Chapter 4 (The Oni's Apprentice) deepens Musashi's connection to the Oni and unlocks key aspects of his supernatural abilities. Estimated 1.5–2 hours.
1. Chapter Overview
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Chapter | 4 — "The Oni's Apprentice" |
| Estimated Time | 1.5 – 2 hours |
| Difficulty | Easy – Medium (tutorial for Oni abilities) |
| Setting | Oni Clan Dojo → field rift site |
| Story Summary | After the battle at Kiyomizu, Musashi trains with the Oni Clan to unlock deeper aspects of the Oni Gauntlet's power. He learns the Soul Core, performs his first Oni Awakening, and seals his first Genma rift. |
| Key Unlocks | Oni Awakening, Soul Core attacks, enhanced Oni Vision |
| Recommended Level | 10 – 12 |
Chapter 4 is a tutorial-style chapter that introduces the supernatural half of Musashi's kit. The Soul Core, Oni Awakening, and Oni Vision are all explained here, and the field rift sequence is your first taste of how Genma "rifts" tie into the larger Kyoto corruption arc. Expect a friendly difficulty curve and a clean introduction to each new ability before you need it in earnest.
2. Main Objectives
- Complete the Oni Clan training sequence — run the dojo gauntlet under Oni Clan supervision.
- Learn Soul Core attacks — charge and release a Soul Core strike against a training dummy.
- Practice Oni Awakening — trigger your first transformation and use the gauge-based devastation attack.
- First field use of Oni Vision — locate the rift in the surrounding area.
- Seal your first rift — close the rift and prevent Genma from spawning.
- Defeat the first Genma Shaman — a new ranged enemy that drops the rift seal.
3. Walkthrough
Section 1 — Oni Clan Dojo
The Oni Clan welcomes you to a dojo on the outskirts of Kyoto. The dojo is the chapter's training ground and serves as your first introduction to the Oni ability tree.
- Training dummy sequence — practice basic combos, then parry timing with enhanced on-screen feedback.
- Learn Soul Core charge — hold L2 + R2 to charge; release for a heavy soul blast.
- Parry timing tutorial — the dummy flashes red just before its strike; press L1 at the flash for a perfect parry.
- The Soul Core draws from the same gauge as the Oni Gauntlet — both abilities share resources, so don't spam one and ignore the other.
Section 2 — Field Test (First Rift)
Once training is complete, the Oni Clan sends you to a nearby field where a Genma rift has been detected. This is the chapter's first real combat section.
- "Seal the Rift" objective triggers automatically after the dojo sequence.
- Rift mechanics: each rift continuously spawns Genma unless sealed. Seal the rift by clearing the immediate area of Genma, then interact with the rift core.
- Use Oni Vision (R3 + L3 held) to highlight the rift core and any hidden Genma in the area.
- Your first Soul Core attack on Genma lands here. Aim for grouped Genma Brutes for the cleanest clear.
The Soul Core is best against single tough targets; the Oni Gauntlet is best against groups. Use the Soul Core to delete a Shaman, then sweep the Brutes with the Gauntlet.
Section 3 — Oni Awakening (First Use)
After clearing the first wave, the Oni Clan grants you access to the Oni Awakening transformation. This is the chapter's big cinematic moment.
- Transformation cutscene triggers automatically when you approach the altar.
- How to use Oni Awakening: hold L2 + R2 + Triangle / Y when the Awakening gauge is full.
- The Awakening gauge fills as you parry and land Issen strikes.
- While awakened, Musashi deals heavy damage and unlocks the devastation attack — a wide AoE blast that consumes a chunk of the gauge.
- The Awakening timer is short — use the devastation attack early instead of waiting for the perfect moment.
Section 4 — Genma Shaman Encounter
The rift spawns a new enemy type: the Genma Shaman. Shamans are the ranged counterpart to Genma Brutes and signal the start of mixed-unit combat.
- Attack pattern: ranged Genma bolts from a distance, then a defensive Genma barrier that blocks frontal attacks for ~3 seconds.
- How to break the barrier: Soul Core charged attack, Oni Gauntlet slam, or a parry into Issen.
- Reward on defeat: the rift seal (extracted from the Shaman's body) plus a rare Talisman Fragment.
- After the Shaman dies, interact with the rift core to seal it. The rift seals automatically once all Genma in the area are dead.
The Genma Shaman's Talisman Fragment is a one-time drop — if you skip the Shaman or revive him via Soul Core (which deals fatal damage but doesn't drop the fragment reliably), you will miss the rare reward. Confirm the Shaman is fully dead before sealing the rift.
4. Key Items & Collectibles
| Item | Location | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Oni Awakening Manual | Dojo (training reward) | Unlocks Oni Awakening skill node |
| Soul Core Unlock Token | Dojo (training reward) | Activates Soul Core ability in skill tree |
| Hozuki Pouch x3 | Dojo + field path | Healing consumables (carry more, die less) |
| First Genma Note | On the Shaman's body | Lore collectible — counts toward 23 total Genma Notes (Retrogems) |
| Lion Dog #4 | Hidden corner near the dojo entrance | Counts toward 36 total Lion Dogs (Retrogems) |
| Lion Dog #5 | Top of the dojo pagoda (climb the side) | Counts toward 36 total Lion Dogs (Retrogems) |
| Talisman Fragment (rare) | Genma Shaman drop | Crafting material for Talismans |
| Hidden Training Reward | Complete all dojo sub-objectives | +500 yellow souls + Oni Charm |
5. Missables
- First Genma Shaman's Talisman Fragment — rare drop. Make sure the Shaman dies from regular damage, not a Soul Core instant-kill.
- Hidden Training Reward — only awarded if you complete every dojo sub-objective (parry each dummy at least once, Soul Core each dummy, etc.).
- Lion Dog #5 — easy to skip; it's on top of the dojo pagoda, accessed by a hidden climbable wall on the east side.
6. Soul Farming Opportunities
| Location | Enemies | Souls / Clear | Respawns? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oni Clan Dojo (training grounds) | 8 Genma Brutes | ~640 yellow | Yes (checkpoint) |
| Field rift site | 4 Genma Brutes + 1 Genma Shaman | ~520 yellow + 80 purple | Yes (chapter select) |
7. Chapter Checklist
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