Worldwide Class Change: Minimal Effort, Maximum Reward!

The arena remained frozen for several seconds after Tang Yue’s body hit the ground.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Even the instructor stood still, his gaze lingering on the battlefield as if trying to process what he had just witnessed. The dust settled slowly, revealing the final image clearly. Tang Yue, an A-Rank Radiant Archer, lying motionless, her arms broken, her pride shattered. Lin Yi standing over her, calm and untouched.

Then a wave of sound erupted through the stands.

"Sh-she lost...?"

"Just like that?!"

"That wasn’t even a fight!"

"He didn’t even get hit... not even once!"

The disbelief was no longer restrained. It burst out openly, voices overlapping, arguments rising, some still trying to rationalize what they had seen, others simply staring. On the high platform, the guild scouts no longer bothered hiding their interest, some leaning forward and whispering among themselves while others watched Lin Yi with undisguised intensity.

"That kind of control..."

"And that weapon..."

"He’s not just talented. He’s dangerous."

Yan Honglie remained standing, his gaze steady and sharp. "...Not bad." His voice was low, but the faint curve of his lips spoke volumes.

Back on the battlefield, the instructor finally raised his hand. "Match... over!" His voice carried, though it lacked its earlier authority. "Winner... Lin Yi!" The announcement felt almost unnecessary. Everyone already knew. Lin Yi didn’t react to the crowd, didn’t look at Tang Yue again. He simply turned and walked away.

....

The moment he stepped off the arena, the noise behind him faded into the background., but someone followed him suite.

"Brother Lin!"

Lin Yi didn’t stop, but he slowed slightly. Wang Hao caught up quickly, still wrapped in light bandages though his movements were already much better than before. His eyes were bright, excited, and something else beneath that. Relieved. "...You really did it."

Lin Yi glanced at him. "Of course."

Wang Hao let out a breath and shook his head as if still processing it. "That... that was brutal." He laughed softly, though there was no mockery in it. "You didn’t just beat her... you crushed her."

Lin Yi said nothing, but Wang Hao looked at him again, more seriously this time. "...Thank you."

Lin Yi stopped walking, as Wang Hao’s expression turned firm. "I meant what I said before. That day... when she..." He paused, his jaw tightening slightly at the memory. "...when she humiliated me."

His fists clenched unconsciously, as he continued, "I couldn’t do anything." A brief silence passed. Then he exhaled slowly. "But you... you made her kneel."

Lin Yi looked at him. Calm. Unchanging. "I said I would." That was all. No pride, no exaggeration. Just a statement of fact.

Wang Hao stared at him for a moment, then laughed. "...You really are something else." He rubbed the back of his head. "Honestly, I don’t even know whether to feel happy or scared standing next to you."

Lin Yi resumed walking. "Just be happy."

Wang Hao blinked, then grinned. "...Yeah. I guess I should."

.....

Behind them, the tournament continued. The arena, once frozen, quickly reignited with activity as the next matches were called, and the quarterfinals pressed on. Some fights were close, others one-sided, but none reached the level of dominance Lin Yi had just displayed.

Chen Feng stepped onto the battlefield in his own match, his expression calm as always. His opponent barely lasted. A flash, a strike, victory. Clean and efficient. The crowd reacted strongly, though now every comparison led back to the same name.

"Chen Feng is strong..."

"But compared to Lin Yi..."

"...It’s still different."

Other competitors advanced as well, a defensive specialist, a dual-wield fighter, an elemental caster, each showcasing the strength that had carried them this far. Yet a shadow loomed over all of them.

Lin Yi.

Time passed quickly, and before long the quarterfinals concluded. The remaining four stood at the peak of the tournament.

The semifinals.

The atmosphere shifted, heavier and sharper now, every match carrying direct consequence, every step leading closer to the final. Unlike the previous stage, the semifinal matches would be held simultaneously across two arenas.

Lin Yi and Wang Hao stood near the edge of the viewing area, watching as the next participants prepared. Wang Hao crossed his arms. "...It’s getting serious now."

Lin Yi didn’t respond, his gaze forward. Wang Hao smirked slightly. "Though... for you, I guess it’s been serious since the beginning."

"No."

Wang Hao blinked. "...No?"

"Not yet."

A brief silence followed. Then Wang Hao laughed and shook his head. "...Right. Of course." He looked back toward the arena. "...Still, you’ve already done enough for me."

A quiet moment passed between them, understood without needing more words. Then Wang Hao clapped his hands lightly, breaking the mood. "Alright!" He straightened up, his expression turning determined. "No more looking back. You’ve come this far." His eyes met Lin Yi’s. "...Go win the whole thing."

Lin Yi finally looked at him directly. A faint pause. Then, "...I will."

.....

"Next match!" The instructor’s voice rang out, sharper now, carrying renewed authority. "Semifinals!"

A brief pause.

"Lin Yi — step forward!"

The noise surged louder than before because now there was no doubt. This match mattered. Lin Yi stepped forward without hesitation, his figure moving calmly toward the battlefield. Wang Hao watched him go, expression steady. "...That guy..." He exhaled slowly. "...He’s really going to do it."

On the opposite side of the arena, another figure stepped forward. Tall and composed, his presence carrying a different kind of pressure. Not explosive, not overwhelming, but refined and controlled. A swordsman.

A-Rank Arcane Swordsman.

A blade rested at his side with faint traces of energy swirling around it like dissipating mist. His eyes locked onto Lin Yi the moment he stepped onto the battlefield. No arrogance. No fear. Only focus.

"...So you’re Lin Yi." His voice was calm and measured.

Lin Yi stopped a few meters away and said nothing. The Arcane Swordsman studied him carefully, his gaze briefly shifting to the Celestial Lord Blade. "...I saw your previous match." A slight pause. "...You’re strong."

The crowd quieted slightly, sensing the shift in tone. This wasn’t like before. This wasn’t mockery. This was acknowledgment. The swordsman continued. "But strength alone doesn’t decide everything." His hand moved slowly to his hilt. "Let’s see... how far yours can go."

Lin Yi finally spoke. "Come."

One word. Flat and simple. But it carried weight. The instructor raised his hand.

"Participants ready!" The air tightened and the crowd held its breath. "Begin!"

The semifinal battle had started.