Oni (鬼, lit. "Ogres") are a species of Yokai. They are man-eating demons considered to be among the most dominant race of Yokai in the Hidden World due to their large population and supernatural strength.
Overview[]
Oni are an aggressive race of Yokai that are generally hideous, gigantic ogres that carry large weapons. Their skin comes in a variety of colors and their bodies are somewhat humanoid in shape.
They wear loincloths made of the pelts of great beasts although some Oni don't wear clothing at all.
All oni possess extreme strength and constitution, and many of them are also accomplished sorcerers. They are ferocious demons, bringers of disaster, spreaders of disease, and are determined to invade the living world.
The Oni are the largest race of Yokai in existence by a wide margin. They present the largest threat as a species to the balance of realms. The wide majority of Oni hail from the Land of Ogres, which has a non-aggression pact with the Soul Society following the end of the Second Great Spirit War.
History[]
The Oni have existed since the dawn of the Yokai. They are seen as the largest and most powerful race of Yokai. This is in large part to their role in the First Great Spirit War. The Oni invaded the living world by inhabiting the bodies of thousands of evil humans.
The efforts of the Oni were only repelled when the Five Great Elemental Spirits were raised from the Earth. Not only was the army of the Land of Ogres pushed back by the Earth's elements, but humanity was also punished by them as well. Despite this, the Onis continued their pursuit of dominance.
When the first Shaman made her Soulbound with the Great Spirits, she clashed with the Oni army in a conflict that is now known as the First Great Spirit War. The Oni were defeated and sealed back into the hidden world. It was thought that their forces were crippled and they would have no way to amass a large invasion.
Several hundred years later, the Oni were approached by a Native American Tribesmen by the name of Hao. He was a Shaman who had betrayed the alliance between Shamans and the Great Spirits, an alliance that had stifled the Oni as a species. He offered them the ability to rejuvenate their forces as long as they swear their loyalty to him.
Initially, the Oni refused and attacked Hao. They were easily defeated and realized his connection to the very first Shaman. Understand Hao's incredible power, the Land of Ogre's swore undying loyalty to Hao. In the years after, Hao supplied the Oni with fresh souls that would eventually become new Oni. As payment for their reinforced army, Hao requested that amass another invasion on the living world.
The Land of Ogre's made their rebellion known to the Soul Society. When the Order learned of their plan, Hao tried to leverage the organization into allowing him to use the power of the great spirits to repel the Oni. However, Hao's plan failed and he was killed before the Oni were able to attack.
However, before his death, Hao was able to prepare a message for the Oni. He told them he would return and they were to make peace with the Soul Society while quietly building up their strength while awaiting his return.