He manages to stop it right before it reaches the village, and tries to reason with it and make it leave. Ashitaka and the watchman escape, and Ashitaka mounts Yakul and rides to cut the demon off before it reaches the village. Crashing into the watchtower, sending it down a steep hill. It moves towards the watchtower and the village. Everything it touches withers up and dies.
It is a demon that first appears to be made of purple worms. Something is visible moving in the underbrush, getting closer. Ji-san points into the forest not far from the tower.
When he reaches (and climbs to the top of) the watchtower, he asks the watchman Ji if he sees anything. Princess Mononoke starts as Ashitaka is riding towards the lookout tower for his Emishi Village, telling everyone he meets along the way that the village wisewoman Hii-sama has ordered everyone inside the village.
