"What is this?!!"
A scream came from the laboratory, followed by a series of clattering crashes. After a while, Reed burst out through the lab door—but he did not run out on his feet. He flew out supported by tentacles planted against the floor.
"My God! I've turned into some kind of octopus monster!!"
Soon, Otto emerged from the lab as well, his arms folded as he supported himself with tentacles. He adjusted his glasses and said, "Don't make such a fuss. Think about it—you won't even need lab assistants anymore. You can wash eight test tubes by yourself. Doesn't that make you happy?"
"What's there to be happy about?!" Reed wailed as he staggered along, controlling his tentacles like a newborn still learning to use its limbs. Just as he was about to continue screaming, Otto impatiently dug at his ear and said, "Stop howling. Those are the same version of super-tentacles Stark uses. Each one is worth millions of dollars."
"But I've become a monster!!"
"Can't you use your nerves to control them and shrink them down? You didn't listen to a word of the operating instructions I just explained!"
Reed froze. Then, the four tentacles behind him slowly retracted inward, transforming into thin tattoo-like patterns pressed against his back.
Reed spun around in place several times, desperately craning his neck to look behind him. Otto sighed and said irritably, "Country bumpkin."
Reed's eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to curse, but Dr. Connors walked out of the laboratory and said, "I recorded the entire process. Once this thing enters civilian use, we'll turn that footage into a negative-example instructional video so people can witness the ugly face of anti-intellectualism."
Reed was left speechless by the two of them. Then he looked down at the armor on