User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Sorcerer Magazine, Issue 45: September 2015/@comment-25111584-20151003185436/@comment-3290324-20151004022653

@Sane I never thought Loke was that strong pre-timeskip though. ( .___.)

@anon Erza was much stronger than Natsu pre-timeskip, and I'd be willing to bet money that she still is post-timeskip. :/