This article, I will share everything with you, holding nothing back, about the journey of the Destined One, as well as thoroughly decoding the endings in Black Myth: Wukong.
Summary of the Main Story Before decoding the various endings of the game Black Myth: Wukong, we must first understand the story thoroughly; everything that happens has its reason.
The story begins when Wukong has proclaimed himself king at Flower Fruit Mountain. However, in the heavens, the Jade Emperor and the other deities do not like the arrogance of this monkey. So, Erlang Shen, the most valiant general of the heavens, is sent down to “teach” Wukong a lesson.
After an earth-shattering battle, Wukong, despite having 72 transformations, could not defeat Erlang Shen and the heavenly army. In the end, Wukong was defeated and sealed within a large stone.
But the story doesn’t end there. Many years later, a small monkey, called the Destined One, appears. This monkey begins a strange journey, collecting the Six Senses of the Great Sage, while also learning Wukong‘s magic and fighting skills.
The journey of the Destined One is also the journey that we, the players, experience in the game. Every step, every battle, every time we comprehend a sense of the Great Sage, is a step we take closer to unraveling the mystery of Wukong‘s fate and that of the Destined One.
Decoding Ending 1 – The Default Ending (Bad)
This is the ending that most gamers, including myself, will “get” if they play Black Myth: Wukong for the first time without looking into it. Calling it “bad” isn’t quite right; it should be called an “incomplete” ending.
The condition to “unlock” this ending is very simple: You just “grind” through the game, defeat the final boss, but skip the secret area Mount Mei in Chapter 3.
And here’s what will happen:
After the Destined One defeats Wukong (in the form of The Great Sage’s Broken Shell), absorbing all the Six Senses, a cutscene will appear. We see Wukong collapse, the Six Senses leave his body and enter the Destined One. Then, a Golden Headband – the thing that once imprisoned Wukong – falls into the water. A mysterious Old Monkey appears, picks up the headband, and… places it on the Destined One‘s head! At that moment, everything freezes. The Destined One, now wearing the Golden Headband, is imprisoned in the stone, just like Wukong in the past.
So, what is the meaning of this ending?
- Golden Headband: This is not an ordinary piece of jewelry. It is a magical artifact used to restrain and control the power of Wukong (and now the Destined One), preventing them from defying the will of heaven, from rebelling against the celestial court.
- Old Monkey: It is very likely that this old monkey is a minion of the heavens, or some force that wants to maintain the old order, not wanting Wukong (or anyone with similar power) to be free.
- The Cycle: This ending represents a loop, a cruel cycle. The Destined One, despite their efforts, despite their strength, ultimately falls into Wukong‘s footsteps, imprisoned by the very thing that once imprisoned Wukong.
Overall, this is a rather “bitter” ending and leaves much for the player to ponder. But don’t be discouraged, because we still have another ending…
Decoding Ending 2 – The True (Secret) Ending
This is the “true” ending that we, the Black Myth: Wukong gamers, are aiming for. This ending is not only more emotionally satisfying but also opens up possibilities for the future of the entire game series.
To achieve this ending, you need to be a little more “diligent”:
- First, in Chapter 3, you must find and unlock the secret area Mount Mei.
- In Mount Mei, you will face a series of challenges, and most importantly, defeat Erlang Shen and The Four Heavenly Kings.
After “dealing” with these guys, you go back and “fight” with the Stone Monkey and The Great Sage’s Broken Shell as usual.
And here’s the miracle that will happen
Everything happens almost like ending 1, until…
The Old Monkey places the Golden Headband on the Destined One‘s head. But this time, nothing happens! Instead, the Destined One opens their eyes, and a beautiful cutscene appears, rewinding the entire life of Wukong, from when he was a free monkey, to when he was imprisoned, and finally… freed?
The Destined One is not imprisoned in the stone!
So, what made the difference?
- Erlang Shen: It turns out that defeating Erlang Shen in Mount Mei released “something” inside the Destined One. This “something” could be willpower, hidden strength, or a part of Wukong‘s own memories.
- Proving Oneself: By overcoming the challenge in Mount Mei, the Destined One proved themselves worthy of inheriting Wukong‘s power, no longer controlled by the Golden Headband.
- Wukong’s Plan: The rewind cutscene shows that everything that happened, from Wukong being defeated to the Destined One appearing, was all part of Wukong‘s plan. He deliberately allowed himself to be imprisoned, so that later, a worthy successor would appear, break the cycle, and bring true freedom.
The meaning of this ending is Wukong (in the form of the Destined One) is truly free, no longer bound by any force. The door to the next installments of the game has been thrown wide open, promising even more exciting adventures.