The Devourer did not appreciate having its mouth tied shut.
Its body slammed against the roots hard enough to crack two of the columns holding up the rubble above us. Concrete shifted, dust poured from the ceiling, and several collectors disappeared beneath falling debris.
But the roots around the feeding pit held.
For approximately three seconds.
Teeth pushed through the flesh beneath them and snapped around the thickest section of wood. Black fluid followed, burning deep holes through the roots before the Devourer tore its mouth open again.
So much for that.
The remaining roots tightened around whatever they could reach, but the feeding pit continued widening. Flesh peeled back in layers, exposing more teeth beneath the first set.
I stared at it. "That feels unnecessary."
The Devourer answered by swallowing three collectors at once.
Its wounds began closing again.
