Earlier today, Black Clover Chapter 339 debuted in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump. The issue is available for fans to read on Shueisha’s MANGAPlus service for free or on the Shonen Jump+ app for a monthly fee. Fans will be thrilled to learn that the training portion of the Hino Country subarc will begin in this issue. Though Chapter 339 of Black Clover is likely only the tip of the iceberg, it is heartening to see the series creator and illustrator Yuki Tabata finally addressing how Asta will ultimately triumph against Lucius.
Chapter 339 of Black Clover introduces some familiar faces
After the events of the previous issue of Black Clover, Asta learns that Yami Ichika is Captain Yami’s younger sister, and the new chapter 339 picks up right where it left off. He wonders why Yami Sukehiro has been so quiet about it, but Ichika reassures him that she doesn’t give a hoot either way. People start remarking to Ryudo Ryuya about Asta’s odd look, namely his hair colour and his arm. Asta’s friend, he says had to be feeling better by now, so he and Ichika had better get out of here. The group finally reaches home in a bamboo grove (chapter 339 of Black Clover), where Asta opens the door to a giant flying fish. Fans are introduced to Mikuriya Fumito, a renowned yojutsu master from the area, as he enters the main chamber and more fish arrive. After expressing his happiness at seeing Asta getting well, Fumito explains that he had to take his time treating Liebe because it was the first time he had ever taken care of an animal like that.
Then, one of the fish spits out a little Liebe into Asta’s clutches and the latter jumps for joy at the sight of his friend’s rescue. He goes so far as to admit that his time apart from Liebe in a strange new area was difficult, a statement that Liebe only confirms with a blush. After that, Fumito brings Asta some food, and he sits down to dine with Ichika and Ryuya. Asta’s initial look of joy fades as his thoughts shift to Sister Lily and the current predicament of the Clover Kingdom when he makes a remark about the potatoes. Then he says he has to get back to the Clover Kingdom immediately and asks Ryuya for whatever information he can provide on how to get there. But Ryuya retorts that returning home now accomplishes nothing since he just stated why Asta still can’t overcome Lucius if he puts forth his best effort.
Then, in Chapter 339 of Black Clover, we see a very downcast Asta concerned that she cannot safeguard Sister Lily. He claims that Sister Lily and everyone else is hurting while he’s “just sitting here” and that he won’t know unless he tries. Ryuya retorts that he hasn’t wasted his time, but Asta says he hasn’t trained for something like that, so he can’t possibly know. When Asta wonders if he’ll ever grow stronger than he is now, Yami Ichika gives him a hard smack to settle him down. At this point in Black Clover Chapter 339, Ichika becomes very serious with Asta, telling her that she has no concept of what he and his buddies are going through and that she doesn’t give a damn if he dies. Later in the chapter, Ichika explains that Ryuya and Fumito’s efforts are what have kept Asta alive, and the reader sees a terrified Ryuya and Fumito watching on.
She elaborates, explaining why people were so intrigued by Asta in the first place by noting that foreigners like him are thought to be the major source of calamities. She goes on to state that they assisted him despite this, and that while Ryuya may be an unknown stranger to Asta, he is actually the respected leader of the country of Hino Country and a shogun in his own right. Ichika then threatens to end Asta’s life immediately if she continues to disobey Ryuya’s advice after being saved by him. As Asta hangs his head in humiliation, she presses the point that he shouldn’t take other people’s generosity for granted and calls him stupid. Then, he graciously expresses gratitude to Ryuya for coming to his rescue, promising to pay back his debt, while Ryuya chuckles and warns that everyone is in danger if Lucius “throws his weight around.”
Asta’s first day of training, in Black Clover Chapter 339
In Chapter 339 of Black Clover, we see the gang make their way to Fumito’s backyard, where there is a bamboo grove. According to Ryuya, a fight between Asta and Lucius would be a mismatch due to Lucius’ superior physical strength and magical skills. He then explains that this indicates Asta wants the struggle to be over quickly and that this is where Zetten (literally “Heavenly Severance”) comes into play. Asta has properly identified Zetten as the method he witnessed Ichika employ against the robbers in the previous issue. But then he starts complaining because he can’t do magic, so Ryuya tells him to focus and “feel the Ki.” While Ryuya talks, Ichika walks up to a bamboo stalk and appears to start concentrating her Ki there.
He elaborates by saying that everyone uses Ki, or the flow of life force, to perform yoryoku, or Sorcery, unconsciously. Ryuya elaborates, saying that one may utilise their Ki to absorb all the yoryoku in their body and then expel it all at once if they do it purposefully and properly. While he speaks, Asta witnesses Ichika accomplish just that, using just her bare hand and Zetten to sever the bamboo stalk in half. The combination of yoryoku and speed generates an explosive force, and Asta is left in utter amazement as Ichika describes what happened. Then she challenges him to give it a go, despite Fumito’s protests that it’s impossible and saying that only the Ryuzen Seven have access to such a sophisticated skill.
When he hears Asta muttering something about how he would have never thought to use Ki in that way, he stops himself.
Continuing, he rightly compares the use of Ki for Mana Skin to this, adding that it’s nearly like what he witnessed others do with their Ki for that ability. He then figures out that he doesn’t need yoryoku anymore since, thanks to his deal with Liebe, Anti-Magic is always coursing through his veins. However, Ryuya interrupts him and effectively states the same conclusion that Asta had just obviously arrived during his mumbling session. Asta’s Anti-Magic is depicted pouring through him in one panel, ready to be released. In the next panels, we see him making an attempt at the method, although without much luck as Fumito points out. The bamboo, however, is seen to have not only broken in two at the end of Chapter 339 of Black Clover but also to be fading away. While Ichika and Fumito watch in horror, Ryuya explains that yoryoku-grown bamboo should not wither.
As Asta watches in awe, Ryuya urges him to expand his horizons by gaining experience and building on his already firm base. Asta finishes Black Clover Chapter 339 by turning to Ichika and thanking her for helping him realise his strength again. In the last panels, Asta praises Ichika ahead of time for her assistance, and Ichika, irritated, says nothing.
Conclusion (Chapter 339) of Black Clover
Black Clover Chapter 339 is a great start to Asta’s (likely) final training arc, and the issue as a whole is thrilling, interesting, and educational. It’s great news that he’s finding new uses for his Anti-Magic, which bodes well for the development of even more Ki-based abilities in the future. This issue also appears to advance the Hino Country subarc more than any issue up to this point. Chapter 339 of Black Clover marks the beginning of the training portion of the arc, making it the most consequential chapter to date in terms of advancing the story as a whole.