What Lurks in the Shadows Summary
Musashi and Okuni search Nijo-jo Castle for her missing friend Hinagiku, following clues through an underground lab run by the Genma scientist Dokyo. The mission ends in a heartbreaking confrontation that reshapes Okuni's fight against the Genma.
| Previous Quest | Next Quest |
|---|---|
| An Immortal Talent | The Roots of All Evil |
What Lurks in the Shadows Walkthrough
[1] Speak with Okuni
Shizuka instructs Musashi to meet Okuni so that he can easily access Nijo-jo Castle.
Access the nearby Spirit Mirror to fast travel to Rokundo-Chinnoji Temple and speak with Okuni.
Okuni uses her reputation to get them in, Musashi offends her by saying she went to Takamura for help. She wants to fight against the Oni to save her friend Hinagiku, and argues about his use of the Oni Gauntlet. Her frustration at what she sees as Musashi's inaction makes her leave at the gate.
[2] Investigate Nijo-jo Castle
Musashi is confused by the hostility, and Shizuka hopes that Okuni and the friend she mentioned can reunite again.
When you enter the gate, head to the left to access the local Spirit Mirror.
[3] Look for clues left behind by the Genma
Open the gate to the courtyard afterward. Shizuka will encourage you to investigate first, so use your Oni Vision to do so.
| Location | |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Behind this clue is an Unrefined Sake. |
| 2 |  Beside this clue is a Lesser Soul Crystal. |
| 3 |  |
| 4 |  |
Continue following the trail from the fourth clue until where it ends.
Exit the courtyard through there and encounter the Nue for the first time.
[4] Pursue the Nue
Keep following the Nue through the path. Be careful of the lightning it generates.
Two Genma Warriors will block your way. If you're lucky, lightning will strike them.
A Togemaru will next block your way.
After defeating him, open the chest in the shed for 2 Iron.
With the way blocked, you'll need to climb the ladder to reach the rooftop. Go through two more rooftops and then jump back down.
At the end of the path, climb up these boxes to reach the second floor of the building.
A Hempen Cloth will be inside a chest in this room.
Genma Swordsmen will be out in the courtyard, and may even climb to the roof. The Nue's lightning will continue to strike on these rooftops, so deal with them swiftly.
Two Togemaru are on the courtyard, but they're no match for you.
| Item | Location |
|---|---|
| Greater Defense Talisman |  |
| Millet |  |
| Unrefined Sake | |
| Mild Restorative |  |
Open the door to find the Nue right there. Continue to pursue it.
On the left will be another Spirit Mirror you can activate. Take this opportunity to upgrade your equipment and abilities.
Two Hozuki are tucked away in the right corner.
[5] Defeat the Nue
Turn left to start the boss fight with the Nue. The Nue has quick swipes with its claws and long ranged pokes with its tail. Aim for its tail to heavily wound it.
Halfway through, it will empower its tail with lightning, making its tail attacks stronger and allowing to shoot projectiles.
Don't forget to absorb the orbs that the Nue drops after you defeat it.
[6] Search the Area
Exit through the Torii Gate so you can keep searching the area.
As you exit the Swampy Area, you'll find a street with a Dark Mass in the center. Absorb it to find out what memory it holds.
It seems that Hinagiku, Okuni's friend, was kidnapped by Genma to be experimented on. Musashi vows to save her as long as she's alive.
[7] Look for Hinagiku
Two Hozuki can be found at the end of the road.
Enter the house to the left of the road to find an elevator.
Use the elevator and descend underground.
Once the elevator opens, continue down the path and open the door in your way.
[8] Investigate the Underground Laboratory
Musashi enters an Underground Laboratory, one that he and Shizuka are sure Hinagiku is in. So it's time to search the area.
To the west of the hall, behind a folding screen is a chest containing a Hempen Cloth.
Near that same chest is a door that opens into a hallway that descends to a lower level.
Keep following it, but be prepared when you're forced to sidestep, as there's a mild jumpscare.
Open the door at the end of the hallway.
A Spirit Mirror for you to use is inexplicably in this Genma Lair. That's great news for Musashi, bad news for them.
The door to the left opens to a hallway where you'll find a man struggling to walk. Follow his shadow.
Unfortunately, there's nothing that Musashi can do to help him.
Get to the next room by way of the next door.
In this room is a door to the left we cannot open yet. So we must go to the right and use Oni Strength to open the Malice Barrier.
Once that barrier opens, screaming and shouting will begin. As they're behind a barrier, you can't do anything for those suffering either. Take the elevator after turning left at the hallway, since the door to the front is still locked.
A Genma Scientist named Dokyo is there, and it seems she has history with Shizuka.
She flees, but before doing so she drops a grotesque new kind of Genma, made from the gruesome experiments she's been doing.
This Genma, the Chijiko, has very long reach, and will split in two at half health. Stay at close range so that its slow attacks are easy to parry and deflect.
[9] Look for the Key
After defeating the monster, you'll have to find a way to access the body that was dropped into a trapdoor. As most of the doors are still inaccessible, use the door on the far left.
Activate the Gondola to get to the other side. Dokyo will taunt you about the whereabouts of Hinagiku.
Open the door at the other end. When you try to use the next door at the other end, Dokyo will force the door to stay shut and implore that you play with her creations.
Take down these cursed abominations, and now you can use the door.
To the immediate right of the room is a spirit mirror for you to use.
[10] Find a way to trigger the door's mechanism
At the end of the room is a door with a face. It can't be opened yet, so we need to find a way to do that.
Instead, go to the far left corner of the room and climb the stairs that begin there.
Enter the door on the second floor, and continue down the hallway.
The door to the right is locked, so instead go for the door at the far end.
Climb up the nearby ladder and keep moving through the path. Musashi and Shizuka will notice that animals used for the Nue are kept in the rooms.
Jump down to the floor at the end of the path to encounter two Genma Swordsmen on the floor, and another at a platform nearby.
Take the swordsmen out, and then climb up the ladder to take out the Genma Archer. A Chijiko will jump up for you to fight and defeat. Being so close will make it easy to defeat it.
The area blocked by boxes has two Hozuki.
A Soul Sucker can be found on the opposite side.
A Lesser Might Talisman can be found on the bottom floor, near the wall with the ladder.
Exit through the only opening in the room, and go right. At the corner is a chest with a Power Stone inside.
As you go across the hallway, another Chijiko will fall to the ground to block your way.
At the end of the hallway is a Mixed Grain Rice Ball.
Turn right to the door and open it and enter a room filled with gears.
Descend the Staircase and defeat the Genma Swordsmen. Be careful not to trigger the nearby Explosive Barrels with your sword!
An archer will be harassing you from a nearby platform. Turn left and go around the next corner to get a good shot at him.
Two more Hozuki plants can be found near the base of the tower.
Go back to the path you were at and you'll find another Genma standing there.
Another Archer will have his sights on you, but luckily, you will have an eye on his sights as well.
Three Hozuki can be found near the base of the next tower.
A chest with two Common Cloth can be found near the top of a nearby staircase.
Destroy the cables by the end of the platform to make the gear stop moving.
Return to the first floor and go right. One more Genma is at the end, right beside a Soul Sucker.
Ascend back up the stairs, and three more Genma block your way. They're just fuel for the gauntlet.
The door to the left will lead into a strange storage room.
[11] Solve the Mask Puzzle
When you enter the storage room, a series of masks will drop down. Shizuka notes they're like archery targets, which gives an idea on what you have to do.
You'll have to shoot them all in a specific order.
| Order | Mask |
|---|---|
| 1 |  |
| 2 |  |
| 3 |  |
| 4 |  |
A cage will lift, and inside is an Unsettling Mask you'll need for the Face Door.
[12] Open the door
Return to the Face Door to insert the mask.
[13] Stop the Contraption
The door opens to a contraption on the floor below. Before you jump down, make sure to go left to get a Lesser Defense Talisman.
After dropping to the floor, activate the device hidden on the right to stop the Contraption.
Then head to the screen door to the left, as that will trigger a cutscene that shows a Genma, the Kogashira, devouring a human. It will then tear open the screen.
The Kogashira's heavy sword makes it dangerous in close quarters. But it lumbers as it attacks, so quick strikes and dodging is your advantage.
A Silk Cloth awaits you inside the chest.
Operate the device next to it to open the contraption.
Go to the contraption and pull it to unlock the strange door.
Walk through the hallway and ascend the stairs. Get onto the Gondola and activate it. Musashi and Shizuka will wonder why Dokyo needs so many animals, as surely a Nue doesn't need this many to be created.
The Gondola will suddenly stop, and you'll have to activate it again. Before it reaches the end however, a light will flash on both sides, showing the silhouettes of experiments on both sides. They're all confused as to what they've become.
Exit the Gondola and head left through the hallway.
[14] Escape from the Pitfall
Vault over the obstacle so that the trapdoor opens. You'll find yourself fighting 4 Genma Swordsman, as well as a Byakue. Focus on defeating the Swordsmen before the Byakue.
Make sure you can parry the Byakue for greater vulnerability windows.
[15] Obtain the Key
At the upper floor, there's a small cove with a Lesser Soul Crystal inside.
Look for two Hozuki in the lower right corner.
At the lower-left corner of the area is a winch you'll need to use to open the gate. More Hozuki are located nearby.
Climb up the stairs, and enter the small area to obtain some Leather.
There's a Genma at the end of the hallway blocking a door. Once he's done for, the door can be used.
Get to the other side of the room and use your Oni Power. It reveals a chest with the "Genma Note: Chijiko" inside it.
Exit the room and return to the previous hallway. Cut down the rope that was in front of the wreckage.
At the hall, a Genma Swordsman and Chijiko will be waiting for you. There's also another rope in a small room adjacent to the hall. Cut them all down. The next door is now accessible.
This door leads to a hallway back to the 2nd floor.
A Heavy Restorative is at the top of the staircase. After you obtain it, break open the lock on the door with your sword.
A few Genma Swordsmen and 2 Kogashira break through a paper wall. It's time they get put down.
As the only other path is blocked, continue on to the next room and open the door.
In the middle of the corridor is another Dark Mass that hides some dark memories.
Hinagiku's mind has been broken by being caught between tigers on one side and mad men on the other. Musashi vows to bring her back to where she belongs.
Exit through the door at the end and go down the stairs to another Elevator. This leads to Underground Level 4.
In the middle of the area is the Gore-Spattered Key we've been looking for.
[16] Stop the Blade Mechanism
Dokyo isn't done messing around, however. She'll activate a giant blade that is slowly descending. You'll need to take out the moving parts with arrows to get it to stop. Move around so you have a good angle to shoot at them.
| Location | Part |
|---|---|
| 1 |  |
| 2 |  |
| 3 |  |
| 4 |  |
The blades will start to suddenly move again after a while. A cutscene will play showing it destroying itself, but one blade comes after Musashi. He deflects it just in time.
[17] Return to Dokyo's Workroom
One of the Broken Blades will act as a ramp for you to climb to the upper floor.
Before you enter the elevator, open the chest to obtain a new weapon: The Earth-Shakers.
It's good for dealing heavy stamina damage.
Now use the elevator to ascend back up the room.
Break open the lock to return to the Workroom.
There's a Horn Token on the table for you to obtain.
Open the locked door with the Gore-Spattered Key.
[18] Continue Onward
Another Spirit Mirror awaits you inside this room. Use it to upgrade your abilities and equipment, as a boss encounter is coming soon.
On the right side of the Elevator is a prompt to use Oni Power. Use it to make a chest reveal itself, one with the Genma Note: Kogashira.
Now start the Elevator by getting to the middle to make it rise up.
[19] Defeat the Nue
Dokyo reveals this place is a theater, and sends two Nue against you. One Red, and One Blue. With the wider area, you have more room to dodge their attacks. However make sure they don't trap you against a wall!
Dokyo taunts you, saying Hinagiku is up ahead. Use the door on the stage and the door beyond that to enter another elevator.
[20] Locate the Source of the Commotion
After you leave the elevator, you'll find yourself right back outside.
Three Hozuki are to the left of the elevator.
As you head right, Shizuka will realize that this is the way to the Imperial Palace. Behind a fallen tree nearby is a Greater Strength Talisman.
There's another Spirit Mirror as you enter the palace.
The Palace is filled with Malice Barriers and other Genma growths! Keep going through the path.
Two straggler Genma Swordsmen are around the area, and they'll make for easy pickings.
Check the left side of the path before entering the sidestreet for more Hozuki.
As you continue through the path, a Genma will be unaware. Sneak up behind him to kill him. Then you can obtain the Mixed Grain Riceball he seemed to be hiding.
More Hozuki are waiting along the left side of the path.
4 Genma will block your path. Two are Swordsmen, and the other two are Archers. Defeat the ones on the ground, and aim for the archers at the platform and rooftop.
Head back towards the path you were previously on and enter a small side path by leaping over an obstacle.
Hidden in a small grove are three bathead Genma. They fire projectiles in rapid fire, but have a long charge up sequence. Take advantage of that to shoot them first.
In the middle of the Grove is a chest containing an Oni Stone.
Climb up the nearby ramp to the Genma Platform to obtain a Greater Defense Talisman.
After jumping down, head to the right. Two Hozuki are tucked between the buildings.
Now use the nearby ramp to climb up the rooftop. After getting past the Genma growth, jump down.
One more Spirit Mirror is here, and you should use it to prepare for a boss fight.
[21] Defeat the Greater Nue
Dokyo unveils her "Greater Nue" Oni, a powerful demon made from several creatures. Shizuka laments the loss of many lives.
This boss is a stronger version of the past Nue you've fought. It also introduces a new mechanic: Unavoidable Attack that can only be countered with parries and deflects! This Nue is very strong and fast, and it has 2 phases. Check our guide below for the full details!
After Musashi defeats the Greater Nue, Okuni arrives to try and kill Dokyo. Dokyo recognizes her, and claims she brought Hinagiku for Yoshitsune.
Yoshitsune calls for Hinagiku, who's unfortunately been turned into a Chijiko. Okuni begs Musashi to put Hinagiku out of her misery.
[22] Defeat Hinagiku
Hinagiku is just like any other Chijiko, but that only makes it much more saddening to kill her.
After Hinagiku dies, the souls turn into sparks. Okuni remembers Hinagiku's words, and she dances their kabuki.
Okuni gives Musashi her soul, and when the Oni Gauntlet absorbs it, it gives him a new pair of Greaves. Musashi tells Okuni he will borrow Hinagiku's strength, and Okuni is pleased.
When Musashi returns to Kyoto, Murasaki appears in the form of a butterfly to invite him back to her home.
She'll be saddened by what she heard, but she also has a new job for you. Search for her Lion Dogs, and she'll give you new rewards! Our Guide below will help you find them.
