"Absolute Evil" (絶対悪, Zettai Aku, Tonari: 210) is the 165th chapter of the One-Punch Man manga series.
Short Summary[]
Garou, empowered by "God", battles Saitama once again. After Garou unleashes a powerful attack that sends Saitama flying, he turns his focus to the heroes present in Z-City. With Saitama's temporary absence, Garou declares that it is the time for him to conduct evil.
Long Summary[]
With Bang's Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, Garou has learned to replicate the flow of tidal currents and surges in his body. His skill at taking and copying any technique serves as an extension of that knowledge. Now empowered like never before, he has gained knowledge of the flow of all energy as well as the behaviour of all forces in the universe.
Using his new style, All Life Eradication Fist, Garou rushes Saitama head-on with an attack called Nuclear Fission. A massive explosion is generated from Garou's attack, with the decontamination system of the Gotz Okkie activated, causing its personnel to realize the attack carries the power of a nuclear weapon. In the distance, Psykos observes several explosions created by Garou, who is fighting Saitama, and likens them to Homeless Emperor's energy spheres, referring to them as "divine power". As the heroes present look up to see the rising mushroom cloud, they see humanoid shapes rapidly shifting from inside; Genos can only wonder if Saitama has something to do with it.
Saitama remains unharmed by Garou's assault but becomes irritated that his clothes are now tattered. Garou laughs at his worry for his clothing and declares he can see through his moves. The hero grows frustrated at Garou's words and claims he will simply get pummeled again. In response, Garou states that in martial arts, one can use the power of nature by borrowing movements of living things, calling these techniques "modes" and promptly giving a demonstration.
Garou activates Mode: Saitama and attacks the hero with Consecutive Normal Punches, greatly surprising him. Saitama responds with the same attack and the flurry of strikes collide with each other, causing an immense powerful burst of shockwave. Soon, Saitama and Garou simultaneously land a punch on each other in the face, causing them to get pushed deep into the ocean, although both fighters quickly resurface and resume their battle. The Hero Hunter laughs at his loss for words, asking if this is the first time Saitama has met someone who can match him blow for blow. Garou further claims that any techniques he now copies will get perfected very quickly and because of that, Saitama will soon unable to keep up. Saitama simply becomes dismayed for having told Tareo that he wouldn't get scratched while Garou finds it funny that Saitama is still thinking about the boy during their battle.
Remembering he wanted to show Tareo how powerless heroes truly are, Garou unleashes his Gamma Ray Burst against Saitama, forming two beams of energy in a central burst and lighting the sky, with the powerful blast of energy sending the Caped Baldy flying away. On the surface, the other heroes desperately hold themselves down as the energy's shockwave hits them, with Bomb wondering if it is a special move and Metal Bat struggling to deal with the overwhelming light. Meanwhile, Sweet Mask approaches Flashy Flash, with Manako behind the S-Class hero. Fuelled by his hatred of monsters, Sweet Mask demands to know why he is harbouring one; Flashy Flash responds by claiming that it is an "exotic animal" that is useful to him. With Saitama's absence, Garou then lands down in front of all the heroes present, and they all immediately realize that he was the source of those massive explosions. Tanktop Master wonders if he really is the Hero Hunter he fought while Zombieman believes the situation will go down terribly and Flashy Flash surmises that even running away now will be useless. As everyone regards the sight of him in terror, Garou believes he is now the symbol of fear he has longed to be. He has become "Absolute Evil", looking up to the sky and saying "thank you". Crawling from the debris, Bang sees his former student and approaches him, shocked by his appearance. The former master asks Garou if he is still in his right senses. Garou responds by stating he was always alert.
At this moment, Garou recalls how he gained his new power. During his encounter with "God", who he knows is impersonating Bang in order to make him a puppet, when "God" offers him its hand, despite Garou slapping the hand away, the act of him merely touching the hand is enough for the mysterious figure to influence him. As Garou is then racked with pain, he demands to know what "God" has done. The figure responds by claiming that it will make Garou into its "avatar" before disappearing. Immediately afterwards, Garou experiences an intense flow of power throughout his entire body that almost knocks him unconscious.
Back to the present, Garou tells Bang that he still retains his lessons regarding Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, remaining grateful for them. Despite his mutation, he claims to have retained his own self. Apologizing to Tareo, Garou declares it is the time for him to conduct evil.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Garou (cover)
- Watchdog Man (Flashback)
- Bang
- Bomb
- Saitama
- Tanktop Master
- Pig God
- Mumen Rider
- Zombieman
- Psykos
- Genos
- Eyelashes
- Mountain Ape
- Monster Roper Shell
- Tanktop Al Dente
- Tanktop Swimmer
- Metal Bat
- Flashy Flash
- Sweet Mask
- Manako
- Tatsumaki
- Atomic Samurai
- Child Emperor
- King
- Superalloy Darkshine
- Puri-Puri Prisoner
- Iaian
- Lightning Max
- Twin Tail
- One Shotter
- Crescent Eyebroll
- Narcissistoic
- Sneck
- Heavy Kong
- Fubuki
- Captain Mizuki
- Lily
- Pineapple
- Mohican
- Food Battler Futoshi
- Gearsper
- Studless
- Poison
- Hyottoko
- Tanktop Girl
- Tanktop Hatter
- Tanktop Mask
- Tanktop Racer
- Tanktop Rockabilly
- Tanktop Jungle
- Sekingar
- Double Hole
- God