User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 440: God Serena, Review./@comment-26389992-20150615123219/@comment-3290324-20150615185707

Don't be silly. Plot is a very important factor in any manga, but especially in Fairy Tail. Makarov had to be used to show just how powerful Hades was. Not saying he would have won if the plot hadn't called for it, but he definitely wouldn't have been put down that quickly. Also, Makarov was much too powerful to be around while the sins were out and about, so Mashima had to take care of him. And you've watched Fairy Tail long enough to know that Nakama Magic (unfortunately) is a big driving force in this series. Do you honestly believe that Mashima would have Laxus's huge return, where he was intended show up to protect his friends after his excommunication from the guild, ruined by him getting dog-walked immediately? No. He had to make a splash. And even then, Laxus was clearly not a match for Hades, to his own admission.

And you can't honestly believe Makarov's comments in the GMG are any indication of his power? His shock/awe is meant to show how powerful the person being complimented is, not degrade Makarov's power. Even Mavis was surprised by the power of several contestants abilities. Including Minerva's Yagdo Rigora which we know didn't even scratch Erza and Kagura. You're trying to apply real world logic to a fictional, supernatural place and it just doesn't work out that way. Do you honestly believe that when Mashima drew Makarov saying all those comments he was doing so to make Makarov seem weaker than those contestants? No. He was trying to hype up the contestants and show their power.

Makarov's Titan form is his Magic. You say he was "only able to achieve this using his Titan Form" as if it was cheating somehow to use his Magical capabilities. The fact that he was able to hold of Acnologia for a little bit was very impressive. Especially considering the fact that he had severe injuries while doing it.

Mashima has always given the impression that Makarov was the most powerful in the guild. Could this not be the case? Certainly. But we've never been given anything to suggest otherwise, and to say that Makarov would get his ass kicked by someone that Laxus could take down is unfounded and definitely overreaching.