Warning: Spoilers for One-Punch Man Chapter #208 (JP release)
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One-Punch Manchapter #208 has finally gotten back to the battle against Empty Void after taking several chapters off to introduce the Neo Heroes, and things aren’t looking so good for the heroes. In fact, the series may have its first villain who can make Saitama sweat.
In the original webcomic, Empty Void was something of a joke villain, but the manga’s version of the ninja village leader is radically more powerful and more dangerous than almost any other foe in the series to date. WithBlast, the series' #1 hero, already on the scene, it seemed like the situation was well and truly under control, but the tables turned in an instant after Empty Void received his latest power-up, directly fromOne-Punch Man’s evil God himself. In fact, he’s even eclipsed the power of God’s previous chosen, Garou.
One-Punch Man’s New Villain Even Tops Garou
How Empty Void Became One-Punch Man’s Strongest Villain
Saitama already went up against the monstrously powerful Cosmic Fear version of Garou, who was able to keep up with Saitama, even battling in the depths of space near Jupiter.Cosmic Fear Garou was so powerfulthat even being in his presence was dangerous, as he emitted massive amounts of gamma radiation that even the heroes succumbed to quickly.Empty Void has now received a power-up very comparable to Garou’s, but actually even transcends that, as Void has absorbed a portion of the power that Garou once wielded as well.
Void has taken on an appearance quite similar to that of Cosmic Fear Garou, with his face obscured by the image of space and stars. Blast notes that Void’s personality has undergone some radical changes as a result of taking on God’s power, aiming for disabling blows rather than killing blows. Void admits that God has tempered his rage against Blast, but to what end is currently unknown. It could very well be that being granted God’s power causes one to lose some of their free will, and become more subservient to God and his goals.
Void proved that his power was no joke in the chapter, as he battled against Blast directly, and in the amount of time it took for Blast to toss his sunglasses aside, managed to cut off Blast’s hand and disable each and every one of his joints, rendering the #1 hero completely immobilized. Blast’s power has been spoken of very highly throughout the manga, and his gravity manipulation abilities are certainly impressive, but it appears he was absolutely no match forthis powered-up version of Empty Void.
Could One-Punch Man Actually Kill a Hero?
The Series Could Kill Off Its Top Hero As a Display of Power
Thus far inOne-Punch Man, no hero has ever died in battle, even in spite of the utter beatings that some of them have taken over the years. Some side characters have died, of course, but no member of the Hero Association itself. With Blast completely at Void’s mercy, there’s a distinct possibility that Blast could end up being the first hero to actually die in the series.Void has been vocal about his desire to kill Blast, and particularly to make him suffer by forcing him to watch as Void destroyed city after city.
On the other hand, Void’s actions haven’t been those of someone trying to kill Blast. As Blast himself noted, Void could’ve (and probably should’ve) gone to cut off his head, rather than his hand, but something seemed to be holding him back. While it could simply be part of Void’s plan to torment Blast, it’s also possible that God still needs Blast alive for some reason–perhaps because of the cubes that Blast collects, which put those who touch them into contact with God. Whatever the reason, the chapter ended with Blast still alive, at least for the moment.
This kind of dark moment is often the perfect time for Saitama to arrive, and Saitama does have some awareness that this fight is going on, so it’s certainly possible that he could arrive in time to save Blast. It’s also possible that Blast himself may have a few more tricks up his sleeve, meaning he’s not quite as thoroughly disabled as it would appear. As noted above, in the original webcomic, Saitama annihilates the ninja village leader off-screen, making him out to be a joke. He’s far, far more powerful here than he was in the webcomic, however, and all this build-up must be for more than a simple gag.
What Blast’s Fate Could Mean for the Manga
Blast’s Fate Could Have a Major Impact on the Story Going Forward
In chapter #206, it was revealed that Blast has a son, Blue, who is now the leader of the Neo Heroes group at just 16 years old. With the Neo Heroes looking to surpass the original Hero Association, Blue’s heritage could be essential in winning the trust of the people. It’s not yet known what powers, if any, Blue may have inherited from his father, but he already commands a tremendous amount of respect despite his young age.
If Blast were to die here, that would obviously have some major consequences for the story.Blue could make a show of picking up his father’s legacy, thusearning the Neo Heroes even more credibilityin the eyes of the public.Losing Blast would also be a crippling blow to the Hero Association, as no one else (barring Saitama) is even remotely close to his level of power. Public faith in the Hero Association is already rather low due to the devastation that has happened under their watch, and Blast’s demise could be the last straw for many people.
Unless Blast has a miracle up his sleeve, the job of defeating Empty Void in this empowered state may well fall to Saitama. As the most powerful villain yet in the series, this fight could actually force Saitama to get truly serious.One-Punch Man’s future hinges on Empty Void’s next actions, and the next chapter can’t come soon enough.
