Worldwide Class Change: Minimal Effort, Maximum Reward!

The echoes of applause faded slowly as Tang Yue disappeared through the arena gate, leaving the crowd to process what they had just seen. For several moments the spectators continued discussing the match in overlapping waves of admiration and speculation. The golden arrows.

The perfect spacing.

The flawless timing.

Even the instructors seated in the higher viewing section nodded slightly.

An A-Rank class truly lived up to its reputation.

In the lower spectator rows, Wang Hao leaned back against his seat and let out a long breath.

"...Brother Lin."

Lin Yi glanced at him.

"Yes?"

"I have to admit something." He looked toward the arena exit where Tang Yue had disappeared. "She’s really strong."

"Her fundamentals are solid."

Wang Hao blinked. "Fundamentals?"

"She controlled the distance the entire time." Lin Yi gestured toward the arena floor. "Every arrow forced her opponent to move exactly where she wanted."

Wang Hao stared at him. "...You analyzed all that?"

"It wasn’t subtle."

Wang Hao rubbed his chin for a moment, then sighed. "Still... being rejected by someone that strong somehow hurts less."

Lin Yi looked at him. "That’s a strange conclusion."

"If she had been weak, I would feel humiliated." Wang Hao nodded with complete sincerity.

Lin Yi chuckled.

The display screen flickered as the next match results were recorded and a few more fights played out across the arena floor. Some lasted only seconds. Others stretched longer as evenly matched students circled each other carefully, testing limits before committing. The atmosphere in the stands grew tighter with every passing round, anticipation layering over anticipation.

Then the screen shifted again.

Match 11

Lin Yi

vs

Zhang Wei

Wang Hao shot out of his seat. "Brother Lin!"

Lin Yi had already seen it. His name glowed clearly on the display. Around them, several nearby students noticed it too, and the whispers spread before Wang Hao had finished grabbing his shoulder.

"Lin Yi?"

"The Laborer?"

"The Stoneback Bear rumor guy?"

"Is he really strong?"

Wang Hao puffed out his chest with proprietary pride. "Of course he’s strong!"

Lin Yi ignored the growing attention and began walking toward the arena entrance. Before stepping through the gate, he paused briefly and opened his system interface. A translucent panel appeared before his eyes.

...

Host: Lin Yi

Class: Laborer

Rank: E

Level: 10

EXP: 0 / 15,000

[Attributes]

Strength: 52

Agility: 38

Constitution: 40

Spirit: 21

Free Attribute Points: 10

[Class Skills]

Titan Grip – Enhances grip strength and weapon stability, allowing the user to control heavier weapons and amplify close combat force.

[Equipment]

Froststeel Hunter Dagger

Attack Power: +52

Additional Effect: Frost Energy

Effect Description:

Attacks apply freezing energy to wounds, slowing enemies and damaging internal structures.

Durability: Perfect

[Inventory]

Windstep Hunter Boots

Beginner Energy Potion ×3

Academy Survival Kit

Empty Slots: 46

...

Lin Yi looked over the panel briefly. Everything felt comfortable. His lips curved into a small smile, and then the panel disappeared.

"Alright," he murmured. Time to fight.

He stepped through the gate. Sunlight caught his eyes as he walked onto the combat platform. Across the arena floor stood his opponent, Zhang Wei, a muscular young man with a broad steel sword resting across his shoulder. His class appeared on the screen above. D-Rank Heavy Warrior. Zhang Wei looked Lin Yi over with open curiosity.

"So you’re the Laborer everyone keeps talking about."

"That’s what people call me."

Zhang Wei chuckled, lifting his sword into a ready position. "I heard you killed a Stoneback Bear. But rumors don’t win fights."

"We’ll see."

The referee stepped between them. "Participants. Prepare."

Zhang Wei planted his feet wide. Lin Yi reached behind his waist and drew his weapon. The Froststeel Dagger caught the light with a faint cold shimmer, its blade short and clean. Several spectators frowned at the sight of it.

"A dagger?"

"Isn’t that a bit small?"

From the stands, Wang Hao’s voice cut across the arena floor. "Brother Lin! Don’t embarrass me!"

Lin Yi ignored him. The referee raised his hand.

"Begin!"

The instant the signal dropped—

Zhang Wei charged forward, his heavy sword swung downward with enormous force.

"Take this!"

The blade crashed toward Lin Yi.

CLANG.

Lin Yi stepped sideways calmly, as the sword slammed into the arena floor, sending small cracks across the stone.

Zhang Wei immediately swung again.

But this time—

Lin Yi moved faster.

His body slipped past the arc of the sword like a shadow, as his Froststeel Dagger flashed.

SLASH.

A thin cut opened across Zhang Wei’s armor, leaving a faint frost mark along the edge.

Zhang Wei jumped back, his eyes narrowing. "...Fast."

Lin Yi didn’t answer.

Instead, he activated his class skill.

Titan Grip.

His hand tightening around the dagger’s grip as the muscles in his forearm subtly flexed. Then he moved forward again, and this time the dagger struck Zhang Wei’s sword directly.

CLANG!

The sound rang sharply across the arena. Zhang Wei’s expression changed. The force behind that small blade was far heavier than it had any right to be. Before he could recalibrate, the dagger flashed again.

CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.

Three rapid strikes in quick succession drove Zhang Wei steadily backward, frost marks spreading across his armor with each hit, his footing growing uncertain beneath him. The spectators stirred.

"That dagger..."

"Why is it so strong?"

Zhang Wei roared and swung his sword in a wide desperate arc. Lin Yi stepped inside it. The dagger moved like a single clean thought, driving into the weak point at Zhang Wei’s shoulder armor. A burst of freezing energy crackled across the metal. Zhang Wei’s arm stiffened instantly, his grip failing. The sword dropped from his hand. Then the dagger came to rest just below his throat.

The arena went silent.

The referee stepped forward. "Stop." He raised his hand. "Winner. Lin Yi."

For a moment the stands were simply quiet, the crowd processing what they had just watched. Then the murmurs began spreading outward through the sections.

"That was clean."

"He didn’t even struggle."

"The Laborer is actually strong."

In the stands, Wang Hao leaped to his feet. "I knew it!"

Lin Yi sheathed his dagger calmly and turned toward the exit without looking back at the crowd. The tournament continued, but something had shifted in the arena, something quiet and difficult to name. Everyone in the stands had begun paying attention to one name.

Lin Yi.