The accompanying Ethereal watched gloomily as the fleet dispatched troops to destroy the metal monsters. After the initial panic and his impassioned speech just now, nothing but profound fear remained in his heart.
He might be able to use this opportunity to become the Supreme Ethereal, but what then? Would he spend the days to come trembling beneath the cruel gaze of some unknown hunter?
How was he supposed to inherit the power of the Primeval Sanctuary? Those inheritance rituals had all been taught to Supreme Ethereal Aun'Va, and much of the power of control within him had already been expended.
If the armies on the planet suffered another severe blow, he could not be sure he could make those generals obey his command.
The Fire Caste might very well follow Farsight's example, defy the Ethereals' orders, and launch orbital bombardments against the planet's surface.
The Fire Caste had always been troublemakers. They never learned what submission and loyalty meant. That was why the Ethereals kept them under such strict surveillance and restrictions...
The accompanying Ethereal brooded, his thoughts in disarray. His gaze left the screen displaying the battle for T'au, and when he turned back, he saw Amalaga stuffing a T'au corpse into his mouth while the soldiers nearby showed no reaction whatsoever.
"Hi?" Amalaga tilted his head in greeting, then felt that his feeding had been interrupted. The corpse was caught in his throat.
The snake-like manner in which he swallowed left the accompanying Ethereal stunned. Then he shrieked in shock. "What are you doing?! And what are you all doing?!"
Amalaga frowned impatiently and used a blade to slice through his skin and outer muscles, allowing his throat to expand further. After swallowing the entire T'au, he swiftly flattened his bulging abdomen.
"I'm replenishing nutrients. Please stop