>So what about Oriphos? As someone who wasn't in Cephiro when Corwin
>patched the oath in (and the earliest it could have happened would be
>when the Trinity revolutionized the world), Akio wouldn't be subject
>to it; and since he created Oriphos, I imagine that loophole would
>likely have persisted. And given that he is an agent of the Pit, he
>would have negative interest in keeping Balder alive.

Akio doesn't seem like he would want to destroy the universe, though. That's where he keeps all his toys.

Also I don't think he would consider himself to be an agent of the Pit. He's got his own agenda and he cooperates with them precisely to the extent that their goals align with his. (Now, whether Beria and company consider him to be a useful idiot, that's another question.)