Chapter 35: A Beluaman Spire

Mei had walked the lands ruined by the belua. She had seen things that many would have lost themselves. On the ruined lands there is only death, and throughout the ruins she found the humans lamenting their state. The helpless people who could only pour their strength through ingenuity. She did not understand why her people thought of humans as weak when she had seen their hearts.

But the sight before her made her realize why they think of the humans as lesser. How can they possibly fight those who bend the elements to their will? They could only fear a race that could do such a thing. She understood where their thoughts of superiority come upon seeing such a scene.

How can the humans face those who have control over the power of nature? Nature's power that comes naturally to them as bending their fingers. Mei couldn't help think there are merits to the cause that others have spoken. They are a race of warriors, and yet those who stray from this path are heretics to the belief of the people.

Mei stood on the edge of the vehicle while watching the clash of blades. The weaponry of humans attacked and annihilated the belua. The etherians coordinated their attacks, bringing down the 15m belua that have appeared. Humanoid belua's have the chance to become beluaman, and that threat is something that they could not ignore. Those who mature into beluaman's are those who start possessing the power to control the ether. Once upon a time, the last beluaman almost took out the western federation that stood strong against the belua's of the deep. If not for the unification of the western and mid-eastern etherian Outriders, then that beluaman would have won.

"Looks like a beluaman has appeared," Ralf said. "So it's rather clear now why they sent the crawlers to Gharasu."

"It is serious if they sent an entire expedition to dig for veins," Ares places her rifle on her shoulder. "No sane Outrider would come to a place where a beluaman and an etherian that has reached the fifth layer fight. Still, if this is the place where things are, then does it mean?"

"There's a colony around here somewhere, not just a vein of ore. Probably another village."

"Do you think it would be another Cave Settlement?"

"Wouldn't surprise me," Ares said. "I thought it's strange that there are actual mines that they have not found. I guess this is the reason they wanted to send an entire mobile force in this area. The question that we should ask is why they are so eager to retrieve this settlement knowing that a monster like that exists?"

Ralf snorted. "It's because a monster like that is here that they want to retrieve this place. This should take a long time. But knowing how many of these bastards are coming, then it should not be a surprise why they would gather whole of the Recon Korp into this place."

"The enemies are a dozen or two. Underneath this place's probably a whole hive-biome that the belua has. It's going to be hell if they use us here. I know I can kill many of these fuckers as long as not an entire pack of them tries to fuck over us."

"Who wants to enter the home of the beluas when they are already coming out in a dozen? Just look how that beluaman is keeping our strongest tied down even with Captain Anastasia holding that monster down and the Commander blocking the way."

Their communicator rang. The command was ordering them to stay clear. The vehicles retreated while the crawler transporter kept on firing against the belua coming to the defense line of the five crawler-transporters. Upon reaching the crawler transporter, the etherians who sustained injuries in their line of duty greeted them. Some were missing their limbs, and some had a chunk of them missing. Mei noticed that the humans with them barely had any scratch. How could they have anything when they didn't take part in the charge, waiting for the etherians to get it over?

An officer of the Recon Korp, a fellow etherian, strutted to the middle of the deck, wearing his exosuit, head hidden with helmet reinforced with alloy.

"Command is asking us to defend the perimeter."

"What about the humans?"

"The area around is not suitable for them. They will try to send fliers into the village of Gharasu. We've asked for reinforcement regarding the beluaman. The Outriders will have to find the research settlement below Gharasu."

"Is it okay to just say that in front of us?"

"Command allows it. Be prepared to head out."

"There are some of us that are in no condition to fight!"

"You are Outriders, but this is the Recon Korp. The moment you took this task means that you cannot get out. Unless Command says so, I implore of you to fight."

"Is this command from Commander Blackwell or some human?"

The Recon Korp officer did not answer. Everyone already knew who said the command. From the corner of their vision, the non-etherians were watching the battle between the beluaman and the Commander, as if they were watching a show. It was irrational to have a hatred for them, but those who had their limbs cut could not easily see reason.

"I don't see those bastards helping."

"Stand down," the Officer said. His ether level reached the fourth layer. "I know that it dissatisfies you, but they are weaklings. Do you understand this line of thought? If we send them to the meat grinder, then there would be a question in why we aren't using our best."

"You are taking commands from this Korp under the hands of the Aured Government. I know that there are disagreements recently between both sides, but it not an excuse to be unprofessional. Do you people understand?"

"Yes, Officer Claudius."

Officer Claudius left. He retracted his ether and went inside the crawler-transporter with a relax gait. The battle shook the area around the crawler. After some time, the flyers coming from Aured landed on the transporters. Among them were the full-metal exosuits meant for underground exploration. It seems like they would have to fight below while the Commander holds the beluaman down.