If Unlicensed Knight's courage in facing the Deep Sea King was about surpassing the fear of death, then Boros's spirit went far beyond mere bravery.
Unlicensed Knight fought for the people he wanted to protect, but for Boros, this battle was the very reason he had lived his entire life.
Facing the strongest opponent he had ever encountered, Boros had already cast aside everything—his life, his dominion over the universe, all of it. Nothing else mattered now. Even if it meant burning through all the life force within him, he was determined to unleash his most powerful attack!
"Collapsing Star Roaring Cannon!!!"
As Boros unleashed his ultimate attack, Saitama, in what could barely be called a battle, finally felt something stir inside him—a brief moment where he rediscovered the thrill of battle, a feeling he hadn't experienced since the dream with the underground monsters. His heart skipped a beat once more! This was Saitama's most serious fight to date!
"Serious Punch!"
The name might sound simple, but it was that simplicity that made it powerful. With just one punch, Saitama pierced through Boros's ultimate attack.
Boros, after launching his strongest move, was left shriveled like a dried-up corpse.
"You're still conscious... You really are strong."
This line was similar to what Saitama had said before, but this time, the meaning was different. It was no longer just a casual remark; it was a genuine acknowledgment and praise.
Perhaps Saitama was impressed by Boros's resilience, or maybe Boros's strength had truly earned his respect. It could also be that Boros's determined spirit touched something in Saitama.
In any case, "You really are strong" was the first thing Saitama said to Boros after their battle ended.
And so, the two of them actually started talking.
"Too strong, really too strong!"
Boros's final words were an admission of his defeat. Even though he was acknowledged by Saitama, it was no comfort to him. He couldn't help but voice his last thought with a sigh.
With that, Boros, the ruler of the entire universe, passed away.
However, Boros died with a sense of fulfillment, despite the regret. He had finally encountered someone who pushed him to his absolute limits and had experienced the true essence of battle that he had been searching for across countless galaxies. His only regret was that he had not been able to defeat that man.
"That was incredible!"
After reading the latest chapter, many readers left comments expressing their thoughts.
"Why do the villains never get a break?"
"Boros died too soon!"
"No, it wasn't too soon. Boros died a glorious death. He faced the Bald Demon King and even managed to challenge him. Look at the title of this manga—One Punch Man! The fact that Saitama had to actually fight Boros for this long before defeating him is an honor in itself."
"For a moment there, I really hoped Boros would beat Saitama (covers face)."
"You're not alone! My son told me that a kid in his class was reading the manga during class and suddenly shouted, 'Go, One-Eyed Big Brother! Defeat the Bald Demon King!'"
There's no denying that after chapter 12 was released, Boros's character earned the admiration of many fans. He even climbed into the top five spots on the One Punch Man popularity polls.
But...
"Is it really over this soon?"
In the comment section of One Punch Man, readers were feeling a sense of emptiness.
They hadn't had enough yet!
"Probably..."
"After all, Boros, the ruler of the universe and the supposed final boss, has been defeated. It shows just how powerful Saitama is. How can the story continue after this?"
"??? When did you get the idea that Boros was the final boss? Isn't the Bald Demon King supposed to be the true final boss?"
"Exactly! No other boss has ever delivered such epic, protagonist-level lines as Boros did!"
"Right! As long as the Bald Demon King, Saitama, isn't defeated, I don't believe the story is over! Since when do stories end with the final boss still standing and the protagonist defeated?"
This reader hit the nail on the head, but unfortunately, after chapter 12 ended, everyone treated it as a joke.
It wasn't until much later that this comment was dug up again, with many agreeing that it was this person's message that gave the Porter the inspiration to continue the story of One Punch Man.
...
After One Punch Man's current arc came to a close, Sword Art Online's ALO arc, which had started at the same time, also reached its conclusion.
The ALO arc served as a complement to the SAO arc.
It further developed Kirito's character, which had been somewhat lacking in the SAO arc. Additionally, compared to SAO, ALO took the time to richly depict the world of Alfheim, with several key scene transitions leaving a strong impression on the readers.
For example, in chapter 22, the smooth transitions between scenes during the last few minutes of Kirito and Suguha's story were masterfully done.
In chapter 23, the aerial dance of reconciliation between Kirito and Suguha, followed by the subsequent battle scenes, were visually stunning, earning high praise for the Porter's exceptional art skills.
The story, especially with Ren's adjustments, became a classic, free of any unnecessary drag, making the reading experience much more enjoyable.
The final showdown, where Sugou, twisted with hatred and pain, attempted to kill Kirito only to be defeated, left readers immensely satisfied.
"Finally, that guy's gone!"
"Thank you, Porter! Though Sugou didn't die, turning him into a vegetable is a fitting end."
"Now Asuna can rest easy!"
This part of the story had been altered from the original.
In the original version, Sugou merely passed out after his defeat. But Ren changed it so that Sugou, after attacking Kirito and failing, hit his head and ended up in a vegetative state.
After all, Sugou was the reason why fans started calling Asuna by the derogatory nickname "Tentacle-na."
Yes, even in this world, Asuna was called "Tentacle-na" by fans, thanks to several unfortunate scenes in the ALO arc.
For instance, when Asuna was trapped in the World Tree by Sugou, she was confined in a birdcage and was occasionally visited and tormented by him. She couldn't fight back and had to endure it all.
Then, when she finally escaped from her cage and reached the control room, she was captured by two slug creatures. Since slugs don't have hands, they used their tentacles to grab her, making it easy to imagine how this could be turned into something inappropriate.
But the most infuriating scene was when Sugou tried to assault Asuna while Kirito was helplessly watching. Readers were furious, and if not for the intervention of Kayaba Akihiko's ghost, the outcome could have been disastrous!
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