Warning: SPOILERS for One-Punch Man chapter #173

One-Punch Man just gave the best possible explanation for one of the most pressing questions in the series: the source of Saitama's incredible strength. In a funny meta moment, Genos tries to explain all Saitama's amazing feats to his colleagues at the Hero Association, but the stories are so ludicrous that no one will ever believe them, despite being true.

Fans of One-Punch Man have been racking their brains for years, trying to figure out what could be the reason behind Saitama's unmatched strength. While this incredible power is also a plot device that serves as the foundation for One-Punch Man's entire story, fans cannot accept the idea that it will never be clearly explained in the manga. Until now, the only thing known is that Saitama has somehow "removed his limiter", the natural threshold of strength that every living being has, but it's unknown how he did it, or what that exactly means.

Related: One-Punch Man Officially Confirms Saitama's Connection to God

While Saitama's unbelievable strength is known only to a small group of people, chapter #173 of One-Punch Man shows that the truth is actually spreading. First, dr. Bofoi, aka Metal Knight, becomes aware of Saitama's power by watching the security footage of the new Hero Association building. Then, Genos, who is Saitama's closest friend and self-appointed disciple, tells a group of Hero Association officials and fellow S-Class heroes everything that Saitama did during the battle against the Hero Hunter Garou, including breaking the laws of physics and traveling back in time to save everyone from death. However, the story is so incredible that nobody actually believes Genos' words.

Saitama's Strength Is Literally Unbelievable

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It doesn't help that, due to time-traveling shenanigans, neither Saitama nor Garou remember about their planet-shattering battle. However, this scene has a deeper meaning, and it's trying to tell readers that, no matter what the explanation for Saitama's strength will be, in the end it won't be enough, compared with the amazing feats that the hero has accomplished. Since the start of the series, Saitama has never gotten the recognition he deserves as a hero, mostly because no one believes he can actually do what he does. This trend has recently changed with Saitama's promotion to A-Class and more people becoming aware of his true power, but the truth remains that Saitama's strength is so great it has become literally unbelievable.

Not everything in One-Punch Man has to be a metaphor, so the scene in chapter #173 could simply be a funny way to show just how much of a Saitama fanboy Genos is. However, it is perhaps more interesting to look at it as a way for the series to tell fans that, no matter how surprising and elaborate the reason behind Saitama's strength will be, the power of Caped Baldy has already surpassed any possible explanation, and perhaps One-Punch Man's story is better this way.

Next: One-Punch Man: Saitama's Next Foe is a Mysterious S-Class Hero

The latest chapter of One-Punch Man is available through Viz Media.