After the written exam, Al is forced by Mustang to drop out of the course before the physical exam to avoid revealing his body is hollow. Al protests, but Ed agrees with Mustang, not wanting his brother to become a slave of the military like he is soon to become. In the practical course of the exam, the first man makes a huge pillar, but is so exhausted he rests in front of it. The next man uses water and trees to make a hydrogen blimp. However, the pillar causes the blimp puncture which also causes it to break, and Ed rushes to the rescue. Without the use of a transmutation circle, he reverses the falling pillar and blimp before they crush the people underneath, and turns them into flower petals. This puts him at the level of State Alchemist.