Worldwide Class Change: Minimal Effort, Maximum Reward!-Chapter 39, The Elimination Round Begins!

The day had finally arrived.

From the early hours of the morning, Jianghe Hunter Academy was already alive with noise. Students poured out of the dormitories, their expressions carrying a mix of excitement, tension, and determination. The academy pathways were crowded with groups discussing strategies, reviewing equipment, or nervously checking their gear for the tenth time.

Today was no ordinary day.

The elimination round of the academy tournament had officially begun.

Unlike the qualification matches held earlier, today’s battles would determine who truly had the right to advance toward the final stage. Those who failed here would be eliminated from the competition entirely.

For most students, this round represented their final opportunity to prove themselves.

The arena where the matches would take place stood in the center of the academy grounds, the same large stadium used during the qualification battles. But today, the atmosphere surrounding it was completely different.

Massive banners bearing the academy emblem hung from the surrounding walls. Rows of seats had been arranged around the arena floor, filling quickly with students, instructors, and even several visiting hunters who had come to observe promising talents.

The air itself seemed charged with anticipation.

Somewhere in the distance, a loudspeaker echoed across the campus.

"All participants report to the arena preparation hall immediately."

The announcement repeated twice before fading.

Inside the dormitory corridor, Wang Hao was already pacing back and forth nervously.

"Brother Lin, are you ready?"

Lin Yi calmly adjusted the strap of the Abyssfang Blade hanging at his waist.

"I’ve been ready."

Wang Hao scratched the back of his head. "I swear... how are you so calm?" He shook his arms as if trying to loosen stiff muscles. "My heart feels like it’s about to jump out of my chest."

Lin Yi glanced at him briefly. "That’s normal."

Wang Hao sighed dramatically. "Easy for you to say." After taking a deep breath, the scout finally nodded. "Alright. Let’s go."

The two of them left the dormitory together and walked toward the central arena.

The closer they got, the louder the noise became.

Hundreds of students were already gathering around the entrance passages leading into the stadium. The sound of excited conversations filled the air as participants prepared to enter.

Lin Yi and Wang Hao moved through the crowd until they reached the long corridor leading toward the arena seating area.

The stone passageway was wide but packed with students heading in the same direction.

Wang Hao glanced around nervously.

"Man..."

"This place feels like a battlefield."

Lin Yi chuckled faintly, "For some people, it is."

They continued walking side by side through the corridor, until Wang Hao stretched his arms again.

"You think we’ll face strong opponents today?"

"That depends on the bracket," Lin Yi answered calmly.

Wang Hao nodded slowly, "I just hope I don’t get matched against Chen Feng in the first round."

Lin Yi smiled faintly, "You probably won’t."

Just as they turned a corner in the corridor—

Someone suddenly bumped into Wang Hao.

"Ah!"

The collision wasn’t particularly hard, but Wang Hao stumbled slightly before regaining his balance.

"Oh—sorry!"

A soft voice quickly spoke.

The girl who had bumped into him immediately stepped back, lowering her head politely.

Wang Hao blinked.

Then he finally looked at her properly.

For a moment...

His brain stopped working.

She was beautiful.

Not the flashy kind of beauty that immediately attracted loud attention, but something much gentler.

Her long brown hair fell neatly past her shoulders, and her eyes carried a slightly nervous expression as she clasped her hands together apologetically.

"I’m sorry," she said softly. "I wasn’t looking where I was going."

Wang Hao stared like a statue, until he suddenly snapped out of it.

"Ah—no! It’s fine!" He then waved his hands quickly. "I wasn’t paying attention either!"

The girl nodded shyly.

"Thank you."

Lin Yi studied her for a moment.

Then he realized who she was.

Liu Ling.

A student whose name had spread throughout the academy after the qualification matches.

Not because she was strong.

But because of what she had done.

She was a D-rank Recovery Priest.

A pure support class.

Yet during the qualification matches...

She had defeated a C-rank Wind Archer.

A support class defeating a combat class.

The result had shocked nearly everyone who watched the match.

Liu Ling still looked slightly nervous as she adjusted the strap of the small staff she carried.

"Good luck in the tournament," she said softly.

Then she quickly walked past them down the corridor.

Wang Hao stood there watching her retreating figure.

His eyes looked like they had just discovered a new universe.

Then, Wang Hao immediately grabbed Lin Yi’s arm and whispered urgently.

"Brother Lin."

"What?"

Wang Hao pointed dramatically toward the corridor where Liu Ling had disappeared.

"That one."

Lin Yi blinked.

"What about her?"

Wang Hao’s expression became extremely serious.

"She’s mine."

Lin Yi looked at him quietly.

Wang Hao suddenly grabbed his shoulder.

"You won’t pursue her, right?"

"Promise?"

Lin Yi almost laughed.

"...Wang Hao."

"Yes?"

"Focus on the tournament."

Wang Hao hesitated.

"...You didn’t promise."

Lin Yi simply started walking again.

"Let’s go."

After a few seconds, Wang Hao hurried after him.

"Hey!"

"Brother Lin!" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Just say you won’t!"

By the time they reached the end of the corridor, the arena entrance had already opened.

The stadium beyond was massive.

Thousands of seats surrounded the central battlefield, already filled with excited spectators.

The noise inside the arena was overwhelming.

Students waved banners supporting their friends while instructors discussed potential matchups from the observation stands.

Lin Yi and Wang Hao made their way to the participant seating area.

They had barely sat down when someone suddenly approached from the side.

Lin Yi then turned his head, and saw that Su Qinghan sat down beside him.

Her expression was calm, though a faint hint of focus lingered in her eyes.

"Good morning."

"Morning," Lin Yi responded.

Wang Hao looked between them suspiciously.

"...When did you two become so friendly?"

Su Qinghan glanced at him briefly.

"Is that a problem?"

Wang Hao quickly shook his head.

"No! Not at all!"

Then, the arena noise suddenly grew quieter, as all eyes turned toward the central stage.

An instructor had stepped onto the platform, and it was the same instructor who had hosted the qualification matches.

He then looked across the crowd with a proud expression.

"Students of Jianghe Hunter Academy!"

His voice echoed through the stadium.

"Today marks the beginning of the elimination round of our annual academy tournament!"

Cheers erupted across the stands, but the instructor raised his hand slightly.

"Only the strongest participants from the qualification matches remain."

"From this point onward..."

"Every battle will determine your future."

The atmosphere inside the arena tightened instantly.

The instructor continued.

"Win, and you advance."

"Lose, and your journey ends here."

He paused briefly before raising his voice again.

"Now then..."

His hand lifted toward the arena battlefield.

"Let the Elimination Round..."

"...begin!"