User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 489: Universe One, Review./@comment-125.212.122.254-20160614142415

It's nice to see Irene perform such large-scale, high-level magic. I wonder what it would take to defeat her though, and it feels weird that she gets to outshine Zeref and Acnologia... in this chapter at least.

As for August, I am quite fond of his characterization so far, and yet I am constantly bothered by how the renowned 'Magic King' (a most hyperbolic title that promises so much if taken literally) keeps popping up or gets referred to across several chapters in this arc, but for some reason holds back from showing his reputed magical repertoire in a more glorious manner, or else does them off-screen with only the rumors and anecdotes from other characters to prop him up. Looking back, the spells we have seen from him before his somewhat casual and limited outburst in this chapter (the barrier from way back, the sensor tampering) seem to be geared towards supporting his comrades.

I get the sense that, from an in-world perspective, August either is not the type to show off and waste magic, or Zeref has ordered him to hold back. What do you think?