With the latest chapter of ONE and Yusuke Murata’s One Punch Man wrapped up, excitement is already building for chapter 214.
The previous installment left off with a tense standoff in the amusement park, where the crowd stubbornly refused to evacuate, eager to watch A-Class Rank 1 hero Sweet Mask face off against the bizarre threat of Pesky Clown.
Pesky Clown’s growing danger
In chapter 213, Sweet Mask uncovered the secret behind Pesky Clown’s ability: the more attention the monster receives, the stronger it becomes. Unfortunately, the audience’s refusal to disperse only plays into the villain’s hands, turning their curiosity into a direct threat.
This sets the stage for a grim possibility in chapter 214—Pesky Clown may escalate the fight by targeting the very spectators fueling his strength. If that happens, Sweet Mask will have no choice but to protect them, even if it means pushing himself beyond his limits.
Sweet Mask’s internal struggle
The real tension may not lie in the fight alone, but in Sweet Mask’s looming dilemma. He knows Pesky Clown needs to be taken down quickly, or the monster’s escalating power could surpass even what an S-Class hero could manage. That urgency may force him to confront a secret he has long kept hidden—his own monstrous identity.
Sweet Mask has spent years concealing the truth about his transformation while carefully maintaining his image as humanity’s shining idol. If he reveals his true form, everything he’s built as a hero—and as a public figure—could come crashing down.
A turning point for Sweet Mask
The ongoing arc has already shifted much of the spotlight away from Saitama and onto Sweet Mask, fleshing out his backstory, ideals, and tragic self-loathing over his monstrous side. With Pesky Clown threatening lives and no time left for hesitation, chapter 214 might finally force him to embrace that side of himself.
If so, the chapter could mark a major turning point: Sweet Mask unveils his monster form not just as a curse, but as the weapon he needs to secure victory.
