Alarm: The following contains spoilers for "The Martial Arts Tournament," the fifth episode of One-Punch Man Season 2, available now on Hulu.

While One-Punch Man's Hero Association has been scrambling throughout Season 2 to prepare for a prophesied monster apocalypse and bargain with the lethal hero hunter Garou, its well-nigh powerful fellow member, Saitama, has spent most of the flavor developing a newfound interest in martial arts. Intrigued by the potential to detect worthy opponents amidst humans after years of disappointment fighting monsters, Saitama begins to investigate the globe of fighting.

After learning of an upcoming martial arts tournament in the urban center dubbed SuperFight from the amateur fighter Charanko, Saitama decides to effort his own hand at the competition. With Charanko unable to enter the tournament himself due to injuries suffered confronting Garou, Saitama puts together an elaborate disguise to pose every bit Charanko and enter in his place.

As the city descends into chaos due to a sudden onslaught of monsters overwhelming many members of the Hero Association in a coordinated set on, Saitama, none the wiser equally ever, enters the tournament. And, of course, he's underestimated, even in his disguise as Charanko, and thus is seeded at the lesser of the rankings. Saitama constantly existence dismissed by his apparent superiors has long been a recurring gag within the anime serial, from starting out at a low rank in the Hero Association and receiving a questionable superhero proper noun, to beingness regarded as a weakling despite his attacking monsters with encarmine results. This trope continues here, with Saitama incognito and the martial arts competitors none the wiser.

As his protege Genos watches from the stands, Saitama faces his first opponent, a low-ranking fighter with long, blonde hair named Zakkos. The flamboyant martial artist originally taunted Charanko and Sour Face's martial arts school and its principal Bang, who was slated to exist a judge at the tournament. Committed to tracking down his old star student Garou, feeling responsible for his bloody chase of superheroes, Bang and his older brother Bomb had to drop out from judging duties, prompting Zakkos' boldness. Equally he's non actually interested in annihilation only martial arts itself, Saitama completely disregards Zakkos' insults, hoping that he is the worthy opponent he has longed for, but observing he doesn't appear that powerful despite all his bluster.

Saitama'due south observations prove to be true; he dispatches Zakkos with a single slap as soon the fight begins in the post-credits scene. Genos is concerned but unsurprised by how easily his master wins the match, fearing Saitama will non find the worthy opponent or martial arts cognition he seeks. Saitama is similarly annoyed, having taken gone to the trouble of sneaking in the tournament only to win so easily. Notwithstanding, unbeknownst to both, star martial creative person Suriyu quietly watches from the sidelines, realizing that he will probable confront the bearded Saitama in the final round of the tournament and looking forward to the challenge himself.

Saitama's underlying goal throughout all of Ane-Punch Human, in addition to officially becoming a superhero, has been to find just ane opponent that can withstand more than a single punch before their defeat. After hearing from Charanko, Mumen Rider, and Tank-Top Master how powerful the martial artist Garou is, the hero had hoped to discover in the world of martial arts what he couldn't find fighting monsters. Judging past the first fight, Saitama will probable face i disappointment after another though peradventure Suriyu will finally nowadays the challenge that the unassuming superhero has been searching for for years.

Produced by J.C. Staff, new episodes of One-Dial Man debut every Tuesday on Hulu.

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Sam Rock (8888 Manufactures Published)

Sam Stone is a 10th level pop culture guru living just exterior of Washington, DC who knows an unreasonable corporeality about The Beatles. You can follow him on Twitter @samstoneshow and inquire him about Nintendo, pop punk, and Star Trek.

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