Fairy Tail, Band 34

The series balances humor and tension so well — I wonder what the author's process is for building up to big moments without losing momentum.

Some moments felt surprisingly emotional for a manga that usually keeps things light. Are these intentional character developments or just natural growth?

The variety of magic and how it's integrated into the story always amazes me. I'm curious whether Mashima developed these ideas from the start or refined them along the way.