It makes it bullshit when most of the time they get powerup easily from defeating an opponent ( or gaining it during the battle while they simply eat it like those main Dragon Slayers). Hardly anyone trains these days to archive some technique.
Kyouka VS Erza = badass? I think not. It will end up like all her other previous battles. Spout some nakama nonsense and end the fight with never before seen armor. That's not badass, that's bad writing for not making up something new for a change. If anything I hope Kyouka and Sayla get out of there alive as they are quite the awesome duo.
I would gladly like to see Sting and Rouge getting shit done in their current fight, but the way things are going, Natsu will probably save the day.
Anyway, Just hope that Minerva doesn't die as some sacrifice via Ultear.