Just a Guy and a Gate to the Multiverse - Chapter 3 (Patreon)

Chapter 3 - Ice and Alkahestry

— Briggs Mountain Range, Early 1914 —

"Is this even worth it? It's so fucking cold," I curse as I wade through the deep snow of the Briggs Mountains with nothing more than a crude map to guide me.

I found that map in a single panel of the manga. It is rough, simplistic and very small, but it is still better than nothing.

So here I am, on my third day wandering through this freezing mountain hell while trying to find a rundown hut. Choosing the middle of winter for this trip was not my smartest decision.

A full year has already passed since I came to this world. I could leave at any time now since the cooldown has ended, but this year has been incredibly productive. More importantly, I still have not finished everything I planned to do.

There is still so much for me to learn before I move on to the next world.

After I gave her all the information I had about what was going to happen in this country, Mrs. Curtis accepted me as her student. That effectively made me a junior of the Elric brothers, even though I am a few years older than them.

My training under Teacher lasted only seven months. During that time, I turned eighteen, making me a fully-fledged adult. At least according to my old worlds laws. She not only taught me Amestrian alchemy but also trained me in martial arts specifically hand-to-hand combat, and survival skills.

She even made me undergo survival training on that small wild island in the middle of the river flowing through Dublith, even though I already knew the answer to her test from the manga.

One is all, and all is one.

Everything in the universe is connected and part of one continuous cycle.

Still, I suppose experiencing it for myself has value. There is a difference between knowing, and understanding. I cannot deny that the results speak for themselves. After all, what survival training is better than actual survival? Being thrown onto an island with nothing but a knife and no natural predators is about as efficient as it gets for a beginner.

Adding a poorly disguised Mason, the assistant from Mr. Curtis's butcher shop, who attacks me every day for combat training while secretly keeping an eye on me to make sure nothing goes wrong, makes the training even more effective.

It gives me the practical experience I need to actually learn how to fight.

I come from a modern world, after all. I am a smart honor student and a professionally trained chef, not a fighter.

Combat is not something that ever came up in my life. Because of that, this training is a necessary step for my future. Many of the worlds I will travel to are not going to be peaceful.

After completing my training under Mrs. Curtis, I begin traveling. Leaving most of my belongings with the Curtis family, I take only my camping equipment, some clothes, a laptop, a smartphone, the scanner, a camera, and some money that I exchanged as I begin my journey across the country.

My main goal is to visit every library I can access and scan their books and texts on alchemy. I also do the same for works on science and technology whenever possible.

While this world lags behind modern Earth in many areas, it also possesses some surprisingly advanced technologies.

I am talking about automail.

Although it is primarily used as a prosthetic replacement for lost limbs, automail is essentially a form of robotics powered by the biological electricity of the human body. That level of energy efficiency is extremely impressive.

It is better to have all the knowledge I can gather about it than to ignore it. Who knows how useful it might become in the future? One day, I may find myself in need of a high-quality prosthetic or even a robot.

At the same time, I start working as a wandering alchemist, mainly offering repair services to earn some money. My funds are limited, after all. Still, I cannot complain about the experience.

The most productive part of my journey, however, is my personal research. With an ever-growing collection of alchemical studies, my own library of modern scientific texts, and the manga, anime, and wiki of Fullmetal Alchemist as references, I have a lot of fun recreating the alchemy from the story.

Having detailed images of nearly every transmutation circle, along with explanations of how they function, makes the process relatively straightforward. Not every form of alchemy is suitable for me, of course. Armstrong Alchemy, for example, relies heavily on physical strength.

Major Alex Louis Armstrong can punch stone and turn it into deadly projectiles with alchemy, launching them through the air with nothing but brute force. I have several months of training behind me, which gives me a decent level of fitness and combat experience, but I am nowhere near that level of strength.

Still, carrying several sets of gloves inscribed with different transmutation circles for Flame Alchemy, Ice Alchemy, Explosion Alchemy, and other specialized forms is incredibly useful.

The feeling of rubbing my gloved fingers together to create sparks and then setting an area ablaze after filling it with highly concentrated oxygen through alchemy is exhilarating. It is a powerful ability that will undoubtedly be useful in many worlds.

These are just the forms of alchemy I recreate because I already have the finished transmutation circles available. With modern scientific knowledge, reproducing them is not particularly difficult.

Honestly, these are not even my greatest accomplishments in alchemy.

While studying alchemy, I realize that although this world is aware of atoms, it knows nothing about elementary particles.

To the people of this world, the atom of each element is the smallest thing in existence. They are not even aware of a proper atomic model.

Alchemy has several rules, but most of them are honestly inventions of the State.

The prohibition against creating gold exists largely to maintain control over the economy.

The requirement to obey the military is not even an alchemical rule. It is simply there to discourage rebellion.

And the prohibition against creating humans exists because nobody wants people building their own armies or creating Philosopher's Stones in secret. It's not even about the moral aspect or the consequeces of a failed transmutation.

These rules are easy to establish because nobody knows how to create gold without a Philosopher's Stone, and most human transmutations are desperate attempts to bring someone back from the dead. Those attempts almost always end in disaster.

The only rule truly related to alchemy is the concept of Equivalent Exchange, although even that is only partially correct. At least, it is not understood correctly by the alchemists of this world.

That realization is my greatest discovery about Alchemy.

Equivalent Exchange is commonly divided into two principles: the Law of Conservation of Mass and Energy and the Law of Natural Providence.

The Law of Conservation of Mass and Energy is accurate. Matter and energy cannot be created from nothing, nor can they simply vanish into nothingness. They mirror the rules of modern physics.

The Law of Natural Providence, however, is flawed. Or more accurately, it is limited by the current level of scientific understanding in this World.

According to the accepted theory, an object composed of a particular material or element can only be transmuted into another object with the same basic composition and properties.

It sounds reasonable and straightforward.

The problem is that it is wrong.

That law only works if you assume that the atom of an element is the smallest possible particle in the universe. Which it isn't.

It completely ignores the existence of elementary particles.

With my modern understanding of physics and enough reference materials to gain a solid grasp of the atomic model, I know that isn't true. That realization is where my personal research begins.

Trutfully even elementary particles are not the smallest particles in existence, that would be quarks and leptons, and even that may not be true. But that is part of very advanced physics currently beyond me and not productive to the topic.

My initial theory is simple. If I can reconstruct the atomic structure of one element, I should be able to turn it into another. So far, however, my results are mixed. More often than not, I end up with overly complicated transmutation circles that turn a solid bar of iron into a pile of fine iron dust. Sometimes a small explosion.

Manipulating a single element directly does not seem to work, at least not yet. For some reason, I have not managed to develop a viable transmutation circle that can directly target protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Yet I know it is possible.

After all, I succeeded through a different approach based on the same theory.

By synthesizing the two elements nickel, with an atomic number of twenty-eight, and zinc, with an atomic number of thirty, into a single atomic structure, I manage to create an equal amount of copper, which has an atomic number of twenty-nine. It sits directly between nickel and zinc on the periodic table.

That experiment proves that atomic structures can be altered through alchemy, effectively rendering the Law of Natural Providence obsolete. All I need to do now is develop a transmutation circle capable of targeting elementary particles directly instead of relying on my synthesis workaround.

It is a completely new approach to alchemy.

Atomic Alchemy.

An alchemy capable of transforming any element into another.

It would solve my financial problems as well. After all, I could fulfill the classic dream of every alchemist and turn anything into gold.

Synthesizing gold should also be possible, but I want to achieve it through a direct one-to-one conversion method. It would make for an incredible combat ability.

Once I perfect it, Atomic Alchemy will become absurdly overpowered.

For that goal, I continue deepening my research into alchemy and searching for every scrap of knowledge I can find, even if it means wandering through this frozen hell.

After all, there is still an entirely different branch of alchemy out there.

One that I have not been able to study yet because it is primarily practiced in Xing, a distant country far beyond the great desert at Amestris eastern border.

I am talking about Alkahestry.

Anyone capable of teaching it to me is not in Amestris yet. Fortunately, someone with a deep understanding of both Alkahestry and Alchemy left behind a set of notes.

And I finally found them.

Right there in the middle of nowhere stands a lone hut. Half of its roof has collapsed, yet I recognize it immediately.

Not only are the notes I am searching for inside, but it also offers some protection from this fucking cold.

With my goal at last in sight, I gain a burst of new energy and hurry through the snow. Within moments, I reach the door and pull it open before rushing inside.

Only to discover that I am not alone.

What is he still doing here?

That deadly glare.

A muscular man with red eyes, a dark complexion, and silver hair stares back at me. The most striking feature, however, is the large X-shaped scar covering the upper half of his face. Hidden beneath his jacket, on his right arm, is a complex and intricate tattoo.

I do not know his real name. It is never truly revealed in the story.

Everyone simply calls him Scar.

A survivor of the Ishvalan Civil War.

Or more accurately, the genocide.

His people were slaughtered as part of the nationwide transmutation circle.

"Who are you?" Scar asks threateningly.

"I'm a wanderer who knows a few things. Although I didn't expect you to still be here. Weren't you planning to hunt State Alchemists?"

That is how he first appears in the story, after all.

As a serial killer who hunts State Alchemists. Not too far into the future.

To be fair, he has every reason to be angry. State Alchemists are the military's weapons of mass destruction and played a major role in the genocide of his people.

Yet the world is not black and white.

My words are not the smartest choice if I want to de-escalate the situation. He instantly drops into a combat stance, ready to attack me.

"How do you know that? Are you planning to stop me? Are you a State Alchemist?"I quickly shake my head. There is no need for him to get the wrong idea.

Sure, I am stronger now and have some fighting experience, but he has been a trained warrior monk for more than a decade. Alchemy would give me a fighting chance, but I am not wearing one of my gloves right now. At this distance, he is without a doubt faster than me.

A stupid mistake on my part.

"No, I'm not a State Alchemist. While I am an Alchemist, I have no intention of ever becoming one. Let's just say I have seen the past, present, and future of this world. I know what happened in Ishval, and I even know why it happened. That's why I'm here. I want to make a copy of your brother's research. By the way, he figured out what will happen to this country and how to prevent the disaster. And the reason why your people got slaughtered."

"What? How is that possible? Did you spy on me?" He looks both confused and suspicious.

"No. I just had some visions. For example, I saw you killing the Rockbells, the people who saved your life."

Let's try a different approach.

"If you want to make amends for that, don't target the Fullmetal Alchemist. He is practically a nephew to them, and he will likely become their future son-in-law. Neither was he part of Ishavl. Not all State Alchemists are bad, nor are all of them responsible for what happened in Ishval. The Strong Arm Alchemist, for example, tried to help several Ishvalans escape. You should choose your targets carefully. If you truly want to save as many innocent lives as possible, you will eventually need some of their help. Although, if you want to kill a State Alchemist, go to East City first. Kill the Sewing-Life Alchemist, Shou Tucker. Do it as soon as possible."

"Why? I don't remember him from Ishval either."

"He wasn't involved in the extermination of Ishval. He wasn't even a State Alchemist back then. But he is a sick bastard. To obtain his State Alchemist certification, he transmuted his wife into a chimera. If he doesn't produce any significant research soon, he will lose his position by the end of the year. He has a young daughter and a dog..."

I had planned to deal with him myself before leaving this world, but killing someone is not something I am ready for yet. At least not a father, even if he is a sick freak. If I can send Scar after him and save Nina, that would be another good deed accomplished.

"You can't be serious. His own daughter?"

Even Scar looks disturbed by the thought.

"Yes. He will turn his daughter into a chimera. The Fullmetal Alchemist will discover the truth, and you will eventually kill Tucker while he is being transported to prison. But by then, it will already be too late for Nina. You will end up releasing her from her suffering as well. That's at least what my Visions showed me. If you prioritize Tucker now, you can save a life. And if you can take his research data with you, I would appreciate it."

I add the last part as an afterthought.

Scar narrows his eyes at me again.

"Why would you want something like that?"

"Not to create human chimeras, obviously. I'm not the military. But knowledge is still knowledge. It is better to use it for good than allow evil people to keep it. The less information the military has access to, the better. Not everyone in the military is evil, but the highest levels of leadership absolutely are. Ishval was just one part of a much larger plan."

"Just tell me what you know," he sighs, giving me another glare. "Everything."

I shrug before pulling out a map of this oddly circular country. Placing a cross on it, I say, "Ishval, 1901."

Then I add another mark.

"Reole, Spring 1914."

"What do you mean, Reole in the spring of this year?" he asks, his eyes widening as he stares at the map in shock.

Every location I mark is part of a massive transmutation circle.

"That's the next bloody conflict. It has already been set up to happen by the beings acting behind the scenes. They even created a new religion there to make it possible."

I point at the mark.

"How can I stop it?" he asks urgently.

"You probably can't. At least not without taking control of the entire Military. Your brother realized that. Something on this scale isn't something one person can stop alone. He discovered that this entire country is being turned into a nationwide transmutation circle. Instead of trying to stop it directly, he came up with a method to use the circle against its creators and prevent a catastrophe."

I pause before continuing.

"Not everyone in the military is your enemy. All of you are victims of a much larger and older conspiracy. Please hear me out. I'll tell you everything I know, and then you can decide what you should do. In exchange, let me make a copy of your brother's research. Do we have a deal?"

Scar studies me for a long moment before finally nodding.

Success.

The combination of Alkahestry and Alchemy research notes is finally within reach.

More importantly, I will finally be able to replicate that fancy tattoo on his arm.

I couldn't recreate it with alchemy alone, even though I had detailed images of it. Some parts of the design clearly belong to Alkahestry rather than alchemy.

And I am not stupid enough to experiment with something like that based on guesswork alone.

A backlash is no joke.

———

Happy that Scar didn't kill me, I pull out my laptop after he left for his hunt on State Alchemists and began studying his brother's research.

I can't convince him to completely abandon his crusade, but I do manage to make him stop targeting every State Alchemist indiscriminately.

He will also seek out my teacher soon and hand over his brother's research notes so they can work together to redirect the nationwide transmutation circle.

Of course, Shou Tucker will be gone soon as well.

I feel sorry for the shock it will cause Nina, but it is still better for her to grieve than to be transformed into an abomination by her own father.

For now, however, I have research to focus on.

This area of the Briggs Mountains is isolated enough for me to experiment freely.

After hours of studying, I am finally ready to try again.

Pulling a pair of nylon stockings from my backpack, I place them inside a highly complicated transmutation circle drawn on a large sheet of paper together with some waterproof paint.

The moment I activate it, the stockings begin to reshape. The paints shift and flow alongside them as alchemical lightning crackles through the circle.

Only seconds later, the transmutation is complete.

In front of me lies a pair of removable sleeve tattoos.

What did you think I needed the stockings for?

Honestly, just remembering the day I bought them while preparing for another world is awkward.

The female cashier gave me the strangest look.

Unfortunately, I didn't have much choice.

I couldn't find any other suitable nylon material quickly enough without ordering it online, and I only had twenty-four hours to prepare.

Still, the joke is on them.

After pulling the sleeves onto my arms, I place both hands on the ground.

With nothing more than a thought, the entire area ripples.

Spikes erupt from the earth in front of me.

This is awesome.

[ End of the Chapter ]