of transmutation arrays amplifies the 'destruction' stage of alchemy.

According to officials, all Alchemist gain their power through the movement and collision of tectonic plates of the planet.

## Human Transmutation

### Homunculus

Back on Human Transmutation, a "Homunculus" can be made yet it is largely considered impossible due to the fact that all recorded and reported attempts to make one have been failures. At least according to official statements. Centuries ago in Xerxes, one Homunculus was created by using the blood of a slave. Later, this "Dwarf in the Flask" created more Homunculi based-off the sins of humanity from the energy of the Philosopher Stone. Each and every Homunculi had their own unique ability such as Gluttony being able to devour anything with no difficulty, Greed being able to transform his skin into the hardest form of carbon to act as a powerful armor, and Lust able to create large claws that can slice through anything.

They do have a healing factor thanks to the Philosopher Stones acting as the cores that allows them to fully recover. However, they do have certain limits to their healing factor that would result in death. Yet they can remove their core that can kill them, have their "soul" being transmuted that would result in transmutations in their bodies, and a few other weaknesses. In the 2003 anime, a Homunculus does suffer a form of weakness that involve a piece of their former bodies being near them since this version of the Homunculi are actually resurrected humans in artificial bodies.

### Human Soul Binding

Another form of Human Transmutation is the manipulation of human souls. Though appearing on no official records, there have been experiments with Human Transmutation involving the extraction of souls from their matter bodies and the alchemical binding of said souls to inanimate objects usually by way of a rune drawn in blood on the object itself. Though not all the specifics of soul binding have been made clear, it has been explained that the iron in the blood bonds alchemically with the iron in the object (as most instances of soul binding has used metal armor as a vessel) and the blood itself remains bound to the soul of the person from which it was taken. The Blood Runes themselves differ based on the theories and style of whatever alchemist performed the binding, but the three different Blood Runes that have been revealed depict a spark or flame (presumably signifying a soul) hemmed in by other symbols in a blood-drawn Transmutation Circle that suggests a soul trapped within a container. In essence, these souls exist in the mortal plane without their bodies, are able to manipulate the objects to which they are bound and communicate verbally with beings around them but, of course, there are caveats.

Despite the fact that these souls cannot feel pain or die by conventional means, since the "bodies" they now inhabit are not mortal, the act of binding two such different things together is only temporary, as the soul and vessel will eventually reject each other and separate. Though the manipulated soul is independent of its original matter body, the issues regarding the storage of knowledge and memory suggest that, for a soul binding to remain intact, the original matter body must remain alive somewhere. This creates another issue, as the soul and its original body will be inexorably drawn to one another.

### Philosopher Stone Creation

Throughout the entire Fullmetal Alchemist series, Edward and Alphonse spent most of their journey to look for the Philosopher Stone in order to have their original bodies back. A mystical red stone that can bypass the Equivalent Exchange to some degree. Yet the dark truth is that the Philosopher Stone can be made artificially by sacrificing human souls that fuel the stone. The more souls the stone has, the more power it has and the larger the stone gets.

### Chimeric Humans

Chimeric Alchemy is a branch of bio-alchemy that seeks to create new forms of creatures. There have been some instances that Chimeric Humans were created such as one that can communicate in the human language and some that can look like werebeasts. However, it is considered taboo since it falls under Human Transmutation as was the case of Shou Tucker who used his wife to create a talking chimera, and then his daughter and dog. Though considered "failure", it was considered "successful" by the State Military of Amestris belong to two categories as well. There are those with entirely human outward forms whose internal makeups have incorporated increased senses, versatile physical structures, and abilities identical to the animals with which they have been alchemically spliced, granting them superhuman traits while maintaining an inconspicuous shape. However, the form the military seems to have accepted as their ultimate success in regards to the creation of human chimera is that which is capable of transforming from full human form to that of a man-beast hybrid and back at will.

## Alkahestry

**Alkahestry** is a different form of Alchemy from the country of Xing. The principles are similar yet the philosophy is a bit different. Unlike Amestrian Alchemy, Xingese Alkahestry is more centered on a concept called the "Dragon's Pulse" which speaks of the Earth itself having a constant flow of chi (life energy) which flows metaphorically from the tops of mountains down to the land, nourishing everything it passes with that energy as does blood coursing through the veins. Using this concept, Alkahestrists are capable of a higher level of medical transmutation than Amestrian Alchemists - transmitting chi through the pathways of the human body to cure mild ailments as well as minor injuries - and can even project their transmutations over long distances and wide areas by accessing and guiding that current to their own means with Purification Circles and Alkahestric markers, a function of which Amestrian Alchemy is altogether incapable. In other words, it can be used for healing.