Osmosian

Osmosians are a subspecies of humans with a unique genetic component in their DNA that grants them unique abilities.

Appearance
Being a human subspecies, Osmosians are mostly indistinguishable from humans. However, they can develop black markings around their eyes after absorbing energy, and artificial Osmosians have small, flesh-colored horns on their forehead.

Powers and Abilities
Osmosians are able to absorb, hold, redirect and discharge virtually any type of energy through their bodies. When Osmosians absorb raw energy such as electricity, or a being's life force and DNA uncontrollably, it can cause their physical and mental state to become unstable.

As demonstrated by Kevin Levin, Osmosians can absorb the mass and properties of physical materials and grow an armor-like outer skin as durable as the material used to make it and by extension proportionately increase their strength and durability. While absorbing the matter, the Osmosian can also momentarily merge with the actual matter and alter its form. Also, by temporarily absorbing extra matter, the Osmosian can increase its density to shapeshift its limbs into various forms.

Even without absorbing energy or matter, Osmosians possess a minor degree of superhuman strength and durability. While not on the same level as Tetramands or Petrosapiens, they are still far stronger and more durable than a baseline human.

When Osmosians absorb the DNA and life force of other life forms, they gain that life form's powers. However, they can only acquire the original creature's powers at 1/10th their original potency without mechanical aid.

Diet
Osmosians normally eat food to sustain themselves, they can also feed off of the metabolism and life force of other living beings. However, this method of feeding can easily turn into an addiction, causing the Osmosian to become insatiable and instinctively seek out any possible source of energy to feed off of.

According to Matt Wayne, Osmosians prefer savories to sweets.

Weaknesses
An Osmosian's biggest weakness is their insatiable hunger for energy and becoming mentally unstable, though this is only a problem if they absorb energy and become this way; this trait is normally latent and becomes easier to control if they are mature and have experience with absorbing energy. Storing energy for long periods of time will worsen their instability.

If an Osmosian is forcibly drained of the energy they have absorbed, it will restore their sanity but also present risks to their physical health if they do not have medical attention as the process will either leave them exhausted, famished or weakened to the point of unconsciousness due to them having been living off energy instead of eating and sleeping properly.

Any powers an Osmosian has absorbed from other life forms will eventually wear off and disappear. The more life force, metabolic energy, and DNA they absorb, the longer it takes for their absorbed powers to wear off.

Regardless of how much DNA an Osmosian absorbs, their own DNA will eventually overwrite the absorbed DNA in time, causing them to lose absorbed powers, unless they keep reabsorbing to keep it from happening.

Etymology
The name 'Osmosian' is a play on the word "osmosis", the name of the physical process by which a solvent diffuses from an area of a high concentration through a semi-permeable membrane into an area of low concentration—it is also the process by which living cells absorb nutrients.