SWNOVELXO Chapter 17: Chapter 17 – The Stone That Shines: Criss vs Raelyn
After the explosive first battle, the arena remained crackling with anticipation. The crowd, still reeling from Lina's valiant effort, now leaned forward as the second match was called.
> Alden (his voice booming across the stadium):
"Next Match… Criss vs Raelyn."
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🧱 Criss – The Calm Wall of Stone
Criss walked in silently, arms behind his back. His earth-toned robes moved like part of the ground. Calm, humble, and focused, he had always avoided conflict—until now.
> Show (watching):
"Criss doesn't talk much… but I've seen him train. He's something else."
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🌟 Raelyn – The Prodigy of Light
Raelyn entered opposite him, radiating brilliance. His white coat shimmered with embedded light runes. Calm and confident, he was known as the academy's top prodigy—a genius with light magic, unbeaten so far.
> Lyra:
"Raelyn has never been pushed. This'll be easy for him…"
But Criss wasn't here just to fight—he was here to prove something.
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⚔️ Battle Begins
The bell rang.
Raelyn launched first with Flash Barrage, beams of light blasting toward Criss. But Criss stood tall, raising his hand as Stone Fortress burst from the ground around him, shielding every strike.
He didn't flinch.
> Raelyn:
"You're only defending? That won't work forever."
Criss stayed quiet.
Suddenly, he stomped—and a stone spike emerged beneath Raelyn. The light mage jumped, floating midair with Photon Drift, then blasted downwards.
Criss reacted instantly—forming a spiral wall of rock to redirect the attack instead of blocking.
> Karen:
"He's… adapting. With every move."
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🧠 Tactical Brilliance
Raelyn began to bend light, using illusions to create clones. Criss closed his eyes, sensing the ground's vibrations, ignoring the illusions entirely. He punched the ground—sending a seismic pulse that disrupted the real Raelyn's balance.
> Raelyn (gritting his teeth):
"You… read me?"
Criss didn't speak. He moved forward like an avalanche. Each movement was minimal, measured—yet devastating.
Raelyn tried to blind him with Radiant Flare, but Criss buried himself with Earthen Cocoon, then burst out beneath Raelyn with Pillar Strike.
For the first time—Raelyn was hit.
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Criss:
"Raelyn… I've always admired your magic. Not just your power. Your control. Your grace. But I'm tired of being the one who's always behind. I trained not to beat you… but to catch up to you. Just once."
Raelyn blinked. The audience fell silent. And then—he smiled faintly.
> Raelyn:
"Then let's make this a battle worthy of your resolve."
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Raelyn struck first—his signature move Luminous Pulse fired twin beams of light across the field. Criss rolled sideways and brought up Stone Wall, the lasers splitting harmlessly against the rock.
> Raelyn:
"Predictable. But solid."
Criss punched the ground, causing stone pillars to erupt beneath Raelyn. But Raelyn levitated higher and rained down Light Arrows.
Criss deflected most with Earthen Shield, but one broke through—singing his shoulder.
He didn't flinch.
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🧠 Tactics Over Power
Criss wasn't reckless. Every stone he raised had a purpose.
He cast Seismic Web, spreading invisible fault lines through the arena. Raelyn, unaware, stepped onto one—and Criss activated the trap, launching a spike that clipped Raelyn mid-air.
> Lyra:
"He's reading the battlefield… turning it into a weapon!"
> Karen:
"That's not brute force—that's strategy."
Raelyn was caught off-guard. Criss was pushing him harder than anyone had.
> Raelyn (to himself):
"He's not just earth… he's unshakable."
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💥 The Final Phase
Raelyn's body glowed with golden aura—Full Radiance Mode. He stopped holding back.
Criss narrowed his eyes and whispered:
> Criss: "Come on, just a little more…"
Criss summoned Gaia Titan, a towering elemental avatar of stone. Raelyn answered with Solar Lance, a condensed beam of light magic, pure and unstoppable.
The titan moved first—its massive arms closing in. The lance fired.
Explosion. Light. Dust. Silence.
When it cleared—Criss was on one knee, drained. The titan had shattered.
Raelyn stood, bruised, breathing heavily—but victorious.
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🤝 Mutual Respect
> Alden:
"Winner: Raelyn!"
Criss stood slowly, not bitter—just proud.
Raelyn walked over and extended his hand.
> Raelyn:
"You fought with everything you had. You were incredible."
> Criss (smiling slightly):
"Thanks. I… I really wanted to see if I could stand beside you."
> Raelyn:
"You already did."
The crowd, silent for a second, erupted in applause—not for who won—but for how they fought.
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> TO BE CONTINUED