Why would he be able to do that?

Why would Shang be able to do that?

Hey! you are using my pokemon trainer ninjas as avatar. nice.

Anyway, Ermac is an ethereal cloud of souls essentially, he takes form as a generic humanoid male but he doesnt really have a shape. Shang Tsung is a sorcerer who absorbs the souls and uses them to take their form.

^ Exactly. NRS could go the "King Jerrod's souls rises from the rabble to establish dominance of Ermac" angle that they hinted about in his arcade ending. As of the events of MK9 though he's just a frankenstein mess of souls without any real control.

Shang is a wizard. He knows spells.

Ermac doesn't. He's just a being made of ghosts and since ghosts are telekinetic, he has a lot of telekinesis.

I apologize.
I meant to tell you that they looked badass.

This is kinda off-topic, but I've always liked the idea that Shang, who consumes souls, really, really wants to EAT Ermac, but of course he's expressly forbidden to do so by Shao Kahn because Ermac is one of his most valuable enforcers.

Just a funny thought.

It's funny you mention that. That's exactly how I see the situation - if Shang Tsung were to consume Ermac he'd be way too powerful. This is how I illustrated the event in Slow and Steady Wins, #12:



If you want to read the rest of the series, go here: Slow and Steady Wins #1

What if Nitara fed on Skarlett?


Shang has magic to assume identities, and only feeds on souls to stay young/augment his power. How can he morph into a soul he hasn't consumed? Though I guess that's answered with his soul steal move, kinda like cloning from a DNA sample, he takes a bit of their soul to emulate them.

Ermac is souls. His telekinetic powers come from the sheer willpower of the countless souls comprising his being. It's be neat if he could morph too, hey maybe he's Chameleon, lol

Let's not forget Shao Kahn also uses souls to augment his power, and iirc, made Ermac. He also puts limit's on Shang to keep him in line.



Ka-Tra