"Awakening of the Gods" (神々の目覚め, Kamigami no Mezame, Tonari: 213) is the 168th chapter of the One-Punch Man manga series.
Short Summary[]
Saitama defeats Garou, who imparts a time travel technique that allows him to undo Garou's catastrophic actions. Saitama uses this ability to travel back in time and prevent the Ominous Future from occurring again by defeating Garou much more quickly. As a result, Garou's divine powers start to fade.
Long Summary[]
The fight on Jupiter's Io sees Saitama gradually overpowering Garou. Garou realizes that Saitama is intentionally mimicking his moves. Saitama mocks Garou for thinking he could copy him while he is serious and challenges him to try. Despite trying to match Saitama's power via Mode: Saitama, Garou finds that Saitama is increasingly becoming more powerful. Aware that this pattern could lead to his demise, Garou opens a gateway and delivers a fierce punch fueled by his anger. Saitama catches his fist but begins to feel something. With his clothes torn and facing Io's frigid atmosphere, Saitama unleashes a Serious Sneeze at Garou, who dodges. The sneeze devastates Io's surface, reaching Jupiter and tearing apart its gaseous exterior.
The recoil propels both fighters out of Io and into interplanetary space. As they travel, Garou spots the Sun and searches for Earth, successfully locating it within teleportation range. After hitting Saitama with his Nuclear Fission that creates a massive explosion, Garou opens a portal to teleport back to Earth. Suddenly, Saitama appears behind him, praising Garou for his hyperspace portal ability, which surprises him. Saitama explains that he developed a stomach ache from the cold, the light from the earlier explosion had caused him to fart, allowing him to reach the hyperspace gate in time.
Saitama punches Garou down to Earth, landing precisely where their battle began. Realizing his efforts were in vain, Garou questions why Saitama doesn't kill him. Saitama expresses his belief that that he can never be cut out as a hero, unlike Garou's "ever-changing costumes" or King's reputation. He insists he is a hero, citing a promise to "that kid" that he would not kill him. Confused, Garou turns to see Tareo on the ground, having died from exposure to cosmic radiation.
With his guilt building up, Garou runs away, grieving that Tareo's death was due to him getting too close to him, seeing that it is the price of being the Ominous Future. Confused at his behavior, Saitama wonders if someone did something to him, noting that he has been acting strange since he fell from the sky. Garou replies that if something did happen to him, it is because his spirit is too weak. He laments that being "Absolute Evil" is laughable when Saitama can beat him, only for him to act as if he isn't enough to be one; he believes that Saitama could have killed him, allowing his wish to be true evil to come true. In the end, the one he wanted to save first after changing the world is now dead.
Saitama realizes Garou always wanted to save Tareo, asking if he relied on him for support. Angry, Garou questions Saitama's understanding of clinging, only to notice he still holds Genos' depleted core. Saitama tells him that someone of his strength can never keep a right mind, shocking Garou. After asking Garou what he plans to do next, Saitama receives a request.
Garou asks Saitama to mimic his moves, knowing he can master and surpass his techniques. Despite some annoyance, Saitama agrees. Garou starts demonstrating his technique under Saitama's watch. Suddenly, a voice booms from the sky, announcing that Garou's powers are to be reclaimed. He begins transforming into salt but refocuses to assist Saitama.
Having replicated Garou's time leap ability, Saitama's subatomic particles begin to move as one, sending him back in time. Before turning into salt, Garou tells Saitama to defeat the "Ominous Future". Saitama arrives at the moment Garou confronted numerous heroes. As Garou gazes skyward, Saitama delivers a Zero Punch, amplified by their earlier battle on Io, defeating the Hero Hunter with a blow that was never technically thrown. The present heroes watch in awe as a stunned Garou realizes his power is dissipating. The "future" Saitama is drawn to his "past" self, and upon contact, they merge, leaving the singular Saitama holding Genos's core from the future.
Confused on what happened, Saitama only recalls being struck by Garou's Gamma Ray Burst. He is shocked to find himself holding the depleted core and even more surprised to see a hole in his costume at the crotch. Suddenly, he is tackled by Genos, who apologizes for getting carried away.