This page is a structural skeleton prepared before launch. The estimated time, objective list, boss identity, and missables flags are working placeholders that will be verified against the full game on September 4, 2026. Any value labelled "To be verified" should not be treated as final until our team clears the chapter in the launch build.
Chapter 1 is the game's tutorial chapter. Expect a short, scripted sequence introducing the protagonist, the Onimaru blade, and parry basics before the first real mini-boss: Marcellus.
1. Chapter Overview
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Chapter | 1 — "The Dark Realm Awakens" |
| Setting | To be verified at launch |
| Estimated Time | 1.5 – 2 hours |
| Difficulty | Easy (tutorial chapter) |
| Story Summary | Introduction to the protagonist, awakening of the Genma threat, first encounter with the Onimaru blade |
| New Mechanics Introduced | To be verified at launch |
| Recommended Level | Starting level (tutorial) |
Chapter 1 functions as both story introduction and combat tutorial. The protagonist arrives at a village already under siege by Genma forces — the player learns movement, basic attacks, and is handed the Onimaru katana early. After a scripted parry encounter and a short tutorial sequence in the training area, the chapter concludes at a safe haven where the first dialogue-driven story beats unlock the rest of the skill tree progression pathways.
Because this is a tutorial chapter, every system encountered in later chapters — Issen, Break Issen, soul absorption, four-tier parry — is either referenced in simplified form or saved for Chapter 2. The flagged missables below are especially important in early game, since some Chapter 1 unlocks branch into later chapters and cannot be recovered without reloading earlier saves.
2. Main Objectives
- Escape the burning village — Initial scripted sequence. Move from the burning building through the streets while cutscenes carry the opening story.
- Encounter the Oni Clan member — First major story NPC meeting. Auto-triggers once you reach the village square.
- Learn basic combat in the training area — Tutorial prompts walk you through light/heavy attack, dodge, and the soul absorb prompt.
- First parry tutorial — Highlighted prompt introduces tier-1 parry windows against a low-pressure Genma scout.
- Reach the safe haven (village shrine) — Chapter-end checkpoint. Chapter select unlocks once this fires.
Although Chapter 1 is short, taking the time to clear every tutorial prompt and explore both wings of the village (rather than rushing to the shrine) will surface a small handful of optional side conversations and one hidden dialogue with the shrine keeper — see the Missables section below.
3. Walkthrough
The walkthrough below is a placeholder step sequence. The exact routing, enemy placements, and item pickup order will be re-verified at launch. Treat each labelled step as a chapter beat rather than a strict room-by-room path.
Detailed Walkthrough — To be verified at launch
Room-by-room routing, exact enemy spawn tables, item pickup order, and shortcut unlocks will be added after we clear Chapter 1 in the full release.
Chapter Beats (Pre-Release Outline)
- Village Outskirts — Opening Sequence: Scripted escape from the burning building. Auto-walk until the first combat prompt triggers.
- Village Square — First Genma Contact: Two to three low-tier Genma scouts. Use light attacks to learn the input chain. To be verified at launch.
- Training Area — Tutorial: Guided combat tutorial. Tier-1 parry prompt, dodge prompt, and the first soul absorb tutorial. The Onimaru is granted here.
- Forest Path — Optional Route: Branching route with optional enemy encounters and the first Soul Cache location. See Missables.
- Marcellus Arena — Mini-Boss: Closed arena introduced by story cutscene. Defeat to unlock the safe haven transition.
- Village Shrine — Chapter End: Save point, story NPC dialogue sequence, and Chapter 2 unlock.
4. Boss Fight — Marcellus (Mini-Boss)
Marcellus
Marcellus is the Chapter 1 mini-boss — a tutorial-tier duel designed to teach the parry timing window before the player reaches the harder elite encounters in later chapters. His attack string is short and telegraphed, with a clear side-step tell before his heaviest commitment attack. The full frame-accurate parry and Issen breakdown will live on the dedicated boss entity page once verified.
→ View the dedicated Marcellus boss guide (placeholder page)
For general parry and timing theory that applies to Marcellus, see our Combat System Mastery guide and the Issen guide. Marcellus-specific strategy notes — exact attack names, parry tier recommendations, and reward table — will be added to his entity page at launch.
Marcellus Attack Patterns & Parry Windows — To be verified at launch
Frame-accurate attack tells and optimal parry tier per attack will be documented once the fight is cleared in the launch build.
5. Key Items & Collectibles
The table below lists the items expected to appear in Chapter 1 based on the demo build and pre-release preview material. Final placement and exact pickup order will be verified at launch.
| Item | Type | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Vial | Consumable | Tutorial area — first pickup | Grants healing. Confirm stack size at launch. |
| Onimaru (Starting Weapon) | Weapon | Granted by Oni Clan member after the tutorial sequence | Protagonist's signature katana. Cannot be missed. |
| Kubi Akari Talisman | Talisman (optional) | Hidden side-room, village outskirts — exact tile TBD | Optional pickup; bonus effect to be confirmed. |
| Soul Cache #1 | Collectible | Forest Path (optional branch) | Missable — see Missables section. |
| Additional collectibles | TBD | TBD | Additional items will be added at launch. |
6. Missables
Chapter 1 contains at least two items and one dialogue trigger that, if missed, cannot be recovered without reloading an earlier save or replaying the chapter. Make sure to back up your manual save before pushing through the village shrine transition.
- First Soul Cache — Located in the optional Forest Path branch. Skipping the path means missing the entire Soul Cache branch for this chapter; some Soul Caches cascade into later chapters.
- Hidden dialogue with the shrine keeper — Only triggers after the protagonist rests at the shrine. The 30-second window opens once and closes when the player leaves the safe haven zone.
- Optional side conversation (Oni Clan member) — Branches based on a dialogue choice near the end of the chapter. The exact choice text will be flagged once verified.
7. Soul Farming Opportunities
Chapter 1 is short on late-game soul farming, but the village outskirts and Forest Path contain a small handful of common Genma enemies that respawn at the chapter's start checkpoint. These are sufficient for the first few weapon upgrades and the earliest soul tree investments.
| Location | Enemy Type | Soul Yield (Est.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Village outskirts — common enemies | Genma Scout (light) | TBD | Fast kill with light attack combo; checkpoint respawn. |
| Forest Path ambush spawn | Genma Scout (light) | TBD | Optional branch — small group, decent respawn timer. |
| Tutorial area (post-completion) | Training dummy | None (practice only) | Used for parry timing practice; no soul yield. |
Specific soul yields will be verified against the launch build. For now, assume that enemies in Chapter 1 yield low-to-moderate souls and are best used for tutorial practice rather than long farming sessions — the Souls guide breaks down higher-yield areas in later chapters.
8. Chapter Checklist
Use this interactive checklist to track your Chapter 1 run. Your selections are stored locally in your browser and persist between visits to this page.