?Chapter 1449:


    After a brief pause, he stepped back, doing exactly as she said.


    Every gaze locked on Christina and Noah. The air grew thick with tension, the crowd holding its breath, palms slick with sweat.


    The room fell deathly silent—one could’ve heard a pin hit the floor.


    Word had already leaked out. Even those waiting outside stood frozen, nerves mirroring the tension building inside.


    Whispers stirred through the crowd—many thought Christina shouldn’t have stepped up, shouldn’t have shown off like that.


    If she failed, Noah would make sure to rub it in. The people of Apresh would be mocked, shamed, turned into a joke across every neighboring nation.


    A deck of cards, shredded into countless fragments, was tossed high into the air by the dealer. The challenge was clear—Christina and Noah had to snatch as many pieces as they could before they hit the ground. Whoever managed to piece together the fragments of the highest card would im victory.


    Perched at an elevated spot, the dealer held the sliced deck aloft.


    As the two yers steadied themselves, the dealer flung the shredded cards high into the air.


    Christina’s expression was unreadable, her eyes sharp and steady, focused entirely on the cascade before her.


    In stark contrast, Noah stood with an easy smile, exuding confidence, his gazezily fixed on her as though already certain of his triumph.


    The atmosphere was electric—thick with tension that could almost be felt through the screens of those watching live.


    “Holy cow! This is insane! I never thought I’d get to see the advanced Skyfall Shuffle in real life. In Epic’s legendary match, each yer had a full deck to work with!”


    “I adore Christina, but I can’t help worrying for her. Noah’s said to be incredibly skilled. If she can’t win, I just hope it ends in a draw.”


    “You fans are hopeless dreamers! Stop worshipping her. She can’t possibly be great at everything. If she keeps showing off and turns our country into an international joke, do you really think people won’t criticize her?”


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    The live chat exploded in chaos, half of it filled with support, half with doubt. Christina’s fans fought back fiercely, defending her courage and determination. At least she had the guts to step up when no one else dared.


    They were from the same country—they should have stood together, not turned on each other and handed foreign nations a reason to sneer. They needed solidarity, not division.


    Meanwhile, Brendon sat glued to the broadcast, his jaw tightening as Christina appeared on screen.


    A deep frown creased his forehead. He couldn’t deny his feelings for her, yet part of him believed she was being reckless—showing off again when she didn’t need to.


    “Will Christina win? Why on earth would she challenge Noah with the Skyfall Shuffle? That’s Epic’s signature move! How could she ever hope to pull that off? Oh, Christina… Noah gave her the choice, and she picked the hardest one. Does she even want to win?”


    Ynda leaned close to Brendon, her voice dripping with sweetness and false concern, but in reality, she was silently mocking Christina for her reckless behavior.


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