Warning: Spoilers for Black Clover chapter 348Even before he attained anti-magic and had nothing but absurd physical prowess, Black Clover's Asta has had the audacity to proclaim that he will become the Wizard King. So it's hard to believe that he could ever admit anything to the contrary especially after he's amassed so much power.
But in chapter 348 of Back Clover by Yuki Tabata, Asta is forced to admit that he can't become Black Clover's Wizard King when confronted by an opponent's summoned beast that gives a physical form to the target's greatest fear. That fear takes on Asta's physical form, which confesses that Asta also isn't as talented as Yuno.
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Asta Knows He Needs To Be Stronger To Be Black Clover's Wizard King
Even though Asta has been saying that he will be the next Wizard King for nearly 350 chapters, the young hero has actually made some startling discoveries about that pursuit. After first arriving to Hino Country, Asta is informed in chapter 339 by that country's equivalent to the Wizard King that he must undergo even more training in Black Clover if he is to defeat the villain Lucius Zogratis. This leads Asta to a surprising thought - that he can't possibly get any stronger. Since Asta always knew he would become the Wizard King, he was essentially claiming that the strength he currently wielded was enough for him to achieve his dream
But he learns otherwise when he's introduced to Black Clover's newest technique known as Zetten. So, in Asta's mind all he needed to do to be strong enough to become the Wizard King was to master Zetten. However, during yet another training exercise in chapter 345, Asta has another epiphany. He didn't only lack a certain technique before his training began, he was full of self-doubt. When Asta discovers this, he actually asks himself if he could really be the Wizard King. In other words, Asta had to master Zetten and attain conviction before he would be ready to become the Wizard King.
Will Black Clover Shatter Asta's Faith Once More?
But now this latest chapter adds another layer to Asta's journey. Upon clashing with his current opponent, Asta had completed his training, which implies that he had finally gained the assurance he needed to conquer his self-doubt and that he had most likely mastered Zetten. And since those two barriers were the only known obstacles standing in the way of him attaining his dream, all he had to do now was to defeat his enemies, including Black Clover's resurrected Dark Triad. Even after all of those accomplishments though, Asta's opponent proves that Asta still fears that he will never achieve his dream.
It's more surprising for readers to hear Asta admit he's not ready to be the Wizard King now after Asta has learned more about himself and his limitations than ever before. Since the latest chapter of Black Clover ends with Asta literally cleaving his fear in two, does that mean that he's no longer afraid that he can't become the Wizard King? Only time will tell.
More: Asta is Deeper Than Black Clover Critics Think, & its New Arc Proves It
Black Clover chapter 348 is available on Viz.com.