Chapter 179 - Number 48 & 66

"This is it?" Miyuki looked at the abandoned building in front of her. They had secretly sneaked out as Ed and Al were sulking.

"Yes," Tatsuya sighed. Because of his perfect memory, he remembered the map and layout of Central City.

This place was the odd one out since the stone needed numerous human sacrifices to be completed. This abandoned lab right next to the prison was the best place to create more stones. They had hoped to check this out while Ed and Al were sulking. But,

"Come out..." Tatsuya spoke. That was the reason he was sighing. Those kids turned out to be smarter than he thought.

Soon, sounds of armor's footsteps resounded behind them. Miyuki glanced back at Ed and Al.

"Why are you here?"

Ed had a nervous grin on his face, "I didn't believe for a moment that you would give up and go home!" He always felt like a kid in front of them.

They said they were going home. But, it seemed too soon to Ed... it was like they were secretly trying to get away.

Al rubbed back of his iron head, "Sorry..."

Tatsuya gave them a side glance, "Come then...and create something that covers the sound of your steps."

Standing in front of the sidewall, with a small vent entrance, "we can enter from here. Although Al might not be able to come." Ed suggested.

Tatsuya clapped his hands together and put his hand on the wall, created a gate, "let's go in."

"Wait!" Ed shouted but soon covered his mouth.

He whispered, "We can't just walk in?!!"

"Why not?" Tatsuya opened the door and walked inside. Miyuki chuckled at the puzzled Ed and Al and gestured them to come in.

The building did look entirely abandoned.

"Can you feel any, Chi?" Tatsuya asked Miyuki. Who shook her head, "Not really, but there is something." She felt something, it was too faint.

As they went deeper inside, lights were illuminating the floor.

Ed narrowed his eyes, watching them, "doesn't look all that abandoned."

His face turned to a big smile... Finally, a clue.

Soon, they reached a large hall with pillars and a transmutation circle in between.

"This is the place," Miyuki muttered, walking on the circle.

"Where they create Philosopher stones?" Ed looked around the whole room.

"It is."

The sound attracted everyone's attention. Two people wearing pieces of armor stood in front of them.

"Hohoho!! So many people to cut!" The other armor spoke.

Miyuki's face turned solemn, "their souls are attached to the piece of armor. They are just like Al."

Ed frowned, hearing that, "are you sure?"

Tatsuya glanced at Al, "they are probably created with Al as the prototype."

"With me?!" Al asked, startled.

"Yes, this body might be a curse to you, but for many power-hungry, death fearing crazy people, it is a blessing. They could become immortal this way. Or, create an army that doesn't feel pain, doesn't get tired, and could be easily repaired or abandoned at a moment's notice." In the time he treated Al, even he got the idea for this project. After realizing, how far could the Military of this country go. He even had a feeling, he might see something like this. He was just worried that this would be too hard for Al.

Al clenched his fist as anger resounded in his childish voice, "that's crazy!!"

"This is not good news, since there isn't an army here...there is some problem with the process, big enough that they had to abandon the project."

Ed's eyes stared at Tatsuya; desperation hid deep with them as he understood Tatsuya's meaning, "it is also possible that they just started the project?"

Tatsuya glanced at him before sighing, "Yeah..."

"You are quite smart! To figure out so much information by just looking at us." The thin armor with katana spoke.

The fat armor with butcher knife laughed, "Right! Right! I love cutting smart people."

"Who are you two!" Ed jumped ahead.

"I have been entrusted for guarding this place. For now, you may call me number 48. My orders are to eliminate any intruder that trespasses here."

"and you?" Ed glanced at the other one.

"Number 66!! At least that the name I got when I started this job! If you hear my real name, you would...Hey!!!! Stop ignoring me when I am telling you something important!!!" Number 66 shouted pointed his butcher knife at Tatsuya, who was sitting down and studying transmutation circle.

He threw one of the butcher's knives in his hands at Tatsuya.

Tatsuya didn't even look up and caught the butcher knife, "take care of them..." He was busy studying the scratches, marks, bloodstains on the floor. It was much like what they thought; there were a few chain marks and bloodstains. Tatsuya was already imagining this circle on top of the map, and it seemed to perfectly fit.

They really did want to make a philosopher stone out of whole Amestris.

Moreover, they might even have a gigantic philosopher stone from Xerxex. He could only hope the power from that stone was running out, or they might be in trouble.

They probably had more than one philosopher stone. Did their powers come from a stone? or did a stone powered theirs.

It was one of the possibilities he thought about...but to see it come true was disturbing in every way.

It did explain how that thing in the shadows was so powerful; it was powered by a philosopher's stone.

While he was talking, Ed and Al already started fighting the enemies in front.

"Are we just going to let them fight?" Miyuki asked while keeping an eye on the two.

"We are waiting for the guests to come..." Since they were here, those things would come for sure.

Anyway, if the two couldn't defeat these tin cans...they would be dead in moments if they meet real monsters.

Ed jumped around dodging slashes from number 48... sometimes he rolled around, sometimes he somersaulted. Although it was only for a moment, Miyuki felt Ed's hand jerk as if something was wrong.

On the other hand, Al seemed to be handling his opponent much better; he just punched the man away.

Number 66 shouted at Al as he tried to cut him, "WHY - DONT - YOU!! LET ME CUT - YOU!!!!"

AL dodged him again and again until he got his chance and attacked him.

His punch separated Number 66's head from his body, "you really are..." He heard Tatsuya...but those people used his situation to experiment, "I am sorry." He felt it was his fault that these people ended up like this.

"Huh!! What do you mean, sorry!! If you are sorry, let me cut you!!!"

Ed deflected number 48's attack with his hand blade, he could hear Al's apologetic voice, "Hey Al!! Don't you dare apologize!!! This is not your fault!!!" He stopped dodging number 48's attack and stood straight, "if this is anyone's fault, then it's mine!!"

He lunged forward towards number 48, slashing at him, who easily dodged it.

"So you are the one behind it? Who came up with the idea to bind the soul to armor suit?"

Ed's face turned to a stammering grin, "Yes...in ways, I am the one responsible for your situation. It makes me sick!"

Tatsuya stood up, brushing the dust off his knees, "want to help him?"

"Yes..." Al was performing exceptionally well against his opponent. But Ed wasn't strong enough.

"Just help him a bit..."

Miyuki dropped down and drew a transmutation circle on the ground. She took out a few Xing knives from the system storage and dropped them on the transmutation circle. While throwing more on Number 48's leg.

As she activated the transmutation circle, it discharged blue lightning that traveled in the ground. It transmuted the earth, trapping Number 48 with it.

Ed didn't let go of this; he lunged forward to attack Number 48.

"That's dirty!! You think you could defeat me?!!" Number 48 raised his sword and slashed horizontally. But, Ed jumped up to dodge the upcoming attack. Knocking Number 48's head off.

Since Number 48 showed him his head seal, removing his head should stop him from moving.

He tried his best to catch his breath once Number 48's body fell to the ground.

Al's opponent was already on the ground; Al transmuted earth, trapping Number 66's body on the floor.

Ed walked forward, picking Number 48's head, "Now, tell us everything about philosophers stone!"

"Never!"

"Cut the tough act! You have already lost! Just tell me!"

Number 48 had a menacing look, "I haven't lost yet."

"Ed!"

"Brother, be careful!!"

Miyuki and Al warned him about the oncoming danger. Ed glanced back in horror, "Impossible!"

The armor was standing up, about to attack him. He barely dodged the attack but still bled.

Miyuki was about to rush towards Ed, but Tatsuya held her in place. Not only that, he bent down to transmute earth that stopped Al from helping him.

"Don't worry, he should be fine!"

"Onii-sama!! What do you mean should!! It's not enough!! Fine is not enough!!" Miyuki berated Tatsuya.

"The kid will be fine." Tatsuya had no plans of letting her go. Instead, he wrapped his hand around her stomach to keep her in place.

"But, Onii-sama!!" Miyuki was getting more worried as more Ed was pushed into a corner. She stopped struggling.

"I'll protect him, don't worry."

"Tatsuya!! Please let me go!!" Al shouted, trapped.

Ed fell on his back, scampering back. The suit of armor walked towards him, "I don't know why they wouldn't help you. But, so be it...it's over for you, kid!"

He raised his hand to slash down and cut Ed down.

'I...? I...will die...?'

Suddenly, he started shouting.

"AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH," He clapped his hands and lunged forward, barely dodging the slash, but it still made him bleed.

The moment his hand touched Number 48's brother, whose soul was bound to armor. It exploded and broke apart into two.

"How can this be..."

"Heh, you reminded me of someone I don't like."

"Ed! Ed!" Al came running to Ed right after he was released.

Tatsuya was already standing near them, with a sword created through Alchemy.

"Tatsuya! Why did you do that?!" Al was mad at him! Ordinarily, he was never angry with Tatsuya, but this time he went too far.

Tatsuya patted his armor, "because if I didn't, you would die in the fight against them."

"!" Al was a bit startled. While Edward narrowed his eyes, "Who?"

Suddenly, Tatsuya turned around and slashed, deflecting something sharp, tough thing that was about to stab them, "them..."

Ed and Al widened their eyes as Miyuki got ready for a fight.

From the shadows, two people walked out, a sultry woman and the androgynous male.

The two with the Oroborus Tattoo...