Im glad to see that Mashima seemingly isn't going to let Gildarts have victory over August which to me at least leaves the hype of those who fought August intact.
Also it seems as though Mashima did not go through with his original plan with Grays trump card and made it a special iced shell...
Regarding jellal in the coffin he wasn't dead he was very clearly alive and is stated by all the characters in the room.
Happy: Jellal? This guy was alive?
Brain: He was left in this state after being HEAVILY exposed to Etherion.
SideNote: This is what they have brought jellal alive?...will this...
Ive come to realize that in this series any characters that are not fairy tail mages can and will be treated as garbage. This is the same for the villains as well and ironically it causes the protagonists to suffer as well in comparison. Your heroes are only as good as your villains.