Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

This is probably why people who are good at making mistakes tend to attract each other.

"Don't even mention it. It takes a long time to make that stuff, and you have to add a timed detonator every time you use it, and you have to run far away," Isaac said dejectedly. "It's nowhere near as good as your and Roy's methods."

He then added, "Aren't you afraid? It's easy for the two of us to die in the tunnel if we go to plant the bomb."

“Of course not, those who build death are chased by death… Only work that risks one’s soul possesses true beauty.” Kimberly said excitedly.

I can't understand.

But Isaac didn't say much; it was the best-case scenario that he wasn't dissatisfied with his job.

"Why did Lieutenant Colonel Isaac specifically ask me for help? Is it just because I can make bombs?"

“It would have been the same whether I asked you or Roy. I needed someone who could help me detonate the explosives, but Roy probably got psychological trauma from hearing that this was a plan to kill or injure tens of thousands at once.”

"Since we've met before, you won't feel any aversion to war, so inviting you shouldn't be a problem."

“Really? Then I’m quite lucky,” Kimberly said to Isaac, then asked with a strange smile, “So, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac, what do you think about killing people?”

"It's very uncomfortable," Isaac said quietly.

"Really……"

"But I'll feel great when they become my military ranks and medals."

"Uh..." Kimberly choked for the first time.

“Everyone’s life is precious, even if it’s an enemy. So I don’t like pointless killing; at least leave me something before I die.”

“We really are alike, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac,” Kimberly suddenly said, then held out a hand. “Let’s get to know each other again, Zolf J. Kimberly. I really enjoy the sound of explosions and screams.”

“What a strange hobby.” Isaac extended his hand and shook hands with Kimberly. “Isaac, I don’t have many hobbies, but a promotion and a raise are one. How about we grab a drink when we get back after the mission?”

"Lieutenant Colonel, are you a minor?"

"Shut up!"

The tunnel excavation work is progressing very smoothly.

"This is roughly the location. We'll fill this place with explosives, leave, close the entrance, and then detonate it." Isaac looked at the map and confirmed that this was the spot.

Then they began to draw alchemy circles on the ground.

Several hours later

streaks of blue lightning flashed, and huge spheres appeared inside the tunnel.

"This is the first time I've ever refined such a large quantity of matter."

"Oh! Is this the 'thermobaric bomb' that can destroy an entire area at once? I really want to detonate it right now."

“Don’t be silly, this isn’t a thermobaric bomb, it’s just something with a similar composition.” Isaac said to Kimberly, seeing that the quantity was almost enough, “Add the detonator to each one, then leave.”

After completing their mission, the two exited the tunnel.

"You two have worked hard. How did the mission go?" the President asked with his usual smile.

"Installation complete, ready to send them into space at any time."

"Alright!" The president returned to his seat.

Isaac gave Kimberly a meaningful look, and Kimberly, understanding, slapped his hands, covered in transmutation circles, onto the ground with a sinister grin.

boom!!!

To everyone's astonishment.

The enemy's massive fortress was instantly engulfed in flames and blasted to pieces.

"What a terrifying power!"

"so horrible!"

The generals who witnessed the explosion exclaimed in admiration.

"Then..." the President stood up, "it's time to launch the final offensive!"

Less than two months later, the Battle of Ishval was over.

--------------

Let's go back to the present.

"Colonel Isaac, the Cataclysmic Alchemist, huh? You're not using the thermobaric bomb to protect the people behind you, are you?" Stephen mocked.

"Stephen, since the boss sent me to take you out, I won't let you escape." Ignoring his mockery, he charged forward with his military knife. "Just turn into a bonus."

The two engaged in a fierce battle in the heavy rain. Once an alchemist is engaged in close combat, it is difficult for him to exert his fighting power. Stephen was also unable to continue using alchemy and could only wrestle with Isaac using his previous spear.

"Don't you feel guilty about killing so many Ishvalans?" Stephen tried to influence Isaac with words.

"Why should I feel guilty? Both they and I were prepared." Unaffected, their attacks grew increasingly fierce. Stephen, after all, wasn't as adept at close combat and gradually found himself at a disadvantage.

'This can't go on any longer; we need to find an opportunity.' Stephen looked around and spotted a young naval lieutenant commander and a blonde little girl.

'Isaac was ambushed by me while protecting this child. If I capture her, then…'

With that thought in mind, Stephen and Isaac suddenly distanced themselves and rushed straight toward the girl.

"Hahaha, Isaac, if I catch her you..." Before he could finish speaking, he saw Isaac looking at him with a look of pity for the mentally challenged.

"you……"

Chirp

Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder and realized that a dagger had pierced through it.

"What happened?" Stephen looked at the little girl in front of him who had suddenly pulled out a dagger and stabbed herself through the skin.

"You think my future adjutant is weak? Naive!" After saying that, he ignored Stephen, who looked like he wanted to eat him alive, and slammed his hands on the deck, sending spikes flying at the enemy with the injured shoulder in front of him.

Stephen was instantly pierced by the spikes.

“Looks like I’ve lost…” Stephen said to Isaac, hanging on the thorns, barely alive. “The most difficult monster to deal with in the entire military is someone like you.”

"It's really impolite to call someone a monster. I'm more curious why the boss ordered me to personally hunt you down."

“Because I already know the secrets behind Amestris,” Stephen said weakly. “Colonel Isaac, do you know about the conspiracy behind that country?”

"I know a little bit, but I'm too lazy to investigate."

"That's really your style, but someone like you shouldn't be let go!" Stephen's face flashed with stubbornness as he picked up the walkie-talkie in his pocket and shouted.

"fire!"

Then all the enemy fleet's shells were poured into this area.

Chapter Seventeen: The medal bears half of my honor and half of yours.

"Do you have to cause me trouble before you die?" Isaac looked at Stephen, whose internal organs had been almost pierced, and quickly took out the red gem to block the enemy's cannonballs.

A streak of red lightning flashed, and hundreds of shells fired from the enemy fleet exploded into fragments in mid-air.

“The Philosopher’s Stone…” Stephen, whose aura was already weak, had his pupils shrink instantly when he saw Isaac take out the red gem.

“Oh? You recognize this?” Isaac asked, turning around.

“How could I not recognize it! The massacre in Ishival was because of this gem!!” Stephen shouted in a weak voice, “Do you know what this stone is made of!? It is…”

“I know what you’re going to say,” interrupting Stephen, “I was also involved in that experiment.”

"What?!" Stephen exclaimed in surprise, then looked relieved. "I think you'll also participate in that demon's research, after all, you're 'Calamity'."

"Say what you will." Isaac didn't care about the opinion of this man who was about to die.

“Isaac…I have one last question.” Stephen’s voice grew weaker and weaker. “Is there any hope for Amestoris?”

“Of course I will, after I become president.” Isaac sighed as he looked at Stephen, who was pinned to the spikes. “Not only will I see people of all races living in peace and prosperity, but I will also see the female soldiers in the army changing their uniforms into miniskirts. However, you probably won’t see any of that.”

"Really? I don't believe it." Stephen slowly closed his eyes. "But... if it's true, that's really something to look forward to... but it's none of my business now."

"What an...unpleasant life..." Then he fell silent.

Stephen Andreev, the Copper Alchemist, has been confirmed dead.

Isaac didn't turn around to look at him; instead, he looked back at the enemy warships.

"Xiao Di, how many ships do we have left?"

"The two ships behind you were destroyed while you were fighting. I guess that alchemist is here, so they haven't fired." Dietrich, as expected of a lieutenant colonel, remained calm even with only one ship left.

Is that so? The enemy now has a total of 10 ships, including the ones they previously looted from reinforcements, while we only have 1 left. It's basically a guaranteed defeat.

Fortunately, Isaac is still on the ship.

“In that case…” Isaac suddenly freed one hand to draw something on the ground, while continuing to use alchemy to detonate the enemy’s shells with the other hand.

"Doing two things at once is really troublesome." After finishing drawing the transmutation circle, a red flash appeared, and a cannonball appeared on the ground.

"Here, take this." He handed the cannonball to Dietfried and continued to deal with the enemy ship's attack.

"What is this?" A highly concentrated thermobaric bomb. Launch this, targeting the center of the enemy fleet.

"Alright." Dietrich didn't think much of it and directly ordered his men to put the shell into the cannon barrel.

"Fire!" With Dietrich's command, a shell, seemingly no different from any other, was fired, and then...

boom!!

a bang

Unlike usual, when a crater and smoke appear after being hit, the warship that was hit was completely torn to pieces.

The explosion created a huge white cloud that quickly covered the surrounding warships.

"What's this?!"

"I can't breathe!!"

"Help!"

The enemy troops were thrown into chaos instantly, and shrill screams erupted from within.

The shockwave from the explosion created huge waves all around, causing even ships several nautical miles away to rock violently.

For the next few minutes, the other side was completely silent.

"Let's go."