#ch100

Who knew that Robin and Luffy had similar techniques for dealing with enemies way bigger than they are

In ch210, Finny already has a bullet wound in his left shoulder, then he's shot in the left leg as he grabs Oliver and heads for the drainage ditch. Throughout this chapter, we've seen him flashback to his escape from that German drug facility.

In ch100, he's running through the forests of Bavaria, where they are being chased by armed Germans (from a military research facility). He's carrying Sieglinde in his arms, while Tanaka (chibi form) is on his back, holding on at Finny's neck and shoulders. He's also carrying two large bags (Snake's snakes?). He jumps off a very high cliff (above the tree line) and lands in a shallow river/stream.

He's in pain and his legs are shaking, but he seems to recover okay.

Then there are shots fired, and Tanaka goes into action.

In both chapters, we have:

Finny burdened with extra weight and trying to keep others safe

Trying to escape from staff at enemy facilities

Germans (the action in the witch arc vs old flashbacks in ch210)

Injuries (especially to Finny's legs)

Being shot at

Landing in shallow water

Being inspired by thoughts/memories of our earl (reminded of our earl in ch210 by Theo)

I’ve suddenly realized that Natsu, for a shounen protagonist, doesn’t cry very often. Crying isn’t considered shameful in Japanese culture, so it’s actually not very common for an expressive one like Natsu to be like that. Luffy’s a crybaby, Naruto’s also had his bouts.

Thus far, it’s been Gray, Lucy, and Erza-- never Natsu himself, because Natsu is the kind to burst out in anger or go completely dry and cold when he’s upset instead. 

That’s why I find it so heartbreakingly beautiful that here, when he nearly loses Erza, is where he genuinely cries for the first time in the manga. 

If there's anything more appropriate to timestamp chapter 100, this is it.

Even in the flashback of him finding out about Lisanna’s death, he doesn’t have a loud, visceral reaction. He just stood, shellshocked. He’s always been the type to hold back instead of cry out loud, or he cries alone, like when he missed Igneel after Gildarts came home and told him about Acnologia. This character trait changes after he fights Gildarts on Tenrou, when he finally learns that’s it okay to have weaknesses.

This is another moment where Erza’s and Natsu’s weaknesses come together. When Erza is weak, Natsu comes in to make her smile before he fights Jellal for her. When Natsu can no longer fight, Erza steps in to become the sacrifice for Etherion. And now, when Natsu breaks down, Erza is the one to come to comfort him. 

“Why do you have to challenge my Jiuyang Sect? You’re just forcing me to go on a killing spree, aren’t you?” muttered Jiang Ming, annoyed.

He really wanted to live a peaceful life, where he could just cultivate in the shadows and slowly grow strong. Once the time was right, he could then kill every single one of those who plotted against him. This would have been perfect for him.