I think you are confusing the scale(example: a bear destroying a beehive for honey) and the meaning of word ''malevolent''(latin: malus- bad/evil; volo,vis,velle- to want/ desire/ wish; - with explicit intention of doing evil to others). You are saying that the act of ''terrorizing'' you, percieved by you, is the explicit intention of the aggressor. You are also implying that the act of strategizing is a sign of self awareness. Furthermore, worst of all, you are implying that ''good'' and ''evil'' are some natural conditions, instead of vague abstract ideas made up by humanity.

I understand part of the confusion as it's common practice in literary works(such as ''edge of destiny'') to exaggerate certain aspects of the characters in order to achieve an effect of tension and suspence, often by associating these with things that are met with a determined emotive response in readers. It however does not explain the confusion of intellectual skills/ mental abilities being somewhat dependent on self- awareness, and not only that, but also a premeditated intent of doing a certain action explicitly, against a defined ''enemy'', seemingly out of pure, unconditioned hatred and will to destroy and kill. ''self- awareness'' is in fact a term with HEAVY implications. For example: It is supposed to have appeared in humans relatively recently, when they started to bury the corpses et similia, LONG AFTER they started to produce first tools and devise hunting strategies, long after they started to communicate. Also, would you call an AI(example due to common accessibility) in a game self- aware if it outplays you in a way you couldn't even comprehend? Not to mention it having a defined, distinct personality... Glint for one, would have self- awareness that she gained thanks to her mind reading abilities, presumably learning it from other sentient beings.

Yes, i think they(ED) do posess a certain degree of intelligence, enough to scare someone able to comprehend it. It is however a primal, natural, savage form of intelligence, cunning and struggle driven strategies. Yes, i think they act and are aware on the same level as animals, but we're talking about a very savage and bloodthirsty kind of animal, one that doesn't act with the aim to sustain itself, without natural limits that would prevents its growth in power, a real magical beast worthy of it's world.

Well, apart from this massive digression, i was talking about pack animals, as i think that in the essence might be the relation of the ED and it's underlings/champions. In animal packs there is in fact a strict hierarchy and occasional(not self- aware) disobedience(using this word cause of lack of a better one) are beaten or hurt by an exemplar with more influence, usually the dominant male(please note that my knowledge of zoology/ethology is uniquely circumstantial and amateurish, as it comes mostly from documentaries, books and personal hobbies, i apologize for eventual errors in my reasoning).