| — Garou resisting Darkshine's immense power. |
Garou vs. Superalloy Darkshine is the battle between Garou and the S-Class hero Superalloy Darkshine.
Prelude[]
Garou and Darkshine squaring off.
While Darkshine continues to roam alone throughout the Monster Association Headquarters, he comes across a defeated Puri-Puri Prisoner. The broken hero sees his fellow S-Class hero approaching and tells him about his loss to Garou, warning Darkshine that Garou has grown far stronger. He cautions that even someone as powerful as Darkshine might struggle against him. However, instead of being intimidated, Darkshine feels excited by the thought of a worthy opponent and prepares for battle.
Battle[]
Garou assaults Darkshine with a barrage of punches, but the muscular hero easily withstands and tackles him through several walls. The Hero Hunter follows up by swirling around Darkshine in an attempt to confuse him, creating a flurry of afterimages that attack him from all directions. However, Darkshine punches the real Garou and declares his monster play ends there.
Darkshine about to tackle Garou.
The punch shocks Garou back to his senses, with the Hero Hunter wondering where Orochi went and realizing he was unconsciously fighting Darkshine. Garou remarks that he isn't a pretty sight in his sleep, and takes a stance to fight Darkshine. Darkshine launches another punch, but Garou ducks and kicks his head to the ground with a spin kick. Darkshine spins himself back onto his feet, while Garou remarks that if he defeated Darkshine, it would prove his attacks could succeed against anyone. At the same time, Darkshine notices Garou's dramatic improvement in the coordination between all the muscles in his body. He tells Garou it would be a waste to let such refined muscles rot, stating that the Hero Association has the best gyms, and if he could atone, Garou might actually be a hero.
Garou's ribs are shattered by Darkshine's tackle.
This statement reminds Garou of Gyoro Gyoro's offer, and he angrily declares both the Hero Association and Monster Association will be annihilated tonight. Darkshine says he will stop Garou before charging at him with a powerful tackle. Garou attempts to counter with his Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, but the force of the tackle overwhelms him, shattering his ribcage and destroying the floor beneath them.
Standing over Garou's broken body, Darkshine recalls a sparring match with Bang, where even though he took no damage, all of his attacks were deflected. This first-hand look at Bang's martial arts causes Darkshine to state that Garou is still inexperienced. He continues by saying the only reason Garou made it this far was luck, and if he'd fought Atomic Samurai, Flashy Flash, Tatsumaki, or King, he would've been killed. He tells Garou to know his place, but Garou erupts from the rubble. He angrily argues heroes can win any fight if they unleash violence without considering whether it's right or not, and it means they've thrown away their kindness. Declaring the stench of hypocrisy is making him sick, he also tells Darkshine that he's only playing hero. Garou says he will put his life on the line to crush justice, and that Darkshine will never be able to stop this monster play.
Despite his severe injuries, Garou resumes his assault, attacking Darkshine with a barrage of punches. Though Darkshine is able to block the assault with his arms, he notices Garou is becoming faster and faster. He describes Garou's attack as dozens of martial artists are attacking him simultaneously, keeping him overwhelmed like a tidal wave. In a brief flash, the thought of "defeat" crosses his mind, but Darkshine refuses to entertain the idea of losing in a clash of physical bodies, saying that he's trained his muscles completely different from Puri-Puri Prisoner and Tanktop Master.
Garou meeting fists with Darkshine's Superalloy Bazooka.
Garou is revealed to have subconsciously learned how to combine both the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist and Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist into Cross Fang Dragon Slayer Fist. Something that usually couldn't be accomplished alone even by a prodigy martial artist, the repeated suicidal training and battles with heroes allowed Garou to copy-acquire the technique. Despite the increase in power, Darkshine refuses to falter. He unleashes his full power, and attacks Garou with his Superalloy Bazooka (a powerful straight punch). Garou meets the punch head-on with his own fist, the clash fracturing the ground and ripping apart Garou's shirt. Suddenly, dark tendrils swirl around Garou's body, all centering into the center of Garou's stomach. It's then revealed that Garou's limiter is starting to break.
Garou breaking his limiter.
Darkshine realizes that Garou's power and speed are rapidly increasing, and throws another punch. In response, Garou deflects the blow with his thumb and strikes Darkshine in the chest with both palms. This successful hit sends Darkshine crashing through the floor, causing him to cough up blood. As he gets up, he also realizes that Garou has been using him as a stepping stone to further improve his techniques. Garou mocks the hero, saying he's still kicking and ready to fight.
Darkshine fearing Garou.
The two continue their battle, with Garou landing numerous blows that Darkshine is unable to properly react or counter against. As Darkshine's mind races, he reflects on his desire to find an opponent who could push him to use 100% of his power, and Garou has become that opponent. Yet, he begins to feel fear. Understanding that this fight may not end in his favor and that the outcome is beyond his control, his expression twists in dread as sweat pours down his face.
Garou pins Darkshine to the ground.
Darkshine yells in frustration and attacks with his Superalloy Double Bazooka (a double punch). The punches hit both of Garou's shoulders and knock him back, but the Hero Hunter's body begins to regenerate the damage. Garou retaliates with a powerful kick to Darkshine's stomach, then spins his body to follow up with a left side kick that sends him crashing to the ground. The Hero Hunter follows up by aiming his ears, but he recalls the moments in which he and Tareo were bullied in the same manner by having their ears pulled, and jumps backward. Garou notices the fear in Darkshine's eyes, as if he is bullying the hero. However, the toll of the fight begins to weigh heavily on Garou, causing him to fall to the ground in pain. Darkshine walks over in concern, but before he can continue, Tatsumaki's psychic barrier envelops the hero, ending the battle prematurely.
Aftermath[]
Darkshine collapses.
Darkshine recognizes the barrier as Tatsumaki's, and notes that the floor is collapsing. He urges Garou to run, fearing that the Hero Hunter will be crushed if he remains. However, Garou is unable to move as the floor gives way beneath him, and Darkshine watches in horror as he curls up into a ball.
Trivia[]
Garou using Great Fa Jin.
- The technique Garou employed, striking Darkshine's abdomen with both open palms, resembles an attack he later used against Saitama during their fight, called Great Fa Jin (大発勁, Dai-hakkei; Viz: Massive Fa Jin). According to Garou, Great Fa Jin is a technique designed to damage an opponent's internal organs, incapacitating them regardless of their skin's toughness.[2]
References[]
- ↑ Garou takes a deep breath shortly before fighting Darkshine, indicating the usage of Awakening Breath
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 168, page 18-23