Elias edged towards the shadowed alcove, adopting the subtle, almost imperceptible movements of a predator. The pocket of pollution pulsed faintly, a tangible blob of solidified despair. It wasn't a fully formed entity, just a concentrated nexus of raw, negative emotion that had begun to gain a rudimentary, Eldritch consciousness. Its presence felt like a heavy blanket of sadness, threatening to smother any flicker of hope. He could almost hear the faint, echoing whimpers of forgotten grievances within its murky depths.
He checked the street once more. Still clear. The lone pedestrian had vanished. This was his chance. He extended his right hand, the air around it shimmering as the invincible maw began to manifest. The vertical slit appeared on his palm, then widened, revealing the rows of hungry, needle-like teeth. There was no hesitation now, only a predatory focus.
As the mouth fully gaped, a silent vortex, Elias thrust his hand into the swirling gloom. The "Eldritch seedling" offered no resistance, no shriek, no struggle. It simply collapsed into the vacuum, a silent implosion of dark energy. The heavy aura of despair dissipated instantly, replaced by the clean, slightly metallic tang that now signified a successful absorption. The mouth sealed itself, skin reverting to normal, leaving his palm unmarked.
He inhaled deeply, a subtle shift in the city's oppressive atmosphere now detectable to his enhanced senses. Another Level 1 entity consumed. The previous raw influx of power was now joined by a more nuanced echo. A phantom ache settled in his chest, a fleeting sensation of profound, crippling sadness that wasn't his own. It passed quickly, leaving behind a subtle clarity, as if his perception of emotional states had been sharpened. He was still Human Rank Level 1, but incrementally stronger, infinitesimally more connected to the veiled world beneath the mundane surface of Barden Yana. Two down. Many, many more to go.