Just a heads-up, guys, I stopped reading the manga after Saitama killed that giant centipede thing, so I'm just sticking to what I know in the first season of the anime. If there's anything important that happens later on, like "someone actually hurts Saitama" or "Saitama's true power", please let me know. Because, honestly, as much as I like One Punch Man, it got pretty dull after Boros. I mean, I understand the point ONE is trying to make about typical shonen anime and pop culture in general, but there comes a point when it boils down to the exact same joke over and over. I get it, Saitama is a gag character in a serious setting, overpowered characters are boring, and the plot isn't engaging when you already know who's going to win. It's a critical mistake made by even the most famous anime to date. This is ironically why I stopped reading One Punch Man because I figured this joke was just gonna go on and on with no real conflict or stakes. So unless the manga has finally broken from its own mold, then I'm done with it. For me, I'll just rewatch the anime for fun, just like Saitama would; so please let me know if something important actually happens to Saitama in the manga; in the meantime, I'm just sticking with post-Boros.
Until then, on with the story.
Water...
Earth...
Monster...
Hero...
Long ago, the four associations lived in harmony,
But then, everything change when the Monster Association attacked.
Only Saitama, the hero who could destroy anything with one punch, could stop them; but when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years have passed and the Monster Association is nearing victory in the War. Two years ago, my father and the martial artists of my tribe journeyed to the Earth Kingdom to help fight against the Monster Association, leaving me and my brother to look after our tribe. Some people believe that Saitama never existed. But I haven't lost hope. I still believe that, somehow, Saitama will return to save the world."
ONE PUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNCH! *cue theme song*
"So this is the entire village..." Katara introduced, gesturing her hand to the small crowd of children and old women that evidently passed off as a whole village
"Hi, Entire Village," the bald stranger waved his hand, with what somehow passed as a smile on his otherwise blank face.
The village people stared at him silently.
"What? is something hanging from my nose?" the bald guy asked.
"We haven't seen a hero for over a hundred years," said Katara's grandmother, Gran Gran-Chan," we thought they were extinct."
"Oh, well I'm definitely a hero," the bald man confirmed,"My hero name is The Caped Baldy since I wear a cape, and...ya know..." he pointed to his baby smooth cranium. "What happened to all the dudes?"
"All the grown men in our village are martial artists," Gran Gran-chan said,"they left to fight the Monster Association."
"The Monster-whatnow?" the hairless one wondered.
At this Sokka gasped melodramatically."Wha!? Are you saying you don't know about the Monster Association!?"
"No, you said that; all I said was 'the Monster-whatnow'. But technically, yeah, I've never heard of it."
"The Monster Association is a nation made up of monsters, aliens, robots, mad scientists, and villains in general." Katara explained."You see, long ago, the four associations lived in harmony. But then, everything change when the Monster Association attacked-"
"Hang on," the bald man interrupted."You said it was an association, but then you called it a nation, and then an association again, so which is it?" The Caped Baldy reminded.
"Oh, well, see it's both," Katara answered.
"But it can't be both," The Caped Baldy retorted."An association is a large organization of people working to achieve the same goal; it doesn't matter where they are as long as their still organized. A nation is a definite perimeter of land legally owned and controlled by an established government."
"Isn't a government an organization and therefore an association?" Sokka queried.
"In a way," The Caped Baldy supposed, "But you were comparing an association with a nation, not a government per-say, and that's not the same thin-"
The entire village rocked with an ice-crackling crash. They spun around to see a massive black battleship that had just collided with the ice barrier protecting the tiny village.
A metal fist slammed into the ice ground, creating a crater and a shockwave that blew the clothes of Sokka, Katara, and The Caped Baldy's cape. The owner of the fist, resting on his knee after the badass landing raised his head, and his glowing orange eyes that emitting an heir of terror into the hearts of the natives."Where is he!?"
While every native was naturally paralyzed with fear, The Caped Baldy's blank face endured the shocking entrance. Though, to a keen observer, his nearly emotionless faces retain just a hint of surprise."...Genos?"
"My name is Zukos, crowned Prince of the Monster Nation!" the young cyborg announced.
"Oh, okay, so you guys are a nation..." The Caped Baldy nodded in confirmation."But seriously, why do you look like Genos?"
"Lord Genos was my third cousin's uncle's aunt's great grandfather's defense lawyer, to the original Monster Lord!" Zukos said as he swung his cyber finger at the bald one."When I was younger, I publicly made fun of my sister's hairdo during her Bar mitzvah, and in rage, my father who is the current Monster Lord melted off most of my skin and muscles forcing the brilliant scientist Dr. Uncle who is also my actual uncle to preserve what was left of my head and torso within an augmented cyborg body which features cutting edge incendiary-based weaponry! As penance for my crime, I have spent the last three years on a voyage throughout the oceans of the world, searching for the Monster Nation's greatest enemy: the number 1 S Rank Hero of the now nonexistent Hero Association which was also a nation at one point so that I may capture him to restore my honor!"
Throughout this elaborate declaration, The Caped Baldy seemed as flat as a poorly drawn cartoon."...so...you're looking for Blast?"
"FOOL!" Zukos responded thunderously."The one called Blast may have been the original number 1 S Rank Hero, but he was eventually surpassed by the TRUE world's strongest hero: SAITAMA!"
"But I'm not an S Rank Hero," Saitama responded,"I only a C Rank Hero, or an B Rank...or A? I never actually kept track, but I'm pretty sure I'm not S."
And then, time seemed to freeze as the ice that surrounded the land, as the implications of the bald man's response sunk into the minds of all that managed to hear it.
"NANI!?" Katara, Sokka, and the villagers shrieked in unison.
Zukos's natural and artificial pupils trembled, his jaw hanging from his skull."...you...you're him...? You're Saitama!?"
"Yep," Saitama nodded, "But my Hero name is The Caped Baldy, because you know I have a cape and-"
"YOU'RE SAITAMA!?" Katara cried."Why didn't you tell us!?"
Saitama calmly shrugged."I mean, when you meet a stranger, it's pretty common to tell them your Hero name, so people don't know your real identity... which kinda' stopped making sense when Heroes' real name became public knowledge, but you can't undo tradition in one night, you feel me?"
"Sōdesu ka..." Zukos scowled, clenching his robotic fist,"Then my journey has come to an end: I shall capture you and restore my honor!"
"Well, if your cybernetics are really based on Genos, then you'll probably never catch me, cause I'm way faster than Genos." Saitama crossed his arms as he spoke honestly.
"Hah!" Zukos grinned, "Cybernetics have infinitely improved in the last hundred years! My augmentations provide me with enough power to incinerate 100 Genoses!"
At this, Saitama's placid face contorted into one of genuine anxiousness, "What did you say...?"
"Ah, I can see the fear in your eyes, mighty Saitama!" Zukos pointed at his fearful gaze."Even you can see how hopelessly overwhelmed you truly are; prepare to meet your destiny, HEROOOOOO!" Zukos roared as he clenched his fist and powered up, releasing a fiery aura that created a heatwave that began to melt the surrounding ice structures.
"I won't let you destroy our village, villain!" Sokka exclaimed as he receded into a stance, clenching his moon whale boomerang; the weapon trembled with intense vibrations."I am the sole guardian of this sacred place and I will vanquish you!"
Katara ahem'd loudly.
"...also, my little sister is a very powerful waterbender," Sokka added,"But she won't get the chance to fight you when I'm done! HRAAAAGH!" Sokka roared as he blasted off of the ground, high into the air; he plummeted like a meteor down at Zukos, who dashed, off of the ice himself. The cyborg fist and boomerang clashed with an intense shockwave that sent loose snow and penguins flying away. The pair defied gravity as they exchanged blows across the sky.
Saitama stared up at the Genos look-a-like in confusion." One...hundred...?"
"Don't worry, Saitama!" Katara reassured, "with you on our side, it doesn't matter if Zukos is really a hundred times stronger than Genos! I knew you'd come back to save the world one day!"
That did nothing to change the worrisome look on Saitama's face."That's not what I meant..."
"Killer Move: Boomerang Barrage!" In the air, Sokka thrashed at Zukos with rapid furry, his limbs and weapon blurs as he rained blows upon his opponent. Zukos parried every single swing with a smile on his face.
Zuko's caught the last swing with one hand and threw the boomerang away, causing Sokka to go aaah!? "Weakling peasant! You call that a rush attack!?" he sneered as he flexed his metallic arms, making them glow orange hot from the raw energy output."Machine Gun Blows MK100!" Zukos rained a ruthless string of fiery punches all over Sokka's body, finishing by clasping his burning hands together and slamming Sokka's head, bashing him downwards into the ice, causing a crater that rocked the whole area.
"Sokka, no!" Katara cried, running for her brother; she ran into the crater, and took Sokka in her arms."What were you thinking fighting him by yourself!?"
Sokka's beaten up and smoking hot face (from the fiery punches, not because of his looks) looked up at his sister."Sorry, Katara, I really underestimated this Zukos; I don't even think that Saitama could beat this monster..."
"Don't worry, Sokka, me and Saitama can handle this," she said. She saw Zukos land, his arms still glowing orange; she glared."This monster is half machine and uses fire attacks, which means that I can mitigate both of his attributes with my waterbending."
"Don't be so sure of yourself, peasant," Zukos raised his glowing hand, his smoking hot face ( because he was actually pretty handsome) smiling, "These augmentations are completely waterproof; I could fight just as effectively under the crushing pressure of the seafloor! And my plasma will instantaneously vaporize the water you throw at me!"
"Let's put that to the test!" Katara said as she spread out her hands; the area began to shake again. The ice ground burst with giant geysers which themselves bent and warped into massive liquid tentacles."Power of The Element: South Pole Hydra!" Katara sent the ice bladed tips of the tentacles down upon Zukos.
Zukos snickered."What did I just tell you...?" he flung out his glowing metal hands, purple light emanating from his robotic palms."Incineration MK100!" Zukos's own body was almost blown back from the recoil of the massive twin plasma beams that clashed with the water tentacles, blinding the villagers, Monster Nation soldiers, and penguins. When the light dimmed, the entire aquatic assault had been reduced to ambient steam, which glowed orange as Zukos menacingly walked out of it.
Katara's eyes trembled."no... imposible'!
"Nothing is imposible' with the Monster Nation's unrivaled technology!" Zukos announced triumphantly. He turned to his quarry." I suppose that leaves only you, great Saitama..."
Saitama's brow twitched in unbelief."...Genos... one hundred...?"
"Can your primitive brain still not comprehend the disparity in power between me and Genos?" Zukos clenches his glowing fist." With your death, I shall finally restore my honour! huaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAHG!" Zukos roared as he powered up even further, his arms glowing like light bulbs and sparkling with lightning.
The villagers ran away for their lives as their home was melting away from the ambient heat.
Professor Uncle rushed to the bow of the ship, shocked at Zukos."No, Prince Zukos! Your cores are beginning to overheat!"
Zuko's pure white lit eyes tensed with pressure, his hair swaying from the heatwaves."Sorry, Uncle, but this may be the last time we speak to each other. I thank you for all of the guidance and love you've given me these past few years; I don't know where I would be without your warmth! When My father almost killed me, everyone thought I was dead, but you were the one who brought me back with your genius, working tirelessly to keep me alive as you prepared my cybernetic body to not only sustain my life but make me stronger than ever! At my request, you even gave my face a scar, to remind me of my wrongdoings so that I may never forget my mission! What I do now, I do for my people! For my family! For you, Professor Uncle! Before I die today, I just need you to know: you were always my real fathe-!"
But Zukos was cut off by the surprise of Saitama appearing right in front of Zukos, with a serious look of his once placid face, as the bald man held his left hand forward, and pulled back his muscular right arm, which ended in a tightly wrapped fist. Before this sudden surge of immeasurable power, Zukos no longer saw a man...
He saw DEATH
The blood-red fist seemed to be colossal as it barrelled towards Zukos's petrified visage. The punch created a massive surge of air pressure that blasted away the Monster Navy ship, sending professor Uncle and the crew along with the ship soaring over the horizon, the discharge of pure kinetic force annihilating everything in its path, including the penguins. When the winds died down, there were only waves of ocean water where the ship and expanse of ice once was.
Surprisingly, Zukos was still standing there, his mouth open but dead silent, as the fist was only a centimeter away from his eyes. Katara's and Sokka's jaws nearly snapped off at the sight of this.
The immediate breaker of this silence was Saitama himself, with a rather miffed expression at that."Okay, timeout. What's all this stuff about 100 hundred years and you being a descendent of Genos? Where's all of this 'war' BS coming from? Since when did I become the Number 1 S Rank Hero? Where am I and what happened to Z City? How long was I in that iceberg?"
Katara blinked."Saitama...it sounds like you've been frozen for the last one hundred years..."
Saitama whipped around to Katara in shock."One hundred years!? But...!" Saitama couldn't think of anything else to say. The gravity of this realization was sinking into his head, and it was almost unbearable. All his friends have probably died of old age, the Hero Association was gone, this great war has probably wiped out the civilization he knew." one hundred years..." the hero muttered as he fell on his knees. What the hell was he supposed to do? Punch the planet backward to turn back time? His life as a hero for fun was utterly gone, along with everyone he knew: King, Bang, Blizzard, Tornado, Speed O' Sound...
...Genos
"Genos..." he mumbled, a single tear leaving his eye.
Katara couldn't believe this: not only had the savior she had dreamed of returned, ended the fight with Zukos in one single punch, but now the hero was on the ground, seeming more helpless than she was against Zukos. She could only trot over to Saitama and hold his shoulder."I...I'm sorry, but it's the truth. But, I mean, there's still hope: you're still alive, you can still save the world.
Saitama's hopeless expression then became a thoughtful one, his brow creasing in thought."No...I'll do you guys one better..."
"Huh?" Went Sokka.
Saitama rose up to his feet, staring at the sky."I'm gonna rebuild the Hero Association, brick by damn brick if I have to. I did it the first time, and that was by accident."
Katara tightened her fist in excitement."That's a great idea! We can find water and earthbenders and martial artist from all over the world; and you, the last real Hero, can make them into new Heroes to bring justice and balance to the world."
"Let's do it!" Sokka agreed."I'm ready to bust some Monster heads!"
"That's the spiri-!" Saitama was going to say, but then he paused."Wait, am I forgetting someone?"
Then the trio of eyes were all on Zukos, quiet as a statue.
"Oh yeah, you," Saitama noted rather happily,"What do you say? Wanna be a Hero?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Saitama!" Sokka exclaimed,"You can't expect a die-hard warrior fanatic sworn to kill you at any cost to just bow down and..."
"Please! Make me your disciple!" Zukos cried, instantly kneeling before Saitama.
An awkward silence ensued...
Saitama's blank face smiled."A hundred years but some things never change..." He turned to the setting horizon."I dunno much about this new world, but I can't wait for all the monsters and bad guys that come my way. Never thought I'd say this again, but this is gonna be fun." he pounded his palm.
The newly formed group of Heroes looked onward to the setting sun, the beginning of a new adventure, and a brighter future for the world as they knew it.