User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 371: Tartarus Arc: Part 2 - Song of the Heavenly Dragon, Review./@comment-17764746-20140215003647/@comment-173.79.102.70-20140215053909

I get the feeling people would be complaining significantly less about the turn around if Mashima had spent half a chapter to show Natsu and Lisanna freeing themselves, making their way to Erza, and freeing her.

Realistically, it would not be that interesting to show. A few jokes as they escape the cell, and some reactions to seeing Erza's condition. But it seems like that segment was just necessary for some people.