It's uterlly funny to me, how everyone is focused on the "love story" or "the harem" when...
Well if I care about any love here, it would be the love they express when clashing swords. Seriously, why would you read it for anything else? Well I suppose you could read it just for Lucy, DAMN SHE'S CUTE! Anyhow...
I think even if anime is based on light novel more... Then it just reinforces my love for the manga. I'm gonna be honest, I think fights in the manga are animated better. Yes, you read that right, they are animated better. Also I don't like how they did all those magic vs sword fights in the anime, it was solved way better in the manga, made more sense, was more interesting and was more believable.
It could be one of best mangas ever. Cuz it's not that just the fights are good. Author really went out of his way to make at least mildly interesting story and characters. DUH, it's rearly or even only at the literall begining, that we see 1 storyline unfold, there is always another one we can jump on when one ends, and there's always another one opening up.
Realistically speaking, why are people focused on love, and harem that don't exist?
Anyhow, I do reccomend that shit, it is some good shit, if you would ever need to eat shit, you should try this shit, cuz it would make you love eating shit. SHIT, THIS SHIT IS GOOD.