User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 359: Fairies Against the Netherworld, Review./@comment-4449950-20131109024830

Rant incoming... You were warned...

Oh my God... Really? REALLY? I can't tell you how pumped I was for this chapter... and how much every feeling of happiness I had was ruined in the span of two seconds and two pages.

The Tartarus HQ stuff was interesting. Interesting because from the sound of it it seems that Tempesta isn't the only one who can regenerate as many times as he likes, rather, all of the demons and even humans have the chance to regen/be turned. I would hypothesize then that the regen can only be worked so long as there are Tartarus members there to supply it with buttloads of Magic, and this is where they will fall later. If too many of them die at the same time, they won't have enough remaining members to channel this regen = incoming death.

Minerva being there was not unexpected, but I really do like it, because this transformation may actually result in her death. If you think about it, if she was possessed then the good guys could just undo this possession, give her a goody-goody speech and she'd be all theirs. But, if she's become this mindless beast, I don't see how this will be undone - hence, she might end up having to be ended completely, something that I like and that would fuel the good guys to become even angrier at Tartarus. Plus, am I the only one seeing a Jellal and Erza v Demon Minerva fight? :D Yeah, fucking epic that'd be!

Anyways, back to FT and there's some fussing around, but at least the guild is being rational. Instead of focusing on Tartarus, they decide to help the ex-Council peeps and find out more from them. Good idea. It's logical: Tartarus are after Council peeps + Council always has secrets = You can find out about both. We also now know why Mashima was complaining about having to write 5 different scenarios at the same time. It's likely the 4 Council members + another thing. Here's hoping that extra is Jellal doing stuff, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was Tartarus HQ. That being said, if Erza has gone with another group and HAS NOT gone to warn Jellal of what's coming, I will be rope-able... Man, I will be so angry.

Makarov gives a speech that I actually didn't mind and everyone splits up. Now, I am serious when I say that I skimmed everything Michello said because I wanted the scene to jump to see the other teams. I ended up having to go back and reread when the scene didn't jump, and that kinda annoyed me. On this subject, Loke knowing some of the Council members locations waaaaas a bit of a stretch. I think it would have been better if Loke knew Michello's location, and a pool of every guild member's knowledge revealed the other two: I dunno, maybe some random members know the others... Maybe they ask Yajima out of desperation and he (through his pain) tells them a few he knows. I dunno... I'ma let Loke slide, but there are better ways that could have been handled.

This aside, seeing the ex-CM's is interesting. I'm glad Mashima hasn't forgotten about them, and hopefully we get to know their names. Wendy was ridiculously cute, but more importantly, it seems there IS a reason Tartarus may be after the Council according to Michello - too bad they are interrupted before he says why, but I'm guessing this "White Inheritance" of the next chapter title is connected.

And then... Then everything went to shit...

Jackal turns up.

FUCK! FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK! I cannot convey how annoyed I am and how much this stupid last page ruined the entire chapter for me. Why? Well, it's simple: There is no way Jackal will win. I just don't see it happening. Really... Is Mashima going to let a bad guy take out Natsu, Lucy, Wendy and get his target? If so, I will happily eat all of these words with ketchup and praise Mashima for life, but I do not see it happening. The best outcome is that Jackal does some damage but either dies and needs to be regened, or he retreats. Both of these results, for this awesome character, are crap. Just... ARARARARARGGG!! Why did he have to show up??

As always, I've already started rewriting this arc in my mind. I've done the same for many arcs (the Edolas one in particular) and here's how I would have written this chapter:

-Tartarus HQ- Kyouka: Fairy Tail, huh? Kukukukuku... *pauses* Franmalth, send out a message...

-Fairy Tail HQ (after the groups have left)- Asuka: Mom... I'm scared.... Bisca: It's okay honey... They'll be fine... *glances unconvinced at Makarov, who sits with a conflicted expression* Makarov: They will be fine... They're Fairy Tail members after all...

-Michello's house-  Lucy: What was that!? Natsu: It has to be Tartarus! They've come for the old cat man.  All: What?? Just a bomb?

-Cut to other 3 Council houses where bombs similarly go off. Repeat the groups thinking Tartarus has arrived but no one being there-

-Fairy Tail HQ-  Jackal: *chuckles* Fairy Tail, eh? Time for some fun...

THAT is how I would have written this chapter... Tartarus attacking the FT HQ whilst it's defenseless would give heaps of minor characters and chance to shine, might result in the death of a few minors who could boost the desperation of the guild and it would also show everyone that Tartarus isn't a bunch of loser who get 3-shotted and need to be regened... but that's just me. I just DO NOT for the life of me want to see Jackal fight Natsu... not at all. I pray pray pray that the coming fight ruins all of my low expectations and is brilliant... but I doubt it...

Lastly, I find it funny how everyone is going on about MiraLaxus and just totally ignoring the ElfmanEvergreen snippet we also got XD Hahahaha, poor Elfman and Evergreen. However, I do like the idea of Mira and Laxus, so thumbs up from me there ;D

Lastly, silly Porlyusica and her foreshadowing: "Bring me some blood and I'll see if I can make a vaccination".

...*sighs* I wonder how Laxus and everyone will be revived...

Anyways... My expectations for next week are not very high. I hope I am proven wrong...

Carrot out~