Hideyasu "Sōki" Yūki is the main protagonist in Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams, as well as one of the main protagonists for the tie-in manga, Onimusha: Night of Genesis. He was the biological son of Ieyasu Tokugawa and a warrior who possesses the dark power of the Oni. He goes by many names besides Sōki and Hideyasu Yūki, Blue Demon (蒼鬼 Ao Oni) and Oni of the Ash. Having Lamentation, his prized broadsword he learned about Hideyoshi's insidious scheme, he sets out on a journey to burn the Genma trees and defeat the Genma running rampant across the land.
Wielding two swords with such grace, precision and power, Hideyasu is soon referred to by townsfolk as "Kaijin no Sōki" (灰燼の蒼鬼 lit. "The Blue Demon of the Ashes), Oni of the Ash, due to his extreme resemblance to the Oni God and as attributed to the ash of the trees he burns. Sōki's travels are aided by a young member of the Mino clan by the name of Minokichi. He provides Sōki with instant "teleported" travel, insight on the various creatures & places they traverse, and quips about the allies they eventually obtain.
Biography
Backstory
Sōki was born under the name Ogimaru Tokugawa in 1574 as the second son of Ieyasu Togugawa and his handmaiden, Lady Oman, as the result of an affair, though he did not meet his father until the age of 3. Likely recieving it from his mother, Ogimaru was born with Oni blood, making him a natural Oni warrior similar to Jūbei Yagyū. However, it is soon discovered that Ogimaru was actually the Black Oni, the reincarnation of the long-dead Oni God of Darkness. At some point in his early years, his mother would gift him a broadsword known as Lamentation, though she would disappear completely soon after. While it is not known for certain, it is likely that she had also gifted him his second broadsword, Requiem. Ogimaru remains unaware about his identity as an Oni for most of his life. When Nobunaga Oda demanded that Ieyasu's eldest son, Nobuyasu Matsudaira, commit seppuku, Ogimaru was initially made the heir to the Tokugawa clan. However, as a part of the peace negotiations between Ieyasu and Hideyoshi Hashiba, Ogimaru was given in adoption to Hideyoshi, though he was, in reality, a hostage. He was given the name Hideyasu Hashiba and was sent to live within Osaka Castle, within which he would meet a grieving Ohatsu, her mother, Oichi, having taken her own life the year prior following the death of her second husband, Katsuie Shibata.
The two would grow close over the next three years, with Hideyasu helping Ohatsu move on from her grief, and she would begin to develop strong feelings for him. The two would also meet Mitsunari Ishida for the first time within Osaka Castle, and quickly grow to dislike him due to his cruelty. Hideyasu would have a somewhat positive relationship with Hideyoshi during this time, with HIdeyasu respecting the peace that Hideyoshi had attained by uniting the country, but he would eventually see a significant change in his new father's peronality. In 1587, Hideyasu would be forced to take part in the first invasion of Hideyoshi's Kyushu campaign, and he would unwillingly take part in the destruction of a village, costing the lives of many of it's inhabitants, including the mother of Roberto Frois. During this time, Hideyasu would witness the savagery of his fellow soldiers, watching as they attempted to earn personal glory by taking the heads of their enemies as proof of their kills. However, due to how difficult it was to carry them back, they began to take ears instead, soon deciding to cut down women and children for their ears since nobody would be able to tell the difference, pickling them with salt in order to prevent them from rotting. According to Hideyasu, some soldiers wouldn't even wait until their victims were dead to do this.
Deeply scarred by what he witnessed, Hideyasu returned to Japan and vowed to never raise his sword in battle again. While he would meet Ohatsu again, Hideyoshi and his concubine, Lady Yodo, would celebrate the birth of his biological heir, Hideyori Toyotomi, in 1589, resulting in him being adopted Harutomo Yuki the next year, now being named Hideyasu Yuki, now poised to become the heir to the Yuki household. However, Hideyasu would seek to find a way to abandon the life of a lord in order to live his life solely how he chose. It is by this time that Hideyasu would begin to grow resentful towards Hideyoshi for his ruthless actions. Hideyasu would also meet Kiyomasa Kato at some point during this time, and the two would develop a disliking towards one another. In 1590, Hideyasu would succeed Harutomo Yuki as the new head of the Yuki household, though would continue to seek a way to escape this position.
Onimusha: Night of Genesis
Volume 1
Hideyasu picks up his sword after 11 years
In 1596, one year after the death of Hidetsugu Toyotomi and the mass excecution of 39 women and children due to their various degrees of relation to him, Hideyasu's resentment of Hideyoshi would grow even as he witness the lord's usage of the Genma. He is present at a small gathering at Fushimi Castle alongside Hideyoshi, Mitsunari, and Luis Frois. Hideyasu would be asked by Hideyoshi if he planned on attending the upcoming Diago Blossoming Festival, but Hideyasu would refuse to answer despite repeated promts, even when reminded that Hideyoshi was the one who not only allowed him to take the Hashiba name, but also allowed him to become the head of the Yuki clan. He demands Hideyasu's fealty, but Hideyasu finally speaks up, commenting that Hideyoshi had changed, while also choosing this moment to call him by name rather than "Father". Hideyasu calls Hideyoshi cowardly for using the Genma and describes his account of the mainland invasion, telling of the many friends and innocents that died there and calling it hell. It is at this moment that Hideyasu finally decides to pick up his sword again after 11 years and attempts to kill Hideyoshi, but one of the dancers present at this ceremony is able to step in and block the attack with a large Zamba Sword.
This individual removes his disguise and reveals himself to be Kiyomasa, vowing to kill anyone who would oppose Hideyoshi and calling himself one of the "Seven Mountain Spears". He reaches into the nearby cherry tree and eats the blossoms, which are revealed to be Genma Insects, and he gains a significant increase in strength, attempting to kill Hideyasu. Hideyasu is able to avoid him, but the attack cracks the ground beneath them, shocking even Hideyoshi, though Mitsunari claims to have expected this effect from those who consume the insects. Hideyasu is able to retaliate, but Kiyomasa is unaffected by Hideyasu's attack, shocking him as Kiyomasa strikes back, claiming it to be the power of the "Mushitsuki" (translated to Insect Addiction). It's at this point that Hideyoshi reveals that the cherry tree is, in fact, a Genma Tree that was creted by sacrificing pregnant women, and plans to use the insects that it produces to strengthen his army and conquer the entire world.
During this speech, Hideyasu adapts to Kiyomasa's increased strength and manages to land a strong enough attack to knock him back, turning his attention back to Hideyoshi in a second attempt to kill him. Before he can reach his target, an earthquke begins to rock Fushimi Castle, signalling the appearence of the Omen Star as it is finally released from the Underworld, the Genma Seal having now been fully broken. Enraged not only at Hideyoshi's actions, but also his own inability to slay him, Hideyasu's rage begins to reach it's peak, causing him to unconsciously awaken his Oni power, but he is telepathically warned by Tenkai Nankobo that he isn't strong enough to defeat Hideyoshi, telling him to flee the castle instead. While Hideyasu neither acknowledges this warning or recognise who it's coming from, he does choose to escape Fushimia Castle and vows to find a way to destroy Hideyoshi. At the same time, he would sneak his twin brother, Sada-ai, who had acted as a priest of Chiryū Shrine in Mikawa Province, into Odawara Castle in order to impersonate Hideyasu and act as the head of the Yuki household. Due to their similar appearences, this change would go unnoticed, and with Hideyasu believing him to be more suited for the position, he would successfully escape his role and begin his campaign against Hideyoshi.
Over the course of the next several months, Hideyasu would begin hunting for the cherry trees that Hideyoshi had begun transporting to Kyoto for the Diago Festival, now knowing of their true nature and hoping to burn them since he believed it to be the only way to stop them from producing more Genma Insects. In the process, he comes into contact with a young member of the Mino clan, Minokichi, who begins travelling with him and using his contacts within the clan to accurately lead him to more trees. The two manage to track a convoy of Genma Trees to Sakai, and Hideyasu intercepts it, warning the escorts to leave them trees or die. The Toyotomi soldiers escorting the trees reveal themselves to be Zombie Warriors and attack him, but with his Oni power having already awakened, Hideyasu is able to effortlessly cut them all down, them fearfully recognising him as an Onimusha. With them dead, Hideyasu begins burning the trees while onlookers marvel at his ability to so easily defeat Toyotomi's soldiers. It is at around this time that he gains the nicknames of Blue Demon and Soki, Oni of the Ash, due to his signature blue armor and his ability to fight like an Oni. Once the trees are burned, Minokichi is able to inform him that the nearest trees to them are in Osaka, and they begin journeying there as Soki vows to defeat Hideyoshi. Viewing his real name with disdain, he begins identifying himself by his nickname of Soki.
Volume 2
In 1597, Soki is able to sneak on top of a transport of trees undetected as it arrives at a castle that was previously destroyed by the Genma before being used to store Genma Trees, announcing himself after it is taken inside. While a present Genma General recognises him as the Blue Demon and orders the Genma to attack, Soki confidently reaches for his sword, only to find it missing. Realising that he must have dropped it somewhere on the way here, he calls for Minokichi to bring it to him, but as Minokichi arrives with Lamentation in hand, Soki is completely swarmed with Genma before he can grab it. This proves fruitless, however, as Soki briefly transforms into the Black Onimusha and slaughters the Genma, including the Genma General, before reverting back to his human form. With the Genma dead, Soki burns all of the trees within the castle, watching from the nearby mountain as the smoke rises from within. He questions how long is real father would allow Hideyoshi's actions to continue, noting that he has power but continues to sit idly by while Hideyoshi's deeds go unopposed, and when questioned by Minokichi who he is referring to, Soki calls him a good-natured man, but also likens him to a sneaky racoon.
They continue their journey towards Osaka and stop to rest in an abandoned village, but after Soki yells at Minokichi for constantly appearing so suddenly, he is attacked by a large beastly Genma named Ginfa, the latter managing to take Lamentation in the confusion as it destroys the house that he was in. Surprisingly, it drops the sword when asked by Soki, but when it attempts to attack him again, a voice tells it to stop. Soki looks up to find a young girl in a tree, Soki having felt her presence before Ginfa's initial attack, and she identifies him by name and launches her own attack, firing a multitude of chained blades at him. While Soki does not learn this, the girl is revealled to be the Human-Genma hybrid known as Juju, having been tasked with Soki's assassination at the behest of his brother, Hidetada Tokugawa, and the Tokugawa retainer, Hattori Hanzo Masanari. After a number of her attacks fail to kill Soki, she uses her bladed umbrella in an attempt to pierce him, but Soki successfully retrieves Lamentation and blocks the attack, soon disarming her.
As she sits at his mercy, he initially expresses the need to kill her despite Minokichi's protests, but he soon decides against it, believing that she is simply a human who had gained the ability to control Genma. With her refusing to answer whether or not she was sent by Hideyoshi, he and Minokichi leave her and the village behind and continue their journey to Osaka, though he internally questions why she would side with Hideyoshi. The two finally arrive in Osaka, passing by Akane Yagyū and Musashi Miyamoto, both of whom had also arrived at the same time while hunting for information on Akane's uncle, Munenori Yagyū. Though the two very briefly sense each other's power as they pass each other, neither act on this sensation nor make contact with one another. While he initially heads toward Osaka Castle, he is among the many present when the Dark Stone within the Toyokuni Research Facility begins to activate.
Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams
Dawn of Nightmares
Soki prepares to fight the Genma in Osaka
The morning after the Dark Stone activates, it emits a massive wave of energy that destroys the majority of the city, forcing everyone present to evacuate. As a young girl briefly stays to retrive her ball, she is attacked by a horde of Genma, but she is saved at the last moment by Soki who had remained in Osaka in order to destroy the Genma that had appeared. Due to his power as the Black Oni, he is able to effortlessly defeat the hordes of Genma, soon taking notice of a number of gargantuan Genma Samurai that trample what's left of the city. Taking notice of the Toyotomi crest on it's armor and growing enraged, Soki draws Requiem and taps into his black power to deflect it's attack and cleave through it's body, causing the Genma Giant to crumble and die. He returns to the child and gives her the ball that she was looking for, walking back to confront the rest of the Genma as she recognises him as the Black Oni before she presumably escapes. Soki remains in Osaka to defeat the remaining Genma, soon becoming the Black Onimusha to defeat another Genma Giant. His battle in Osaka is overseen by the spirit of Fortinbras, the latter now able to manifest himself as such due to the appearence of the Omen Star within which his power is sealed.
The next year, Soki and Minokichi lay a trap in the town of Suruga, waiting for a convoy of Genma Trees led by Naoyuki Ban Danemon to pass through. Upon his arrival, Soki gives Minokichi Lamentation and walks out in front of the convoy, initially speaking to Danemon respectfully as he asks the samurai to here his request. When Danemon agrees, Soki instantly becomes more casualy, telling Danemon to drop the trees and leave, but when Danemon reminds him that the trees belong to Hideyoshi, Soki warns that Danemon will die if he doesn't leave, identifying him by name. Danemon, shocked that Soki knows him, orders the rest of his Genma to take the trees to the Suruga Fortress, but Minokichi swings by and uses Lamentation to cut the ropes holding up a wooden structure, causing to come crashing down onto the road and blocking the convoy's path. As he recieves Lamentation back from Minokichi, Soki begins to notice an awful smell and recognises that Danemon had consumed Genma Insects, Danemon confirming and calling it a present from Hideyoshi. With this confirmation, Soki decides that he has no choice but to kill Danemon, the latter deciding the same due to how much Soki knows. Danemon attempts to ask Soki's name, but Soki refuses to answer before their battle begins.
Despite Danemon's increased strength due to the Genma Insects as well as his attempts to call Genma to aid him, Soki defeats and kills Danemon with little effort, only telling his opponent his name after his death, wishing him better luck in his next life. He and Minokichi confirm that the trees are present and begin the process of burning them, regretfully watching as they continue to hear the screaming of the tree's victims and resolving that burning them is the only thing they can do. While Soki and Minokichi do not notice their presence, this act is witnessed by Munenori and Ohatsu, with Munenori initially planning to kill him immediately, only to change his mind when Ohatsu recognises him.
The Two Oni Unite
Soki and Jubei prepare to fight
Two weeks later, while still staying in the town of Suruga, Soki is warned of an approaching wicked force, though decides it best to simply hide since there are no Genma Trees involved. Minokichi mentions a human close by , and Soki remains unconcerned, assuming the human to be a lost bandit, but when Minokichi says that the human was likely a child, Soki decides to go out and find them. This child turns out to be Jūbei Akane Yagyū who had reached Suruga following rumors of the Blue Demon, believing this nickname to be literal. While crawling through a broken barricade, Minokichi appears and accidentelly startles her, causing her to threaten the young Mino. Soki immediately intervenes and tries to diffuse the situation, but Akane identifies him as the Blue Demon and prepares to kill him, not listening when Soki tell her that the name "Blue Demon" is just a nickname. As she begins to attack him, Soki recognises her Yagyū-Seigo-Ryu style of swordplay and decides that he has no choice but to fight back.
While Akane's skill is impressive despite her age, Soki is still able to defeat her, complimenting her and asking for her name, being left shocked when he learns that she is Jūbei Yagyū. She demands his own name in return, and he eventually answers with Soki, saying that it's what people call him now since he doesn't really have a name anymore. Soki notices and comments on her Demon Eye, but Minokichi suddenly appears and warns them that time has run out, and large purple meteors begin to rain down on the town. Genma begin to appears from them and Akane warns that Soki will be unable to kill them, not realising that he is an Oni. Much to her shock, Soki instantly kills one, and they begin fighting through the town to reach the source of the meteors, Akane working out that Soki must be an Oni if he is able to kill the Genma. Thye eventually reach the temple at the center of town and unleash a large beetle-like Genma that proves to be the source of the force that Minokichi had previously sensed, working together to slay it. Following this, the two decide to form a more longterm allience against the Genma.
Soki and Akane infiltrate Satta Pass
Akane informs Soki of rumors of cherry trees in a fortress at Satta Pass, also telling him that she has business there with a man and encouraging them to work together. Soki initially believes her business involves an assassination, but doesn't push when she hesitates to answer. Upon reaching the fortress, the two notice the increased patrols and split up, with Soki rushing to the main entrance in order to attract attention while Akane sneaks inside, Soki spends time fighting off the Genma patrols and is backed against the main gate, but Akane is able to cut the gate's supports and cause it to topple over, crushing the Genma as Soki rolls out of the way and allowing him inside, Akane now calling him "Blue". The two climb the scafolding around the fortress and Akane allows Soki to run ahead when they reach the rook, causing him to come into contact with Munenori. The rogue Yagyū and Soki begin a brief battle, Soki recognising Munenori's reverse fencing sword style (also known as Nito-Ryu) and Munenori telling him that he dislikes swordfighting.
Akane suddenly appears and attacks him, identifying him as her uncle and ordering Soki to enter the fortress and burn the trees while she fights Munenori, demanding that he not interfere when he protests. Soki reluctantly enters alone and finds the Genma Trees, but he is startled by a warning shot from a musket before he has the chance to begin burning the them. This musket turns out to be Ohatsu, who Soki greets warmly, but when she asks him to forget his crusade and return with her to Osaka, Soki refuses and removes the covering on the trees, revealling the victims trapped inside and saying that Hideyoshi is no longer the man he once knew. Ohatsu continues to try and convince Soki to return with her, even weeping for a moment, but Soki remains steadfast in his mission to kill Hideyoshi, leaving Ohatsu no choice but to shoot him and calling him Hideyasu Yuki, though Soki asserts that he no longer goes by that name.
It doesn't take long for Soki to defeat and disarm Ohatsu, reminding her of the suffering of the people and asking her to join him, but Munenori appears before she can answer, mockingly tellin Soki that nothing can take Ohatsu away from him. Soki demands to know where Akane is, and Munenori says that she was disciplined and doesn't have much time left, though warns that while he'll keep Soki company if he wants to stay, Munenori is an enemy that Soki doesn't want to make. Realising that Akane's life is on the line, Soki decides to leave the trees and rush to save her, barely reaching her and cutting the fuse in time before the dynamite that she is strapped to explodes. Akane chastises him for abandoning the trees to save her, but Soki promises that they'll be able to kill both Munenori and Hideyoshi by going to Kyoto.
The Red Oni
Soki and Akane meet Tenkai at Sawayama
Soki, Akane and Minokichi decide that their only choice is to reach Kyoto and attack Hideyoshi directly, hoping to stop the Diago Blossoming Festival. Before they leave, Soki is suddenly visited by the spirit of Fortinbras who expresses interest in his him, but just as quickly disappears when Soki asks who he is. He soon learns that he was the only one able to see or hear him, and begins to wonder how that can be. They soon arrive at the town of Sawayama in Omi province, noticing the dark essence filling the area, but they are soon surrounded by Genma as space around them begins to twist due to the magic of an also present Tenkai. They fight through the town but soon find themselves separated as they unlock a gate, an illusion having split them apart. Soki frantically calls for Akane only to be faced with Tenkai, the latter noting that the possesses the spirit of the Oni much like her. Soki demands to know where she is, and Tenkai reveals what appears to be her corpse, driving Soki to anger as he attacks the monk.
Tenkai recognises his black power, identifying him as the Black Oni, but Soki still defeats him and attempts to execute him. However, Soki's own Oni blood prevents him from doing so, only cutting the monk's Oni mask in half. Soki realises that the Akane he was shown was only an illusion, but the two are attacked by a large Buzz Mantis guarding the town and are forced to work together to defeat it. Following it's death, the real Akane is able to reunite with Soki as Tenkai drops the illusion he placed on the town, identifying her as the granddaughter of Sekishusai Yagyu. He then calls Soki the Black Oni, though Soki still tells him to use his nickname, and Tenkai introduces himself as someone searching for other who hold Oni power in order to defeat Hideyoshi and the Genma. Now understanding that they are on the same side, they all agree to an allience.
After they return to their hideout, Tenkai informs them that a westerner name Roberto is imprisoned within the dungeons of Sawayama Castle, insisting that he will be vital for their mission. Learning that Mitsunari Ishida had increased the security in and around Sawayama as a result of their previous arrival, they decide that they need a decoy to draw attention, Tenkai asking Akane to take that role. While she is initially reluctant, Tenkai insists that Akane's speed and agility are far beyond theirs, believing that it will make being a decoy simple for her. Tenkai's compliments are enough to change her mind and enthusiastically agree, and the other two return to the town to find a large hole created by the Genma that they had previously fought, dropping inside to reach the dungeons.
The two manage to find their way to Roberto's cell, but when Soki attempts to tell him that they're here to rescue him, Roberto replies in spanish that they wasted their time and effortlessly breaks his own restraints. Soki initially tries to stop him from leaving, suggesting that they work together, but after he repeatedly gets in the westerner's way of leaving to find Luis Frois, Roberto attacks him in a rage, demanding that he get out of his way or die. With Tenkai having been translating what Roberto has been saying, he insists that Soki doesn't kill the westerner, but when Soki attempts to offer Roberto a weapon due to not being willing to fight an unarmed opponent, Roberto shows that he is entirely capable of fighting with his bare fists, and Soki agrees to the fight. He manages to push Roberto back, but the cave suddenly begins rumbling around them as Genma enter the cell. Roberto, sensing that something else is coming, decides to use this opportunity to flee the cave and begin searching for Luis, much to Soki's frustration, and he and Tenkai are left to fight off the Genma.
Soki tells Ohatsu about the Genma Trees
As they do, the source of the rumbling reaches them as they are found and approached by Sakon Shima, the retainer of Mitsunari. Sakon instantly wipes out the nearby Genma and challenges the two to a fight, but their teamwork is enough to defeat him, forcing him to flee. As he does, a heavy steel gate closes down on the only exit, preventing them from escaping, only for Ohatsu to drop a rope from a well and tell Soki to climb up. He does so, suspecting a trap, but Ohatsu insists that she wants to talk, asking him about the true nature of the Genma Trees. Soki explains that they are created from living people to produce Genma Insects, the latter being consumed by others to become fighting machines, with Hideyoshi planning to use the Diago Festival to release the Insects en masse and transform everyone in the country into mindless drones. Horrified at this revelation, Ohatsu finally accepts Soki's request to join him, informing him that Mitsunari is within the castle right now and suggesting that killing him could return Hideyoshi to his senses. She asks about Tenkai, but Soki insists that he will be fine, and they both begin making their way to the top of the castle.
As they reach the top, they are met with Munenori, who praises Ohatsu for bringing him here, though the latter was unaware o fhis presence and insists that this wasn't a trap. Munenori beckons her to join him, but notices her hesitation and reminds her that her life lies solely in his hands. Knowing that she has no choice and not wanting to reveal her secret to Soki, she is forced to leave Soki once again, causing him to furiously draw his weapon against Munenori. While Munenori is confident that he can defeat the Oni, Soki manages to defeat and wound the Yagyū, telling Munenori that he's a dangerous enemy as well. Munenori prepares to remove his eyepatch and use his Demon Eye, but Soki demands to know what he did to Ohatsu. Munenori gleefully tells him to ask her himself, simply telling him that her body is wonderful before fleeing with a smoke bomb.
Soki climbs to the top of the castle and confronts both Mitsunari and Luis, demanding to know if the former is controlling Hideyoshi, but Mitsunari insists that Hideyoshi had made his choices himself, encouraging Soki to see him again in Kyoto. As Soki begins cursing Hideyoshi, Roberto suddenly bursts into the room through a secret passage in an attempt to ambush Luis, but Mitsunari triggers a trap door and causes them to fall into the room below. He apologises for the interruption and says that he and Luis need to leave in order to reach the Blossoming Festival, leaving Soki and Roberto to fight off a trapped corpse of Hecuba before returning to the hideout. With Roberto having returned with them, Tenkai begins speaking to him in spanish and requests his assistance, revealing his knowledge of the Exorcising Beads within his body. Roberto eventually agrees, though tells the monk that his main priority is Luis, unwilling to take orders from the others. Tenkai relays this to Soki, Akane and Minokichi, and they attempt to introduce themselves, but Roberto refuses to speak to them.
The Assualt on Kyoto
The party prepare to enter Diago Temple
Upon reaching Kyoto, Tenkai suggests that the use the Akechi Tomb as a staging point for their assualt with the plan of burning the Genma Mother Tree, and upon arrival, they split up in order to avoid attracting attention. They soon regroup upon reaching the entrance to Diago Temple, and Tenkai tells them that their main goal is to burn the Genma Mother Tree in order for the rest of the trees to be destroyed in the process. They enter Diago Temple, but the presence of both Luis and Munenori causes Roberto and Akane to immediately rush at them despite Tenkai's protests. With Soki and Tenkai faced with Mitsunari, the latter tells Soki that Hideyoshi is waiting for him at the top, causing him to rush off with the intent of destroying Hideyoshi himself while Tenkai is forced to face Sakon before having the chance to chase Soki down.
Soki rushes through to the top of the Temple to find Hideyoshi enjoying the Festival alongside Yodo, Hideyori, Ohatsu, and many other attendees, turning to greet Soki and expressing a want to see him again, Soki instantly bowing before his father. As Hideyoshi attempts to recruit Soki back to his side, Soki simply asks if Hideyoshi finds the cherry blossoms lovely, Hideyoshi confirming. As he says that they symbolise his clan's incoming domination of the world, Soki begs Hideyoshi to stop his invasion and not turn his back on the people, but Hideyoshi expresses no care for them, calling himself fit to rule the world and asking why he should care about those living in his world. Seeing that Hideyoshi is truly beyond reason, Soki instantly drops his respectful act, an act that Hideyoshi calls cunning, much like Soki's real father. Now excepting that Hideyoshi had truly turned to evil, he draws Lamentation and swings at him, though Hideyoshi avoids the attack, giving Hideyori to Yodo. Soki then sheathes Lamentation and instead draws Requiem, drawing on his black power to destroy Hideyoshi, and Hideyoshi causes many of the present attendees of the festival to transform into Genma Generals.
As he does this, Soki's power begins to erupt from within, causing him to transform into a Black Onimusha and instantly cut down the surrounding generals. Seeing the extent of Soki's power, Hideyoshi decides to face Soki himself, using his own Genma power to fend off the Onimusha. After a lengthy struggle, with Hideyoshi initially toying with his opponent before unleashing more of his power, Soki manages to defeat his father as he reverts back to his human form. However, Hideyoshi instantly gets back up, still having not shown his full power and manages to land an attack that sends Soki to the floor. Hideyoshi gives Soki one final chance to join him, but Soki remains defiant and insists that his path is and will always be his choice. With this, Hideyoshi prepares his full power to kill him, but Ohatsu, having been inspired to make her own choice as well, attempts to shield him, with Hideyoshi deciding to kill her as well. As the blast is about to hit them, Tenkai manages to reach them and block the attack himself, telling Soki to retreat to Mt. Hiei in order to unlock his power as an Onimusha. As Tenkai is swallowed in the blast of Hideyoshi's attack, Soki and Ohatsu heed his word and escape Kyoto to Mt. Hiei.
Becoming an Onimusha
Arin shows Soki the Oni Gate
The two manage to reach Mt. Hiei, but Ohatsu collapses as they arrive, Soki and Minokichi discovering that she had been forced to consume Genma Insects in order to force her to remain loyal to Munenori and Hideyoshi. While she accepts that the insects will likely kill her as a consequence of her decision to join Soki, Minokichi sorrowfully tells Soki to kill her before she becomes a Genma Tree, though Soki refuses to do so. However, they are interrupted by a mysterious girl named Arin who takes Ohatsu to Enryaku Temple and tells him that there is another way to save her if he goes there as well. Desperate to save Ohatsu, Soki decides to listen to her and reaches Enryaku Temple, demanding to know how Ohatsu can be saved. Arin tells him that he must become the Onimusha by entering the Oni Gate and retrieving the Oni Orb from within, though warns that he has less than 2 hours to find the Orb and return before the Gate seals itself shut.
Soki agrees to enter and manages to make his way through the Oni Mansion, a prison located on the brink of Hell for Oni that had been corrupted by the Genma. After managing to reach the final chamber, Soki is confronted by Gargant who attempts to defeat him. After a difficult battle, Soki manages to defeat him and retrieve the Oni Orb, but as he attempts to leave through the Oni Gate, he is ambushed by Marcellus. At the same time, the Oni Gate begins to seal itself shut, and Marcellus forces Soki to defend himself from his attack, preventing him from escaping in time. While Arin and Minokichi lament that Soki had failed as Ohatsu is completely taken over by the Genma Insects, the Oni Gate begins to rumble, Arin realising that Soki's newly unlocked power is allowing him to force the gate open from the inside. Soki manages to break the gate open and escape, much to Arin's shock, and he notices that Ohatsu has become completely corrupted, rushing at her and using his new power to purify her, now learning that Requiem can be used as a means of purification. As a result, Ohatsu is successfully purged of the Genma Insects and survives, now vowing to remain by Soki's side from now on.
Finding Their Allies
Soki and Ohatsu confront Munenori at Azuchi Castle
Following their battle, Soki is once again visited by Fortinbras who comments that Soki had unlocked his Onimusha power, comparing him to the God of Darkness before disappearing. Once again, Soki is the only one to see him as Arin and Minokichi question who he's talking to. Soki soon asks where Ohatsu is and is told that her previous outfit was destroyed in their battle, leading her to change into something less cumbersome. Upon showing herself, Soki is left highly flustered, and while Arin mentions that this less cumbersome armor will make it easier to fight, Ohatsu explains that her baggy clothing was to hide the effect of the Genma Inescts on her body, something that is no longer an issue. The group soon recieve one of 500 arrowgrams addressed to Soki, Arin annoyed at the arrows litering the mountain, and it is discovered to be from Munenori, explaining that he did so due to being unable to enter Mt. Hiei because of the Oni Barrier surrounding it. He invites Soki to come to Azuchi Castle, saying that he is holding Akane hostage and warning that he may kill her if he doesn't arrive. Hoping to save her, Soki and Ohatsu agree to make their way towards Azuchi Castle and stop Munenori.
They soon arrive at the castle and find it littered with traps and puzzles, but successfully manage to get past them all and activate the elevator to the top. Using it, Soki is the first to arrive to find Akane tied up next to Munenori, glad to see that she survived. She chastises him for coming, but Soki says he wouldn't leave her, calling her "his precious..." before Munenori interrupts him. He sends a crow to attack him, but it is instantly shot dead by an approaching Ohatsu, surprising Munenori that she isn't dea by now, but Ohatsu asserts that she isnt' his pet anymore. Realising that they had managed to remove the Insects, he promises to finish the job they started, drawing his swords and attacking the two. He is beaten back once again and Soki warns him that he has nothing left to throw at them, but Munenori decides to remove his eyepatch, promising to have one last thing that he had been saving. As Akane attempts to warn them, Munenori reveals that he too has the Demon Eye, using it to increase his speed and strength. In the end, even this proves insificiant as Soki and Ohatsu manage to overwhelm him and force him to flee, promising Akane that he will one day kill Sekishusai and destroy the Yagyū.
Akane is brought back to Enryaku Temple, and after eating a full meal and getting a full night's rest, Akane makes a full recovery despite how condition due to the Demon Eye accelerating her recovery. After indroducing herself to Ohatsu and Arin and settling in at Enryaku Temple, Soki recieves word from Minokichi that a westerner had been taken to the San Espana Western Hospital in Osaka, believing it to be Roberto, but Ohatsu fears that Luis Frois is involved due to the spanish name. They soon decide to go there in order to rescue him, telling Akane as such with Arin teasing her by calling her Soki's little sister following a conversation of their own. The party arrive at the San Espana and managed to find Luis experimenting on Roberto, attacking him after witnessing the injuries that Roberto had endured as a result. Despite Luis' magic and trickery, he is defeated by the party, but this triggers a trap that causes them to be surrounded by Genma. However, Luis is suddenly overcome by a shift in personality and he begs Soki to take Roberto away before the Genma Rosencrantz regains control of his body. Confused and concerned at this change, the party decide to heed his words and manage to escape with Roberto.
Roberto is saved and brought to Enryaku Temple
The party manage to bring Roberto back to Enryaku Temple, but after 10 days of rest, Roberto remains unconsciouss, Arin noting that the fact that he is still alive after his injuries is a miracle in itself. Ohatsu decides to watch over him for the time being, and sometime later calls to the rest of the group as Roberto finally wakes up. Upon realising that they had saved his life, Roberto begins answering them in Japanese when they ask if he's ok, apologising for his previously hostility and agreeing to work with them from now on. Over the course of the two months, Roberto eventually manages to make a full recovery, though he is frustrated at how much time it took before he was able to recover.
Roberto's Plan
After he gets back on his feet, Roberto decides to return to Sawayama Castle, telling the group that he had accidentelly left something very important behind there. While he initially intends to retrieve it himself, the party decide to go with him, asserting that they don't want him to risk going there on his own. After a while, Roberto relents and agrees, and the party return to Sawayama Castle through a secret entrance that Roberto knows due to having to travel to and from the castle with Luis when he was younger. Once they find the secret passage that Roberto had previously used, they reach his cell and find his pendant, escaping Sawayama once they defeat another Buzz Mantis. Upon returning to Mt. Hiei, the party begin to discuss their next move, and Roberto suggests infiltrating the Toyokuni Research Facility in Sakai, revealing that the pendant that they had retrieved was actually a key to get inside.
Roberto learns of the Genma's plan
The party agree to this plan and make their way towards the facility, successfully using the pendant to get in and reach the central computer. While Soki initially tries to access it, he is unsuccessful not only due to his unfamiliarity with this technology, also because the information onscreen is written in spanish. However, Roberto eases him aside and successfully access the computer, reading through and learning of the Genma's full plan. He promises to reveal this to them once they return to Mt. Hiei but tells them that they must first destroy the Dark Stone housed beneath the facility that acts as a source of power for Hideyoshi. The group fight through the facility and soon access the underground chamber, finding the Dark Stone housed within, but Ohatsu and Akane's attacks fail to cause any damage. Before Soki can attempt to damage it, Mitsunari appears and questions how they found this place, though quickly works out that Roberto must have led them here. They all watch as Roberto reveals that his power exists for the purpose of destroying the Dark Stones and begins punching it, causing Mitsunari to realise that Luis Frois had implanted the Exorcising Beads within him and assuming that to be the reason that Rosencrantz could never control him.
Seeing Roberto as a genuine threat, Mitsunari attempts to kill him, but Soki defends the westerner, leading to a fight. As the fight begins, Roberto warns them that Mitsunari is actually wielding the power of Claudius, a powerful Genma and member of the Genma Triumvirate, but despite his skill and Genma power, Mitsunari is unable to stand up against the team of Soki, Akane and Ohatsu, and he is soon defeated. At the same time, Roberto manages to destroy the Dark Stone and while Mitsunari remains fairly unconcerned, Soki identifies him as Claudius and demands to know their plan. Impressed that a human recognised his true identity, Claudius agrees and reveals their desire to revive the Genma God of Light and wipe out humanity entirely. Soki begins to question whether the Genma had manipulated events as far back as even the foreign war, and Claudius confirms, challenging Soki to try and stop him as he flees.
Once they return to Enryaku, Roberto reveals everything that he had learned from the facility, including the existence of the Genma Triumvirate, the true purpose of the Genma Trees to pull the Omen Star toward the Earth, and Hideyoshi's role as the vessel for the God of Light's rebirth. He would also reveal the possession of Mitsunari and Luis Frois by Claudius and Rosencrantz respectively, and while he notes that Rosencrantz had foribly taken control of his host, Mitsunari had willingly allowed Claudius to inhabit his body, though Roberto expects that Claudius will soon take complete control very soon. Unfortunately, he is unaware of who Ophelia is posing as, though expects her to be somewhere close to Hideyoshi. He finally reminds them that the second Dark Stone is in the facility in Shimabara, and soon suggests using the San Felipe to get there which is currently at port in Sakai, being the only western ship not destroyed during the invasion. Knowing that this will likely be the last time they see Arin before their final confrontation with Hideyoshi, they bid Arin farewell as they head toward Sakai.
Tenkai's Return
The party prepares to face Sakon on the San Felipe
The party arrive in Sakai and soon find the San Felipe in port, but as they begin boarding the ship, they notice that something is pursuing them, this person turning out to be Sakon. Soki decides to stay and fight him off while everyone else prepares the ship to leave, and Sakon is soon defeated as the boat begins to leave port. Soki rushes past the Genma and leaps toward the boat, being caught and pulled on board by Roberto and Ohatsu. However, Sakon manages to reach the ship as well, climbing on board and preparing to destroy it to prevent their escape. Soki initially rushes at Sakon, but the spearman is suddenly stopped by an arriving Tenkai who reveales that Hell had "spat him back out". Now wearing his Oni Gauntlet, he and Soki work together to defeat Sakon, and Tenkai uses a purification charm to purify him, causing the mask that had controlled him to break. As it's effect on him begins to dissipate, Sakon ends up falling off of the ship, allowing the group to sail away from Sakai while celebrating Tenkai's survival.
During their voyage, Soki is once again visited by the spirit of Fortinbras who calls them two polar opposites, but as Soki becomes increasingly frustrated at the spirit's constant riddles, Tenkai manages to barely sense the spirit's presence and break their contact. Soki asks if he sees anything and Tenkai confirms, warning that something about him didn't feel right but not able to tell who the spirit really was. After around 3+ days of travel, the group manage to make land at Beppu Bay in Kyushu, disembarking at an abandoned village. As they make their way through the village, they come across Yodo at the top of the hill who begins attempting to manipulate Ohatsu into not fighting her. While Tenkai senses that she is likely Ophelia in disguise, Ohatsu manages to convince the party not to fight her, giving her the chance to summon Genma to fight them. This proves fruitless as the Genma are quickly defeated and Soki slashes at Yodo, certain that she is an imposter. While Ohatsu is clearly disturbed by the event, the party are forced on guard yet again as Ophelia emerges in her true form, deciding to forgo her deception and fight them herself. In the end, she is overwhelmed by the party and defeated, with Ohatsu furiously firing multiple shots into her for impersonating her sister. As she begins to mourn Yodo, assuming that she had been killed, Soki assures her that Yodo was likely still alive, and they leave the village to journey toward Shimabara.
Running Out of Time
Soki confronts Claudius at the Shimabara Facility
They eventually arrive outside the Shimabara Research Facility and manage to infiltrate it, fighting through the facility until they reach the underground chamber. However, they find that the Dark Stone is nowhere to be found, and are soon met by Rosencrantz, still in possession of Luis Frois. Claudius soon appears as well, and when Soki demands to know where the Dark Stone is, he turns their attention upwards, showing that it is hovering far above them before attempting to fight them off once again. As the platform begins to rise toward the Dark Stone, the group manage to defeat him once again, but having now reached the Dark Stone, Claudius warns that being near it makes him impossible to defeat. Roberto decides to rush forward, dodging Claudius' attacks, and attempts to destroy the Dark Stone, but Claudius uses his Genma magic to bind not only Roberto, but the entire party in place. However, he is suddenly interrupted by an arriving Sakon who pierces his torso, now free of his control and ordering Claudius to leave Mitsunari's body, also causing the party to be freed from the Genma's magic.
Deciding that he doesn't need Mitsunari anymore, Claudius obliges and releases Mitsunari from his possession, announcing that he can manifest in his true form due to the Omen Star's close proximity to the Earth. The party tell Sakon to flee with an unconscious Mitsunari, and they all prepare to fight off Claudius while Roberto begins punching the Dark Stone. After a difficult battle, Claudius is defeated as Roberto manages to destroy the Dark Stone, but Claudius warns that while they have achieved a small victory here, they only have a week until the Omen Star reaches the Earth, leaving them with too little time to return to Kyoto and destroy Hideyoshi. As Claudius laughs at this fact, his body tumbles down into the underground chamber of the facility and explodes, with both Rosencrantz and Luis being caught in the blast and killed, though Luis manages to regain control of himself as he dies and praises Roberto's actions.
The party confront Munenori at Nagoya Castle
The party escape the facility and begin trying to work out a way to reach Kyoto in time, and as they begin to give up hope, Sakon approaches them and tells them to go to Hisen, telling of the Space Folder in Nagoya Castle that Nobunaga had once placed there that can be used to reach Kyoto in time. The group realise that Nagoya Castle could be reached in as little as 4 days, but Sakon is less optimistic, asking how only 5 people could assualt Nagoya Castle as he leaves them. Before their attack on Nagoya Castle, Minokichi gives Soki the thread of his late father, Minogoro, telling him that it will allow him to warp anywhere he chooses. When asked why he is giving it to him, Minokichi says that there is a chance that he will survive, though Soki, unwilling to accept that Minokichi could die before their mission is complete, promises to return it once they are finished. The party reach Nagoya Castle in time and begin their assualt with only one day remaining, and after successfully getting inside, they are met with Munenori waiting for them. Akane steps forward to face him, but as he continues to mock her, she decides to reveal the truth about his Demon Eye, revealing that his own eye was lost in a training accident and that his mother had given him her own eye in order to save his life, giving up her own life in the process. This revelation initially appears to shock Munenori to his core, but he soon drops this facade and reveals that he doesn't care, leading to Akane deciding that death is the only way that he will learn.
Everyone else stands back as she and Munenori engage in single combat, and Akane manages to defeat him, inflicting a grevious wound on her uncle. However, Munenori begins acting erratically, causing Soki to realise that he had been consuming Genma Insects, and they are forced to chase him to the top of the Castle, only to find him being protected by a still-alive Ophelia. Having already activated the Space Folder, she tells them that they are too late to stop the Omen Star and escapes to Kyoto with Munenori, destroying the device on the other side to prevent the Oni from using it as well. As they witness the Omen Star making it's final descent, Minokichi appears and reveals that he had recieved a power from the late Mitsuhide Akechi when they were last at the Akechi Tomb, promising to be able to send them all to it. Knowing that this power will likely kill him in the process, he traps the party in a bubble and bids them all farewell, successfully teleporting them all to the Akechi Tomb as his thread breaks. Upon arriving at the Akechi Tomb, the party begin mourning Minokichi's loss, with Akane initially attempting to sprint back to Hisen to find him, but after reminding her why he sacrificed himself to send them here, she and the others swear to ensure that his sacrifice was not in vain.
The Final Battle
Soki confronts Hideyoshi at Fushimi Castle
With only hours until the Omen Star completes it's descent, the party launch a final assualt on Kyoto, and soon discover that both Rosencrantz and Claudius had been revived by the dark essence emanating from the Omen Star. Roberto decides to stay behind to fight Rosencrantz while Tenkai soon does the same once encountering Claudius, both holding them off to ensure that Soki reaches and defeats Hideyoshi in time. Akane soon splits from the group as well, sensing the presence of Munenori and choosing to defeat him first. Soki and Ohatsu run ahead, only to be intercepted by Ophelia, and Ohatsu decides to fight her off while encouraging Soki to continue. While Soki is unwilling to leave her behind, Ohatsu promises that they will be together once this is over and pushes him to keep going, Soki reluctantly doing so and rushing towards Fushimi Castle.
With the Genma Mother Tree having grown so large that the Castle had been lifted off of the ground, Soki climbs the vast roots of the tree and eventually reaches Hideyoshi sitting upon his throne. Unconcerned that Soki had returned to oppose him again, Hideyoshi tells him that his power remains unlimited despite the destruction of the Dark Stones, revealing the Genma Seed implanted in his chest that facilitates the God of Light's rebirth and continued to fuel him. Hideyoshi then activates a large mechanical suit of armor to face Soki, and the Black Oni promises to bring an end to Hideyoshi's dream. Despite this large suit of armor and the power of the Genma Seed, Soki emerges victorious over Hodeyoshi, only for a mortally wounded Ophelia to limp into the room.
Hideyoshi attempts to crawl to her, but she chastises him for being unable to buy them enough time, revealing that she had been manipulating him from the very beginning. Horrified, Hideyoshi begins to regret the sacrifice of Yodo to create the Genma Mother Tree, but Ophelia rips the Genma Seed from Hideyoshi's chest, claiming that it's all they need to complete their plans. She attempts to use the seed to awaken the Genma Mother Tree and complete the revival of the Omen Star, but as the tree awakens, one of the roots suddenly impales her, Ophelia realising that Yodo was somehow still alive and conscious as she is killed. Hideyoshi is overjoyed that Yodo is still alive in some form and apologises to her, and Yodo, still wanting to be with Hideyoshi, pulls him into the tree itself. As she does this, another root grips Soki's leg as she prepares to kill him, but and arriving Akane manages to sever it and free him, the rest of the party soon arriving to aid Soki in burning the tree.
The group do battle with the out-of-control Genma Mother Tree, and soon manage to damage it enough for Soki to purify it, impaling it with Requiem and destroying it. As a result of it's purification, both Hideyoshi and Yodo manage to survive it's destruction, though Hideyoshi remains at death's door regardless after his battle with Soki. After Ohatsu and Yodo reunite, she begins to cradle Hideyoshi as the warlord finally realises his wrongs and thanks Soki for stopping him, having always wanted to live up to Nobunaga, but calling it nothing more than a fading dream. Moved that Hideyoshi had finally abandoned his merciless ambition, Soki finally calls him "Father", and Hideyoshi uses his last moments to ask Soki to watch over his brother, Hideyori. Following this, Hideyoshi finally breathes his last, but as Soki begins to mourn, the group notice something outside of the castle and they rush out.
Soki becomes the Oni God of Darkness
Unbeknownst to anyone, Munenori had somehow survived his battle against Akane and managed to find the Genma Seed, revealing himself atop the castle and announcing that the Omen Star had arrived, activating the seed to begin the resurrection of the God of Light within himself. As a result, he reincarnates as the Serpent God Fortinbras, becoming far too powerful for the group to defeat. With this new threat, Tenkai decides to give Soki his Oni Gauntlet, telling him that it holds the sealed power of Genma Lord Nobunaga within, hoping that adding that to Soki's own power could make him strong enough to contend with the god. As Soki puts on the Gauntlet, Tenkai begins giving his own power to it and encourages the others to do the same, and they all agree. This gathering of power is enough for Soki to trigger a transformation of his own, causing him to unlock his full power and become the fully reincarnated Oni God of Darkness. With this new power, he does battle with the Serpent God, and after a brutal struggle, manages to defeat it, causing it to crash down into the Earth.
Now reverting back to his human form, Soki collapses to the ground exhausted, and everyone begins to believe that they had finally won, but after a moment of silence, they begin to sense and overwhelming sensation. They soon turn towards the Omen Star as footsteps are heard behind them, and they find a man dressed in white slowly descending from the Star. As he does, Munenori, still somehow alive, climbs to the top of Fushimi Castle and attempts to attack the man in a rage, identifying him as Fortinbras, but the god effortlessly uses his magic to stop and wound him, dropping him from the castle. As the party realises that this is the true Genma God of Light, he uses his power to incapacitate them, warning them that their Oni power is far too weak to damage him and offering to spare them only if the bow before him and call his name. However, as the rest of the party loses hope, Soki rises to his feet and calls him evil, refusing to bow before him. Fortinbras instantly knocks him back and mockingly reminds him that without a Gauntlet, weapon, or even the ability to stand on his feet, he cannot fight the inevitable. Still defiant, Soki manages to stand up again and warns Fortinbras that he still has powerful weapons, prompting the rest of the group to stand in his defence. Unable to understand Soki, Fortinbras absorbs the dark essence from the Genma Trees and fully unleashes his power against them, leading to one last battle.
Soki uses Requiem to destroy Fortinbras
While Fortinbras initially proves invulnerable to their attacks, they manage to absorb the energy of his attacks and knock it back at him, allowing them to damage him, and after a long and vicious struggle, they successfully manage to defeat him as Soki impales him with Requiem. The resulting shockwave knocks out the rest of the party, and Fortinbras, realising that Requiem is actually destroying him, labels that as Soki's powerful weapon. Soki, however, asserts that Humanity's greatest weapon is faith, though Fortinbras calls that nonsense, telling Soki that whether he is a Black Oni or a Human, he is a fool to the end. With this final word, Fortinbras finally succumbs to Requiem's power and is destroyed entirely. In the process, perhaps due to Fortinbras' last attempt to fight back, Soki had managed to fully awaken his own full godly power, now able to use it without needing to transform. Akane soon wakes up after Fortinbras' death and realises that they had won, but Soki tells her that he still has something to do, beginning to walk towards the Omen Star. Akane begs him to stop, working out that Soki intends to sacrifice himself to destroy the Omen Star and desperately tries to wake up Ohatsu hoping that she would be able to stop him. Soki creates a magic barrier as Akane continues begging for him not to leave to prevent her from stopping him, and makes a final request that they try to remember him when the real cherry blossom bloom. With this last request made, Soki uses his full power to destroy the Omen Star entirely, this act costing him his own life in the process. As a result, the last remaining Genma Trees are destroyed as well, and the Genma Mother Tree begins to crumble as the rest of the party wake up and escape Kyoto.
Trivia
- Sōki is featured in the crossover fighting game Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes/Ultimate All Stars and is the only Onimusha character to appear playable in Capcom's Versus series to date.
- Sōki's light hair is never properly explained; although Sōki has no recollection of his mother, she was actually Tokugawa Ieyasu's concubine Lady Oman, who was indeed Japanese.
- Sōki's hidden costume is that of Ryu from Capcom's Street Fighter series.
- Sōki appears in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 as a Capcom card for "Heroes and Heralds Mode".
- There exists a discrepancy for the year that Stage 1 of Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams takes place. While the game itself asserts that it takes place in 1596, the Onimusha: Night of Genesis manga asserts the year to be 1597. Due to the additional details and events leading up to Stage 1 that are depicted in the manga, it is likely that the manga is correct rather than the game.
Gallery
| Onimusha Characters | |
|---|---|
| Heroes | |
| Oni Warriors Akane Yagyū | Ako | Ekei Ankokuji | Hideyasu Yūki | Jacques Blanc | Jūbei Yagyū | Kaede | Kotarō Fūma | Magoichi Saiga | Ohatsu | Oyu | Roberto Frois | Samanosuke Akechi | Hideyasu Yūki | |
| Support Characters | |
| Genma | |
| Demons Babian | Barabazuu | Barthah | Battobone | Battochyka | Bazuu | Brainstern | Dark Crow | Dark Puppet | Dark Spider | Demonic Skeleton Knight | Dongorr | Dorabazuu | Dordio | Dordo | Fobora | Fugaku | Fortinbras | Gajimaro | Gargant | Genma Tree | Gertrude | Gilzorm | Ginghamphatts | Gogandantess | Golden Evil Statue | Gorr | Guildenstern | Gyaran | Hecuba | Jujudormah | Marcellus | Mother Genma Tree | Nuraubis | Osric | Vega Donna | Zabiet | Zagat | Zmoh | Zolworm | Zombie Warrior | Zorm | |
| Humans Nobunaga Oda | Hideyoshi Toyotomi | Ranmaru Mori | Mitsunari Ishida | Sakon Shima | Munenori Yagyū |
|