The UnOrdinary Punch (One-Punch Man/UnOrdinary)

[DemonsAnarchyOfPride]

The big question is... since it reverted his age, making him younger and have hair again, did it also make him weak again?

Click to shrink...

Nope. He's still as strong as he ever was. Much to his dismay. "One hit...again? Even here?! GOOOOOOOOOOD DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!!"

 

[Chadster]

[X] Investigate the explosion. If there's a bad guy causing it, take 'em down quick, then get back to Genos.
​

 

[Nalanaya]

[x] Investigate the explosion. If there's a bad guy causing it, take 'em down quick, then get back to Genos.

Nope. He's still as strong as he ever was. Much to his dismay. "One hit...again? Even here?! GOOOOOOOOOOD DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!!"

Click to shrink...

Next he'll start being paranoid about the hair again. Probably a minor obsession with preventative measures for hair-loss in the future. He may not have a mirror-dome to weird people out anymore, but he can have quirks enough to ruin the riajuu image.

 

[DemonsAnarchyOfPride]

Next he'll start being paranoid about the hair again. Probably a minor obsession with preventative measures for hair-loss in the future. He may not have a mirror-dome to weird people out anymore, but he can have quirks enough to ruin the riajuu image.

Click to shrink...

Oh, definitely. Once he finds out he's still as strong and he gets over this fact, the next thing he has to worry about is growing bald again. Especially when he's apparently somehow de-aged.

The tally will be posted tomorrow, btw.

 

[Nalanaya]

Oh, definitely. Once he finds out he's still as strong and he gets over this fact, the next thing he has to worry about is growing bald again. Especially when he's apparently somehow de-aged.

The tally will be posted tomorrow, btw.

Click to shrink...

Hmm. Possible minor conflict with John over hair-products in the future? Whatever the case, that kid needs an attitude check. Just a slightly different one from most of the other brats running around. Even the adult ones.

 

[DemonsAnarchyOfPride]

Hmm. Possible minor conflict with John over hair-products in the future? Whatever the case, that kid needs an attitude check. Just a slightly different one from most of the other brats running around. Even the adult ones.

Click to shrink...

XD Maybe! And John is getting a reality check, since Saitama's presence is going to change things, for better or worse. I mean, for God's sake, the man can punch Cuthulu beings in one hit on a daily basis. And that's all physical strength. No enhancements, no nothing, or so Saitama says. Assuming that is true, by the standards of UnOrdinary, he is a Cripple. Albeit one that can wreck your shit.

Everyone should just be glad he's not really interested in abusing his power.

 

[DemonsAnarchyOfPride]

[X] Investigate the explosion. If there's a bad guy causing it, take 'em down quick, then get back to Genos. Votes: 8

Spoiler: Voters

todbo
aattss
mrtao
Alexander
Vanestus
Chadster
Nalanaya

 

[Nalanaya]

Everyone should just be glad he's not really interested in abusing his power.

Click to shrink...

It's not even that. He doesn't see it as something abusable to begin with. To use his own worlds telekinesis (and the authors other series of MP 100), the power is neat, but ultimately just that. Like telekinetically throwing stones at people is the same as actually throwing stones, and ultimately something only children and childish people should be doing. After all, Saitama can throw a story to the same effect as a powerful telekinetic right? And he considers himself a normal guy with a hobby. So they must be too.

The fact that his disassociation between 'normalicy' and the power he and other individuals possess is so extreme is just part of his character. Well that, and how ridiculous his home world is in terms of taking absolutely massive amounts of casualties and devastation, and then bouncing back with only relatively small societal changes. The Authority are really just a bunch of scrubs in comparison.

As it is, his form of logic is still sound. Sure the world of UnOrdinary has feudalistic elements thar exist because of abilities and only for abilities...but it's also ostensibly modern. All the tech they use? The goods and services? The media? All of that? Seems to be almost entirely independent of abilities. The squabble over power is inherently pointless, and the mundane privileges gained transient. The sense of power a self-delusion, and one easily overturned when opposed by an individual that can't just be rolled over with an ability. Saitama may very well rightly point out that actual life has more to do with personal effort, education, and even luck in a modern world. And most abilities? Don't really help with any of those. High-tiers may get knock-on effects from living with higher standards and better resources, but the abilities themselves don't actually contribute anything even if everyone plays along and pretends they do.

To some degree, it seems like the higher-ups of the Authority are aware of this, and just keep fostering the delusion with enforecers, propaganda, and carefully applied psychology to maintain the stays quo. Why is more of a mystery, ranging from anything between personal greed, to trying to keep society from collapsing into an actual feudal system, but one thing is true regardless. Saitama is going to knock a huge whole into this house of cards, and there's not a thing they can do to stop it. Problem is, directing Saitama ourselves and predicting consequences is going to be nearly as difficult.

 

[DemonsAnarchyOfPride]

It's not even that. He doesn't see it as something abusable to begin with. To use his own worlds telekinesis (and the authors other series of MP 100), the power is neat, but ultimately just that. Like telekinetically throwing stones at people is the same as actually throwing stones, and ultimately something only children and childish people should be doing. After all, Saitama can throw a story to the same effect as a powerful telekinetic right? And he considers himself a normal guy with a hobby. So they must be too.

The fact that his disassociation between 'normalicy' and the power he and other individuals possess is so extreme is just part of his character. Well that, and how ridiculous his home world is in terms of taking absolutely massive amounts of casualties and devastation, and then bouncing back with only relatively small societal changes. The Authority are really just a bunch of scrubs in comparison.

As it is, his form of logic is still sound. Sure the world of UnOrdinary has feudalistic elements thar exist because of abilities and only for abilities...but it's also ostensibly modern. All the tech they use? The goods and services? The media? All of that? Seems to be almost entirely independent of abilities. The squabble over power is inherently pointless, and the mundane privileges gained transient. The sense of power a self-delusion, and one easily overturned when opposed by an individual that can't just be rolled over with an ability. Saitama may very well rightly point out that actual life has more to do with personal effort, education, and even luck in a modern world. And most abilities? Don't really help with any of those. High-tiers may get knock-on effects from living with higher standards and better resources, but the abilities themselves don't actually contribute anything even if everyone plays along and pretends they do.

To some degree, it seems like the higher-ups of the Authority are aware of this, and just keep fostering the delusion with enforecers, propaganda, and carefully applied psychology to maintain the stays quo. Why is more of a mystery, ranging from anything between personal greed, to trying to keep society from collapsing into an actual feudal system, but one thing is true regardless. Saitama is going to knock a huge whole into this house of cards, and there's not a thing they can do to stop it. Problem is, directing Saitama ourselves and predicting consequences is going to be nearly as difficult.

Click to shrink...

...huh. Never thought of it quite like that.

Doesn't change the fact that Saitama is going to flip UnOrdinary on its head. ESPECIALLY John. As I said earlier, Saitama is Cripple by that world's standards.

 

[mrttao]

To some degree, it seems like the higher-ups of the Authority are aware of this, and just keep fostering the delusion with enforecers, propaganda, and carefully applied psychology to maintain the stays quo.

Click to shrink...

I wonder if they are using people with related powers like psychics and social thinkers to do this

 

[Nalanaya]

I wonder if they are using people with related powers like psychics and social thinkers to do this

Click to shrink...

Maybe? It's hard to tell. So far all abilities seem to have a few similarities.

Functionally they're either energy based, or body-altering with minor cosmetic changes. Of the energy abilities, they can be divided into those that are projected (blasts, waves, electricity, particle beams, etc.), and those that are constructive (shields, cloaks, 'limbs', blades, etc.) Aside from the usual suspects, there are a few strange powers like lie detection, tracking, 'time' manipulation, and of course, John. When broken down though, these seem to be able to be fit under the above classifications, albeit with a little squinting. The tracking ability is a visual alteration that allows the user to detect the 'auras' of other abilities, as well as create some form of energy tag to track a target beyond normal capabilities, though still easily disrupted and lost. Lie detection we have even less information about, but from the context it is clear to not be about observing normal bodily functions, nor can it detect deflection or misdirection. It can however detect statements the speaker knows to be objectively false though. With all those limitations in mind, I at least am under the impression the ability is some means of scanning another 'aura' and detecting fluctuations, though whether or not lie detection is the only use is uncertain. The 'Time' manipulation ability of one of the protagonists is certainly one of the stranger abilities seen, and also one of the most misleading. For one, the user can function and interact with the world freely in such a way that time-locked reality really shouldn't allow. They can also manipulate portions of themselves for the purposes of accelerating the natural healing process (though with the same risks of naturally healing things poorly without proper treatment or preparation first), and can do this without damaging the rest of their body. Personally, I am of the opinion that this is actually some means of (contact) field that allows for excessive personal acceleration and automatically makes the complex adjustments needed for an individual to operate at those velocities while still perceiving and interacting with things 'normally' (like touching something without splattering from contact at hyper-sonic speed). The acceleration is also most definitely not absolute. Fast enough that human perception cannot detect movement, or even sound, but still well below c as normal vision is possible.

The final, and most relevant ability, is that of John's. He is capable of detecting other aura's within a certain range, and then replicating them with a practically clairvoyant degree of skill (for all that abilities seem to be a mixed bag of instinct and practice, and John has yet to show any troubles matching or exceeding others skill). Additionally, as John possess a larger quantity of power, he is capable of using those abilities to greater effect then the original, though it is possible certain developed techniques would be beyond his capacity to replicate on the spot. While John can use multiple abilities without any apparent difficulty or loss of effectiveness, he also seems limited to what users are within his range of detection, though whether that is a hard limit, or merely a matter of ease of use with a 'template' at hand is unknown. Mechanically it looks like a whole mess of different lesser functions.

Aside from abilities themselves, all ability users have reserves of 'power'. The quantity of this reserve is, at least naturally, locked to a hard-limit. While it does not appear to determine the nature of an ability, or how skillfully it might be used, it does have a major impact on the capabilities of the ability in question. The scale used to measure this power goes from 1-10, with the quantity itself being exponential in nature. Interestingly, while power-level has a significant impact on ability, it also seems to provide enhanced physical attributes (strength, durability, senses, etc.), meaning a high-power individual, even if they have an ability unsuited for combat, can still be quite dangerous. How exactly they are enhanced is uncertain, as is if they are mentally improved in any way, though so far it appears to not be the case beyond senses.

Finally, abilities (and the physical boost that comes with them) must be consciously activated, and while in that activated state cause the iris of the eye to emit light in the visible spectrum corresponding to the individuals 'aura'.

Interestingly, while all people are supposedly 'equal' when inactive, and are certainly equally durable, John is capable of detecting other 'auras' he could copy, while other high-tiers are implied to retain enhanced senses capable of detecting threats or projectiles even when inactive.

When it comes to mental effects in particular, there has yet to be any ability shown to directly increase intelligence or skill. Various high-tiers are highly skilled, but they are also inundated in a culture of perfectionism, while in comparison John is apparently average or mediocre in most things with the exception of academics (which he comments to have worked hard for), and martial arts (which he is implied to have worked hard for) and has grown up in a lower social class. Though how much of his mediocrity is genuine or a result of acting or a suppressed ability is impossible to tell. Similarly, the lie-detector was honestly terrible at interrogation or observation without relying on her power, while her superior (who did not possess an ability suitable for mind-games as he did not utilize it) was much better trained and experienced with observation and manipulation.

The single exception to all of this (being Ability users are normal people + power + cultural pressures), is John. Who is honestly somewhat psychopathic whenever using his ability or getting close to it. Getting exact clarity is difficult however, as his is a unique case in both nature (copy everybody and use it better) and power (10, implied to be highest recorded though you just know there's some final boss somewhere with the same, probably in the Authority). Additionally, information on his background is still lacking. John himself repulsed by his darker nature, he's only shown it after extended periods of stress, there is an unknown nature and quantity of manipulation at the hands of the Authority, and he apparently was at least partially in possession of this 'mood' prior to being jaded and manipulated (though he was also a kid, and kid's can be viscious little shits even in peaceful societies much less ones like UnOrdinarys'). On the other hand, John retained his darker (asshole) side even when his ability was suppressed, and so far the only individual with a completely negated ability has shown no mental changes beyond what could be expected of the situation.

In conclusion, so far it appears abilities do not operate in a way that could directly improve, alter, or manipulate the mind like a 'thinker' could, and the single possible exception is already an outlier and without much clear evidence to point to either possibility of affecting mind/personality or not.

 

[Psyckosama]

Maybe? It's hard to tell. So far all abilities seem to have a few similarities.

Functionally they're either energy based, or body-altering with minor cosmetic changes. Of the energy abilities, they can be divided into those that are projected (blasts, waves, electricity, particle beams, etc.), and those that are constructive (shields, cloaks, 'limbs', blades, etc.) Aside from the usual suspects, there are a few strange powers like lie detection, tracking, 'time' manipulation, and of course, John. When broken down though, these seem to be able to be fit under the above classifications, albeit with a little squinting. The tracking ability is a visual alteration that allows the user to detect the 'auras' of other abilities, as well as create some form of energy tag to track a target beyond normal capabilities, though still easily disrupted and lost. Lie detection we have even less information about, but from the context it is clear to not be about observing normal bodily functions, nor can it detect deflection or misdirection. It can however detect statements the speaker knows to be objectively false though. With all those limitations in mind, I at least am under the impression the ability is some means of scanning another 'aura' and detecting fluctuations, though whether or not lie detection is the only use is uncertain. The 'Time' manipulation ability of one of the protagonists is certainly one of the stranger abilities seen, and also one of the most misleading. For one, the user can function and interact with the world freely in such a way that time-locked reality really shouldn't allow. They can also manipulate portions of themselves for the purposes of accelerating the natural healing process (though with the same risks of naturally healing things poorly without proper treatment or preparation first), and can do this without damaging the rest of their body. Personally, I am of the opinion that this is actually some means of (contact) field that allows for excessive personal acceleration and automatically makes the complex adjustments needed for an individual to operate at those velocities while still perceiving and interacting with things 'normally' (like touching something without splattering from contact at hyper-sonic speed). The acceleration is also most definitely not absolute. Fast enough that human perception cannot detect movement, or even sound, but still well below c as normal vision is possible.

The final, and most relevant ability, is that of John's. He is capable of detecting other aura's within a certain range, and then replicating them with a practically clairvoyant degree of skill (for all that abilities seem to be a mixed bag of instinct and practice, and John has yet to show any troubles matching or exceeding others skill). Additionally, as John possess a larger quantity of power, he is capable of using those abilities to greater effect then the original, though it is possible certain developed techniques would be beyond his capacity to replicate on the spot. While John can use multiple abilities without any apparent difficulty or loss of effectiveness, he also seems limited to what users are within his range of detection, though whether that is a hard limit, or merely a matter of ease of use with a 'template' at hand is unknown. Mechanically it looks like a whole mess of different lesser functions.

Aside from abilities themselves, all ability users have reserves of 'power'. The quantity of this reserve is, at least naturally, locked to a hard-limit. While it does not appear to determine the nature of an ability, or how skillfully it might be used, it does have a major impact on the capabilities of the ability in question. The scale used to measure this power goes from 1-10, with the quantity itself being exponential in nature. Interestingly, while power-level has a significant impact on ability, it also seems to provide enhanced physical attributes (strength, durability, senses, etc.), meaning a high-power individual, even if they have an ability unsuited for combat, can still be quite dangerous. How exactly they are enhanced is uncertain, as is if they are mentally improved in any way, though so far it appears to not be the case beyond senses.

Finally, abilities (and the physical boost that comes with them) must be consciously activated, and while in that activated state cause the iris of the eye to emit light in the visible spectrum corresponding to the individuals 'aura'.

Interestingly, while all people are supposedly 'equal' when inactive, and are certainly equally durable, John is capable of detecting other 'auras' he could copy, while other high-tiers are implied to retain enhanced senses capable of detecting threats or projectiles even when inactive.

When it comes to mental effects in particular, there has yet to be any ability shown to directly increase intelligence or skill. Various high-tiers are highly skilled, but they are also inundated in a culture of perfectionism, while in comparison John is apparently average or mediocre in most things with the exception of academics (which he comments to have worked hard for), and martial arts (which he is implied to have worked hard for) and has grown up in a lower social class. Though how much of his mediocrity is genuine or a result of acting or a suppressed ability is impossible to tell. Similarly, the lie-detector was honestly terrible at interrogation or observation without relying on her power, while her superior (who did not possess an ability suitable for mind-games as he did not utilize it) was much better trained and experienced with observation and manipulation.

The single exception to all of this (being Ability users are normal people + power + cultural pressures), is John. Who is honestly somewhat psychopathic whenever using his ability or getting close to it. Getting exact clarity is difficult however, as his is a unique case in both nature (copy everybody and use it better) and power (10, implied to be highest recorded though you just know there's some final boss somewhere with the same, probably in the Authority). Additionally, information on his background is still lacking. John himself repulsed by his darker nature, he's only shown it after extended periods of stress, there is an unknown nature and quantity of manipulation at the hands of the Authority, and he apparently was at least partially in possession of this 'mood' prior to being jaded and manipulated (though he was also a kid, and kid's can be viscious little shits even in peaceful societies much less ones like UnOrdinarys'). On the other hand, John retained his darker (asshole) side even when his ability was suppressed, and so far the only individual with a completely negated ability has shown no mental changes beyond what could be expected of the situation.

In conclusion, so far it appears abilities do not operate in a way that could directly improve, alter, or manipulate the mind like a 'thinker' could, and the single possible exception is already an outlier and without much clear evidence to point to either possibility of affecting mind/personality or not.

Click to shrink...

 

[DemonsAnarchyOfPride]

...yeah, I think that about sums it up.

 

[Nalanaya]

Just a break down from some observations. It should also be noted that the Abilities themselves are somewhat mysterious. Enough is known for the Power classification system, that they are at least somewhat dependent on genetics (though probably not too much otherwise eugenics would be much more strongly emphasized), and that they cannot grow in power. Well, that and the glowy-eye that results in ability activation. We also know the Authority has some secret research and development of drugs and technology to weaken, suppress, or enhance Abilities, though the extent of such research, how supported it actually is in the Authirity (factionalism is a thing), and whether or not it's truly independent technology or requires a unique ability user, is unknown.

By and large, Saitama's lack of glowing eyeballs would probably be the most surprising thing about him. Those who can detect aura might not really anything, but concealing abities aren't exactly unknown. John would probably be weirded out if he can't detect an Aura (he seems to bypass concealment Abilities, at least when he is not distracted or suppressed) or gets an overwhelming return.

While Saitama does seem to have an unintentional 'forget me' field, just going by how easily he is overlooked or his physique is dismissed even by superhumanly perceptive or experienced people, he also has other oddities. Specifically, how he seems to break physics without thinking (unsurprising given his level of...intelligence). The examples are numerous. Projecting tremendous amounts of force without sending his relatively light body flying, not shredding a cheap costume instantly in high-level fights (though it does happen eventually, I'd say surviving atmospheric re-entry isn't normal for clothing), even just his seemingly variable durability. He can get pinched, stretched, even develop a goose-egg on the head in 'friendly' interactions, but shrugs of megaton impacts later with only a slight bobble head and no damage to the ground beneath him. He can cough and dislike pesticides or noxious gases, but standing in the middle of a superheated fire-ball (complete with MUCH more noxious gases and possibly fuel) doesn't even make him blink.

Perhaps most tellingly of all though, aside from all other features explainable by a rule-of-cool and comic physics...is his interaction with ESPers. Specifically, them trying to move him. Saitama has no defense against telekinetically hurled objects, or been man-handled by an ESPer using their power on themselves...but the second they try to affect him they start having problems. Tastsumaki, while injured but still capable of wrecking cities, was only able to barely levitate Saitama, and described him as feeling incredibly heavy, despite Saitama himself having a normal human mass. This implies that Saitama is actually fairly strange when it comes to powers trying to impose a direct effect on him, and definitely with a different 'feel' then just an inexplicably invincible normie.

On a different topic, I'm curious about his behavior. Saitama is a lazy slob left to himself, but he was a fairly capable (if average) student when he was younger. While he started to get...stranger...after becoming a hero, he was still able to make money from part-time work and he worked well. He just had terrible luck keeping jobs and was oblivious to living in an increasingly hazardous and abandoned location.

This implies that while Saitama has no care for society when it comes to his personal life and hobbies (work with the Association seemed to fall under his mental zone of 'hobby' unless his pension was on the line and he got serious), but he's still aware and capable of more professional behavior. Which makes me curious how he'd act if he was put into a school. He's not a kid anymore, but it's a serious environment and not someplace to goof off for manga. Nor would he be very pleased with the hierarchy crap going on and distracting from what's supposed to be a serious time.

For my final thoughts, I'm curious about what Saitama might make of martial arts. He dismissed it in his world as 'acting cool' because he personally was ignorant of it, and never bothered to try learning more. He wouldn't care about growing stronger even if he did know skill could accomplish that because his own already overwhelming power.

But. There is another thing martial skill is good for. Doing less damage. Saitama can hold himself back enough to not instantly kill a person, but it's still overwhelmingly damaging. In actual combat even half-hearted blows are nearly universally lethal, and a Serious Strike is a death sentence with massive amounts of collateral on the side. He'll still always win a fight with a 'real' attack, but he might at least be able to enjoy multiple 'light' attacks in a fight or spar with enough skill to control himself. That, and not utterly trash his surroundings in a world that, while still violent, is quite a bit less understanding of property damage then his home's resigned acceptance. Fear of debt alone might be enough to motivate him.

 

[aattss]

On the subject of Saitama's resistance to powers, since it wasn't mentioned, I'll point out that in chapter 102 of the original webcomic, when Tatsumaki tries a technique on Saitama that is implied to ignore purely physical strength, it's explicitly stated that "strength of will is directly connected to psychic resistance" because everyone in OPM has some sort of life energy. So, if you can't defeat him with brute force, you're not going to have a better time if you try to use some sort of roundabout way with some sort of power.

And yeah, time stop in UnOrdinary is sort of weird. Sometimes other people aren't aware of the paused time, sometimes we're listening to people's train of thought while they're in the middle of paused time. Just portray it consistently with canon or something. I mean, it doesn't really matter either way since having the time to land hundreds of blows on Saitama isn't going to be very useful when the person you're landing those blows on is Saitama.

 

[DemonsAnarchyOfPride]

....you know, I gotta love the attention to details and thoughtful discussions people give here on this thread when discussing the world of UnOrdinary or Saitama. Just sayin~

Also, the final tally will be posted tomorrow. And the day after, the next chapter.

 

[DemonsAnarchyOfPride]

So far, there has been no changes to the tally, so I'll begin working on the next chapter tomorrow. Look forward to it, everybody!

 

[Undying Litch-King]

[x] Investigate the explosion. If there's a bad guy causing it, take 'em down quick, then get back to Genos.

 

[kabs]

[x] Investigate the explosion. If there's a bad guy causing it, take 'em down quick, then get back to Genos.
​

 

[Nalanaya]

[x] Investigate the explosion. If there's a bad guy causing it, take 'em down quick, then get back to Genos.
​

Click to shrink...

Uh... kabs while Necromancy is conditionally allowed, I'm pretty sure a single vote doesn't qualify. Better just PM the author next time.

 

[kabs]

Sorry, my bad, I didn't look at the date