Things are getting set-up for something greater. A homunculus is proven to dig a trench that seems infinite. It surfaces at Fort Briggs, and Armstrong takes care of it, however, in the mean time, General Raven and the Red Lotus Alchemist are looking for Scar.

It's hard to build a nice set-up after a high-point, and it's quite a difficult moment; but the story re-starts, with Ed and Al looking like being taken prisoner.