The Clash at Rendaino

The Clash at Rendaino follows In the Light of an Icy Moon. Its first objective is Speak with Takamura, but this conversation also starts the final events of the story.

Finish the Eastern Kyoto exploration you want to do before speaking with him. The game warns that you will be unable to explore that area any further after proceeding. Use this opportunity to finish outstanding visits and prepare your equipment and healing supplies.

This walkthrough covers the conversation, Benkei and the story transition to the final area. It uses PlayStation button labels.

Speak with Takamura when you are ready

Return to the temple's altar room. Takamura sits in the center in front of the altar; Okuni is seated to his left. The game displays its final-events warning as you approach.

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Press Cross (×) to close the warning. Closing this message leaves you in the room; you can still check your map before committing to the conversation.

When ready, walk toward Takamura in the center and press Cross at Talk. Choose his prompt, rather than the separate Talk prompt beside Okuni.

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The conversation leads into scenes about the attack on Rendaino. Those scenes take Musashi directly to the ruined village and introduce Benkei. You do not need to select a separate Rendaino travel destination during this transition.

Wait for Defeat Benkei and his boss bar to appear.

Defeat Benkei

Benkei uses large weapons with long reach. His overhead attacks, broad sweeps and follow-up swings can catch you if you begin a long combo after the first hit.

Stay where you have room to move around him. Hold L1 to guard ordinary melee strikes, or hold L1 and press Cross just before impact to Deflect. If he raises his weapon for a heavy slam, use Circle (○) to move out of its landing area. Wait for the end of the sequence, then close in for a short Square (□) combination.

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As the fight continues, Benkei changes weapons and parts of his armor break away. Recheck the reach of the next swing instead of assuming his earlier timing will always apply. When red cracks and a Square weak-point prompt appear, move into range and take that opening. Resume defense when he stands again.

If your Oni Power allows it, R1 uses your equipped Oni Armament. With a full Awakening gauge, press L3 + R3 for Oni Awakening. During that form, R1 performs Onimusha Onslaught and ends Awakening. These give you additional damage opportunities; you still need to handle his next attack once the effect ends.

Shoot the glowing point on his head

Later in the fight, Benkei carries a fiery blade. Watch for the bright circular point on his head while he pauses and gathers power.

Use the R2 bow input, aim at that glowing point and fire while it is exposed. A hit interrupts him: he recoils and drops low, creating an opportunity to run in for a short melee counter.

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If he has already recovered and begun swinging again, abandon the shot and defend. Do not remain in the aiming view while the blade is coming toward you.

Keep alternating defense, short counters and exposed weak points. A knockdown does not finish the encounter. Continue until Benkei dissolves, his boss bar disappears and Musashi begins the following conversation with Shizuka.

Finish the scenes and reach The Way of the Sword

The battle leads into a long sequence of story scenes. Let them finish, including the transition through the Oni Gate. There is no separate village-exit route to solve between the boss victory and these scenes.

Control returns beside the entrance Spirit Mirror in the new area, where Story Complete — The Clash at Rendaino appears.

The next title is The Way of the Sword, with Head for the top layer as its objective. Use the nearby Spirit Mirror to prepare, then take the stone steps beside the entrance to begin the final ascent.