Desperately, Edward Elric gave up his flesh and spirit to save Alphonse, and now finds himself cast into the center of Munich, Germany. He battles to acclimate to a realm utterly alien to him amid the economic turmoil that followed World War I's conclusion. Cut off and unable to return home with his alchemical prowess, Edward persists in exploring alternative escape routes from the prison together with associates who resemble many of those he abandoned. As unrest stirs among Germans, neighboring nations also sense the turmoil of the disgraced country.
At the same time, Alphonse keeps probing Edward's vanishing act, studying alchemy's science in hopes of finally reuniting with his elder brother.