I am Weakness

Theory of Avarice

Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one and only truth.

So, what happened next?

Well, they couldn't go after us since Archer ordered to see Ed and Yuki and Izumi's condition took a toll on her.

Ugh, what'd he want?

I dunno, they never saw him. They escaped before they could really see him. Meanwhile, Al and I were stuck with Greed and his crew, avoiding the military as they tried to get us back.

Must've been hard on you guys.

Yeah... I think we all changed after Dublith, we all faced things that altered who we were coming in. It was scary, looking into the mirror and just seeing how different you've become. Now, Greed's lackeys took us into the sewers that were connected to the Devil's Nest, and it didn't take long for the military to invade. What resulted was a full execution of multiple men and Chimeras working under Greed's name, hell even the guy dragging me was shot dead, and even then I couldn't escape. But the military didn't stop at that, Archer ordered for everyone in The Devil's Nest to be killed, even the innocent.

What would he accomplish by doing that?

Hiding something? Making sure everyone working under Greed dies? Fun? It's hard to call with Archer. It doesn't change the fact that everyone there is dead now.

What happened next?

We saw Armstrong.

The sewers smelt of rancid dirty water at first, but upon submerging ourselves deeper we began to smell fresh blood, old blood, and burning gunpowder. Footsteps of all sorts slammed against the ground, gunshots filled the air, orders from both soldiers and burly men fired all around, the area was nothing short of pandemonium. I couldn't look anywhere without seeing a splatter of blood on the walls and the floors. If it wasn't for the adrenaline, I know would be feeling nothing but my scalding brain. At this point, I was carried by the large white-haired man on his right shoulder while Al was being carried on the left along with his hammer. Gunshots seemed like they were getting closer or maybe the echoes tricked my mind, I didn't know which it was anymore. Over the sounds of battle, I heard Greed grunt lowly. "Be smart." He ordered to his sworded man.

"Like hell!" He spat before his footsteps faded into the next turning corner.

"Greed, move!" The hammered minion demanded, his voice booming.

"Right!"

The movement began again as the floor sped in my eyes, moving in bumps unlike the smooth path like a car would. Their running was halted by a loud crash, debris, and smoke interrupting the air and disturbing the water stream nearby. An almost quiet pause drew in the air until a voice spoke out. "My name is Alex Louis Armstrong, heir to the family trade, but you can call me the Strong Armed Alchemist!"

I released a deep breath of relief. "Thank you, Major."

"Major!" Al called out.

The man lowered me to the cold concrete floor first, sending shivers down my spine the moment I hit made contact. Then Al was lowered to the ground leaving the man with only his hammer. He took a step forward, his face remaining stone hard. "My demands are simple." Armstrong started. "You give Alphonse Elric and Penelope Dewitt to me."