With the greatest treasure of the Fullmetal Alchemist World already in hand, everything else ceased to matter.
Even the Spell Amplifier, which could disregard the principle of "Equivalent Exchange," and the Philosopher's Stone, which granted eternal life but required countless human sacrifices, could be left to Orochimaru to study, dissect, and unravel down to their deepest secrets.
All their achievements would ultimately become resources for Ren's further advancement.
In the Sea of All Beings, the tides rose and fell.
The Three Divine Artifacts wove together an eternally flowing radiance, bathing the entire sea in dreamlike light.
The Lord of the Empire sat cross-legged at its center, his eyes closed in concentration, while the projected motes of forty billion souls drifted around him.
A single thought encompassed the entire Empire.
The end of December, Kaiyuan Year 6.
The depths of winter were drawing to a close.
Through the Emperor's mighty power, the Fullmetal Alchemist World entered the Imperial Star's orbital system, becoming another companion planet circling the heart of the Empire.
Moonlight spilled across heaven and earth.
When the World-Pacifying Bell once again rang out across the stars, the Empire's forty-three billion subjects basked in the lingering surge of thought.
Time flowed quietly onward.
The first ray of the new year's dawn pierced the clouds and shone upon five planets.
A new year.
Had arrived.
January 2, Kaiyuan Year 7.
The sunset's fading glow spread with the chilly breeze of early spring through a world ablaze with lights.
The Imperial Central News Channel's regularly scheduled program began once more.
After the familiar opening animation, two presenters appeared on the screen.
Uchiha Chiyao wore an elegant scarlet gown that gave her a dignified, festive air.
Uchiha Ayane had chosen a suit with a pale-gold gradient, its gentle elegance tempered by an air