Chapter 132: Alchemy (Conclusion)

"Fullmetal Alchemist, ah, the ahoge... Too bad you don't know what's waiting for you ahead." Looking at the newspaper report on the successful candidates of this year's State Alchemist exam, along with his own photo, Daniel Davis felt a bit emotional.

Edward's ahoge was his most treasured feature because it made him appear slightly taller. Height had always been a sore spot for Edward.

Edward was the only alchemist to pass this year's State Alchemist exam, earning the title "Fullmetal Alchemist" from the Führer. Only State Alchemists had such titles.

Other than this news, the newspaper didn't have anything significant. Putting it aside, Daniel resumed his daily practice.

It wasn't the right time to interact with the Elric brothers. The seven homunculi, including the Führer, were not difficult for Daniel to handle, but the dwarf in the flask behind them was not so easily dealt with. That entity had too many Philosopher's Stones in its body.

The Elric brothers ultimately triumphed due to various factors, not least of which was their father, Hohenheim, the Light. Without Hohenheim, Edward and Alphonse would have definitely lost.

"Using over fifty million lives to gain a chance at becoming a god—this world is terrifying. Thankfully, this rule only applies here."

Over fifty million lives is a staggering number, but the human world's wars have always come with great sacrifice. The global wars, for instance, and even Hydra's Insight plan, which resulted in billions of deaths.

"Should I go to Xing to study their alchemy, or wait here for the Xingese seeking the Philosopher's Stone to come and learn from them?"

While studying alchemy, Daniel noticed something off about the alchemy in this country. For Edward and other alchemists, alchemy didn't involve energy flow, and they couldn't feel it. But Daniel could sense the energy flow and could even use his own magical power to drive alchemy, bypassing this world's energy.

Considering the origin of the dwarf in the flask, Daniel had a theory. Like the origins of titans in the world of giants, the dwarf likely came from the world of Truth, a dimensional space. Given the difficulties even the Space Stone faced in connecting quickly to this world's dimensional space, and the peculiar nature of alchemy here, Daniel speculated that the world of the Gate of Truth was the closest dimensional space to this world's surface space. This would explain why it's so hard to connect to the dimensional space here.

In the alchemist's world, entering the Gate of Truth required human transmutation and a toll. Daniel was curious if dimensional magic could bypass this toll.

Connecting to the dimensional space in Fullmetal Alchemist was tough but not impossible. With his own power, it would be hard, but he had the Space Stone, which could bridge the gap, though it would take time.

"There's supposedly a transmutation circle for the Philosopher's Stone in some research facility. I need to get my hands on that." Daniel was determined to obtain the Philosopher's Stone transmutation circle. Despite the ethical implications of using human materials, the power it offered was immense.

Unlike the Elric brothers, who swore never to use the Philosopher's Stone for personal gain, Daniel had no such qualms. If he could use evil people to create the stone, he wouldn't hesitate. He sought the Philosopher's Stone transmutation circle precisely for this reason.

The universe held many individuals who deserved to die, like Whitehall. If Daniel had known he could come to this world, he would have kept Whitehall alive to turn him into a Philosopher's Stone.

"This country's underground is filled with Philosopher's Stones. Too bad it's not easy to take them." Stealing the stones could delay the dwarf's plan but wouldn't stop it. The dwarf could always make more by instigating more wars, sacrificing more lives.

With Hohenheim's countermeasures in place, delaying the dwarf's plan would actually help it. To defeat the dwarf with nearly a million Philosopher's Stones in its body, one would have to let it complete its god-eating plan first.

Of course, if he could call in Sorcerer Supreme Ancient One to deal with it, that would work too. With enough power, plans were unnecessary.

"The abandoned Fifth Laboratory should be the place." Using Central City's map, Daniel quickly pinpointed his target location.

"This is the Philosopher's Stone transmutation circle?" Although he couldn't use space-related abilities, infiltrating the Fifth Laboratory wasn't difficult for Daniel. Under the Disillusionment Charm at night, he easily slipped in and witnessed several people, likely prisoners from the neighboring jail, being placed on a ground-carved transmutation circle. As the circle activated, they screamed in agony before collapsing. A red, blood-like substance gathered on the ground.

Several lives only produced a Philosopher's Stone slightly larger than a sesame seed.

The prisoners wore uniforms, confirming they were inmates. Amestris imposed heavy penalties, often capital punishment, under the guise of national stability but actually to provide materials for Philosopher's Stones.

"I never understood why the prince from Xing would seek the Philosopher's Stone for immortality if an emperor were already immortal. Wouldn't that negate the need to pass on the throne?"

Watching the researchers quickly dispose of the bodies and collect the stone, Daniel recalled a long-standing question.

"In this world, those in power, upon learning the Philosopher's Stone's creation method, inevitably bring misfortune to those below." In Amestris, all the top military officials were aligned with the homunculi, granted immortality. Few could resist such a temptation.

Throughout history, emperors have sought immortality, from Qin Shi Huang to later emperors who practiced alchemy.

Even in the Marvel universe, Whitehall sought the same. The Super Soldier program and decades of government experiments with enhancement serums were partly about prolonging life.

Without certain assurance, high-ranking officials wouldn't inject themselves with experimental serums. Soldiers' deaths were acceptable, but their own weren't. This was true for Daniel as well, though he refrained from human experimentation.

In the world of Fullmetal Alchemist, those in power could commit extreme atrocities for immortality. The top brass in Amestris' military didn't care about sacrificing the nation's people as long as they gained immortality. They could always conquer other nations if they ran out of their own citizens.

In Hohenheim's original country, Xerxes, the king sacrificed the entire population for immortality, only to be deceived by the dwarf into granting immortality to himself and Hohenheim instead.

"Too bad the homunculi don't practice alchemy, or I could capture one." Muttering to himself, Daniel recorded the scene with a miniature camera.

"Good thing I have Pym Particles." Besides filming, Daniel installed several smaller surveillance cameras around the area, ensuring he wouldn't have to come back in person next time.

"A state is indeed powerful, far beyond individual capability." The Fifth Laboratory housed extensive alchemy research, mostly on the Philosopher's Stone and medical knowledge.

"Lust, there's an unfamiliar scent." While Daniel was filming documents, a plump man, Gluttony, one of the seven homunculi, suddenly jumped up. Though Daniel knew what the homunculi represented, he had somewhat overlooked their specific abilities.

"Can I eat him?" Gluttony, with the ouroboros tattoo on his tongue, licked his lips and drooled.

"Someone else snuck in? Can I eat them?" Sitting seductively, Lust smiled and nodded. With her permission, Gluttony rushed out with surprising agility for his size.

"I found you." While continuing to film in the library, Daniel heard heavy footsteps behind him. Turning, he saw a large man, mouth agape, lunging at him.

Boom.

Gluttony's jaws snapped shut on a bookshelf, tearing a chunk out. Though Gluttony was fast, Daniel was faster, dodging easily and revealing himself.

"Gluttony, huh? So I've been discovered." Seeing Gluttony quickly get up and charge again, Daniel kicked him in the stomach, sending him crashing into several bookshelves.

"Time to leave." Not wanting a direct confrontation with the homunculi yet, Daniel ran outside.

He easily made it out of the Fifth Laboratory.

Boom.

Shortly after Daniel left, Gluttony smashed away the bookshelves on him and stood up again.

"He got away. Looks like our intruder isn't simple," Lust said, approaching. "We can't let this place be exposed. We must catch him."

Gluttony, looking aggrieved, nodded and immediately chased after Daniel, with Lust following closely.

"How did they find me? Was it because of alchemy?" In an alley a couple of blocks away, Daniel paused to ponder.

Though alchemy was mysterious, it had no warning system, and the technology here was limited to radios and landlines, no TVs.

"I was careless." Though he didn't figure out how he was discovered, Daniel decided to be more cautious.

Knowing he was in Fullmetal Alchemist's world, Daniel only feared the dwarf. Everyone else, including the alchemists and homunculi, didn't concern him much. Alchemy was powerful, but it couldn't transmute vibranium.

Alchemy required transmutation circles. Even someone like Edward, who had seen the Gate of Truth, had a simplified process, essentially still using circles.

The homunculi fought with brute strength, lacking technique, making them easy for Daniel to handle. Even the formidable Führer wasn't that intimidating.

With his vibranium Ant-Man suit, Daniel could defeat the Führer. His physical strength surpassed the Führer's, only lacking in technique and battlefield experience. But his reflexes compensated for that.

"I found you." Walking calmly, Daniel heard the voice again and felt a gust of wind above. Gluttony had not only caught up but was attacking from above

.

Boom.

Daniel dodged, letting Gluttony crash into the ground, creating a crater. Then he kicked Gluttony, sending him flying.

"Who are you, and why did you infiltrate that place?" A seductive voice called from behind Daniel.

"Two homunculi, huh? Well, it is an important research facility." Recognizing the figure, Daniel identified her as Lust, the female homunculus and owner of the Ultimate Spear.

"How did you discover me?" Daniel asked, ignoring Lust's question.

"Gluttony has a very keen sense of smell."

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