User blog comment:Miskos3/Fairy Tail Chapter 334: Sin and Sacrifice, Review/@comment-1776824-20130607124951

I see Gray as dead. He died a hero's death, but he's not gone. His death serves a big purpose: the reopening of the Eclipse Gate. After the eclipse itself passes, they can reopen the Gate and go back once and for all. Not a lot of Magic Power was used, as only 7 Dragons got through, so it's still a viable option.