When Ed and Al arrive at the Central Library they discover that it has been burnt to the ground and instead are taken to see Sheska, a former employee who may have the information they seek. Meanwhile, in East City an unexplained explosion causes Colonel Mustang to restart his search for Scar.

Ed and Al sneak inside the Fifth Laboratory to search for more answers about the origins of the Philosopher's Stone. However, it is not long before they are each attacked by former death row murderers who now guard the complex.

Ed is now in a hospital recovering from his wounds and Al is unable to let go of what Number 66 told him back at the Fifth Laboratory. Meanwhile, Winry agrees to make a trip to Central in order to repair Ed's automail... again!

The Elrics scuffle with Ling Yao and his attendants, Lan Fan and Fu, visitors from Xing seeking the Philosopher's Stone. Ed may not like him, but Ling Yao's not leaving until he gets what he wants.

After learning of Hughes's fate, Ed and Al are ravaged by sadness and guilt. Envy still hides in plain sight among the State Alchemists, and another Homunculus is on the verge of infiltrating their ranks as well.

Freed by an unlikely liberator, Ross's escape is interrupted by Mustang. Even those most loyal to the Flame Alchemist are shaken by the controversial action he takes against the accused killer of Maes Hughes.

Ed's journey to a distant land of legend offers surprising new details behind Mustang's alleyway encounter with Ross. After a fateful encounter of his own, Elric learns a stunning secret about Winry's parents.

Mustang, Alphonse, Havoc, and Hawkeye split up to search a military laboratory. If Lust has her way, none of them will ever see each other alive again.