User blog comment:FairyRaven/Fairy Tail Chapter 409: Wedges of Black and White, Review and Commentary/@comment-1776824-20141117111442

''[5:22:35 AM] *Wrath's real name*: I think it's going to focus on Mard Geer, as Memento Mori itself has to do with the distinction between beauty and death. [5:23:19 AM] Kuro: And he is a beautiful man.''

Seriously though, I liked this chapter a lot, and it's not because I'm a diehard Rogue Cheney fanboy. Sorry bro, but I had a much different opinion than you~ And get ready, cuz it's gun be huge. =D

So, the beginning was what set the mood, because we have Mard seriously taking Natsu and Gray and scraping their faces into cement fixtures going god-knows-what kilometers a second. This just sets the difference in their power levels, especially since their freezing and burning did fuck all to him, really. Then we get to Sting and Rogue, and yes, the dialogue was repetitive, but it was very necessary. We get to this fight and it's Old Saber vs. Neo Saber; this, in my opinion, is the Magna Carta, and I can say that because it's the removal of the rights of absolute power from the old king by force, and by fuck did they force it.

So they fire off the same dialogue back and forth, and again it's important that they do, because this isn't just a physical battle; this is also a battle that tests their resolution, fears and wit when faced with their seriously all-powerful former abuser. This chapter helps Sting and Rogue finally overcome their mental trauma. It also signifies the death of Old Saber, and therefore the death of the monarchy, in a sense.

Now, about the one-shotting/one chapter thing: I didn't mind it. In fact, I believe it was fine. I mean, it was a clear-cut resolution to a very serious, glaring problem. And besides, look at that spell. It's so goddamn lethal. >_> Do you remember what glancing blows did to Natsu? It ripped him to shreds and left him paralyzed. This is a combination move they don't use because it has serious lethality. Jiemma is pretty much dead, and it's a nice throwback to Future Rogue, or really, a nice nod to the still ever-present danger that Rogue is on his way to becoming him. After all, it's been a few months since the GMG (at least). Frosch's death is surely on its way. Also, it helped get Sting and Rogue out of the way. They've saved Minerva, they've freed their guild, and they got a serious victory in a serious war. I think they deserve a bit of a rest.

Also, on the end, I don't really care. Yeah, Natsu and Gray hit Mard, but he looked surprised, not fazed. Besides, their fight won't last much longer anyway. At this exact time, Erza is starting to finish her fight with Kyouka. Lumen may play its part, but I believe that it will just protect Fairy Tail, and only Fairy Tail from Face's effects. That way, FT can still fight and we still get E.N.D.

Wrath out, bitches.