Shadow Monarch: Journey to the West

Park Min-Jae's life hummed along in a quiet blur of routine, caffeine, and stories, unfolding within the cluttered walls of his Seoul apartment. At 24, he clocked a soul-crushing 9 to 5 as a data entry clerk, his fingers dancing across keyboards by day and tracing the pages of novels and manhwa by night.

His cramped desk, buried under empty ramen cups and half-drunk energy drinks, held a modest collection: worn copies of Journey to the West translations, volumes of Solo Leveling, and pirated scans of Fairy Tail, Bleach, Naruto, and Dragon Ball, stories of heroes, battles, and worlds where ordinary people could rise.

Min-Jae enjoyed these tales, finding solace in their underdog triumphs and epic clashes, but he wasn't obsessive, just a quiet fan who'd occasionally vent on X about cool moments: "Wukong's staff tricks are wild, now imagine pairing that with Jin-Woo's shadows."

Weekends were his retreat. He'd wake late, shuffle to the convenience store in faded jeans and a threadbare hoodie, grab spicy dumplings and strawberry milk, then settle in with his laptop, streaming anime or browsing fanfiction forums. He liked transmigration stories heroes stumbling into new worlds, gaining powers to survive or shine, but he saw them as fun escapes, not life goals. "Wouldn't mind a break like that," he'd muse, slurping ramen, the glow of his screen illuminating his tired, thoughtful face.

His apartment reflected a casual fandom, posters of Jin-Woo's silhouette, Goku's aura, and Natsu's flames shared wall space with a sketch of Wukong and a panel of Sharingan, all doodled during dull meetings.

He wasn't athletic, his lean frame and unsteady hands hinted at years of sitting, but his mind buzzed with curiosity, sharpened by late-night reading and caffeine. Friends teased him as "Otaku Jae," but he shrugged it off, his X handle "StoryFanJae60" earning likes for thoughtful posts.

One rainy Tuesday, Min-Jae's rhythm broke. After a grueling shift, he trudged home, soaked jeans clinging to his legs, sneakers squishing puddles. He craved his usual unwind, spicy dumplings, Solo Leveling latest volume, and a quick scroll through X.

In his apartment, he boiled water, steam fogging his glasses, while he search through Internet for some interesting news.

He chuckled at some random post, popping a dumpling into his mouth, the spice tingling his throat.

Then, a loud crash jolted him, a delivery truck skidded on the wet street outside, its brakes squealing, headlights flashing through his window. Min-Jae froze, dumpling halfway chewed, ramen cup tipping, spilling broth across his desk.

What now? He rushed to the window, peering through the rain-smeared glass. The truck swerved, tires screeching, and barreled toward his building, its front grille gleaming under the streetlights. Before he could scream, the truck smashed through the wall, glass shattering, debris flying.

A blinding white light engulfed him, searing, disorienting, like tumbling through X's feed into a void. His phone slipped, dumplings scattered, and his last thought:

"Is this… truck-kun?"

Then…..darkness.

He woke to the earthy scent of banana leaves brushing his face, their waxy green sheen catching dappled sunlight through the thick jungle canopy of Flower-Fruit Mountain. Monkey screeches pierced the air, sharp and chaotic, as his cheek pressed against cool, loamy soil.

His jeans still soaked from the rain, now muddied were smudged with dirt, sneakers squishing with each twitch. A glowing blue screen flickered in his vision, pulsing like a glitchy smartphone app.

--Welcome, Transmigrator!--

You have died and been reborn in the world of Journey to the West.

Choose the character you want to obtain their power:

[Natsu Dragneel] | [Yhwach] | [Son Goku] | [Sung Jin-Woo]

Min-Jae's heart raced, pounding against his ribs like a drum. Journey to the West? The epic he'd pored over in translations, the saga of Wukong's chaos and Tang Sanzang's quest? He scrambled to his knees, palms digging into the earth, staring at the screen.

Four options… His mind spun, quiet excitement warring with panic. He knew each power intimately, Natsu Dragneel's Fire Dragon Slayer flames from Fairy Tail, Yhwach's Almighty foresight from Bleach, Son Goku's Super Saiyan strength from Dragon Ball, and Sung Jin-Woo's Shadow Monarch necromancy from Solo Leveling.

But which fits this mythic world?

He sat back, jeans squishing mud, pondering the pros and cons.

Natsu's fire could burn demons, but I'd need air to breathe those flames, and this jungle's humid—plus, Wukong's already got fire tricks. Yhwach's Almighty lets me see the future, but controlling fate in Journey to the West might piss off Buddha or Jade Emperor, and I'd need to master that soul-reaper vibe. Goku's Super Saiyan power is insane his speed, strength, ki blasts would be crazy, but I'd be a sitting duck without training. Jin-Woo's shadows, though… necromancy, growth, an army—I could match Wukong or any other enemies and survive this chaos.

But doubt crept in, deeper than before.

"What if I pick wrong? This isn't a game and if I'm stuck here, one wrong decision could lead to the end of me"

His mind raced, sneakers sinking into the moss as he chewed his lip.

"What if Wukong goes rogue? He's wild, chaotic, I've read how he turned on Heaven, but what if he decide not ally with me? His 72 Transformations, that staff, his cloud-somersault, he could crush me in a heartbeat. Or what if the celestials want to destroy me? That golden light in the sky… Heaven's already uneasy. If they see me as an imbalance, an anomaly with shadows and weird eyes, they'll send Erlang, Nezha, Buddha, anyone to wipe me out"

Fear tightened his chest, but it fueled him too, a burning need to be the strongest, to survive, to thrive.

"I can't be weak. Not here, not with Wukong, not against Heaven. I need power to match him, to predict his moves, to build an army that can't be touched. Jin-Woo's shadows would let me raise the dead, grow endlessly, and stand toe-to-toe with Wukong or any demon. But foresight, too, I need to see threats coming, dodge Wukong's worst, outsmart Heaven"

----Sasuke's Sharingan… it's perfect for that.----

He frowned, rubbing his chin, jeans rippling with mud. "Hey, System," he muttered, voice hesitant. "Can I get more skills? Maybe mix these or add something else? I'm kinda overwhelmed here, and I need more, or I'm toast here, this world is not normal and dangerous is everywhere"

The screen flickered, text scrolling

Options Limited to Initial Selection. Choose Wisely.

Min-Jae groaned, falling back into the banana leaves, their waxy scent filling his nose.

"Come on, System, that's not fair! I love all these, Natsu's fire's awesome, Yhwach's foresight's clutch, Goku's power's unreal, and Jin-Woo's shadows are perfect, but I need more! What about Sasuke's Sharingan? Or Ichigo's Bankai? Or Luffy's rubber powers? Please, I'm begging you—give me a chance to combine them or add something! I can't risk Wukong turning on me or Heaven wiping me out—I need Jin-Woo's shadows and Sasuke's Sharingan to survive, to be unstoppable!"

The screen buzzed, text shifting

Request Denied. Initial Selection Only. Choose Now.

"No, no, no!"

Min-Jae wailed, flailing his arms, jeans ripping on a thorn. He rolled, shadow tiger pacing beside him, its white eyes unblinking.

"Please, System, I'll do anything! Extra quests, double training, triple mana drain, whatever you want! I need Jin-Woo's shadows and one more, I only need one more skills"

The screen froze, flickering wildly, text scrolling erratically:

Persistent Request Detected.

System Override Possible.

Repayment Required: Complete Quest—Defeat the Jade Tiger Demon of Black Fang Mountain Within 24 Hours. Failure Results in Power Lock.

Agree?

Min-Jae's eyes widened, heart racing. A demon quest? Now? But the fear of Wukong's potential betrayal, Heaven's wrath, and his own weakness overwhelmed any hesitation. I can't be weak, I won't.

"Yes, I agree!" he shouted, voice cracking. "I'll do it, give me the powers!"

Min-Jae's eyes widened, heart racing. A demon quest? Now? But the fear of Wukong's potential betrayal, Heaven's wrath, and his own weakness overwhelmed any hesitation. I can't be weak—I won't. "Yes, I agree!" he shouted, voice cracking. "I'll do it—give me the powers I need!"

Select Your Power from Available Options.

A dazzling list erupted on the screen, there are long list of skills flashing by in a dizzying blur: All Might's One For All, Saitama's One Punch, Rimuru Tempest's Raphael (Great Sage), Sasuke's Sharingan, and countless others from mythic and anime worlds, their descriptions flickering like stars. So many choices…

Min-Jae's eyes darted, jeans squishing as he shifted, sneakers sinking deeper into the moss.

I need synergy, survival, strength. All Might's One For All is raw power, but I'd need training to control it, and Wukong's faster. Saitama's One Punch is insane, but I'd be useless without that level of strength, Heaven would crush me.

Rimuru's Rapheal is versatile, but magic's tricky here, and I'd need time to adapt. Sharingan could predict enemies' moves, outsmart demons.

There is one thing he needs to confirm.

"Hey, System," he muttered, voice hesitant, "can I get other skills later?"

The screen flickered and said "Yes"

He nodded, voice firm despite his racing heart. "That is all I need to know right now. I need to choose something that I could immediately use, I choose Sharingan!"

The screen flashed, text settling

Selection Finalized: Shadow Monarch + Sharingan

Level: 1

Stats:

--Strength 5

--Agility 5

--Mana 5

--Stamina 5

--Chakra 5

Bonus Quest Added: Defeat Jade Tiger Demon. Reward: 20 Stat Points.

Warning: Unstable Fusion May Cause… Unforeseen Effects.

Determined to complete the quest and secure his powers, Min-Jae pushed himself up, jeans squishing mud, sneakers sinking into the moss.

The Jade Tiger Demon of Black Fang Mountain… I've got 24 hours. He scanned the jungle, banana leaves brushing his face, the distant monkey screeches guiding him deeper into Flower-Fruit Mountain's wild heart.

With Sharingan glowing faintly in his eyes, he followed faint trails—crushed leaves, claw marks on trees, the scent of blood and sulfur lingering in the air.

This demon's out there—I can feel it.

Hours passed, the sun dipping low, casting long shadows through the canopy. Min-Jae's Strength 5 and Agility 5 strained as he stumbled through vines, his jacket torn further, sneakers slipping on roots. He spots a flicker of gold far ahead. A growl echoed, deep and menacing, and he crept toward Black Fang Mountain's base, a rocky outcrop shrouded in mist. The Jade Tiger Demon loomed, a massive beast, fur black as midnight, eyes glowing amber, claws glinting like obsidian, its presence radiating demonic power.

"Holy sh$$ , I did not expect this tiger to be this huge—I know it's a demon, but oh my god, this is something out of expect. Should I run for now and come back later?"

Min-Jae's voice trembled, jeans squishing mud as he backpedaled, sneakers sinking into the moss, heart pounding against his ribs. The Jade Tiger Demon loomed before him at Black Fang Mountain's base, a monstrous beast, fur black as midnight, eyes glowing amber like twin lanterns, claws glinting like obsidian, each the size of a dagger, its presence radiating a suffocating demonic aura. Its growl rumbled through the rocky outcrop, shaking loose pebbles, the scent of sulfur and thick blood in the humid air.

At that moment, it charged, claws slashing in a blur, the ground trembling under its massive paws. Min-Jae yelped, diving to the side, sneakers skidding on the uneven terrain, banana leaves crunching beneath him. The beast's claws tore through the air, missing his jacket by inches, the wind from the strike ruffling his hair, leaving a faint scratch on his arm. He scrambled to his feet, jeans snagging on a vine, and darted behind a boulder, breath ragged, his Sharingan flaring to life, its tomoe spinning, time slowing as the Sharingan's enhanced perception revealed the tiger's muscle tension, the rhythm of its heartbeat, and the precise arc of its next lunge.

It roared, a deafening bellow that echoed off the cliff, and pounced again, claws raking downward in a deadly arc. Min-Jae rolled, banana leaves and dirt flying, his sneakers slipping on slick moss, but Sharingan guided him, tracking the tiger's chakra-like energy, predicting its trajectory toward his left. He ducked under a claw swipe, feeling the wind whip past his cheek, and lunged for a fallen branch, gripping it with trembling hands, straining as he swung upward.

The branch struck the tiger's flank, just a glancing blow, barely a tap, but the his eyes foresight pinpointed its rear leg, the tiger hesitating on uneven ground, a vulnerable spot exposed by its unbalanced charge.

Gasping, Min-Jae feinted left, jeans ripping further on a thorn as he zigzagged, luring the beast toward the cliff edge. The tiger snarled, enraged and off-balance, its amber eyes blazing, paws pounding the earth, kicking up dirt and pebbles. It leaped, jaws snapping, but Min-Jae dove right, Sharingan flashing, guiding him to sidestep at the last second, the tiger's paw catching on a jagged stone protruding from the ground. The beast's momentum twisted mid-air, its massive form crashing into the cliff with a sickening crunch, skull slamming against the rock, the impact reverberating through the mountain, blood pooling on the stones as its body collapsed lifelessly, amber eyes dimming.

He stared, heart pounding, lungs burning, as the tiger's form stilled, the silence deafening after the chaos.

It's… dead.

The System blinked:

Quest Complete: Defeat the Jade Tiger Demon.

Rewards: +20 Stat Points.

Level Up!

Stats: Strength 7, Agility 7, Mana 7, Stamina 7, Chakra 7.

The System blinked again

Shadow Extraction Available

Target—Dead Tiger Demon

Select Verbal Command to Activate Extraction.

Min-Jae froze, jeans damp with sweat and mud, sneakers sinking into the moss. A verbal command? He pondered, mind racing back to Solo Leveling, Sung Jin-Woo's calm, commanding "Arise" echoing in his memory, summoning shadows with unshakable authority. "Arise" feels right—powerful, final, like I'm claiming this demon for my army. But what if I pick something else, like "Rise" or "Awaken"? "Rise" sounds too generic, and "Awaken" feels too mystical—I need something sharp, decisive, like Jin-Woo's style.

He nodded, voice steady despite his racing heart.

"Arise."

Black mist coiled from his palm, responding to his command, and he used Shadow Extraction on the dead tiger, solidifying into a snarling shadow tiger, its fur dark as night, white eyes glowing, claws slashing. It paced beside him, its growl a low hum, joining the first shadow tiger as if confirming the extraction.

Min-Jae stared, eyes wide, his Sharingan fading as he look at his first shadown

"Wow," he whispered, "it's sleek, deadly, and badass up close, those glowing eyes, that fur, it's like the perfect warrior for my army."

He look back at the battle and pondered

"This is only a demon tiger and I almost die from it, I need to level up as much as possible"

Exhausted but triumphant, Min-Jae turned back toward the jungle, shadow tiger pacing beside him, its white eyes glowing.

Now, next task, to find Wukong…

He stumbled through the jungle, banana leaves brushing his face, monkey screeches growing louder. Golden-furred monkeys swung from vines, their eyes curious but hostile, throwing rotten bananas that splattered on his jeans.

"Hey, cut it out!" he shouted, dodging a fruit missile, his shadow tiger growling beside him. The monkeys chittered, some baring teeth, others whispering in sharp, rapid squeaks "Strange magic… not of this place," an elder monkey muttered, its fur silvered with age, eyes wide at the shadow tiger and Min-Jae's red-eyed glare.

The tribe parted, fear and awe mixing in their golden gazes, but a younger monkey charged, claws slashing. Min-Jae's Agility let him sidestep, Strength steadying his block, his arm ached as he shoved it back, shadow tiger pouncing to pin it. The tribe's screeches grew deafening, some fleeing, others crowding closer, bananas flying like projectiles.

He tripped over a root, tumbling into a river, water soaking his sneakers, jeans heavy with mud.

"This is not how I pictured meeting Wukong!" he groaned, spitting water,

The shadow tiger dragged him out, its white eyes unblinking, and the monkeys' whispers grew: "Dark magic… will it curse us?" Their fear was palpable, but a few grinned, impressed by the shadow's power and Min-Jae's red-eyed stare. They see me as an outsider, but maybe… useful?

The jungle rustled, and a golden blur somersaulted overhead, landing with a thud that shook the ground.

Sun Wukong stood before him with fur gleaming gold, red eyes blazing, tail lashing like a whip. He wore mismatched armor, dragon-scale pauldrons stolen from the Eastern Sea, a crimson sash wrapped around his waist, and a necklace of shimmering dragon pearls dangling over his chest. The Ruyi Jingu Bang, its golden shaft etched with runes that pulsed with ancient power, rested casually over his shoulder, shrinking and expanding with each twitch, its golden glow catching the fading sunlight.

"Who's this twig?"

Wukong barked, twirling the staff so fast it hummed like a buzzsaw, the sound slicing through the monkey chatter. His voice was a gravelly growl, playful but edged with menace, his tail flicking toward Min-Jae's shadow tiger with a whipcrack snap.

"Smells like mortal and… shadows? Weird and those red eyes, creepy!"

He crouched low, red eyes narrowing, his golden fur shimmering with sweat and dirt from a recent raid, the crimson sash fluttering like a battle banner in the breeze.

Min-Jae froze, heart hammering, he briefly flaring to analyze Wukong's stance, 72 Transformations, cloud-somersault potential, staff speed. It's really him!

"Uh, I'm Park Min-Jae!"

He stammered, scrambling up, jeans dripping, water pooling around his sneakers.

"I know you're gonna be the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and I wanna help, fight alongside you, build something big together!"

Wukong's eyes widened, then narrowed again, a grin splitting his sharp-toothed face, peach juice staining his fur from a stolen fruit he munched mid-conversation.

"Great Sage, huh? I like that!"

He straightened, staff shrinking to a baton-sized stick he twirled between his fingers, the runes flickering like molten gold.

"But why should I trust a scrawny human who stinks of tricks? Prove it, Boy, show me something real, or I'll bounce you off the mountain faster than a peach pit!"

His tail lashed, wrapping around a nearby vine and snapping it with a crack, testing Min-Jae's reaction.

Min-Jae's mind raced, sweat beading on his forehead, jeans squishing as he shifted. He knew Wukong loved chaos, pranks, and power, but how to prove himself without getting smashed?

His shadow tiger growled, pacing, and the System blinked:

Quest: Befriend the Monkey King.

Reward: 5 Stat Points.

Perfect timing. He focused, black mist coiling from his palm, and summoned a shadow monkey, extracted from the fallen tribe member—its golden fur darker, eyes white, mimicking Wukong's agility. It flip over, landing beside Min Jae with a playful screech, mirroring the Monkey King's grin.

Wukong's laughter boomed, echoing through the clearing, his tail flicking toward the shadow monkey with a spark of delight.

"Ha! A shadow me? Weak, but fun!"

He spun the staff, its tip grazing the shadow monkey, which dodged with uncanny precision, drawing another chuckle.

"You've got tricks, Shadow Boy. Where'd you learn that magic, some mortal trickster's cave?"

"Another world,"

Min Jae said, catching his breath

"I know your story—the staff, transformations, Heaven fight. I can help you shake Heaven, Wukong—not just follow, but lead chaos together. My shadows can match your staff, my sight can outsmart any foe."

He stepped forward, jeans dripping, shadow tiger and monkey flanking him, their white eyes glowing in the dim light.

Wukong's grin faltered, replaced by a skeptical squint, but his tail twitched with curiosity, wrapping around the Ruyi Jingu Bang and tugging it playfully.

"Another world, eh? Sounds like a drunk immortal's yarn. But I like your guts and those shadows"

He straightened, staff expanding to full length with a metallic shing, its golden runes blazing.

"Stick with me, Shadow Boy. We'll raise havoc, you and me, webreak the mountain, then the heavens. But cross me, and I'll squash you like a bug!"

His laughter rang out again, tail snapping toward a monkey who tossed a banana, catching it mid-air and chomping it with a grin.

Min-Jae grinned back, relief washing over him, shadow tiger growling softly in approval.

"Deal, Monkey King. Let's make history."

Before he could protest, Wukong grabbed his collar, somersaulted into the sky, and hurled them onto a cloud. Min-Jae screamed, clinging to Wukong's fur as the mountain shrank below, wind roaring in his ears, Sasuke's Sharingan briefly flaring to track their dizzying path.

"H-Hold on!" he yelped, jeans flapping, sneakers dangling uselessly. Wukong's laughter boomed, tail wrapping around Min-Jae's waist, steadying him as they soared.

"Hold tight, Shadow Boy!" Wukong cackled, diving toward a clearing where monkeys chattered and a banquet of stolen fruit—peaches, bananas, dragon plums—sprawled across mossy stones. They landed with a thud, Min-Jae tumbling into a pile of peaches, juice staining his shirt. The monkeys cheered, parting as Wukong strutted forward, staff planted like a banner, tail flicking toward Min-Jae with a playful nudge.

"Not bad for a twig!" Wukong said, tossing Min-Jae a peach, juice dripping down his golden fur.

"You're one of us now—least till you bore me."

The System chimed

Quest Complete: Befriend the Monkey King.

Rewards: +5 Stat Points.

Level Up!

Current Level: 3.

Stats: Strength 9, Agility 9, Mana 9, Stamina 9, Chakra 9.

Free Stats Points: 25

Min-Jae grinned, wiping juice from his face, shadow tiger and monkey pacing beside him, he slowly scanned the jungle and planning for his next move.

Above, a golden shimmer flickered again, stronger, with a faint celestial voice:

"The shadow must be purged…it interrupts the fate of that monkey"

**If you like the story and would love the be on this Journey to the West with Min Jae, throw me some stones**