Nyan

Overview

Image Gallery

— Nyan

Nyan
Characteristics
Race	Mysterious Being Cat (Formerly)
Status	Unknown
Abilities
Abilities	Superhuman Physical Prowess Elasticity Shockwave Generation
Status
Level	Dragon
Affiliation	Monster Association (Formerly)
Media
Manga Debut	Chapter 66
Anime Debut	Episode 18
English VA	Christian la Monte

Nyan (ニャーン, Nyān; Viz: Nyaan) is a Dragon-level Mysterious Being and a former executive member of the Monster Association.

Appearance

Nyan is an anthropomorphic cat-like monster with light-colored fur. It has horizontal stripes across its back and tail and three vertical stripes that cross its forehead to the back of its head. It wears a collar with a bell attached to it.

Nyan's normal appearance

Personality

Nyan is quite arrogant and confident in its abilities. In spite of that, it only seems willing to attack an opponent it feels might be stronger if it is at an advantage or using a sneak attack. Once it realized that Saitama was far superior, Nyan fled instead of facing him, revealing a cowardly aspect of its personality. This tendency is further highlighted by its enjoyment in slowly tormenting the A-class heroes stationed outside, reflecting a bully-like mentality. Nyan takes pleasure in watching other monsters pursue their thirst for revenge and readily allows them to act as they wish. This behavior stems from its choice to become a monster to live life on its own terms. However, when Puri-Puri Prisoner began to evolve and preached concepts of love, Nyan became uneasy, reminded of the love it was forced to endure from its former master. This suggests it may have a vulnerability or mental weakness against opponents who openly express love, though it remains unclear if its combat abilities are affected in such situations. Nyan is unwilling to risk its life for the Monster Association, as demonstrated by its retreat from Saitama after its attacks proved ineffective.

In the end, Nyan's arrogance and overconfidence led to its downfall, particularly during its battle with Drive Knight. Underestimating the hero's abilities, Nyan entered his body without adequate planning, giving Drive Knight the chance to roast it and weaken it enough to impale and defeat it.

Even in its past life as a normal cat, Nyan displayed extreme cruelty and sadism, enjoying the torture of pests like rats until they succumbed in agony.

History

Nyan's past as a household cat.

Nyan was initially a regular house cat whose owner often forced unwanted love onto it via kissing and hugging. The cat later became an intelligent monster capable of human speech at some point and left its owner, becoming a member of the Monster Association.

Plot

Human Monster Saga

Super Fight Arc

Nyan breaks into Smelly Lid Prison to find Puri-Puri Prisoner, but he was not there. Nyan instead decides to do business with the prisoners.

Nyan later transforms many prisoners into monsters using the Monster Cells and they all break out of prison.

Monster Association Arc

Nyan talking to the monsterized prisoners.

Nyan instructs the monsterized prisoners about their roles in the upcoming battle against the Hero Association and allows them to try to get payback against Puri-Puri Prisoner. Afterwards, it takes a short nap.

Nyan and the other executives of the Monster Association are summoned by Gyoro Gyoro for an as-of-yet unknown reason.

Later, Nyan is seen attacking Puri-Puri Prisoner. When it senses that it will be difficult to fight him due to his loving nature and adapting during battle, it chooses to flee and let other cadres deal with him. Squeezing through small cracks in the walls, it flees as Puri-Puri Prisoner gives chase. Having decided to abandon the battle, Nyan outmaneuvers the hero, tricking Puri-Puri Prisoner into crushing his former cellmates with debris, allowing it to escape while the hero is distracted.

It later witnesses Saitama defeating Overgrown Rover with a single punch and tries attacking the hero from behind with Super Feline Retribution, only to realize that its attack has no effect. Knowing that Saitama will finish it off if it stays, it flees in terror, leaving a confused Saitama behind.

Nyan effortlessly overpowering the group.

Later, Nyan is seen walking towards a large group of heroes outside the Monster Association. Poison notices it and orders One Shotter to fire at the monster. Nyan quickly incapacitates One Shotter by deflecting his bullet back at him. It then slashes through several heroes, including Gearsper, Narcisstoic, Needle Star, Jet Nice Guy, and Twin Tail, purposely avoiding fatal blows. As Mizuki escapes with Waganma, Nyan catches up and injures her, though she manages to toss Waganma to Futoshi.

The heroes attempt to restrain Nyan using chains, plant roots, and ropes, briefly holding it down. However, Nyan escapes using its flexibility, countering with rapid, brutal attacks. When it targets the fleeing Futoshi and Waganma, Gearsper intervenes by collapsing buildings on Nyan with his psychic powers, then collapses. Believing the monster defeated, Futoshi is caught off guard when Nyan reemerges, takes him down, and captures Waganma, intending to finish its game by killing him in front of the fallen heroes. A high-speed object cuts off Nyan's grip and lands in Drive Knight's hand. Nyan asks who the hero is, but instead of answering, Drive Knight immediately attacks.

Nyan battling Drive Knight.

Despite Nyan's speed and adaptability, it struggles against Drive Knight, who constantly shifts forms to counter each move. Spotting an opening, Nyan slips into a gap in Drive Knight's body and begins attacking from within. However, Drive Knight floods his internal system with fire, forcing the burned Nyan to escape. As it flees, Drive Knight grabs it by the collar, stabs it, and incinerates it again. He then brings the injured Nyan to Sekingar and the other heroes to show they are safe.

Sekingar praises Drive Knight for his victory and is in awe of his power, although the hero admits that Nyan was indeed powerful, and he only won because of the data he collected during the monster's fight with the other heroes and Nyan's arrogance and overconfidence. After Genos' arrival, Genos notes that the burned Nyan is still alive in Drive Knight's grasp. Drive Knight acknowledges this fact, explaining that he intends to dissect and study it in order to improve his own technology. Nyan hears this and groans, claiming it never would have helped the Monster Association if it knew that not only are there heroes who can defeat cadres in one punch, but that it would end up being dissected too. This tips off Genos that Saitama is in the Monster Association base already.

Nyan is later restrained in an iron maiden device, Checkmate, while Drive Knight leaves towards the main battlefield.

Abilities and Powers

As a Dragon-level Mysterious Being and an executive member of the Monster Association, Nyan is very powerful. It demonstrated its strength by easily subduing the prisoners and officers at the Smelly Lid Prison.

Nyan attacks with sharp claws capable of injuring S-Class heroes like Puri-Puri Prisoner. However, despite its formidable abilities, it was unable to inflict lasting damage on Drive Knight, and its overconfidence ultimately led to its defeat.

Physical Abilities

Nyan slashing the S-Class hero Puri-Puri Prisoner

Immense Strength: As a Dragon-level threat, Nyan possesses remarkable strength. This was evident when it easily slashed through Puri-Puri Prisoner's skin, which was tough enough to resist razor blades, using Feline Retribution. In its battle with Drive Knight, Nyan's Feline Retribution was strong enough to tear apart Drive Knight's Bishop form from inside the hero, as well as destroy several buildings. However, it failed to inflict any lasting damage on Drive Knight in his Gold form.

• Shockwave Generation: Nyan's claw swipes can generate massive shockwaves powerful enough to easily cut several buildings to pieces.

Nyan attacking many heroes in the blink of an eye

Immense Speed and Reflexes: Nyan possesses extraordinary speed and reflexes, enabling it to attack Puri-Puri Prisoner, an S-Class hero, slashing through his chest before he could react. It also effortlessly deflected a sniper bullet from One Shotter with a claw. Nyan moved so quickly that a group of heroes, including A-Class ones, could not perceive its movements as it appeared to simply walk past them. Additionally, it was able to keep pace with Drive Knight, a high-ranked S-Class hero, during combat.

Enhanced Durability: Nyan was able to withstand some of Drive Knight's punches without significant damage.

Nyan inside Drive Knight's body

Supernatural Dexterity and Elasticity: Nyan can slip through openings wider than 3 millimeters. This ability renders restraints ineffective, allowing it to stretch and deform its body to escape. Nyan used this ability to enter Drive Knight's body in an attempt to tear the hero apart from the inside.

Gas Resistance: Nyan is able to resist the effects of gases such as anesthetic gas.

Retractable Claws: Nyan can extend its claws to impressive lengths, using them to slash and tear through adversaries and the environment with ferocity. It appears to enlarge its claws to create widespread destruction while sliding through cracks and seams. It easily deflected One Shotter's sniper bullet simply by intercepting his shot with a single claw and sending it back at the hero.

Fighting Style

Nyan using Super Feline Retribution against Saitama

Befitting its feline nature, Nyan attacks using its claws as its main weapon and also moves around lithely in battle.

• Feline Retribution (猫罰, Nekobatsu; Viz: Catstigation): Nyan scratches its opponent, inflicting deep cuts. This technique was first demonstrated against Puri-Puri Prisoner. During its confrontation with Drive Knight, it unleashed multiple razor-sharp wind pressure blasts from its claws that cut through buildings.
• Super Feline Retribution (激猫罰, Geki Nekobatsu; Viz: Intense Catstigation): Nyan executes the Feline Retribution attack at a much faster pace and on a larger scale. This technique was first used on Saitama.

Major Battles

Participants	Chapter(s)	Episode(s)	Result
Nyan vs. Smelly Lid Prison (Off-Screen)	66	18	Win
Nyan vs. Puri-Puri Prisoner	110	None	Nyan retreats
Nyan and Overgrown Rover vs. Saitama	113	None	Nyan flees
Heroes vs. Nyan	116, 117	None	Win
Drive Knight vs. Nyan	117, 118	None	Loss

Quotes

• "Puri-Puri Prisoner isn't here... That's fine. I was looking for you anyway."
• "These criminals are quite happy now that they're out of prison. Their personalities didn't change much after monsterization. But I do expect a lot from their performance in battle. Watching cellmates fight each other is going to be quite a spectacle. Very well. Go crazy."
• "Hey, I'll let you in on a little secret... Once you go monster, you can never go back."
• "Ah... what a surprise. It's actually a bunch of weak heroes this time. Come play with me, help me release some pressure."
• "This is great. The theme of the game's been decided, I'll tear that child apart in front of you all."
• "S-Class heroes, what a bunch of weirdos."

Trivia

• Nyan's supernatural dexterity is a reference to a cat's ability to pass through narrow openings, although in this case, it is significantly amplified.
• Nyan is the first mysterious being to have turned into one from being a pet animal. All natural mysterious beings resembling animals before Nyan always originated from bugs like cicadas and centipedes and then gained human-level intelligence, while the House of Evolution was only composed of genetically modified humans and wild animals.
• Nyan is the only known monster and furthermore executive to have quit the Monster Association.
• Nyan's design changed slightly over the course of the manga. In its first appearance, it had a larger muzzle and a more elongated head, but over time its head became wider and its muzzle more narrow.