Didn't Gray, Lucy and Selene kinda support Laxus > Erza in these past few chapters, though? Lucy and Gray talked about how great Laxus was and how great it was he was with them despite Erza being there and Selene outright stated that he's a contender for the strongest man in FT which automatically illustrates parity with Gildarts himself.
Erza struggled to tie with Laxus after he expended magic fighting Kiria and she fell first and got up last while he had stamina and magical power to carry her around and protect her with his lightning magic. Yeah they tied in the fight but that doesn't change who is constantly portrayed as superior and the challenge i.e. Laxus. Context matters.
Sure he is great. Laxus is a Fairy Tail's contender for being the strongest, just like Erza and Gildarts.
Yes, Grey's group didn't expect anyone to beat Laxus. Still, Cana told us that he was uncouscious. That shows that only Erza could do that.
Grey and Lucy can valorize Laxus in Erza's presence. It's relevant but that doesn't put him > to her. Grey and Lucy are always with Erza as a team.
Add Laxus and you add a powerhouse in the group.
For exemple, by analogy, if it was Team B facing Selene, Mirajane or Gajeel could valorize Erza in same way with Laxus's presence.
It's more about a powerful guest.
Like you said, context matters : reread chapter 50 and you will see that when the final orb was crushed, Toukà who thought that Aldoron will be White, lost her Magic in process. She was trap by Selene and then, all her White Puppets were restored in Magic.
I can post you the scans if you want, just ask me.
She fell first for seconds. So yes, if you want, Laxus is stronger for seconds, just like END was with Grey in Arbaless. For me, that shows a tie.
A win is like Natsu vs Gajeel. Gajeel couldn't move, even to protect Reby. Natsu could move and use Magic while he was close to exaustion.
Natsu wins here.
Yes, Laxus used a spell in order to defeat Kyria. Is it really an handicap ? Erza used Benizakura in order to "fight" Jellal.
Still, for me it's nearly irrelevant. If Laxus looses vs the Diabolos guy, will you cry he lost because he used spell on Madmole and Skullion?
It's excuses.
Yes, he could carry her so he was less injured at the end of his fight with Erza. What is the context ?
Erza add more handicaps while taking higher injuries than Laxus while she was holding back her strength for half the battle while Laxus stroke to destroy her since the beginning as he didn't want a simple querell between friends. It's not magical, it's logical.
But I don't take that in consideration, just like I don't take in consideration she was fighting a friend, not an ennemy while he was brainwatch.
I only took the second part where they were perfectly even.
Like I said above, Erza is never at her best at the beginning of the battles : she is like a Diesel. Selene could say that Laxus is the strongest in the Labyrinth that I should not be shocked. Let her getting warm and she will put strength equal to his comrade.
In there different ways to fight, sure Laxus has domination over the battlefield. Still, he couldn't break through her stamina and durability to crush her while she was going stronger in process. It doesn't change the fact of the tie.
Still you can't go against Author's decision about draw battle when it's explicite : 3 sentences and pictures :
- I used all my power.... I lost.... I will win next time, definitely : Erza told us she lost.
- That's my Lines (counterpart to : I lost but I will win next time)... I am also out of Magic (counterpart to I used all my power) : Laxus told us that he lost in same way.
- The two monsters beat out each others : Kyria who watched the fight.
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