In the end, Benkei and Yoshitsune were encircled in the castle of "Koromogawa no tate". As Yoshitsune retired to the inner keep of the castle to commit ritual suicide ("seppuku") on his own, Benkei stood guard on the bridge in front of the main gate to protect Yoshitsune. It is said that the soldiers were afraid to cross the bridge to confront him, and that all who did met swift death at the hands of the gigantic man, who killed in excess of 300 trained soldiers.