In the year 716 the vast army of The Maw assaulted the Crab lands, which fell back and regrouped near Hida Castle. While Kuni Osaku kept at bay the Shadowlands horde, the Crab began to build defenses along the Saigo River. The General Hiruma Takezo took a small contingent of Hiruma soldiers and expecting to lure a portion of the Shadowlands forces away before they regained the courage to try crossing the river again. Takezo and 75 Hiruma archers left Hida Castle and sped through secret tunnels to the far side of the Saigo River.