Description:
The Growth Chimera is one of the most head-scratching humanoids that has come to bother the minds of monster researchers. In simple terms, the Growth Chimera is a species that, at first, has no characteristics different from your ordinary Human...visually, and only at first. This is thanks to their ability to obtain the abilities, even the appearance, of monsters they eat, but more of that will be explained below.
Other than their weird characteristics, the Growth Chimera is an elusive species. There are rumors of them being spontaneous mutations among common Humans, but this myth was debunked by the research organizations of the Solomar Kingdom, located on the southern volcanic areas of the Invidia continent.
At the time of writing, the sole reliable location for Growth Chimera societies is among the ranks of demons in the city of Solomar. The exact reason why they have managed to prosper is still unclear, but when one considers the typical behavior of the common populace of this city of demons, especially the higher hierarchies, it might be better not to know the truth.
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Appearance:
As mentioned before, the Growth Chimera appears not to be that different from a common Human. They have common hair color, mostly brown and dark shades, and generally youth-looking bodies. The last part is due to their species only being able to "grow" even physically when eating monster food, so even a grandpa or grandma Growth Chimera could still look like they were in their teens, had they been on a monster-free diet their whole lives.
After they start eating monster meat, the Growth Chimeras will not only climb the stairs to adulthood-looking appearances, but they will also have a chance to obtain random physical traits of their "meals". This includes minor changes such as altering their hair and skin colors, adding horns or tails, to even granting them fur and extra limbs. One thing is for certain. You will find a lot of variety when it comes to Growth Chimeras.
Abilities:
Danger rank: F+
Rarity rank: A+ (D- in certain regions)
The Growth Chimera's special and unique trait, known as [Adaptive Body (Chimera)], allows these creatures to obtain the skills, traits, and even the physical characteristics of any "Monster"-type creatures they eat. The Chimeras do not even need to kill the creature by themselves, they just need to eat.
While it might seem like a broken ability at first glance, there are some heavy restrictions to this ability. First, each Growth Chimera can only obtain 1 ability from each monster species. After that, their bodies will adapt to that monster's DNA, preventing their trait from granting them a new ability. Second, any ability obtained is random. As in, the Growth Chimera cannot choose whether it unlocks a new skill, obtains a new trait, or just ends up with an extra appendage.
As if that wasn't enough, the amount of meals the Growth Chimera needs to consume can end up at staggering amounts. There is some form of "compatibility" between the individual Chimera and different monster species, which makes it easier for the Chimera to both obtain stronger abilities and to obtain them at all through fewer meals.
And as the final nail to the coffin, [Adaptive Body (Chimera)] has a glaring fail. It prevents the trait holder from obtaining ANY skill except for those unlocked by the trait, through titles or classes, or the five skills an individual is granted upon their birth. Thanks to that, while a Growth Chimera technically could have access to almost any skill in existence, they are heavily restricted in just what skills they can obtain at all. It is worth noting that skill evolution is not restricted by this trait's effect, but without any skills to evolve in the first place...
Garami's comment: Hmm, I'm sensing the qualification for a good cultivation project here~.
Bloom's comment: Uh-oh. When Master gets into this type of mood, nothing good ever happens. Poor Chimera. Amen~.
