"Devour."
The blackness spread from Simon's palm before the Daemon's first breath.
Its silver chest sank beneath his fingers. Fine strands lifted from the dark ridges covering its ribs and disappeared into his hand.
Two eyes opened.
They stared at Simon, then at the place where his touch was pulling the ancestral body apart.
"What…?"
The six wings behind it snapped outward.
Pressure struck Simon hard enough to bend his knees. He nearly lost contact, but leaned forward instead, pressing his hand deeper against its chest.
"No. That power-"
Recognition twisted the Daemon's face.
"A Devourer?"
Its disbelief gave Simon a moment to bare his teeth.
"Why does that blood still exist? What are you doing on this path? Your origin is not here!"
Simon chuckled with a grin.
"Why does a Devourer have to stick to only its path? It devours all!"
The answer came almost casually. The grin accompanying it did not.
The Daemon struck toward his head.
