The Demon on the Mount

The Demon on the Mount takes Musashi from Rokudo-chinnoji Temple to Mount Oe, through several forts and underground cells, and into a two-stage battle with Shuten Doji — Gourd Drainer. The main obstacles are the hanging-cage mechanisms, hidden Weavers and the route to the imprisoned man who holds the Dungeon Key.

This guide follows the main objective through its completion. It includes The Flashing Void weapon on the route, but does not require the separate Kyoto stories, Oni Refuge visit or treasure detours. Inputs use the displayed PlayStation controls: Cross (×) to interact, Square (□) to attack, Circle (○) to evade, and hold R2 then release to aim and fire the bow.

Speak with Takamura and travel to Mount Oe

Return inside Rokudo-chinnoji Temple after Okuni's bridge conversation. Approach Takamura and finish the discussion about the abductions. Once the objective becomes Investigate Mount Oe, use the courtyard Spirit Mirror and select Travel → Mount Oe → Mount Oe Entrance. Confirm the destination with Cross.

Leave the destination mirror along the forest path. After the introductory scene, follow Head for the mountain castle uphill. Pass the cart and wooden watchtower, continue up the woodland steps and push open the large wooden gate. The objective changes to Search the area around the abandoned building.

Clear the abandoned building and reach its blocked exit

Enter through the building's front doorway and climb the interior stairs to the upper floor. The scene introduces fast female Genma. Clear both enemies, guarding with L1 or evading their lunges with Circle, then counter after they finish their attack strings.

Leave onto the outside wooden walkway. Climb the ladder against the rock wall, follow the uphill path and clear the guards. The large gate ahead is covered in red threads, changing the objective to Sever the threads at their source.

Take the ladder beside the blocked gate. Use Cross at the golden wall to cross the gap. At the paired faces stretched across the narrow path, hold Cross at Use Oni Power until the barrier tears open.

Continue along the wooden walkway, through the short cave and onto the roof. Use the next golden wall to reach the outside platform overlooking the buildings.

Shoot the Weaver and defeat Byakue

Look around the roof and ladder beside the wooden platform. The red Weaver hangs above the lower roof, with strands running into the blocked route. Adjust your position by the roof ladder for a clear angle, then hold R2, aim at the hanging creature and release to shoot. Keep attacking it until it dies and the threads disappear.

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Descend the roof ladder and continue through the cleared route. Check for Head beyond the abandoned building. The path leads into the Byakue — Hundred Defilements encounter.

Stay ready for its long blade sweeps and the follow-up swings. Guard with L1, or evade with Circle, then make a short Square counter after the sequence ends. Earth-Shakers with R1, when equipped and supplied with enough Oni Power, helps wear down its stamina. Use the Square weak-point prompt when exposed, and absorb nearby souls with L2 during a safe opening.

After Byakue falls, take the steps out of the arena, follow the roof and cliff path and pass through the cave to the Spirit Mirror. The next objective is Attack the Genma fort.

Lower the drawbridge and destroy the first fort gate

The bridge ahead is raised. Aim at the red lock fixed high on the upright bridge and shoot it. The bridge drops into place; cross it and follow the narrow cliff path around the rock.

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Deal with the ranged enemies on the wooden scaffolding. Follow the lower wooden walkway across the narrow bridge to the golden wall, then use the next golden wall to reach the far wooden landing. A chest on the side ledge is optional. Climb the ladder at the end of the walkway and continue into the cave.

Clear the group inside, including the enemies attacking from behind the barrels. At the far end, climb the rock-wall ladder to the roofed wooden scaffold. Use the bow against enemies across the walkways, then drop to the large wooden gate below.

Trying the gate gives Look for a way to destroy the gate. From its front, take the small rock passage beside the fire basket. Loop through to the ladder and climb back onto the high wooden scaffold. Look down over the railing at the painted explosive barrels stacked against the side of the gate.

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Shoot the barrels. Once the gate blows apart, drop back down and pass through the opening. Clear the next fort courtyard, including the large axe-wielding enemy, then continue into the rock corridor beyond it.

Adjust the fort cages and climb through the house

Climb the ladder out of the corridor and use the Spirit Mirror. Cross the wooden bridge beside the suspended cages. The nearby door will not open from this side, so approach the wooden crank and press Cross at Use.

This first adjustment moves the cages. Use the golden side of the nearest cage to wall run to the opposite landing. Clear the flying and ground enemies before entering the house route.

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Climb the outside ladder beside the house into its upper floor. Go downstairs, clear the enemies and open the bottom door to create a shortcut. Return outside and climb the same exterior ladder again.

From the upper floor, take the interior stairs to the next level and clear the female Genma. The ladder into the small attic leads to optional supplies. For the route onward, use the side corridor leading outside, then climb the exterior ladder onto the roof.

Follow the roof ridge to the high cage crossing. The next blocked gate gives another Look for a way to destroy the gate objective.

Adjust the cages again and open the second gate

From this high position, wall run over the golden surface to the adjacent platform. Descend its ladder and open the wooden shortcut door. This brings you back to the crank.

Press Cross at Use a second time. Climb back up the ladder you just descended. The changed cage position now lets you use its golden wall to reach the elevated wooden walkway beside the gate.

Look through the gap in the gate's timbers. Shoot the explosive barrel behind the gate to blow it open. The objective changes to Head for the area beyond the fort.

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Return a few steps to the cage and press Cross at its golden side. Wall run across to the cave opening in the opposite rock face. Follow the cave to the next Spirit Mirror and lift.

Take the lift and collect The Flashing Void

Enter the lift and pull its interior lever to descend. Open the exit door and follow the forest path. The small side chest is optional; continue to the narrow rock crack and squeeze through.

In the decorated chamber, open the large chest to receive The Flashing Void. Its tutorial explains that R1, with enough Oni Power Gauge, readies a spear strike against the targeted enemy. Enemies defeated with it leave more red souls.

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Return through the same narrow crack. Continue along the red-flowered path to the bridge in front of the mountain castle. Approach the large gate to speak with its keeper. The conversation changes the objective to Look for the monk.

Rescue the man and climb toward the watermill

Turn back across the castle bridge. Pass the Spirit Mirror at the foot of the snowy stone steps and climb toward the cries for help. Defeat the Genma surrounding the man and finish his conversation.

When the objective becomes Head for the watermill at the summit, push open the large wooden gate farther up the steps. Follow the snowy forest path past the stump and climb toward the houses. Red threads block the route ahead.

Take the ladder beside the blocked route into the first house. Clear its enemies and finish the rescued man's conversation. Leave onto the outside wooden walkway, then descend the next ladder into the following house. Defeat the enemies there and speak with the woman.

Leave through the lower doorway. Climb the ladder on the front exterior of the house back to its roof, and follow the raised wooden walkway uphill toward the large web of red threads.

Kill the Weaver behind the rescued man's door

Enter the house opening on the right of the threaded walkway and clear the encounter. Continue around the outside along the red-threaded wooden route. Open the wooden shortcut door to reach the next courtyard.

A ranged enemy attacks from above. Deal with it, then climb the exterior ladder on the house across the courtyard. Open the upper door and defeat the enemies on that floor.

Drop through the broken wooden floor to the lower room. Clear the remaining enemies and speak with the man by the wall. After the conversation, open the wooden door beside him.

The Weaver is immediately behind this door. Attack it with Square until it dies. The red strands disappear and Head for the watermill at the summit returns.

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Go outside, round the house's outer wall and pass through the opened doorway back into the courtyard beyond the former thread blockage.

Seal the courtyard Rift and clear the logs

Fight the waves around the red Rift. The sphere remains while enemies are active, so finish the encounter first. Once Absorb Rift appears, approach and hold L2 until the Rift collapses and the exit roots disappear.

Climb the outside ladder at the edge of the courtyard. At the paired-face barrier above, hold Cross until it tears open. Push through the large wooden door and follow the cave past its Spirit Mirror.

The next objective is Clear the logs. Approach the blocking timber and use Oni Strength: Triangle + Circle at the Destroy prompt. Repeat at the following piles until the uphill route opens.

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Bypass the burning logs and break the last fort gate

The enemies above send burning logs down the wooden slope. Take the golden wall on the right side of the slope, then the next golden surface, to bypass the rolling logs. Climb the ladder onto the side path.

Circle along the fence and use the bow against the ranged enemies above. Cross the narrow wooden suspension bridge, loop through the snowy clearing and approach the next log slope from the side. Use the golden walls beside it to reach the next ladder, then climb up.

Clear the enemies on the following narrow bridge and the floating enemies beyond it. Climb the wooden scaffold ladder at the far side. A group of large barrels rests at the top, facing the fort gate below.

Use Oni Strength with Triangle + Circle against the large barrel to send it rolling into the gate. The resulting explosion opens the route and restores Head for the watermill at the summit.

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Descend the same scaffold ladder. Follow the wooden slope through the newly opened way toward the watermill. The open-front hut beside the path contains optional supplies; continue to the main watermill building's door.

Absorb the watermill's dark mass and descend underground

Open the watermill door and approach the dark mass among the machinery. Hold L2 to absorb it and watch the memory. When the objective changes to Head after the monk, leave the room and enter the small lift building outside.

Pull the lever inside the lift to go down. Leave through its lower door and pass the Spirit Mirror. Follow the rock path until the prisoner's plea gives Investigate the underground cell.

Rescue the prisoner and obtain the Dungeon Key

The barred cell door is locked. Look for the low crawl opening to the left of the cell entrance. At Crawl, press Cross and pass through.

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Inside, squeeze through the narrow rock crack, then approach the paired-face barrier. Hold Cross at Use Oni Power until the passage opens. Enter the prisoner's room and defeat the Genma.

Finish the rescued prisoner's conversation to receive Dungeon Key ×1. Use it on the barred door beside him to return to the main corridor.

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Clear the corridor enemies. Side cells contain optional loot; the necessary route is the barred door at the far end of the wooden walkway. Use the Dungeon Key there and follow the stone passage into the cavern with red Malice pools and hanging cages.

Find both cave Weavers

The exit from this cavern is held by two red threads. From the blocked exit, turn back toward the small island with the wooden crank. Cross the short stretch of red Malice to its ladder and climb onto the island. Keep the crossing brief and heal once you reach firm ground if needed.

Face the wooden bars on the rock ledge across the gap. The first red Weaver hangs there. Shoot it with the bow from the crank island until it dies.

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Now press Cross at the crank to adjust the cages. Use the golden cage wall and facing golden rock surface to cross to the opposite landing. Follow the red-veined rock tunnel, then use the next pair of golden walls to reach the upper ledge.

Continue through the short tunnel at the top. The second Weaver hangs at its far end within sword reach. Strike it with Square. When it dies, Musashi confirms that all the sources are gone and Head after the monk returns.

Return to the crank and cross to the cleared exit

Go back through the short tunnel to the outer ledge. Drop down toward the earlier pool and climb the same ladder onto the crank island.

Use the crank a second time. From the island, use the newly positioned golden cage wall to reach the landing at the formerly blocked exit. Continue through the stone corridor.

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The extra trip into the red pool for beads is optional. Once both Weavers are dead and the cage is repositioned, the exit crossing is the route onward.

Defeat Dohatsu-ten and absorb the second dark mass

The next chamber gives Seal Rift. Defeat the initial waves, then fight Dohatsu-ten — Heaven's Bane.

His sword strings advance toward you. Hold L1 to guard, or hold L1 and press Cross just before impact to Deflect. Be ready for further swings before making a short counter. When his blades glow red for a rushing or ranged slash, evade sideways with Circle to leave its path.

With sufficient Oni Power, The Flashing Void's R1 strike lets you punish a recovery opening from farther away. Use exposed Square weak-point attacks, then prepare to defend again when he recovers.

After he falls, approach the red sphere and hold L2 at Absorb Rift. Wait for it to disappear and the roots to withdraw. Climb the ladder beyond the cleared exit and follow the corridor to another dark mass.

Hold L2 to absorb the mass and watch the second memory. Leave the room afterward and use the nearby Spirit Mirror before the castle battle. Push open the wooden door beside the mirror and follow the outdoor path toward the monk and cart loaded with sake barrels.

Approaching them triggers the scenes that take Musashi into the castle. The disguise, cart and entry are handled by those scenes; continue until control returns in front of Shuten Doji.

Defeat Shuten Doji's first phase

The first fight is against Shuten Doji — Gourd Drainer, carrying a large sword and gourd. Keep enough space to see his upper body and the end of his blade.

His main close-range threats are wide sword sweeps, an overhead chop and a jumping slam. Guard the sword sequence with L1, or evade with Circle, and wait for its final hit before countering. When he jumps, move away from the landing point and turn back after the impact.

Make short Square strings during recovery. Earth-Shakers with R1, when equipped and powered, can help break his stamina. Approach the exposed red chest weak point when the Square prompt appears and take the attack.

Shuten Doji can raise the gourd to drink; the dialogue and health bar show that drinking can restore his health. Use an available attack opening while he is occupied, but resume defending when he lowers the gourd. Later he drinks and ignites, adding fire to his sword attacks. Keep using the same defend–counter rhythm and leave the burning ground before attacking again.

Continue until the first phase gives way to the long scene. The scene includes Musashi being struck down; play through the preceding fight normally. The next playable phase introduces Oni Awakening.

Use Oni Awakening in the fire phase

The tutorial gives the exact activation condition: when the Awakening Gauge is full, press L3 + R3 together by clicking both sticks. During Awakening, incoming damage drains that gauge instead of health. Awakening ends when the gauge runs out.

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Keep these controls separate:

• Square or Triangle just before an incoming hit: the displayed Issen counter.
• R1 during Awakening: Onimusha Onslaught, a powerful attack that ends Awakening.
• Oni Armaments: unavailable while Awakening is active; R1 performs the Awakening attack instead.

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Use the active form to attack during openings, then use Onimusha Onslaught while the boss is in reach before the form expires. Once it ends, return to guarding, evading and short counters. Absorb nearby souls with L2 when the boss gives you room, and use L3 + R3 again when the Awakening Gauge is full.

In this phase, a large flaming head sweeps beside Shuten Doji while he attacks with his sword. Keep both in view. Move away from the head's sweeping path and from patches of fire spreading across the floor. His overhead swings can still lead into follow-ups, so do not assume a single dodge finishes the exchange.

If Musashi catches fire, evade repeatedly with Circle to put it out, as the Burning reminder directs. Move into clear floor space before healing. Take the red chest weak-point attack when its Square prompt appears, but prepare for more attacks if he gets back up.

Deplete the boss's health through the final exchange. After the finishing scene, continue through the rooftop and temple conversations.

Finish the temple scenes

The return to Rokudo-chinnoji Temple is part of the concluding scenes. Let the discussion with Takamura finish and wait for Story Complete — The Demon on the Mount.

The next story is A Haunted Distraction, starting with Seal the Rifts — 0/2. Shizuka directs Musashi to approach Yasaka Shrine on foot from outside. That shrine route belongs to the next guide.

Optional Kyoto discovery before leaving: A Riverside Tragedy

From the Shijo Street mirror, follow the broad lantern-lined street toward the arched river bridge. Stay on this bank and take the grassy clearing beside the bridge approach, where a plaster wall, bamboo scaffolding and loaded handcart enclose a group of Genma.

Clear the enemies, then circle the nearby wooden house into the narrow passage between its wall and the bamboo. Approach the purple trace on the ground and press Cross — Examine. Check for Curious Cases Updated — A Riverside Tragedy.

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If the game displays a Lion Dogs Rescued milestone with Report back to Lady Murasaki, return to her screened room at Yasaka Shrine and speak to her. Finish any active story report and speak again when a Lion Dog report is available. The number in that notification is your accumulated rescue count, not a requirement to fight the nearby group repeatedly.