User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 314: Erza vs. Kagura, Review./@comment-4047931-20130112041327

Ooh what a brilliant chapter. This arc really is turning around but pity it still doesn't save it looking at it in a whole. Nevertheless what was put into this chapter was great. We had a lovely piece of drama, a thrilling yet quick battle and an amazing cliff hanger. I may be a little bit blind to the chapter as a whole but I loved this chapter because it was shocking, exciting and depressing. I really do wonder why all the interesting stuff happens to Erza? Maybe that's why she's one of the best characters in this series but for the love of God this was a great credit two both these brilliant women of the series. Anyway I should probably stop with the praise and start on the rest.

So surprisingly, after a boring cover of Natsu just standing there, Jellal appeared right at the start of the chapter. I honestly thought we would be getting a glimpse of him right at the end but it was good to see him once again. Now it wasn't really anything special about what they were talking about but I was wondering when somebody when somebody was going to start thinking about the civilians. I must give kudos to the Princess, three off your most wanted criminals are focusing more on the safety of your people then you are. At least Jellal, Meredy and the rest want to prepare just in case Lucy's future does come true. Beside that the only thing pulling me into this chapter at the start was what Jellal's wavering feelings of the future. I'm really eager to find got what it is Jellal feels about what he thinks is off about this future he was told about. Could it be the unbelievable scale of the disaster? Is it that he does not fully trust Future Lucy's message? Or is it just in denial for an event leading up to the destruction of Fiore? Anyway I get on to that later but even though it was a dull start it was able to make me think enough about Jellal's feelings on the matter to be interesting and enjoyable over all.

Now this is where things just had me in awe. How this fight was executed was definitely unexpected for me and just so brilliant because of that factor. Just seeing Erza in a battle where she was being defeat so easily throughout the whole thing. I was absolutely shocked to see this woman we have seen overcome so many challenges with such a strong will and who has been carrying burdens from her past since she was a child, tossed about with little to no chance of gaining the upper hand. I feel that I should look at each part separately to get the full picture of this battle and how it great it was in my opinion. First of all the clash of blades at the start with Kagura overpowering showed the seriousness of this battle and how it forced Erza to dawn her Heaven's Wheel Armor right off the bat after battling with both Kagura and Minerva in that robe of hers and seeing that armor which we have seen solo some mages to attack Kagura only to have no effect at all was just shocking to behold. Right from the stat Erza was being beaten so easily. Now we got to see more of Kagura's techniques which were just awesome and her first move that smashed through the ground leaving a mass of rumble was terrifying, as Erza was at the end of that attack. Such a heavy blow causing that much destruction to and around our heroine had me shaking in how in anyway Erza could pick make a comeback. I really couldn't believe this was happening to her. Now this just became more shocking as even with the powerful defense of Erza's Adamantine Armor it was near to nothing next to Kagura's strength as she slashed through the human shield capable of stopping Phantom Lord's Jupiter Cannon. I didn't care for the other's reactions but the fear on Makarov's face was all too real and even had me worrying for Erza more so than before because of this and to think that Kagura was commenting on how this was just the beginning of her assault. Now after a lovely look at her Flight Armor once more, Erza slashed furiously at Kagura almost rekindling that fire which made me believe Erza still had a chance. Sadly our Knight's last attack was to no avail. After unleashing that flurry of slashes just to have herself, stricken by all of Kagura's attacks, basically leaving her unable to stand afterwards was again a fearful moment. No wonder the characters were shocked. Seeing this unfold shocked me to the core because as far as Fairy Tail goes I never ever expected Erza, of all people, to be on the losing end of a fight like this. Kagura's true strength is just monstrous to see her demolish a character with such a reputation in this series. If Minerva had seen this kind of power I say she would have swallowed her tongue. Just seeing her in this state at this crucial moment in the arc had me fearing for Erza's safety but you know what, in retrospect I enjoyed how this battle was able to bring these worried feelings for Erza and the battle itself was epic though short. It was actually an epic confrontation seeing one of the greatest characters pushed into a corner like this as we saw the reality of Kagura's power. I loved this battle and I genuinely feared for Erza throughout this unexpectedly onesided battle which I wasn’t actually all too bothered with this as beforehand they fought equally and they both already had their time to shine this arc. This was just amazing for the series let alone this arc.

Well after a great battle we moved on to the more dramatic side of things in this chapter and I loved how it had this depressing mood throughout all of it and finally finding Kagura's past and reasons for wanting to kill Jellal was surprising yet simple and even though it wasn't as extravagant as I would have hoped, it still lead to a stunning conclusion to this chapter. First of all we see Erza's recognition of Kagura's power after being dominated which was rather respectful comment. To see Erza notice this gap with such a calm face was nice yet upsetting to see her in this state but knowing rage was fueling this power she just had to ask. Why Erza? You make everything so hard for yourself but I guess that is kind of the reasons you're such a great character, willing to deal with your own responsibilities yourself. Still by bringing up Jellal, Kagura's brutality kicked in while she sent an injured Erza flying across into a pillar shocking me to see Kagura kick her about like a rag doll. The respect and absence of remorse were great adding much more to this meeting than expected and the drama didn't end there. Erza's care for her friend Millianna was seen as we see Erza pleading Kagura not to bring into this path of revenge just to be beaten further by the disagreeing Kagura telling her how Millianna willed to follow down this road with her which honestly is just depressing seeing how happy Millianna is with Erza even using that in her argument to convince Kagura to let her go. Despite this Kagura still feels the need to follow through with her vengeance and then it was revealed. The thing we've all waited to be revealed about Kagura. Simon. Kagura was Simon's sister all along. So simple yet it was still a shock to me. I liked Simon as he was such a kind and selfless character so seeing his capture and death causing so much ofan effect on Kagura was expected yet still it made me feel sorry for her to have that one person in your life of true value taken away. It's just so sad. What also added to this was that regret still present from which Erza now feels at this moment. I am really happy to see that even with his passing; Simon is still able to bring such feelings out of Erza showing us that a very strong definitely existed between these two, even more so then the rest of the children enslaved in the Tower of Heaven. And probably even more then when we first learned of them being together. It was just such a sad moment to hear how Simon's death, through saving the lives of two, caused one to become drowned in revenge and darkness. Those words though. Seeing Erza take blame for Simon's death was so depressing and I really can see why Kagura reacted in such a way. Those tears of Erza's regretting, knowing that you could not save a friend while you hopelessly watched him die and that boiling rage for Kagura as you saw someone who could have prevented the death of you're only form of happiness in your life. I was just hauntingly beautiful to see these tears of different emotions swirl and show how much the death of one man has done. Finally with all that rage and pain flowing through Kagura she finally draws Archenemy and I must say the art had some great effect to it, really showing the strength of the blade a showing Kagura’s hatred and pain. So with a burst of blood, horrified faces around the crowd and the melancholy expression on Jellal's face the chapter comes to a close with myself, expecting the worst had just happened to someone.

I must say what a chapter this was for me, a desperate struggle from Erza which inevitably left her with exhausted, covered in wounds and unable to stand and a reveal so simple yet filled the last few pages with such a sad tone while we saw these feelings for the one man lost surface from both are fighters. That love Kagura had for her brother was just so lovely and so sad knowing what effect it had on her and Erza self-blame for being unable to protect a friend just hit me hard. I just loved seeing these last pages bring out these emotions and honestly I have to admit with we saw what happened after that blade was unleashed it could of had me in tears. I really can't see any way out of this for Erza without anybody willing to take the attack for her living through. As for Jellal maybe he was for told about what would happen in this battle to Erza by Future Lucy to see if he would believe her like the Princess being told the outcome of the GMG. Nonetheless this chapter really did something great for me. I actually like Kagura now and Erza even more so then before. This was just that great a chapter in my opinion. It was an exciting battle with a heartbreaking end and great amount of feelings for he who has passed on bringing out some depressing feelings of my own. I just can't see this ending satisfyingly without tragedy.