Episode 158

The Beginning of Hope and Despair (希望と絶望の幕開け) is the 158th Page of Yūki Tabata's Black Clover.

Summary
A mysterious man struggles to cross the Grand Magic Zone before his mana could deplete and is determined not to die until he can deliver his message. In the borders of Spade Kingdom, Candelo, a moving mobile fortress makes its way through the Grand Magic Zone while drawing out the prisoner's mana to power the fortress movements. One of the spade soldiers comments on how Candelo is being useful but, requires a large amount of mana to make it functional. The captain tells that they should use only half of them to cross the Grand Magic Zone even if it depletes their life energy indiscriminately. From a nearby pool of water, Undine shares her vision of Candelo to Lolopechka in Heart Kingdom.

Lolopechka thanks the Magic Knights who are assembled in the castle on short notice and informs about the enemies whereabouts. Gadjah announces that the Spade kingdom has already taken over Diamond Kingdom in the last six months and has now began to advance towards Heart and Clover Kingdom.The Magic knights strategize about their counter attack but, Lolopechka worriedly informs them about the Candelo and how the enemies are mistreating their own people. Hearing this, Someone suddenly takes off from the meeting and as others worry about what to do next, Lolopechka smiles and says them that its better for him to go attack now. Gadjah is amazed at Asta's development and how he has become stronger than others, despite their training methods being for those who are loved by mana.

In the Candelo, the spade soldiers orders the next set of prisoners to get ready, but a woman begs them to leave her little sister since she is a child and has very less mana. The soldier admonishes her just for talking against him and comments on how weak the people are, but are at least useful to move the candelo. He also tears the woman's clothes, trying to misbehave, but suddenly the Demon-Slayer Sword flies right past him and Asta crashes into the Candelo while complaining about the weather. Asta calls the Demon-Slayer sword back to his hand and analyses the situation. The soldiers recognize that Asta is a Magic Knight from the Clover Kingdom and mocks him for lacking mana while forming a huge suit of armor claiming that he can defeat Asta in an instant. To his surprise, Asta cuts through the armor and knocks him out in one blow. Asta then challenges other soldiers and defeats them quickly. Asta introduces himself in front of the prisoners and reassures that he will not harm them.

The woman cries out about their situation and feels hopeless since they cannot escape neither the Grand Magic Zone nor the captain possessing inhuman magic. Sensing that the people are frightened, Asta claims that he will defeat all the soldiers, but is suddenly interrupted as the enemies get down and start attacking. Asta quickly draws out his Demon-Dweller Sword and slashes the enemies using Black Slash. Sensing the captain's ki up above, Asta charges through the ceiling and defeats the other soldiers present, while making his way towards their captain. Asta cuts open into the captains room and the captain senses that Asta share the power of devil. Asta questions the captain on mistreating his own people to which he replies that they were mere sacrifices for the prosperity of spade kingdom. Asta gets angry from his reply but suddenly feels paralyzed as poison starts spreading through his body. The captain reveals that Asta cannot escape from his high level Poison Magic: Basilisk's Breath and claims him to be even useless as a fodder to the Candelo. Asta uses Demon-Destroyer Sword to erase the poison magic which leave the captain astonished. Asta comments on how the captain has nothing but the tiniest insignificant scrap of the devil's power before entering his Black Asta form. Asta also says that he will to crush them all for sacrificing their own people, and uses Black Divider to cut through the fortress while the image of his devil looms above it.Noelle flies towards the Candelo with Mimosa Vermillion and Finral Roulacase while complaining about Asta. Asta drags the knocked out captain and informs the people that he has defeated everyone so they can relax now.

Asta notices Noelle coming towards him in Sea Dragon's Cradle and gets amazed by her Valkyrie Dress, but suddenly is washed away from the water as they try to land abruptly. Noelle complains on how hard it was on her to maintain a transport spell in Grand Magic Zone and inquires Asta on leaving them behind. Finral gets up and notices a woman, tries to flirt with her but backs off as he realizes Finesse Calmreich being the only one for him, to which Asta comments that he has really grown up. Mimosa recovers the people's stamina by Princess-Healing Flower Paradise and they get amused from it. Noelle notices that the people are still sad, since they have lost their place to the soldiers. The woman replies her that the soldiers were cruel enough to kill the people who have resisted and they will be killed immediately even if they return back. Noelle smiles and ask them not to worry as Leopold Vermillion and Luck Voltia has headed towards the town to defeat the spade soldiers. Back in the meeting, Lolopechka has divided forces to back up Asta and to liberate the town which spade military has held captive.

In the town's fort, Luck blitz through the wall followed by Leopold and defeats every soldiers using their new skills learnt from Gadjah. Luck pulls out a Communication Magic tool and informs Asta that they have finished their work. Hearing it, Finral marks the current location and starts to leave towards the town. Lolopechka observes them from where she is and feels happy that it ended well but sooner realizes that the real battle is yet to began. The woman inquires Asta on what they are going to do to the town since they need to obey the strong in order to live. Asta smilingly replies that its their town and they wont be doing anything, and asks the people to wait so that Finral can teleport them back. The people get happy from hearing that and Asta says that their role is to defeat the devil in Spade Kingdom. The woman reveals that the Spade Kingdom is currently being ruled by mages known as the Dark Triad and how their strength is almost like that of a devil.

At a castle in the Spade Kingdom, the Dark Triad meet with each other. Dante Zogratis asks Zenon if he has grown accustomed to the power of the devil yet. Zenon says that he mostly has, and adds that the fortress which they have sent to Heart Kingdom and base near the border has fallen. Dante pays no attention to it and claims it to be mere work so their soldiers wont get bored. Vanica complains that Zenon went to the Diamond Kingdom all by himself and that she wants to do something big too. Zenon states that he was more suited for the mission but Vanica replies that Zenon used only 40 percent of the devil power which even she can. Dante compliments Vanica for growing up and informs that it is about time that they made their move. Vanica gets excited as she can finally battle the delicious treat which she has been saving up, and Zenon asks why they waited half a year. Dante tells them that everything was to prepare them for the moment that shall be upon them, and that it would be no fun if the game is over so soon. Dante adds that they are going to destroy everything in the world and the key to open it are within their reach. Zenon infers Dante's sentence as the two arcane stage mages. Dante tells them that they cannot escape and everything is in the palm of their hands. In Hage, Sister Lily steps out of the church and discovers a bedraggled man lying on the ground, and he mutters Yuno's name.

Items used

 * Candelo
 * Communication Magic tool

Petit Clover
Comparing Heights (背比べ): Leopold brags about growing taller, but Asta argues that they are both the same height. When Asta comes up short, Mimosa boosts him up with plants under his feet; however, she gets overzealous and makes the plants taller than Leopold.