Soul Merger

Monsterpedia

Metal Slime

Monster Level - II

Soul Type - Composite

Intelligence - Unique

Strength - Average

Magic - Low

Rarity - Rare

Metal slimes are, as expected, metallic versions of their slime counterparts. They show a number of unique traits that make them different from other slime variants though. Metal slimes can rapidly reconstruct their bodies between a solid metal and their normal ooze consistency. In combat this means a metal slime can stab at delvers with spears, summon swords to swing at odd angles, or bludgeon attackers with great force. Their speed and strength is comparable to a human, but the way attacks can form out of the slime makes them harder to predict. They also retain the slime's resistance to damage on top of some metallic resistance to physical blows.

Of even more interest is the metal slime's 'symbiosis' techniques. They frequently attach to larger monsters and morph into useful implements, ranging from wings on drakes and hands on giant serpents, to additional blades for steam golems. No one's quite sure how they identify how to best help their host, or what they gain from it, but a metal slime symbiote makes a monster much more difficult.

Fortunately severe trauma still forces the slime to return to a helpless puddle state. While destroying the whole thing isn't easy, delvers can still farm the useful essences from the creatures.

Metal slimes acting as symbiotes will alter how they help their host monster as the fight progresses. Just because the slime is acting as armor right now doesn't mean it won't shift to spikes, a wing, or some other strange contraption at a moment's notice. It's usually best to eliminate them or separate them from their host quickly.

Merge

Common Name : None

Benefits : Metal resistance

Weaknesses : Metal sweat

Killing a metal slime is even more difficult than killing a generic slime, so as far as the writers of this tome know, there's no one alive with a metal slime merge. Records of the few previous metal slime merges suggest that it gives those affected a metallic sheen to their skin and hair. They were also able to deflect metal weapons to some degree, preventing blades and arrows from piercing them and weakening impacts.

Unfortunately it also caused their sweat to become metallic causing issues with heat, damaging clothing, and occasionally leading to rust buildup. The difficulty of acquiring a metal slime and the general weakness of the merge has prevented people from bothering with it.

The specific metal released by metal slime merges isn't known, but it's likely similar to the metal slime themselves : a unique steel alloy. Instead of using carbon ash, the alloy is based off slime, meaning the metal's qualities will alter based on the unique slime involved! Sadly this is all theoretical.