12th-century Japan, a time of social disintegration as the Genji and Heike clans engage in a brutal civil war. "Gojoe" is the name of a bridge near Kyoto, the Imperial capital. Nearby, a Heike sentry is decapitated by an invisible Demon. Benkei, a seasoned warrior who long ago gave up violence for religion, shows the White Monk a Sanskrit inscription which miraculously appeared on his chest, indicating that he will battle the dark forces of chaos. The Heike clan sends a large force to capture the Demon, but they are slaughtered at Gojoe Bridge by three master swordsmen. Benkei happens upon the fracas, whereupon he and the Master Demon are transfixed by each other's formidable spiritual energy. We learn that the Master Demon is in fact the Prince of the Genji clan, in spiritual isolation after the boyhood massacre of his family. Benkei enlists the help of vagabond sword scavenger Tesukuchi and they begin to stalk the Prince in his lair beyond Gojoe Bridge.