Episode 34: Theory of Avarice (2003 series)

Synopsis

Major Armstrong battles Greed's men in the sewers in an attempt to save Al, while up above, Ed escapes the military's clutches for a showdown with Greed. As Lust suggests the battle is part of some larger plan, Greed morphs his body into an impervious shield, and swears Ed must kill him if he wants to see Al again. But is there another way?

Full Synopsis

While Winry waits alone at the Curtis' meat shop, Ed, Sig, and Izumi are being detained by the state military under Lt. Colonel Archer's orders. However, Ed and the Curtises later escape from the military's clutches, leaving fake dolls of themselves behind.

Archer personally welcomes both Kimblee and Tucker back into the military, stating that Tucker can continue research under his command. Archer then issues the orders for the extermination of the Devil's Nest resistance, stating that he can create more chimeras with Tucker's help.

The battle in the sewers continues as the soldiers continue killing the members of Greed's gang, including Bido. While Dolcetto faces the soldiers pursuing them, Greed and the others are confronted by Major Armstrong, who demands that Al be returned. As Lust and Gluttony are outside observing the situation, Roa faces against Armstrong. After Armstrong turns the top of his hammer into an artistic version of himself, Roa transforms into his chimera form. The two then use their brute strength to injure each other before Roa reveals he is also an Ishval Civil War veteran like Armstrong. Just as the reinforcements for both the military and Greed's men arrive, Armstrong urges Dolcetto to surrender. However, Roa punches a wall for the gang to escape and prevents the military from following them. Greed reveals he'll make sure to punish Kimblee and Tucker for their betrayal later.

Taking refuge at a nearby building, Greed and the last of his gang are confronted by Lust and Gluttony. They demand that Greed die or be sealed away, and they reveal their master is very angry with him. Once Dolcetto cuts Al free, he and Roa decide to hold Lust and Gluttony back so Greed and Al can escape. They also encourage Al to take care of Martel, who is still in Al's armor. Outside, Ed comes from underground and is looking for Al alone. He notices a disturbance towards Dante's house and heads there. Meanwhile, Greed separates from Al and Martel, asking that Martel remain in Al's armor until the following day so at least she can survive despite her objections.

Having killed Roa and Dolcetto, Lust and Gluttony watch as Greed enters Dante's house, with Lust noting that their job is done. Inside, Greed encounters Lyra, who knows he was born in the house and directs him to another room. Upon entering, Greed slowly becomes weaker and notices some bones on a table, which Lyra reveals are his bones. Greed demands to know what Dante told Lyra, to which Lyra shows him Dante's body already on the floor, cut in half. Lyra then activates a transmutation circle from up above, to which Greed knows to be beyond the skill of a low-level alchemist like Lyra. As Ed notices the transmutation from outside, Greed begins vomiting red stones from his body. As Greed barely walks out of the circle, Lyra disappears and Ed arrives.

Seeing Dante's corpse, Ed believes that Greed killed her, but Greed doesn't care. Knowing Ed has come to save Al, a weakened, yet stable Greed prepares to face him. Transforming into his full armored state, Greed severely thrashes Ed, punching him in the face three times, damaging his automail arm, and knocking him to the table and the ground. Reminding Ed about having the guts to kill, Greed prepares to deliver the final blow. However, Ed instantly finds a loophole in Greed's strategy. Reasoning that, with a body composition roughly equivalent to that of a human's, the only substance that can be forming Greed's Ultimate Shield armor must be carbon, which makes up a third of the human body and whose molecular structure determines whether its consistency resembles that of a diamond or mere graphite. With that in mind, Ed transmutes the structure of the armor, making it flimsy enough to allow for several damaging blows on his opponent's exposed flesh. And learning from this that Greed cannot produce the armor and regenerate his wounds simultaneously, Ed suddenly gains the upper hand and demands Greed where Al is. Ignoring Ed, the Ultimate Shield and the Fullmetal Alchemist both continue their offenses, exchanging heavy blows, until Ed transmutes Greed's chest so he can drive his automail sword through it, finishing Greed off.

As he lays dying, Greed confesses that he already released Al and, without a second thought, suddenly reveals the homunculi's only weakness - they can be exposed to any remains of the human that an alchemist who created them meant to resurrect, in which that particular homunculus becomes weak enough to be killed. Greed admits to Ed that his fellow homunculi brethren have sealed him for so long and that they cannot be allowed to remain in control, encouraging Ed to defeat the other homunculi. Ed is anguished as he watches Greed pass away, while the skull that Archer has in his possession crumbles as well.

The next day, Al and Martel watch the sun rise before Martel leaves. Once Al and Izumi meet up with Ed, the trio bury Greed and Dante. Ed admits to Izumi that he arrived too late to save Dante and has no idea where Lyra is. Later, Izumi and Sig see the Elrics and Winry off, with Ed revealing that they are heading to Ishbal, requesting that Izumi go into hiding for a while in case the military are after her and regardless of all the trouble they been through, he and Al won't give up until they get their bodies back.

Trivia

• This episode has adapted content from Chapter 28: A Fool's Courage and Chapter 29: The Eye of the King
• Greed's death in this version is much different compared to both the 2009 Brotherhood Anime and the Manga, being killed by Edward in a fight, while in Brotherhood, Greed is killed, having been severed by Father after weakening him in the final battle of the anime.

See Also

• Episode 13: Beasts of Dublith (2009 series)
• Episode 14: Those Who Lurk Underground (2009 series)

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