Episode 20

"Resistance of The Strong" is the twentieth episode of the One-Punch Man anime series and eighth episode of season two.

Summary
After the match between Saitama and Suiryu, the closing ceremony wraps up the tournament. The announcer congratulates Suiryu on his win and the fact he finished unscathed, though Suiryu wonders what would have happened if Saitama hadn't pulled his punch. Out of nowhere, announcements are made that there are monsters around the arena and advises the attendants to remain inside to be safe. Suiryu, in an attempt to get Saitama out of his head, flirts with an attractive assistant, calling her cute, when people begin yelling about something approaching the arena and black feathers begin to fall onto the stage. The Three Crows land, with Rosie, Dave, and Bazuzu in their grasps. Benpatsu tries to flee but is stopped by an immense Dragon level monster, Gouketsu. He easily crushes Benpatsu under his foot and tosses his body in front of the other contestants.

Gouketsu mocks them, stating this is what martial arts have become and calling them trash fighters, but states they may be useful to him as monsters. Sneck and Lightning Max, the few heroes in the tournament, ready their stances and charge towards Gouketsu, only to be kicked into the sky and mocked for their efforts. Gouketsu introduces himself as a member of the Monster Association. Zakos and the announcer realize that Gouketsu was once a previous winner of the Tournament. Gouketsu explains after he was defeated by a certain monster, he was taken to Orochi and Gyoro Gyoro. But instead of being killed, he was offered a chance to become more powerful than ever. In front of the contestants, he reveals monster cells, the key to his "power".

Rosie immediately eats one and transforms into a monster. He attacks Dave and slams his body into a wall, only to have his neck broken by Choze, killing him. However, Choze notes the immense increase in power from eating the monster cells and consumes one himself. After transforming, he knocks Jakumen into the air, incapacitating him. Gouketsu, impressed by Choze's monstrous form, threatens the remaining contestants into eating the cells or be killed by him. Benpatsu, worried for his life, consumes one and is followed by Hamukichi and Volten. Suiryu and the other contestants watch as they transform. Suiryu, still eager to get Saitama out of his thoughts, asks the attractive assistant if she would go on a date with him if he defeats the monsters, to which she quickly agrees to. Suiryu readies to fight and Gouketsu tells him a job of the Monster Association is to defeat any potential threats. Giving the signal to kill him, Benpatsu speeds towards Suiryu only to be kicked and grabbed by Suiryu. Using Benpatsu's body, he slams him into Hamukichi and Volten, defeating the three at once. Choze fights next and the battle seems even due to his skills and strength enhanced to match the more powerful Suiryu. Choze tries to stab him in the chest with his horns but is unable to pierce his skin. Choze summons a ball of energy and launches it towards Suiryu, only to have it deflected into the sky. Shocked, he fails to see Suiryu rush in and knee him in the face, breaking his horns. Suiryu, employing his move Dark Body Phoenix Rising Fist, launches Choze away, finally defeating him for good but notes it has been a while since he bled in a fight. Gouketsu notes the waste if he were to kill Suiryu and offers him a final chance to eat the monster cells. Picking it up and lifting it to his mouth, Suiryu instead decides he wouldn't want to be as ugly as Gouketsu and defiantly throws the cells in the monster's face. Suiryu rises up and attempts to strike Gouketsu's face but is violently knocked to the floor, causing him to vomit blood, possibly for the first time.

Meanwhile, in City-Q, Garou sees Watchdog Man atop a pile of defeated monsters. Eager to defeat him, he charges forward, only for Watchdog Man to sense him and jump out of the way. Garou readies his stance and tries to use Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist but his move is thwarted by Watchdog Man repeatedly patting his fist, like a dog and human doing a handshake. A furious Garou seems insulted by this move but is suddenly kicked in the face. Watchdog Man speeds around the hero hunter and slams his body around a defensive Garou, who notes despite his speed and power, he doesn't fight like a man but an animal.

Gouketsu stands over an injured Suiryu and gives him 3 seconds to stand or get crushed. Suiryu gets up and tries to attack Gouketsu's face again, using multiple punches and strike. but is uninjured by his efforts. Suiryu watches as the Crows start attacking the other contestants and innocents, but is punched to the ground by Gouketsu. Suiryu tries his most powerful move, Dark Body Quake Tiger Fist, but is shocked as Gouketsu easily catches his hand. Gouketsu throws his body towards the Crows as food and they begin to peck at him. Suiryu dodges their attacks and sees a quiet Bakuzan watching the battle. Asked for assistance, Bakuzan instead mocks him for being the Tournaments Champion and on the verge of death. He rejects Suiryu's pleading for help and devours the remaining monster cells. However, Bakuzan's body fails to transform and seemingly collapses on the floor, to the amusement of Gouketsu. Suiryu is now the last man in the arena.

Elsewhere, the monster Gyoffrey begins attacking the hospital where Mumen Rider and Tanktop Master are recovering. Stepping on an injured Mumen Rider, the monster prepares to kill him when a healed Tanktop Master arrives in time and tackles the monster out of the hospital and saving Mumen Rider. Complimenting his attack, Mumen Rider is given a hand by the S-Class hero to help stand up.

As the Crows go in for the kill on Suiryu, they are knocked aside by Sneck and Lightning Max, who have recovered from the earlier attack. The heroes, properly outfitted for combat, assist Suiryu and the trio defeat the three Crows. Suiryu, ready to escape, then sees the two heroes taking a fighting stance towards Gouketsu and notes why are they about to fight him, noting they are weaker than himself. The two states it's their job as heroes and gives the chance for Suiryu to flee. Hearing Gouketsu quickly crush the heroes, Suiryu tries to leap away to safety but his path is stopped by a far larger transformed Bakuzan and hammered fisted down back to Gouketsu. Gouketsu compliments Bakuzan for reaching the same threat level as himself; Dragon. Seeing Suiryu trying to stand, the former contestant leaps into the air and savagely attacks the helpless champion, ripping apart the floor.

Gyoro Gyoro tells Orochi that their plan to take over the humans is in motion and seemingly working. Using a small flying drone-like eye of his, Gyoro Gyoro contacts Gouketsu to return as S-Class Heroes may be arriving, only to be rebuffed. Gouketsu offers the new monster Bakuzan a chance to return to the monster's lair. Bakuzan sees this as an order and charges towards Gouketsu, only to be threatened by him with a punch that purposely misses but splits the arena in half. Gouketsu warns him that there monsters stronger than him and tells him to get too cocky. Gouketsu then leaves to return to the lair of the Monster Association.

Bakuzan sees the fallen Suiryu, battered, bloodied and weak, pleading to leave him be and fully surrendering, stating he was done with the fighting. Instead of granting his wish, the monster grabs Suiryu by his long hair and lifts him towards his face, saying he enjoyed beating up the weak around him. A desperate Suiryu begins to rip his hair to escape Bakuzan's grasp and tries to walk away, only for him to sadistically break his already injured legs. Enjoying the feeling, Bakuzan steps on Suiryu again, tormenting him further and mocking the "great Suiryu" for screaming in agony. An utterly defeated Suiryu then pleads for someone, anyone, a hero, to help him, yelling out into the distance and seemingly getting no response. He pleads any hero who can hear him for help only to get silence in response. Seeing the unconscious Sour Face and Lin Lin, seeing the battered Sneck and Lightning Max, he pleads one of them to rise up and defeat Bakuzan, despite the heavily stacked odds against him. Bakuzan then steps on the unconscious bodies of the heroes and Suiryu begins to cry as his life is about to end, only for a confused Bakuzan to see no bodies where his footprint is and Saitama protect Sneck and Max

Seeing the caped figure, Bakuzan asks who they are. Saitama, responds he is merely a hero and tells Suiryu that his pleas for help weren't unheard. Complimenting Suiryu for holding his own, Saitama tells him to leave the rest to him and faces Bakuzan.