Chapter 23-Creation of the Oni

The dim glow of the laboratory illuminated my work, casting long shadows across the stone walls. I stood at a large obsidian table, meticulously flipping through a thick notebook filled with intricate sketches and notes. The remains of the Archangels were laid out before me—bodies broken, wings torn, and celestial armor dulled. Yet even in their ruin, they radiated a faint glimmer of divine energy, enough to serve as the foundation for my next creation.

Oh yeah, I had also decided to kill God after all, wouldn't want to end up with some enemy that would hold some grudge against me. Now God or whatever his real name was joined the pile of corpses on the table.

The Laboratory was my sanctuary, a space I'd carved out deep within the castle. Here, I had the freedom to experiment, to create, to make anything that my twisted mind could come up with.

The sound of the heavy oak door creaking open pulled me from my thoughts. I didn't have to look to know who it was—only one person would walk into my lab without an invitation. A soft yawn reached my ears as a pair of warm arms slipped around my waist.

"Burning the midnight oil again, my love?" Hecate murmured, her voice still tinged with sleep. Burning the midnight oil, that is what Hecate loved to say when one of us was really focused on a project. I found it cute even if I didn't understand how it made sense.

I turned my head slightly to greet her with a smile. "Just a little project."

She rested her chin on my shoulder, her dark hair cascading down her face as she peered over at the remains on the table. "You call this a little project?" she teased, her voice laced with curiosity.

I chuckled softly. "The idea is to repurpose these fallen Archangels into something... more useful. An elite task force for the Underworld, something that can handle delicate or dangerous missions."

Her tired eyes scanned the scattered sketches on the table. Reaching out lazily, she plucked one of the pages from the pile. "Why not this one?"

I took the sheet from her hand, my eyes falling on the design she'd chosen. It was labeled "Oni," a concept I'd been toying with for months. Seven beings, each distinct yet unified, imbued with a balance of divine and demonic power. My lips curled into a grin.

"You always seem to know exactly what I need," I said, kissing her forehead gently.

Hecate shrugged, leaning into me. "It's a gift. Now, tell me—what else do you need?"

I set to work summoning eight blocks of clay and resting them on seven different tables. I reached out, shaping the first with deliberate care. Each stroke of my hand brought the form of a body of a young man to life—a powerful physique with two sharp, curved horns adorning his forehead long white hair.

"Can you grab me some bark from the Trees of Knowledge and Immortality?" I asked as I worked, my focus split between the task at hand and her voice. She nodded, leaning up to press a soft kiss to my cheek before slipping away.

I continued molding each body with precision. Four men and three women, each unique in form and features. Their horns varied—some longer or smaller while other having more animal like horns.

Next came the infusion of the Archangels' remains. I carefully selected what Archangel remains went to what body. My mind did drift back to God the Almighty. I had thought that he was actually a version of Chaos and was worried but he was nothing more than a god of creation that was far weaker than I. I was secretly hoping to meet with Chaos again but I guess I was wrong.

Closing my eyes to concentrate I began to craft seven new souls. How would I explain how it worked? When I closed my eyes I could see tiny particles of energy, taking these energies I could combine them to create a soul, similar to a puzzle. Creating a mortal soul used alot less energy particles than a gods soul, a territory I wasn't messing with yet. Now the souls of the Archangels was a different matter. Almighty really made a mess when he created there souls as it had bits and pieces of a bunch of particles that should never be put togeather, as if he just put whatever he had. 

I had to break down the original souls and reprogram it and rework it. I did also take the librety to officially create the seven deadly sins. Let me tell you exactly what I changed for each soul. 

Michael was 'The Great Defender and Protector' the leader of the Archangels, after breaking down his soul I created some new pieces for his soul. I gave him a mastery of combat, leadership and a great sense of justice to protect and defend the weak, the perfect candidate for the Sin of Pride.

Raphael 'The Divine Healer of Physical Ailments'. I gave him a mastery over medicine, cultivation, alchemy, restoration, and purification making him the Sin of Gluttoney. For Gabriel as the messenger for God, I gave her the ability to locate anyone no matter where they are at. Including a mastery over stealth, assassination, espionage, and subterfuge. The Sin of Envy.

For Sariel, a mastery over poisons, toxins, and curses, the Sin of Sloth. Uriel, mastery over destruction, the sin of Greed. I also gave him some connection to my primordial flames, why? Because I can. Remiel would get a mastery over soul manipulation and necromancy becoming the Sin of Lust. And lastly Raguel, from an Archangel of Justice to the Sin of Wrath. I gave a mastry of explotions, strength and blood manipulation.

Hours passed in a blur of focus and determination. When Hecate returned, carrying bundles of materials, she didn't disturb me. I acknowledged her with a nod as she placed the items on the table and left with a soft smile.

The wood from the sacred trees became masks—seven distinct Oni masks, these masks I called the Oni masks of Sin's each would hold the power of the Sin assotiated with its owner, so lets say that one of them dies and they pass their mask to an heir, that heir would get the title and powers of the Oni.

I wanted to make a generational thing, they would have some immortality but would die in battle. I made it so the blood of an Oni was dominant. I programed it into their souls to get with humans and reproduce. As the child would get older their oni blood would take over transforming the mortal child into a half immortal beast. I did add the ideal to treat their mate with respect and kindness and protect them. If they were going to reproduce they should protect their mate.

The final touches were complete. The seven Oni lay before me, each looking as if to be in some deep sleep. Each of them was a work of art, I don't mean to brag but I really did great, while their bodies looked human, their masks were that of snarling beasts. Each had horns and fangs, to give a predator-like look to them.

Now what about the last one? What did I decide to do with the body of god the Almighty?

I had taken him and turned him into my ultimate creation. This Oni would be the leader, King of the new race. And what better soul to use than the god I just defeated. And yes gods have souls. Withought a soul, you can't live or exist. I guess the only being not affected by that rule would be Chaos herself, the being that created the entire universe and just popped out of existence before souls were a thing.

Anyways I made him larger than the others, a being with four arms like Shiva and a connection to his Lord's power over destruction, primordial flames, the darkness, and then gave him the traits of a good king. Can't just give him all this dark power and expect him to turn out good. 

With a snap of my fingers, a surge of energy coursed through their bodies. One by one, they began to stir, the clay that had once been still now crackling with the power of life. The Oni's eyes flickered open beneath their masks, and they rose.

Alright lets start off with the big guy! His body was an imposing masterpiece—broad, muscular, and every inch of him exuding raw power. His skin, was black almost like a mixture of charcoal and ash. He had four massive arms—each one bulging with muscle. His golden Oni mask was unique in its design, and had thick, large horns that curled upward from his forehead and with sharp teeth with two fangs and two tusks. His eyes glowed with my signature blue primordial flame. His white mane cascaded down his back blending with the beard that framed his strong jawline. 

Michael's body was the first to fully awaken. His form was lean yet muscular with broad shoulders. His white oni mask gleamed with two large and long gold horns, underneath, his eyes were sharp and golden. His hair was long and white, his ashen skin really making him look entense.

Next, Raphael rose, his form lean but athletic. His emerald mask was adorned with intricate carvings. Beneath the mask, his eyes were soft yet piercing. His emerald-green skin kinda made him look like a smaller and skinner version of the hulk.

Gabriel wore a black oni mask, with white horns and fangs. Beneath it, her eyes were silver, having a sort of icy glare in them. Her blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders in delicate curls. Her skin was flawless.

Sariel's deep blue oni mask was sleek, with accents of silver tracing its edges, a third eye lay between her two horns. Beneath it, her eyes gleamed with cold, calculating intelligence. Her hair was a jet-black contrast to the blue mask. Her skin was pale, and her long limbs and muscular frame gave her a commanding presence.

Uriel's skin was a dark red hue. His mask was in bold shades of red and gold, with patterns that resembled the flames of a roaring fire. Beneath the mask, his eyes burned bright red almost like a flame. His long, white hair was wild, flowing like a mane down his back. His body was lean, with muscles tight almost like he had no skin, I had modeled him after the yaksha king.

Remiel's violet mask glowed with an intricate design, and beneath it, her eyes were a soft lavender, glowing faintly like stars in a distant sky. Her long hair was a dark blue color that contrasted her light blue skin. Her body was lithe and slender, with a softness to it that contrasted with the other Oni.

Raguel's white mask looked almost porcelain and unlike the others had a womans face with slited eyes and smaller horns. A extended mouth revealed four fangs that shot straight out in either direction, almost like tusks. Her hair was dark brown, flowing around her shoulders and down her back. Her body was strong, robust, and well-defined with strength. Her skin had an almost bronze tan to it. 

Now before you complain that I killed off an all powerful religion, no I didn't Christianity wasn't even created yet. Though when I had left the land I had thought I had sensed another god enter the land after me. I thought it was Zeus but maybe I was wrong.

Whoever the god was took over as I had simply left it. So I guess they now have a new God leading them. The god closed off the land and no word was said about what was going on there. I had a feeling but who knows the truth. For all I know maybe Christianity will happen in the future after all.

Oh yeah I had also run into Lucifer on my way back and that guy was way to clingy calling me his Lord and pleading that I let him live. I told him to go fly a kite.

Now back to my perfect new creations. My Oni, the first of many grand species I will create. They were my Seven Deadly Sins.