Shadows Fall

Shadows Fall begins after Bloodbath on the Bridge and asks you to seal two Rifts in Eastern Kyoto. This route covers both arenas and the Firebird Flute chest. Nearby residents' requests and unrelated story objectives are separate tasks.

Controls use the displayed PlayStation bindings: Cross (×) to interact, Square (□) to attack, Circle (○) to evade, R2 for the Oni Bow and L2 to absorb souls or an exposed Rift.

Start from Gojo Street - West

Select Shadows Fall — Seal the Rifts 0/2. At a Spirit Mirror, choose Travel → Eastern Kyoto → Gojo Street - West and confirm with Cross. You arrive beside the shops, baskets and pottery.

Follow the damaged street toward the bridge end and its leaning black sign. Take the passage between the wooden house and the enormous root growth. Stay around the houses on the city side; the boats and riverside chest are a side stop.

Find the narrow passage beside the stone foundation, then the ladder fixed to the outside of the wooden building. Climb onto the bamboo roof.

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Face the golden wall beside the roof and press Cross at Use Oni Power to wall-run across. Land on the next roof and descend into the alley beside the long plaster wall. Deal with the floating heads, then follow the wall toward the wooden houses and the larger group of enemies.

Open the red barrier above the ruined houses

Clear a path through the enemies around the wooden houses. At the end of the settlement, follow the rising dirt path to the collapsed tiled roof wedged against the giant roots. The way ahead is sealed by red strands.

Stand directly before the strands and hold Cross at Use Oni Power until the interaction completes. Go through the opening into the broad area of collapsed roofs and wooden platforms.

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Interrupt the Rift, then seal it for 1/2

This arena introduces the Rift Gauge. As a Rift's connection strengthens, it can heal nearby Genma or put them into a Blazing State. Keep an eye on the circular gauge while fighting.

When Disrupt: R2 Toward Rift appears, face the suspended Rift, hold R2 to aim and release R2 to shoot it. Attack it before the gauge fills to interrupt the buildup. This buys time to fight the surrounding enemies; it does not finish the sealing objective.

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Keep moving between the open parts of the ruined roofs. Use short Square attacks after enemies finish their swings, Circle to leave a crowded position and the bow to deal with targets you cannot safely reach. Absorb loose souls with L2 between openings.

Once the enemies are defeated and Absorb Rift appears, face the Rift and hold L2 until it collapses. A barrier disappears and the objective changes to Seal the Rifts 1/2. If your counter still reads 0/2 after shooting the Rift, finish the enemies and look for the L2 absorption prompt.

Travel to Gojo Street - East

Leave across the broken roofs and planks, follow the plaster-wall alley back to the shop street and return to the Gojo Street - West mirror. Choose Travel → Eastern Kyoto → Gojo Street - East.

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From the mirror, take the village road toward the wooden watchtower. Pass the houses and the low fence, then follow the lane beside the stone base and bamboo fencing. Cross the short plank bridge between two burning braziers. Continue past the collapsed red wooden supports into the grass below the stone steps.

Fight through the enemies at the steps, then take the uphill route between the rocks. Follow the ravine past the large head-like enemy. Use the bow against the enemies shooting from the higher ledges before climbing toward them.

Wall-run to the shrine Rift

Climb the low rock shelves at the end of the ravine. At the gap, face the golden wall on your left and press Cross at Use Oni Power to wall-run along it. Reach the opposite rock shelf and follow the path through the stone torii.

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The second Rift hangs above the shrine courtyard. The building behind it is blocked by a barrier. Clear the enemies, using R2 to interrupt the Rift's buildup and to reach the ranged attackers. Leave room to evade between the enemies and the shrine steps.

When Absorb Rift — L2 appears, hold L2 toward the Rift. Its collapse removes the barrier across the shrine and raises the counter to 2/2. Shizuka confirms that no Rifts remain.

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Collect the Firebird Flute and finish the story

Approach the gold-trimmed chest in front of the shrine and press Cross to open it. It contains the Firebird Flute, an Oni Armament.

With the flute equipped and enough Oni Power, press R1 to summon firebirds. While it is active, press R1 again to launch them at an enemy, burning and staggering the target.

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Close the tutorial and finish Shizuka's dialogue. Story Complete — Shadows Fall appears, followed by A Tempest at the Temple — Speak with Takamura. Returning to Rokudo-chinnoji Temple begins that next task.

Optional residents along the two approaches

On the Gojo Street - West route, the first resident hangs against the plaster wall beside the ladder below the bamboo roof. Shoot the floating attackers with the Oni Bow, clear the immediate threats and speak to the man once he is safely on the ground. His thanks confirm the rescue.

Farther along, before the red barrier above the ruined houses, a woman crouches beside the thatched house and huge pale roots. Clear the sword-wielding Genma around her, then approach and finish her conversation.

On the Gojo Street - East route, another woman is trapped in the grass at the foot of the stone steps, beyond the short plank bridge and collapsed red supports. Defeat the nearby Genma and speak to her before continuing uphill. These rescues are side stops along the approaches; keep following the Rift counter for the main task.

Optional discovery after the second Rift: The Peony Lantern

From the cleared second Rift area, follow the path back through the wooden houses and stone steps beside the bamboo fencing. Continue through the rocky passage, take the next short stone stairway and look for the golden root wall beside a gap. Use Cross — Use Oni Power to cross to the round thatched huts.

Enter the round hut with a rolled-up doorway mat and pottery beside its entrance. If enemies interrupt, clear them outside first. Inside, approach the purple trace on the floor mat beside the bowls and baskets, then press Cross — Examine.

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Let the investigation finish and check for Curious Cases Updated — The Peony Lantern. This optional discovery is separate from the two Rifts and the Firebird Flute chest.