Earlier on in Black Clover, Asta’s family secrets were shrouded in mystery. When he is revealed to possess a Five-leaf Clover Grimoire and a demon residing within him, fans and critics' interest in his origin was slightly assuaged by the brief backstory revealed in the anime, featuring the connection between Asta's mother and his demon. The reveal of this information regarding devils also signifies what is to come for the Magic Knights of Clover Kingdom. Black Clover ended on a cliffhanger after the battle between the Black Bulls and the Devils. However, while everyone waits for another spectacular season, here is a recap of the events surrounding Asta’s Devil origin and its unique abilities.
In a kingdom where mana is a prerequisite for greatness, Asta breaks the societal bias, excelling as a magic knight to the scorn of most characters, despite possessing no mana, an essential requirement. Throughout the anime, with the aid of his friends, the members of the Black Bulls, and the guidance of Yami Sukehiro, the squad's captain, Asta makes a name for himself in the Clover Kingdom, especially during the Elf Reincarnation Arc. However, a new crisis surfaces, and after a series of events, the true nature of Asta's demon is revealed.
What Happens During Asta's Devil Ritual?
The whole story kicks in at Chapter #268 of the Black Clover Manga and Episode 171 of the anime. In this chapter, Asta is involved in a Devil Binding Ritual. The aim of this ritual was to allow Asta to contract with his devil to fully use its power. However, before this happens, Asta would need to connect with his devil. Later on, the ritual reveals the connection and truth behind Asta and the demon's past.
As predicted, the ritual allows Asta's Devil to manifest. The devil's name is revealed to be Liebe, and as soon as he materializes, Asta thanks Liebe for lending him strength, one of the reasons he was able to become a magic knight. Concerned for Asta's safety, Nacht tells Asta to fight his demon; however, Asta refuses, stating that based on his "Ki," Liebe does not intend to fight him. Asta then goes on to say that Liebe's nature as a devil doesn't necessarily mean he's a bad guy. These kind-hearted words trigger a distant memory in the devil, revealing a flashback that surprised Black Clover fans.
What’s the Connection Between Asta and Liebe?
After Liebe is revealed, the next scene portrays a young devil born without any magical powers, further revealing how the devil was constantly bullied by other devils in the Underworld. The young devil is thrown at the magical barrier separating the human world from the world of the devils. However, due to his lack of magic (or probably anti-magic), he slips through the barrier effortlessly.
Surprisingly, after regaining consciousness, he realizes that he was saved by a human woman, Licita. The young demon was astounded that the human woman wasn't fazed by his appearance. She even says it is “fate" they met since Licita unwillingly absorbs the life force and magic from anything within close range. However, the young devil-possessed no magic, making him the perfect partner for Licita. Also, Licita reveals that she discovered the Five-Leaf Grimoire before she met the devil, highlighting a possible connection with Asta.
Following their fated encounter, Licita treated the Young devil, who is later revealed to be Liebe as her child. No information in Black Clover manga suggested that Licita named this young devil. However, it’s clear that Licita changed Liebe’s life for the better. Licita also claims that Liebe was her saving grace from a life of solitude and loneliness. At this point, the anime reveals a flashback of Licita abandoning a baby in front of a building.
Using Licita's facial structure and her connection to the unique Grimoire and Liebe, it can be rightly deduced that Licita is Asta's mother and the abandoned baby is Asta. However, Licita's reason for abandoning Asta is unclear. Afterward, Liebe reveals his thirst for vengeance toward Lucifero, the devil he says is responsible for the death of Licita. Apparently, Asta and Liebe are linked by Licita's magic, and the reason they can both use the Five-leaf Grimoire is still unknown in the anime, but hopefully, it will be revealed.
What are Asta's Devil Abilities?
Despite having no magical abilities, Asta's devil, Liebe, possesses unique abilities that make him a strong opponent. Most importantly, Liebe can use the power of Anti-magic, which is within, the Five-leaf Grimoire’s swords: the demon-slayer, the demon-dweller, and the demon-destroyer. These swords can nullify, reflect and cut through any form of magic. It is also possible that Asta and Liebe may have a devil union.
Although this hasn't been revealed in the anime, based on the forms of the Dark Triad, it is possible that Liebe and Asta may have a similar form. Black Clover has constantly highlighted that the high-ranking devils are the strongest, so it's safe to assume that Liebe isn't powerful. However, his anti-magic ability more than makes up for this shortcoming. This power managed to harm Dante, the host of the most powerful devil, Lucifer, so Liebe's power is promising. Based on these revelations, fans can assume that Black Clover has a lot in store for them with regards to the true extent of Liebe's abilities and the potential of the Asta-Liebe combo.