User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 513: Flower Circle, Review./@comment-25111584-20161205164747

Go study for your finals. ( =_=) And best of luck. ( ^_^)/

Frosch da MVP, as always. \( ^_^)/

Minerva's apology... one could argue that Lucy was just too difficult to track, so she didn't apologize to her until they met. And that's still stretching things. But Kagura? Minerva did some really bad things to her too. She had an entire year to visit Mermaid Heel and apologize. Apologizing during a coincidental meeting is one of the most half-arsed apologies one can devise. Mashima clearly cba to actually think things beyond the most basic level. >.>

Sorano... Ugh. e_e

So... everything is upto FT. Great. No Rogue action. He was spent in wanking Sting. No Minerva action. Quatro Puppy MIA. Worst, no Lyon action. Though I guess the last could be a blessing in disguise. Given the retarded Lyrdey development and Mashima's priorities, he would oh so coincidentally have ended up with her and teamed up with her in battle. Rather have no Lyon than more fucking retarded ships. >.>

1st TL;DR: ST and Kagura part was usual short-sighted and filler drivel that one can expect from this arc. Except for Frosch. :3

Prime once posted a link to an article that accused Mashima of covering up his sudden inability to draw a proper action sequence with excessive fanservice. Irene vs. Erza almost vindicates in the most unconventional manner possible. Great action. But, if you put aside the fact that Erza and Irene are pretty much walking fanservice, the almost complete absence of fanservice, especially for an Erza fight, is glaring.

I'm definitely in the minority when it comes to the revelation of the relationship. I've been rooting for Irene being Erza's mother since a long time. Unlike... pretty much every other connection, this is actually reasonable. Erza is damn powerful. As far as undeveloped raw power in backstory goes, probably only Ultear surpasses her. While not necessary, it is perfectly believable that she is the daughter (whether literal or metaphorical) of an entity powerful enough to be a Shield of Spriggan. Her hair colour being unique could have simply been an oddity... or, as a bonus, it might actually tie in with Irene's background.

My opinion regarding the Dragon revelation is the same as it was regarding Larcade when he was introduced: I'll wait and see. Larcade crashed and burned. Irene might or might not. *shrugs*

Wendy... urgh, conflicted. After who knows how long she's actually being used properly. Instead of charging into the maws of an enemy, secure in the knowledge that plot is on her side she actually stands back and supports those who are better suited for taking up the offensive. ...And then it's all ruined because: Wendy is not just not a useful ally, but she's actually a liability. Given Irene's portrayal, her defeat to this duo should be impossible anyway, but, unbelievably, it becomes even more so now that Wendy is basically a hostage in the making. >.>
 * Even if we give Wendy the benefit of the doubt and consider her offensive Spells to not be enchantments... she is fodder compared to somebody who's comfortably parrying Erza's attacks.
 * Enchantments can be used to cancel each other. A High Enchantress like Irene should be able to make Wendy dance like a puppet on strings.

What's worse, Wendy clearly knows that enchantments can be used to negate each other... yet she decided to stay behind instead of having Lucy help Erza and... wait, what am I saying. Mashima clearly can't have Lucy leave Natsu, no matter what NaLu/FT apologists say. e_e

Overall, I'd still say that the fight and revelation were not only satisfactory, but actually interesting. Although only a tenth of their potential simply because it's Erza related stuff.

2nd TL;DR: As much as an Erza hater can, I enjoyed the fight and revelation. Except for Wendy's involvement. >.>