The Fifth Laboratory

At the fifth laboratory, Al fights Barry the Chopper outside, and Edward faces Slicer inside. It is revealed that both opponents are souls of murderers affixed to armor. Edward struggles in his battle when his automail arm malfunctions, the result of Winry forgetting to add a small bolt back in Resembool. Alphonse initially has the advantage in his fight, until Barry suggests that Alphonse never truly existed, saying he was a doll made for Edward. Contemplating on the possibility, Alphonse recalls that Edward was afraid of telling him something. Edward is particularly troubled when his opponent turns out to be a pair of brothers, each controlling a different part of the armor. Edward manages to defeat Slicer by use of Scar's destruction technique, but before he can get any information from the two brothers, they are killed by Lust and Envy. Edward demands to know who they are and tries to use alchemy, but his automail arm breaks and he gets knocked out by Envy. Outside, Barry almost gets the upper hand on Alphonse, but he is saved by the arrival of Brosh and Ross. Lust and Envy destroy the lab to cover up the evidence of the philosopher's stone, but not before carrying Edward outside and handing him over to Brosh and Ross, commenting that he is a valuable resource.