Chapter Summaries

Amelia led a Ten Rings Council meeting that addressed the Death Cult, the Empire’s growing population of people who neither worked nor studied, and the Empire’s lack of unity. Percy Weasley proposed collecting Emotional Energy from Skynet users, and Amelia sent Edward her thoughts on strengthening imperial cohesion.

• Amelia asked about the investigation into the Death Cult leader’s Reincarnation Curse, and the council agreed to consider assigning military support to the department handling cult affairs.
• Percy Weasley reported that 5% of the Empire’s population neither worked nor studied, and the council debated why they spent their time playing games on Skynet.
• Percy proposed using Skynet to collect Emotional Energy from the unproductive population, and Amelia made him responsible for implementing the plan, including access to the Soul Link and Soul-Soothing Potions.
• After the meeting, Amelia concluded that the Empire lacked cohesion and considered waiting for old national identities to fade or starting an interstellar war to unite its citizens.
• Amelia sent Edward the meeting’s information and her thoughts on resolving the Empire’s problems.

Ian Bones reviewed his stalled magical progress and decided he could not wait for his research projects to finish before leaving. After discussing the coming departure with his father, he turned to his scheduled duties and a worried Pheobe Delacour.

• Ian learned from Morgana that he had lost all 14,234 simulated battles against [Bleach] and that his progress had nearly stopped at the Third Limiter.
• Ian reviewed the Magic Core Project and decided to leave before it was complete, while still pursuing the liquefaction of magic.
• Ian approved an interstellar war proposal and spoke with his parents, telling Edgar Bones he was preparing to leave and agreeing not to tell his mother about the danger.
• Ian learned that Pheobe Delacour was stressed about an upcoming inspection and decided to write her a reassuring note himself.

Ian prepared to depart on a dangerous voyage despite Rowena and Luna’s fears, then arrived in Academic City to begin inspecting the tower lords. The chapter ended as his announcement to start with the Second Tower sparked a commotion.

• Rowena warned Ian not to eat before she checked his breakfast for poison and urged him to delay his voyage, but Ian explained his resurrection plans and refused.
• Ian visited Luna Lovegood at the Seventh Magic Tower, where she revealed that she could not foresee his dangers and made him promise to return alive.
• Three days later, Amelia, the councilors, and hundreds of soldiers welcomed Ian in Academic City.
• Amelia told Ian she had argued with Susan over her career, and Ian helped her understand why Susan had chosen to become a painter.
• Ian announced that the tower-lord inspection would begin with the Second Tower, prompting a commotion.

Ian halted Marco Griffin’s attack on the delegation and advised him to explore battle aura and its possible connection to qi. At the Second Magic Tower, Narcissa Malfoy and Solair Greengrass revealed Psychic Energy, and Ian persuaded the council to fund research into it as a power system that could work independently of magic.

• Marco Griffin broke through the guards, but Ian stopped them from using greater force and asked Marco why he had come.
• Marco asked Ian to guide wizard knights, and Ian suggested they study battle aura alongside the Eastern wizards’ research into qi.
• Ian explained to the delegation that he had supported creative industries to inspire new advances, then the group visited the Second Magic Tower.
• Solair and Narcissa described how implanted animal souls and organs had led to genetic mutations and helped advance the Empire’s genetic technology.
• Narcissa presented Psychic Energy discovered in people implanted with Nivash souls, and Ian explained how it could protect civilization against anti-magic technology.
• The council agreed to increase Narcissa and Solair’s research funding, and the delegation departed for the next tower.

Ian inspected the Ninth, Eighth, and Fifth High Towers, reviewing projects that could support energy conversion, space exploration, and the activation of Leyline Nodes. He left the Magic Tree project underway as a possible long-term defense against Death.

• George Weasley showed Ian the Ninth High Tower's research converting electrical energy into magic power, and Ian improved the solar conversion design while assigning George further work after his planned vacation.
• Cedric Diggory demonstrated the Eighth High Tower's AG-23 scout automaton, which could travel across land, air, and water and was ready for mass production.
• Neville Longbottom showed Ian the Magic Tree, which stabilized Leyline Node energy and released magic power into the environment.
• Ian learned that activating a minor node with a Magic Tree could take five centuries and told Neville to continue researching possible ways to accelerate the process.

Hermione presented the completed Mage Project to Ian and the Council, explaining how people could become mages and what limits their abilities. Ian approved worldwide screening for mage talent, while Amelia worried that the project might deepen social divisions.

• Ian reunited with Hermione at the First Tower, and she led him and the Council delegation to her laboratory.
• Hermione explained that mages needed to sense magic power and possess a Magic Body, and that their cores could store varying amounts of magic power.
• Ian and Amelia discussed introducing meditation lessons for children and addressing the risk of magic poisoning when Leyline Nodes were activated.
• Hermione revealed that mages controlled environmental magic better than most wizards, but attempts to create multiple cores had destroyed the test subject’s ability to use magic.
• Ian approved worldwide screening for mage talent, and Amelia privately worried the project would divide the population into mages, wizards, and ordinary people.
• As Ian prepared to leave for another tower, Hermione telepathically insisted that she and the others accompany him next time.

Ian and the Council inspected research at the Third and Tenth Towers, including bloodline transplantation, Dragon Kings, and an ancient Lemurian spaceship. Ian left concerned that activating the Leyline Nodes could reconnect the Empire to other dimensions and create a new danger.

• Pheobe Delacour reported that bloodline transplantation failed on ordinary people, while mages survived but inherited magical creatures’ traits and instincts.
• Pheobe showed Ian and the Council the recreated Ice Dragon King; Ian suggested each Dragon King was unique and could be reborn after its predecessor died.
• Ian told Amelia that he sought knowledge from other worlds to prepare the Empire for threats such as Herpo and Dragonkind.
• Tower Masters Obudu Alvoroto and Sali presented an ancient Lemurian spaceship whose engine had used energy from an Elemental Pool.
• Alvoroto and Sali explained that the Solar System’s magic vacuum and the Lemurian Cataclysm might block contact with other dimensions, leading Ian to worry that activating Leyline Nodes could restore those connections.
• After inspecting other towers, Ian and Amelia went alone to the Fourth Tower.

Ian inspected the unfinished Uranus Project Floating City and explained his fears for the Empire before attending the ceremony for the Arcane Empire’s first expedition beyond the Solar System. The chapter ended as Commander Shepard ordered the fleet to start its Void Engine.

• Nicolas Flamel and Perenelle showed Ian the Floating City’s unfinished systems, including challenges with its Void shield, core enchantments, and energy-hungry Void Cannon.
• Ian advised the alchemy masters on technical improvements and explained that fear of losing the Empire had driven his preparations for the expedition.
• Ian and the Council delegation arrived in Jupiter’s orbit and met Arthur Weasley and Commander Shepard at the observation station.
• Ian addressed citizens across the Empire and blessed the volunteers departing to search for habitable planets, civilizations, and knowledge.
• After Arthur confirmed the fleet was ready, Commander Shepard ordered the Void Engine started.

Ian sent an expedition fleet to a distant star system, then prepared to depart through a World Gate while arranging safeguards for the Empire. He entered the Void, beginning his journey into the dimensions beyond.

• Ian ordered the fleet to activate its Void Engines, and it reached a distant star system to scan for habitable planets.
• Ian told Dumbledore to monitor the universe’s reaction and discussed the Empire’s unresolved magical limitations and dormant ancient beings.
• Ian prepared to travel with Morgana, taking the auxiliary server, controlled Obscuruses, and Rowena’s Void Energy devices.
• At a secret meeting, Ian assigned Grindelwald to watch the Atlanteans, arranged protection for Harry, ordered Luna to monitor the Empire, and established an emergency plan if Herpo crossed the boundary of life and death.
• Ian visited McGonagall at Hogwarts, reassured the Sorting Hat, and promised to take care before leaving.
• Ian checked his equipment at the Belize Laboratory and stepped through the World Gate into the Void.

Ian entered the Fullmetal Alchemist universe and waited to see whether the Gate of Truth would react to his arrival. With no warning after three days, he began secretly collecting alchemical knowledge and set up a laboratory in Amestris.

• Ian used Harry's Luck attribute to guide the World Gate to a new universe, then entered it after concealing his arrival with barriers.
• Ian identified the world as Amestris and chose to wait three days for a warning from the Gate of Truth before investigating further.
• Morgana reported that the Elric Brothers were in Liore and that Ian's magic power was suppressed, though he could still protect himself.
• After three peaceful days, Ian used invisibility and Apparition to steal alchemical texts and read the memories of renowned alchemists.
• Ian found Dr. Marcoh and obtained the complete Philosopher's Stone formula from his mind, then bought a mansion and converted it into a temporary laboratory.

Ian studied Alchemy, discovered that magic power could drive and amplify transmutations beyond Equivalent Exchange, and prepared to perform Human Transmutation to investigate the Gate of Truth. The chapter ended as lightning swallowed him inside the Transmutation Circle.

• Ian drew a Transmutation Circle and used Leyline Energy to turn stone slabs into a spear.
• Ian tested Alchemy with his magic power and produced a much larger battle-axe, finding that magic power increased the mass and volume of transmuted products.
• Ian spent days studying Alchemy and experimenting with transmutations, while avoiding Human Transmutation.
• Ian completed an unprecedentedly complex Transmutation Circle and began Human Transmutation to see Truth and test his theories about the Gate of Truth.

Ian attempted Human Transmutation, learned from the Gate of Truth that souls could not be restored after returning to the Cosmic Energy current, and confronted Truth about the Akashic Records. He was expelled from the Gate with a plan to use Father’s National Transmutation Circle to reach that higher knowledge.

• Ian used two prisoners as the price for creating a body and attempting to recall a soul through his Transmutation Circle.
• The Gate of Truth appeared, and Ian learned that souls returned to the Cosmic Energy current and could not be recalled after death.
• Ian asked Truth whether he could interfere in the world’s affairs and whether Truth accessed the Akashic Records.
• Truth sent Ian back to the laboratory after he suggested that both of them might borrow access to a higher knowledge base.
• Ian resolved to pursue the Akashic Records through Father’s National Transmutation Circle and destroyed the mindless body he had created.

Ian investigated the Gates of Truth and discovered that every soul, including those of clones, could manifest one, opening the possibility of teaching alchemy across the Empire. He planned to study the local Philosopher’s Stone next and establish an identity in this world.

• Ian questioned Morgana about the Authority she sensed in Truth and found her Gate of Truth beside his in the Soul Dimension, where it connected to the Prime Universe’s main server.
• Ian tested a wizard, a Muggle, and their clones, projecting his own Gate of Truth into a prisoner’s Soul Space and causing a new gate to appear.
• Ian concluded that all beings with souls could have Gates of Truth, though possessing one did not guarantee alchemical ability.
• Ian demonstrated pure Alchemy without magic and considered developing a personal style called Lightning Alchemy.
• Morgana listed the next research topics, and Ian chose to begin with the Philosopher’s Stone before establishing an identity in the world.

Ian studied Philosopher's Stones and discovered that wizard souls produced the most powerful stones, then visited Izumi Curtis to exchange alchemical knowledge. Izumi learned that her Human Transmutation had never summoned her son's soul, and Ian left her a potion to treat her damaged organs.

• Ian used a thousand clones to create a Philosopher's Stone and found that stones made from wizard souls were most powerful but carried the strongest resentment.
• Ian ordered Morgana to calculate the optimal ratio of soul energy, vitality, and magic power for improving Superior Philosopher's Stones.
• Ian traveled to Dublith and introduced himself to Izumi Curtis as an alchemist seeking to exchange knowledge.
• Ian and Izumi used their Gates of Truth to trade alchemical knowledge, and Izumi realized that her Human Transmutation had never brought back her son's soul.
• Ian asked Izumi to marry him, then proved stronger than Sig in an arm-wrestling contest after Izumi refused.
• Ian left Izumi a potion that could heal her damaged internal organs, and he departed while Izumi and Sig considered his offer.

Ian investigated the world’s qi and Chimera research before realizing Morgana had forgotten to warn him about September 4, 1914. He arrived at the Elric brothers’ confrontation with Shou Tucker and separated Nina from the Chimera, leaving Edward amazed and hopeful about restoring Alphonse.

• Ian concluded that he needed to travel to Xing to study qi and its potential for improving magic.
• Ian and Morgana discussed using soulless, chip-controlled Chimeras as inexpensive soldiers, though their upkeep would require enormous resources.
• Morgana realized she had forgotten to remind Ian of the date, and Ian immediately teleported to the building where the Elric brothers confronted Shou Tucker.
• Ian stopped Lisa Hawkeye’s bullet by decomposing it, then examined Nina and determined that he could separate her soul from the dog’s.
• Ian used a Transmutation Circle and material ingredients to restore Nina as a girl and separate her from the dog.
• Edward was shocked that Ian had performed the transmutation unharmed and wondered whether Ian could restore Alphonse.

Ian Alvin Bones saved Nina from her Chimera form, then explained why his method could not restore the Elric brothers’ bodies and demonstrated his power to the suspicious group. He stayed invisible until Scar killed Shou Tucker, using the moment to extract Scar’s memories of research into Alchemy and Xing’s Alkahestry before disappearing.

• Ian used Legilimency to soothe Nina’s trauma and put her to sleep, then told Edward and Alphonse that his method could not recover the bodies they had paid to open the Gate of Truth.
• Ian introduced himself as a traveler from Cretan and explained his theory of teleportation, while declining to reveal what he had paid to use it.
• Ian demonstrated Flame Alchemy without transmutation gloves, silencing Mustang, Hawkeye, and the Elric brothers before making himself invisible.
• Ian remained hidden and waited for Scar, who arrived that night and killed Shou Tucker.
• Ian used Legilimency on Scar to copy his brother’s research on combining Alchemy with Xing’s Alkahestry, then vanished into the darkness.

Father ordered Lust and Gluttony to capture Ian Alvin Bones by using Nina Tucker as bait, but Ian anticipated the plan and defeated them. He replaced them with puppets under Morgana’s control and took the real Homunculi to his laboratory to study Gluttony’s pseudo-dimension.

• Father ordered Lust and Gluttony to bring Ian back, and Envy proposed kidnapping Nina Tucker to lure him out.
• Lust and Gluttony arrived at Nina’s safe house, where Ian was waiting for them.
• Ian deflected Lust’s attack with an electromagnetic field and used a calibrated sound wave to immobilize both Homunculi.
• Ian made Flesh Puppets from Lust and Gluttony’s blood, implanted Philosopher’s Stones in them, and had Morgana take control of the copies.
• The disguised puppets left to report to Father, while Ian sealed the real Lust and Gluttony in containment vessels and returned to his laboratory.

Envy returned to Father with news that Lust and Gluttony had failed to capture Ian, while Ian dissected the three Homunculi and studied their Philosopher’s Stones to find a safer path of evolution. After learning the truth about the Stone, Edward and Alphonse decided to seek Ian’s help, and they left with his address.

• Envy reported that Ian had trapped Lust and Gluttony, and Father ordered Envy to investigate Greed while sending Lust and Gluttony after Scar.
• Ian revealed that he had captured Lust, Gluttony, and Greed and used Morgana’s memory analysis to study how Homunculi were created.
• Ian concluded that fusing a Philosopher’s Stone directly with his magic core could corrupt his soul, then prepared to experiment on Gluttony’s False Gate of Truth.
• Edward and Alphonse learned that Philosopher’s Stones were made from living people and decided to seek Ian’s alternative method for restoring their bodies.
• Edward found Ian’s business card with his temporary Central City address, and the brothers hurried out to find him.

Ian weighed whether to contact his family in the Arcane Empire, then hosted Edward and Alphonse and explained why he could save Nina when they could not. The brothers left questioning whether to preserve their humanity or pursue power without limits.

• Ian and Morgana agreed not to contact the Arcane Empire until they understood Truth and the world's underlying laws better.
• Edward and Alphonse found Ian's hidden mansion, which only people carrying his token could see, and Ian explained the difference between Alchemy and magic.
• Edward asked why Ian had saved Nina without a Philosopher's Stone when the brothers had failed to save their mother.
• Ian said the brothers had accepted human limits to preserve their morality, while he had sacrificed parts of his humanity to gain power beyond those limits.
• Alphonse asked whether Ian regretted his choices, and Ian said he did not regret his path but sometimes regretted sacrifices others had been forced to make.
• Edward and Alphonse left the mansion troubled by whether they should keep their moral boundaries or do whatever it took to achieve their goals.

Edward and Alphonse refused to follow Ian's path and left to seek a human way to restore their bodies. Ian then infiltrated the Führer's residence, captured Pride, paralyzed King Bradley, and read Bradley's memories, discovering surprising information.

• Edward told Alphonse they would not follow Mr. Bones's path, and the brothers left without explaining themselves to Lieutenant Hawkeye.
• Ian appeared in King Bradley's study and struck Bradley, rupturing his lung and paralyzing him with a nerve-blocking technique.
• Pride revealed himself and attacked Ian, who mocked the Homunculi as parasites dependent on humanity.
• Ian used a powerful flash to suppress Pride's shadows, sealed him in a compressed stone sphere, and kept him as a research sample.
• Ian used Legilimency to read Bradley's memories and learned something that surprised him.