Soul Merger

Monsterpedia

Mimic

Monster Level - III

Soul Type - Composite

Intelligence - Low

Strength - Strong

Magic - Weak

Rarity - Rare

Scholars are still not quite sure what leads to the creation of a mimic. They look like slimes in their natural form, but they don't have any elemental or spiritual binding energy. While you might think this is a disadvantage, in reality it seems to boost their abilities. Instead of bouncing around uselessly, they hide in the labyrinths, imitating vital tools and passages. Careless delvers that are running on automatic will often find themselves ambushed by the creatures.

Older texts have mimics appearing mostly as treasure chests. Delvers would move to collect the rewards, and get a nasty bite instead. However since most labyrinths have been mostly mapped out and cleaned up, chests are rare. Meaning the mimics have swapped to imitating doors, secret passages, and hiding spaces.

Killing a mimic is just as hard as killing a slime. While it's easy to hack them to little bits, the finishing blow requires total destruction of the body. Something that's very annoying, but other delvers will thank you for later.

Some researchers think that instead of an 'element' or 'spiritual' force, mimics are empowered by 'labyrinth' energy. Proving this theory would require moving a live mimic to a different labyrinth however, so no one's managed to get a test done. Most delvers prefer to kill the things.

Merge

Common Name : Shifter

Benefits : Malleable skin, color change

Weaknesses : Slime

Shifters don't get any noticeable changes to the humanoid form purely from their merge. At least not at first glance. However when pressed or with training they can manipulate both the color and texture of their skin like an octopus. This grants them an enhanced level of camouflage, especially to beasts and monsters that don't have humanoid eyes.

These alterations can, with training, also be used for fashion or stylistic purposes. A tattoo is a thought away for a shifter, and it can be easily cleared up with a thought. Similarly, hair and skin color can be mixed and matched at a whim. Some wealthy children like the merge due to how much they can express themselves.

The downside is shifters get a light slime to their skin. While not the issues slime merges have to deal with, slick hands, wet trails, and damp clothes are a constant issue for shifters.

With training elements of the body beyond just skin can be manipulated, allowing for small body modifications. However anything that might shift organs or otherwise cause big issues is beyond the merge. You're not going to become a full shapeshifter.