User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 498: Gray vs Invel, Review./@comment-25111584-20160822191018

I can't believe you actually deigned to review this atrocity. O_O

Warning: Here be Juvia hate.

Where does one even begin to rant about this Chapter? Action so retarded that a catfight would seem like a tactical bonanza? Silver giving his son a Magic that will apparently drive him insane? Gray's hypocrisy proving him to be one of the most disappointing and irritating characters of the arc? How about the Attack of the 50ft Bimbo and consequent disparaging and unnecessarily profane remarks regarding August's character? 10k reports on each of these points would not do them justice, and yet they pale in comparison to the fact that Mashima has, yet again, proved completely incapable of not turning everything into a shitty shipping farce. The one redeeming point of Gray vs. Invel was that it was not a disgusting Gruvia battle, and now even that is gone. This is by no means the epitome of shallow writing, but my bias definitely makes me consider it as such. e_e

While the person who is containing Fairy Heart being on the battlefield is condemnable, Invel has thankfully been extremely satisfactory. Unlike DiBitch. He... is going to lose, but that's just because Mashima is a terrible writer nowadays. I'll simply silently mourn his loss and consider it even more fuel for hating the most noxious ship in FTverse.

Anyway, let's leave all opinions about the Chapter aside and try to analyze the situation:
 * Invel has stated that he wants Gray to kill Juvia in order to have him embrace the Dark side of the Force. To that effect, he has bound their minds. I'd also like to remind people that this is the same Mage who has Mavis drooling on the floor. This leads to the following inferences:
 * Gray and Juvia might be able to express their reluctance to go along with his plan, but under no circumstances will they be able to go against Invel's wishes.
 * Even indirect attempts at sabotage would be prohibited as this is a restraint on the mind itself. It is not a reaction, it is a restriction. You can try to get around a person trying to block you. You can't get past a huge wall. And please spare me the smart aleck comments.
 * There cannot be any attempt at sacrifice as that is a direct contradiction of Invel's wishes, which are absolute.
 * Yes, I know the above inferences are one and the same, but I just wanted to make some points clear. Like how stupid Juvia's statement about sacrifices is. (Except we all know it's not 'cuz #FarceFailLogic)
 * Invel seems to know far more about Devil Slaying Magic than Gray, so obviously Gray should have no resistance.

Outside of external interference, there ought to be no way for Juvia to survive this situation. And... for me, that would be incredibly satisfying:
 * This arc lacks any sort of tension. Obvious when you look at the reactions to Gajeel's death (which was pretty ambiguous anyway). Here, Mashima could actually deliver in a situation where not delivering would be utter BS and FT would be rid of its most repulsive character and ship.
 * Gray being forced to turn evil in this situation is by far the best setup for Gray vs. Natsu. As opposed to utterly ridiculous scenarios such as E.N.D. being some evil personality of Natsu or Gray suddenly going evil because his oh-so-fragile heart can't bear the fact that his best friend is E.N.D.
 * Gray will actually go evil! And not like Sasuke. And there will be no ruddy shipping bit for his redemption, if Mashima ever decides to let him survive! \( ^_^)/
 * A Shield will actually have been effective. And Invel would have won! \( ^_^)/ He would not simply be a plot device to progress friggin' Gruvia.
 * The Spriggan 12 are incredibly disappointing. By far the most boring antagonists Mashima as created. Except for Invel and Irene (although my bias against Erza obviously means I have no interest in Irene either). Allow Invel to survive this encounter and have Gray become his ally? That would make this arc somewhat less unbearable.
 * Gray would actually have a role other than being that extra MC whom the writer has no idea what to do with aside from giving a mediocre and irrelevant battle against a character created solely to be defeated by the extra MC. *cough*Rufus*cough*
 * The whole Frosch plotline could be resurrected and resolved. Though that's not likely.
 * Did I mention Juvia would be dead? That alone is reason enough for me. /o/

Of course, this is all if you don't factor in #FarceFailLogic. 'Cuz we all know Mashima is going to be pulling some nauseating bullshit to have Gruvia snatch a victory which completely demeans and mocks the only Shield aside from Irene who has been in any way commendable. As is the norm, Mashima will completely destroy the somewhat elegant structures he himself has built, simply to wank a few characters and turn this already pathetic arc into even more of a putrid fiasco. After killing of Ur, Silver and Ultear (you know what I mean), he'll save Juvia, which is like destroying an entire batch of eggs and managing to save the only one that is rotten. I'd normally like the irony... but only if it was meant as such, which it is obviously not. I'll just have to sit close to the toilet when I read next week's chapter of Farce Fail.

Of course, as usual, I'd be delighted if Mashima proves me wrong, but, as usual, Mashima most probably won't.