User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 411: Quid Pro Quo, Review./@comment-4449950-20141201232911

I actually liked the chapter. I don't get why I do because half of it made no sense, but I think it's because it was being set up to be the traditional "Natsu goes nuts and gets a silly nakama power up and beats the bad guy with pure force" thing that ALWAYS happens... and then that didn't happen >:) It was a satisfying feeling I believe.

Thank god for Stream, because I was so confused by Panda's translations, but it seems Gray went kind of Demon Force(? W/e I'ma just call it that) to block that spell. That's the first thing I don't get, but Gray look half baked and fried and then collapsed, so hey, I'm not complaining, hehehe. But then Natsu (again, somehow... I don't get it either) went Dragon Force and Gray said the magical "I believe in Natsu" quote and I was going "Ah, here we go. Fuck me. Fuck this. Fuck Natsu. Fuck the world," because I KNEW what was coming up, and Natsu hits Mard and Mard is flung back and I start, just start to roll my eyes as I turn the page...

...and Mard is still there. And I pause. And my eye rolling turns into a "hold the damn phone" expression, and Mard grabs Natsu and Mard has survived and Natsu is like down from fatigue. What is this sorcery!?!?

And then yeah Gray stands and hits Mard with an ice arrow, which is the third thing I don't get (cause I don't get where he suddenly got the immense MP from) but... dude, that's like... Natsu not winning. That's a super effective, Demon slaying Magic arrow to the heart. That's... not nakama power. That's... not Natsu winning. That's... dare I say it just, a strategy...

That's... Carrot actually liking the chapter after the normal set up that I hate being thrown out for once.

Hell. So... yeah .-. I don't get why half of the stuff that happened happened. But, if that stuff happening means I don't have to see Natsu take out another major boss with nakama flames, hell, I'll take it :D

Plus, after being shot Mard got pissed and called out to Kyouka. He wasn't white-eyed and down on the ground like most bad guys Natsu takes out, so I think he could still be kicking a bit. At least enough to grab the Book of END and leave.

Plus, WE'RE BACK TO FACE! FUCKING FINALLY!

Plus, next week's title. Gods of Ishgar (Ishgal?) (Ishval?)!! That sounds neato!

Plus, WE MIGHT FINALLY MOVE AWAY FROM GRAY AND NATSU! Praise the Lord!

How can I complain about such a chapter when so many things I wanted finally happened, and heaps of things I hate didn't happen (for once)? Yeah, sure, I didn't get some parts... but this is a Natsu fight. It should have ended with an attack that made no sense anyway and was nakama-fuelled, so this is a great alternative :)

Finally looking forward to next week's chapter. Might actually feel like summarising again next week ^__^