User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 431 & 432: My sword is... & Brair in Love, Review./@comment-1776824-20150428200536/@comment-25334245-20150428205431

Also, just because Jerome had a kick butt sword, does not mean that his skills in battle that great. I mean imagine if Kagura or someone else of high swordsman caliber had the sword....erza probably would have had harder time. Jerome was in a branch after all, they will (hopefully) have better people.

...So far it only sounds like so far all the branches met up. It does not say anything about the top dogs arriving yet. Maybe that's who arlock was referring to in this past chapter.