Part 4/8:
Despite being told the stone is a mere fake, Edward remains undeterred in his mission. He reunites with childhood friend Winry, who offers her support, and the story unfolds as Edward and Alphonse begin to piece together the knowledge they hope will lead them to the stone.
The plot thickens as a secret cabal of villains, including the homunculus Lust and her companions, Envy and Gluttony, begin to take shape. After a sequence of confrontations, betrayals, and violent skirmishes, Edward learns from the dying Dr. Marco that the Philosopher’s Stone has dark origins tied to human sacrifice, particularly involving prisoners of war.