Benji and Elara had both won their fights, giving two victories to the imperial side. Shion's fight with his opponent was now about to get underway. His opponent was the second oldest Byakko brother, Kintaro. The two had traveled some distance before they found a spot that they felt would best accommodate their battle.
"Hmm, you're lucky that I'm so polite. You left yourself quite open for attack on your way over here." Kintaro said smugly.
"The only thing open around here are your pores." Shion responded dryly.
"What?" Kintaro asked in a panic as he checked himself in a hand mirror that he removed from his robe. "How dare you say such a nasty thing?" He said once he found out that he was just messing with him.
"Hmph, if you had said that to me I wouldn't have had to check. You must not have much confidence in your skin care routine. How sad." Shion scoffed.
"You're really getting on my last nerve." Kintaro said with a scowl.
"Oh no, you shouldn't scowl like that, it'll make your crows feet even worse." Shion said with feigned concern.
"That's it I've had enough! You'll be sorry that you've made me so angry once our fight is done." Kintaro said while making sure not to scowl, just in case. "Snow Blizzard!"
Kintaro waved his fan and suddenly a massive snowstorm appeared and obscured Shion's vision. The frozen winds swirled all around him as the snowflakes danced through the air.
"What do you think about my ability? It's quite beautiful, don't you think?" Kintaro asked.
The swirling snowflakes surrounded Shion, the snow made it impossible to see what was around him. Kintaro took advantage of this to attack him from the various blind spots that his ability created. Kintaro repeatedly attacked, but Shion managed to block him every time.
"I'll admit that your ability is pretty." Shion said as he continued to block Kintaro's attacks.
"Ha, that's right my ability is so beautiful that even you have to admit it." Kintaro said smugly.
"No, you misunderstood me." Shion replied. "It is pretty to look at, but it lacks a certain aspect of true beauty."
"What?" Kintaro asked.
"It lacks power!" Shion said as he drew his sword. "Flash!: Blade Dance!!!!"
Shion's ability was called, Flash, it allowed him to dramatically increase his speed. Thus allowing him to move at such speeds that only a Flash is visible.
"It… it was… the most beautiful thing that I've ever seen." Kintaro said as he lay on the ground defeated. "So that is the power of true beauty." He said as he passed out.
With Shion's victory, the Imperial side had won all three of their battles and only two remained. The next fight had already begun between Gaileo's younger brother Kazuma and the youngest of the Byakko brothers Shintaro.
Kazuma was quickly overwhelmed by Shintaro's adaptable ability. His ability allowed him to change the blade on his polearm to give it different abilities. He could change it based on how his opponent fought.
"Heh, you're not that tough. I can see why your brother didn't want you to fight me." Shintaro said confidently.
"Ahh! This sucks! I can't win like this! But I don't want to lose! I wanna win! I wanna win! I wanna win!" Kazuma screamed, throwing a tantrum like a spoiled child.
"How pathetic. How can you call yourself a warrior if you can't even lose with dignity?" Shintaro asked.
"Big Brother Gai is always telling me I can't use my ability. He says it's too dangerous. If Big Brother says it then I can't do it." Suddenly a grin cracked across his face. "Hehehe, but Big Brother isn't here right now. you won't tell him will you? No, you won't be able to tell anyone anything."
"What are you-" Shintaro was saying when suddenly he found himself unable to breathe. After the battle he would be rescued by his comrades. Though, he was on the verge of death and though he would eventually recover physically, the terror he felt in experiencing Kazuma's special ability would lead him to choose to never return to the battlefield.
"Hehehe, I guess this means I win! Hahahaha!" Kazuma said after he had defeated Shintaro, while giggling like an excited child. "I bet Big Brother will be super proud of me for winning. I hope he gets me lots and lots of candy to celebrate!"
Meanwhile, the final battle of the Queen's Tower was about to begin between the two commanders, Gaileo and Genbu. A battle that would shake the hierarchy of the North and across the frozen tundras of the Northern frontier every Chieftain and King would take notice of its results.