Who Attacked the Elves in Black Clover? Explained

In Black Clover, the tragic slaughter of the Elf Tribe is the key plot element that lays the foundation for all the main events of the narrative. This devastating incident transpired over 500 years before the main storyline begins. That incident became the turning point in the war between elves and humanity.

The Clover Kingdom's royal family directed the vicious attack on the elves during Licht and Tetia's wedding ceremony. However, the actual mastermind behind this cataclysm was Zagred, a powerful devil who used the royals to commit this heinous act. The devil's foremost goal was to foul Licht's four-leaf clover grimoire into a five-leaf clover grimoire that he could use for his dark intents.

Before the massacre, relationships between humans and elves in Black Clover showed promise for peace. Licht, the leader of the elf tribe, had formed a close friendship with Prince Lemiel, the first Wizard King. Their bond grew stronger when Lemiel's sister Tetia fell in love with Licht.

Lemiel had devised a special magic tool designed to redistribute magical power equally among all people. This device would eliminate the power inequalities between nobles and commoners in the Clover Kingdom. Licht and Lemiel’s alliance held the promise of true harmony in the world of Black Clover.

The devil Zagred had been watching these developments with sinister interest. He possessed a minister's body and began influencing the royal family against the upcoming union. Noble factions had long resisted the union of Tetia with an elven partner. They also feared losing their privileged status if Lemiel's equality device succeeded.

Zagred exploited these fears and convinced the royals to take drastic action in Black Clover. The devil provided them with a magic siphon device capable of stealing mana from other beings. He also revealed the secret location and date of Licht and Tetia's wedding ceremony.

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The Elves Massacre in Black Clover

Zagred’s scheme in Black Clover unfolded flawlessly on the wedding day, tricking the king into calling Lemiel away with false reasons. There, the devil used magical shackles to bind the prince, preventing him from interfering with the attack. This also assured that Lemiel would be blamed for the massacre since he couldn't defend the elves.

At the same time, the royals took the magic siphon and made their way to the ceremony deep in the Forsaken Realm. They placed themselves on an overlooking cliff to watch the ceremony. The elves celebrated below, completely clueless about the impending danger.

As Licht and Tetia exchanged vows, the royals activated their trap. A magical barrier surrounded the wedding venue, trapping all the elves inside. Spears of light magic rained down from above, striking the celebrating elves. The magic siphon device simultaneously drained their mana, making resistance impossible.

The stolen elven mana flowed directly to the attacking royals, amplifying their already considerable power. The elves found themselves defenseless against this coordinated assault. They believed Lemiel had betrayed them since light magic was his specialty, and he was notably absent from the ceremony.

Tetia, despite being human royalty, was not spared in the attack. The royal family showed no mercy, even for one of their own who had chosen to unite with the elves. This callous disregard demonstrated the depth of their hatred and fear of Black Clover.

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The Final Battle

Holding his dying wife's body, Licht succumbed to overwhelming despair. That heartbreak tainted his four-leaf grimoire, morphing it into the rare and ominous five-leaf version. Zagred hovered nearby, waiting to possess Licht's body once he became a dark elf.

However, Lemiel arrived at the crucial moment after Secre freed him from his magical bonds. Seeing his friend gave Licht a moment of hope, allowing him to resist Zagred's possession attempt. Rather than turn into a dark elf, Licht harnessed the magic stones to change into a towering demon. This prevented Zagred from taking his body but created a new threat to Black Clover's world.

Lemiel was forced to fight his transformed friend in a desperate battle. Despite being weakened from the magic siphon's effects, the first Wizard King managed to defeat the demon. Licht briefly regained control and asked Lemiel to end his suffering. With a heavy heart, Lemiel created a giant sword and killed his friend to save the kingdom.

Zagred attempted to claim the five-leaf grimoire but was sealed away by Secre using the magic stones. Before his imprisonment was complete, the devil cast a reincarnation spell on the elves' souls.

As such, this complex web of manipulation, betrayal, and tragedy explains the deep-seated hatred between elves and humans in Black Clover. While the royal family carried out the physical assault, they were pawns in Zagred's larger scheme. The truth about Zagred's involvement only emerges much later in the series.