"Tougher Than a Mountain" (神魔よりも, Yama Yori Mo, Tonari: 208) is the 163rd chapter of the One-Punch Man manga series.
Short Summary[]
Garou struggles to match Saitama's strength despite his monsterfication. When Saitama questions Garou's goals, he points out the contradiction in Garou's actions, as he had helped heroes against a centipede monster. Garou, angered, attacks Saitama. As Garou evolves into a demonic form, he unintentionally destroys a volcano, saving a city. Noticing that Garou has unknowingly saved a city, Saitama comments on how the Hero Hunter reminds him of King, recognizing Garou's innate heroic instincts.
Long Summary[]
Garou laments on his inability to keep up with Saitama despite having continuously become stronger through monsterfication. While asking Garou about his goals, Saitama points out the contradiction between his words and actions, stating that despite his explanation, he did help heroes against Sage Centipede. Garou reasons that he was simply using Metal Bat to further his goals. Saitama then interprets Garou's "Absolute Evil" as world peace, which upsets him. Soon, Garou starts attacking Saitama again, with his blows landing and him effectively avoiding the hero's attempts to retaliate. Annoyed, Saitama asks Garou whether he is using martial arts to avoid his punches, which Garou confirms. While their fight proceeds, Garou notes that Saitama has amazing speed and reflexes that compensate for his lack of skill and technique, but still has a lot of openings for him to take advantage of. Claiming to be able to read every single one of Saitama's moves, Garou declares that the hero will lose due to his lack of technique and being a complete amateur, before sending him crashing into several buildings with his powerful combo attacks, ultimately pulverizing those and generating dust smoke. Believing he has won, Garou states that Saitama may have incredible tough skin and bones but he cannot train his internal organs, which Garou believes to have been damaged by his attack. However, to his surprise, Saitama emerges completely unharmed. It is then shown that Garou, in destroying the buildings, accidentally saved five Hero Association staff members who have been inside an underground shelter trapped in the rubble. As all of them show their gratitude to him before leaving, Saitama ironically comments on how "Absolute Evil" is good at saving people. Enraged, Garou attacks Saitama again and soon evolves further, taking on a demonic form with a pair of wings and long horns.
As he continues trying to overcome Saitama, Garou once again accidentally does a heroic deed by smashing him into a big volcano (which its lava is about to cover a city) and shattering it, causing the lava to flow down the other side of the mountain, subsequently saving the whole city. Despite Garou's efforts, Saitama is unharmed and punches him back. After seeing that the mountain behind Saitama has been shattered while the hero himself is completely unscathed, Garou is impressed that Saitama is tougher than a mountain. Noticing that Garou has just saved a city without being aware of it, the Caped Baldy comments on how the Hero Hunter reminds him of King and that Garou himself has great hero instincts.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Trivia[]
- The cover greatly resembles similarly human-formed skull pieces in the artistic world, such as those made by Salvador Dalí, and it seems to be inspired by Sergej Bag's "Depressing" piece.