Strongest Maniac: Born in an Asylum

The driver was deeply shaken by the Vice Director's silhouette. If he were a writer, the scene before him would have sparked his inspiration, a story titled "The Vice Director's Silhouette" that would move the world. That silhouette was tall, sturdy, and imposing, shielding them from the attacking malevolent entity.

Vice Director Lee faced the creature, and while his silhouette was indeed impressive, his expression was tense. Sweat dripped from his forehead, he swallowed hard, and his legs were trembling. If it weren't for the long white coat concealing his calves, he would have been exposed.

"Could you go a little easy on me?"

As he stood before the monster, he suddenly remembered that he was just a weak, unarmed man. Could he really defeat a malevolent entity with just the iron rod in his hand? Don't be ridiculous. He tried to reason with the monster, hoping it would understand.

The octopus's tentacles writhed like waves. Suddenly, one of them shot out, and with a sickening thud, sent him flying.

"Vice Director!"

The driver saw the Vice Director flying back and forgot everything else. He leaped into the air, using his own body as a cushion for the Vice Director. The two of them, stacked together, slammed into the deaf and mute man lying on the roof of the ambulance.

The man had still been writing 'SOS'. Seeing the two figures flying towards him, his eyes widened in terror. He tried to scramble away, but it was too late. He ended up being a cushion for both of them. If he could speak, he would have cursed them out. You didn't save me on purpose, did you?

"Vice Director, are you okay?" the driver asked with difficulty.

Lee Fortune replied, "I'm fine. I just haven't exercised in years, so I'm a bit out of shape. You did well. If we survive this, I will definitely promote you."

"Thank... thank you, Vice Director."

"I don't like the 'Vice' part."

"Yes, Director."

"You guys should run! It's a malevolent entity! If you have any conscience, carry us and run too!"

With that, Lee Fortune and the driver passed out. In the end, their overconfidence had been their downfall.

Leo and Walter looked at each other, a hint of confusion in their eyes. They had just been discussing how cute the creature was, and now the two men were unconscious.

"Is there something wrong with them up here?" Leo asked, pointing to his head.

"Maybe," Walter said, shrinking back a little. "They're really scary."

Just then, the octopus arrived. It was powerful, pushing aside the cars that blocked its path, even throwing some off the bridge.

"It's here."

"Isn't the way it walks cute?"

"Yes, it's incredibly cute."

Leo rubbed his stomach. He was so hungry.

Walter looked around. Seeing no one dangerous, he said, "No one is watching us. I'll go find some tools. I have to hurry, before those bad people come and steal our things."

Soon, the octopus was right in front of Leo. The man and the monster stared at each other.

A tentacle reached out towards Leo, resting under his chin, then slowly wrapped around his neck. With a gentle squeeze, it could crush the human's throat.

Leo looked at the smooth tentacle, and saliva dribbled from the corner of his mouth. He could smell the sea... no, it was the smell of salt.

"It must be delicious."

Unable to bear his hunger any longer, Leo grabbed the tentacle, opened his mouth, and bit down hard, tearing off a chunk of octopus meat.

A piercing shriek echoed through the air. The octopus trembled in pain, tears welling in its eyes. It couldn't speak, but it was roaring in its mind.

Dad, come save me! A human bit me! It hurts so much! My baby arm is broken! Damn it!

The octopus swung another tentacle, which shot through the air towards Leo. But just as it was about to hit him, Leo caught it with one hand.

"Hmm?"

The octopus was stunned. It was momentarily dumbfounded, clearly not expecting to be caught.

Then, it found itself lifted off the ground. The human was holding it by its tentacle, swinging it up and slamming it into the ground.

CRASH!

CRASH!

With each impact, the bridge's surface cracked, creating small craters.

Dad, save me...

The octopus's eyes bulged. How can this be? I'm an octopus malevolent entity! I'm very powerful! But why am I being beaten up? It hurts so much! I'm going to die from the pain!

Leo stood there, swinging the octopus back and forth. He thought the cute octopus was very playful. Since it was so cute, he would play a game with it.

Walter was rummaging through a car and found a grill, oil, a small knife, and various seasonings. He recognized all of it. He had once seen a show on TV called "Delicious Barbecue" that had made his mouth water. He had memorized all the tools they used and had been looking for them ever since.

"I can't believe I found the tools from TV! I'm so happy!" Walter said, holding the tools, tears of joy streaming down his face. He had always thought those tools only existed on TV and that he would never see them in his life.

Just as Walter was celebrating, a frantic voice called out.

"Walter, come quick! I think it's dying!"

Walter heard the voice and rushed over, carrying the tools. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Leo was crouching on the ground, poking the octopus's tentacle with his finger. "I don't know," he said, upset. "We were just playing a game, and then it stopped moving. Come see, is it going to die? It's so cute, it can't die."

Walter put the tools down and looked at the barely breathing octopus, frowning. "This is serious. It's about to die. I need to give it acupuncture."

Walter took out his personal needle case, a gift from One-Eye. He was a good person, even if he didn't want to be their friend. It made both him and Leo very sad.

He took a silver needle and inserted it into a tentacle. His movements were fast, precise, and decisive.

The octopus roared in its mind. You bastard! You said you were playing, but you weren't playing, you were trying to kill me!

Leo crouched beside him, watching carefully. "This spot needs a needle too," he pointed out.

"Okay," Walter said, decisively inserting another needle.

The second needle!

The third!

...

The thirteenth!

After this needle, the octopus felt that things were not looking good. It was a strange sensation. Its not-so-bright mind was in agony. Humans, I am the Eight-Clawed Fish Baby malevolent entity! You can't do this to me! My dad will eat you!

Its tentacles, which had been twitching slightly, now lay completely still, with only the occasional, faint nerve reaction.

Walter put the needles back in their case, a look of regret on his face. "I did my best, but it still died."

"But it was so cute," Leo said.

"Yes, the cute thing still died. Is your stomach hungry?" Walter asked.

"Hungry, very hungry," Leo said, rubbing his stomach.

Walter brought over the tools. "Look, I just found all these tools over there. I know how to use them. And since the cute thing is dead, it must be delicious. We don't have to wait anymore. We can eat it now."

"Will it be delicious?" Leo asked.

"Yes. It's so cute, it must be delicious. Wait a minute, let me get the tools ready."

Soon, the grill was set up. Don't ask how a mental patient managed it; just say it was fate.

Leo sat on a tentacle and cut off a large piece with a small knife. Walter placed the tentacle on the grill and poured oil from a stainless steel basin.

Sizzle!

What a fragrant aroma! He sprinkled on some scallions, pepper, and so on.

"Walter, you're amazing," Leo said, his eyes glued to the grill, wiping the drool from the corner of his mouth.

"Heh heh," Walter said, transformed into a chef, flipping the octopus tentacles with a smug expression.

They were both filled with anticipation. The fragrant smell wafted towards them. It was so good. It seemed that the puppy and the snake weren't as delicious as this. As expected, the cutest was always the most delicious.

The octopus wasn't dead. It was still alive, just unconscious. It felt a strange sensation, as if its limbs were being detached from its body. It struggled to wake up. It instinctively tried to move its tentacles, but there was no feeling at all.

It opened its eyes and saw that its tentacles were gone. In its field of vision, it saw its own tentacles on the fire, emitting a fragrant smell. Mmm, that does smell good... wait, why am I having thoughts like that? Those are my limbs!

"Hey! Walter, it's alive!"

"What?"

The two of them stared curiously at the octopus, which was now just a head.

Six eyes met.

Then, Walter said excitedly, "I succeeded! The knowledge I learned from books is useful! I saved it! My acupuncture works, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does!" Leo was happy for Walter. He habitually took a bite of a fragrant octopus tentacle, his mouth full of greasy goodness. It was so delicious.

The two were very happy. But soon, their expressions became calm again. They sat quietly on the ground, chewing on octopus tentacles, and said sadly, "It's alive, so we can't eat its head."

"Yes."

"But it's bleeding. When it bleeds out, it will die, right? Then we can eat its head."

"Yes."

Leo and Walter looked at each other, and smiles spread across their faces. They thought this was a brilliant idea. They were so smart.

Then the two of them sat there, staring at the octopus with wide eyes, quietly waiting for it to die.

The octopus, now just a head, felt a chill run down its spine as it was being stared at. It roared in its mind.

"Dad!"

"Save me!"

"I'm just a head!"