Monster Cells

This article is about the mutated cells. For the chapter, see Chapter 69. For the volume, see Volume 13.

Monster Cells
Information
Type	Cell
Creator	Orochi
Owner(s)	Do-S Gale Wind Gouketsu Haragiri Hellfire Flame Nyan Phoenix Man
Media
Manga Debut	Chapter 69
Anime Debut	Episode 19

Monster Cells (怪人細胞, Kaijin Saibō) are what seems to be a very largely mutated virus cell that transforms humans into monsters upon entering the human body.

Overview

A monster cell is a pulsating organic mass roughly the size of a typical human hand. When ingested by a human, it triggers a physical and mental transformation, enabling them to surpass their human limitations and become monsters. Those who consume a monster cell also gain an extended lifespan. Monster cells were created by Orochi through unknown methods and were later collected and nurtured in large machines at the Monster Association Headquarters. These tanks were destroyed by Sweet Mask during the Hero Association's rescue operation.^{[citation needed]}

Monster cell tanks.

Monster cells enhance the subject's abilities, but at the cost of losing the potential for further growth. The effectiveness of monster cells also relies on the inherent potential of the human, meaning the stronger the individual, the more powerful the resulting monster transformation. Individuals with greater natural power tend to become more grotesque than weaker individuals, who retain more of their human appearance. For instance, Benpatsu only developed a third eye, sharp teeth, and elongated fingers after consuming a monster cell, while Rosie gained an unusually muscular physique along with prominent veins and spinal protrusions. Conversely, stronger humans like Choze, Volten, Hamukichi, and Gouketsu exhibit more monstrous and inhuman traits.

Upon transformation, humans experience intense bloodlust, sadism, ecstasy, insanity, and a significant loss of humanity, morality, and rational thought, leading them to focus solely on chaos and destruction. The transformation resembles the effects of steroid use, with some individuals experiencing severe pain upon ingestion. However, this process grants them immense strength, allowing them to surpass their previous abilities. Nonetheless, this transformation is not a limit remover; according to Dr. Genus, becoming a monster signifies being reborn as a new creature, with the transformed human still retaining their limiter. A notable weakness of this transformation is the extreme recklessness that arises from heightened bloodlust, which often leads new monsters to attack without assessing their opponents' strength. For example, Benpatsu recklessly charged at Suiryu, only to be knocked out with a single kick. Bakuzan exhibited similar behavior, mistakenly believing himself stronger than all S-Class heroes and monsters, resulting in an attack on Gouketsu that was easily thwarted. Additionally, monster cells can amplify the darker aspects of a person's personality; in Bakuzan's case, ingesting the cell intensified his brutality and revealed his true nature as a bully who sought strength to prey on the weak.

Individuals with weak willpower may lose their ego and intelligence, becoming little more than savage beasts, as seen with Hamukichi and The Three Crows. Conversely, some stronger-willed individuals can switch between their human and monster forms, such as Haragiri, Gale Wind, and Hellfire Flame, all experienced warriors skilled in both mind and body. Notably, consuming multiple monster cells simultaneously can either knock out the individual or lead to self-destruction, as the human body cannot handle multiple cells. In cases of the former situation, the monsterification process will be paused until it can be completed. Gyoro Gyoro later revealed that consuming multiple monster cells is akin to ingesting just one, as the cells merely enhance the abilities of the original individual.

A fully cooked monster cell.

Monster cells must be consumed raw and willingly; otherwise, they will have no effect. For instance, Speed-o'-Sound Sonic cooked a monster cell with wine before deciding to eat it, reasoning that no one would willingly consume something raw without knowing its origin. This led to him not transforming and instead suffering from severe diarrhea, resulting in a loss of 4.5 pounds.

Despite claims that consuming the cells results in a permanent transformation, experiments conducted by the Hero Association aimed at separating the monster cells from those who ingested them indicate some potential for reversal. Volten and Benpatsu exhibited noticeable agony during these experiments, while Hamukichi, motivated by his wish to return to being a human, proved to be the most stable subject. Sitch noted, referencing Bang's report, that an individual's mental state plays a crucial role in this process.

History

At some point in the past, Gyoro Gyoro and Orochi offered Gouketsu a monster cell to become a monster in exchange for his assistance to their cause.

Gouketsu gave the monster cells to his disciples, who became The Three Crows.

Gale Wind and Hellfire Flame ate monster cells and became monsters, retaining enough of their humanity and skills to change back and forth.

Plot

Human Monster Saga

Super Fight Arc

Haragiri, now a monster, explains to the Council of Swordmasters how monster cells transform humans into Mysterious Beings. He threatens the council, demanding they consume the cells or face death, but is swiftly defeated by Atomic Samurai.

Sonic cooking the monster cell.

When Gouketsu and The Three Crows crash the Super Fight tournament, they demand that the remaining fighters either consume monster cells or die. Rosie eats one of the cells and becomes a monster, only to be killed shortly after by Choze, who also transforms into a monster by eating one. Volten, Benpatsu, and Hamukichi each consume a monster cell and become monsters as well, but they are soon defeated by Suiryu. Bakuzan attempts to consume multiple cells simultaneously to achieve a stronger transformation, but seemingly dies in the process. It is later revealed that he did transform and attacks Suiryu in his new form before being killed by Saitama.

Sweet Mask destroys the monster cell cultivating tanks.

Meanwhile, Nyan uses monster cells to transform many of the prisoners in Smelly Lid Prison and takes them with him back to the Monster Association's hideout.

Speed-o'-Sound Sonic is given a monster cell by Gale Wind and Hellfire Flame in a bid to get him to join the Monster Association. He eats the cell after cooking it in wine, but it has no effect aside from giving him a stomachache, as cooking a monster cell renders its morphing abilities ineffective.

Monster Association Arc

While invading the Monster Association Headquarters, Sweet Mask stumbles upon the machines responsible for processing the monster cells after being harvested from Orochi.

Sweet Mask concludes that in order to completely halt the production of monster cells he'd have to defeat Orochi, so he destroys the machines along with all of the monster cells within.

Trivia

• The Monster Cells, apparently, aside from granting significant increases in physical capabilities as well as greatly changing appearance on humans who consume them. In some cases, it also grants them special powers that they do not have before. An example is Choze, as the latter apparently did not have the ability to gather and concentrate energy for offensive purposes before consuming a monster cell.
• Apparently, Phoenix Man gained the ability to manipulate monster cells after his resurrection, as he was able to make one move and try to force its way down Child Emperor's throat.