Full Metal Alchemist E1: Those Who Challenge the Sun (Part 2)

If you have not read the first part of this review, you may do so here: Full Metal Alchemist E1: Those Who Challenge the Sun (Part 1)

Picking up where we left off in the first review, Al and Ed meet a girl named Rose who Edward is obviously infatuated with, so they follow her to the temple.  Rose speaks to Father Cornello about giving Al and Ed a room while they stay in town.  Father Cornello has told Rose that he can bring her boyfriend back to life, which is why she is so dedicated to him.  Ed and Al see him performing miracles, which appears to just be alchemy.  The strange thing about them is that he seems to be ignoring the law of equivalent exchange.

Edward has little trust for Cornello but Al is more open to giving him and chance, to find out if he is the real deal or not.  Cornello even brings a bird back to life in front of everyone, possibly supporting his claims of being able to bring Rose’s boyfriend back to life.  Cornello gives orders to take out Ed, because he works for the military and is therefore evil.  We also see Cornello talking to the mysterious woman from earlier who somehow knew who Ed was.

Edward confronts Rose to tell her the truth about Cornello.  He says that he is a fake and alchemy is the only answer…even though alchemy has never brought anyone back to life.  Al is shot in the back of the head by one of Cornello’s men, causing his head to fall off.  This is where we find out Al lost his body during the transmutation to bring their mother back to life.  He somehow became a suit of armor.

Cornello’s power comes from the Philosopher’s stone, an object which allows an alchemist to ignore the laws of equivalent exchange and does away with the need for a transmutation circle.  Cornello unleashes a Chimera on Ed, a creature that is a combination of animals, formed using alchemy.  During the battle, Ed creates a spear out of the ground (he can somehow use alchemy without a transmutation circle as well) and we learn that Ed now has a metal arm and leg.  Using these weapons, he defeats these animals and is left ready to face off against the real threat, Father Cornello.