Chainsaw Man: Asa Embraces Her Role in Yoru’s Actions

Chainsaw Man chapter 178 is yet another stunning installment from creator Tatsuki Fujimoto. After a brief narrative pause, the mangaka returned with an exceptional chapter that left the fandom astounded.

This chapter intricately blends various elements and presents numerous clever references. Nonetheless, this article will primarily concentrate on a key aspect: Asa Mitaka’s acceptance of her role in the actions of War Devil Yoru. Currently, the duo is engaged in a fierce battle against a fully developed Hero of Hell, and just when things appeared dire, Yoru surprised everyone by resorting to an unexpected tactic.

To survive, she was compelled to utilize her friends—transforming them into weapons, specifically the Gun Devil and the Tank Devil.

Chainsaw Man: Asa Embraces Her Role in Yoru’s Actions

In Chainsaw Man chapter 178, the confrontation between Pochita and Yoru continued. Initially, Pochita seemed to dominate the fight, severing Yoru/Asa’s arms and preparing to deliver the final blow. However, the War Devil had contingency plans in place—the Gun Gauntlet and the Tank Gauntlet, crafted from the Gun and Tank Devils, which are referred to as her “children.”

This turn of events dramatically shifted the battle’s momentum in favor of Yoru, pushing Chainsaw Man back and inflicting significant damage upon him. Moreover, Yoru summoned the Gun Goddess to cause even more destruction. Armed with her Gun Gauntlet, she began firing indiscriminately, resulting in catastrophic damage to nearby structures and creating massive breaches in surrounding buildings.

This scene marked a pivotal moment as we witnessed a stunned Asa paralyzed by the chaos. Behind her, Yoru is seen laughing maniacally at the destruction wrought, while Asa remains frozen. Fujimoto brilliantly showcases Asa’s awareness of Yoru’s actions before she ultimately becomes the one perpetrating them. After all, they share a body, but the majority of the fighting had been undertaken by the War Devil.

Yoru aka War Devil (Image via Tatsuki Fujimoto, Viz Media)

Now, the two were in each other’s positions, with Yoru gleefully observing as Asa began to accept her part in their actions. Her expressions illustrated the breakdown of her disassociation from Yoru’s violent tendencies, culminating in her realization that she too was accountable for the chaos being unleashed. Asa comprehended that although these actions were crucial for their survival, she could not retreat now.

In addition, the panel depicting the gaping hole in the buildings parallels the cover art inside Chainsaw Man volume 12. In that instance, it was Asa seen before the structures, her arm/gauntlet creating similar destruction. This likely symbolizes Asa’s acceptance of Yoru’s Devil nature, as this was her true identity.

To ensure their survival, the pair needed to do whatever it took. Consequently, in chapter 178, Yoru effectively dismantled Asa’s hesitance to fully integrate with her, leading them to merge as one entity. This moment in the manga underscores the stark contrast between Humans and Devils. Whereas humans may experience empathy amidst conflict, for Devils, achieving a goal is paramount, and they seem indifferent to the means required to attain it.

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