Worldwide Class Change: Minimal Effort, Maximum Reward!-Chapter 40, 0.87 Seconds, A New Record by the S Class

Chapter 40: Chapter 40, 0.87 Seconds, A New Record by the S Class

The instructor’s voice still echoed through the arena when the giant display screen above the battlefield flickered to life.

Names began appearing one after another as the tournament system finalized the first matchups.

The crowd leaned forward in anticipation.

Every elimination round battle would now matter.

Every victory pushed a student closer to the finals.

Every defeat meant the end of the tournament.

The instructor stepped aside and raised his arm toward the display.

"The first match of the elimination round... begins now."

The screen flashed, and two names appeared.

Chen Feng vs Li Zhan

The arena erupted the moment the first name appeared.

"Chen Feng!"

"The S-rank!"

"Of course he’s first!"

Chen Feng was already famous throughout Jianghe Hunter Academy, an S-rank class holder and a prodigy even instructors spoke about with open admiration.

Wang Hao then leaned forward in his seat, "Brother Lin... we get to see the monster first."

"I’m curious too," Lin Yi said, looking toward the arena entrance.

A moment later the gates opened. Chen Feng walked onto the battlefield wearing a fitted combat uniform, his posture carrying an effortless confidence that distinguished him immediately from anyone else who had walked that floor. His sword rested loosely at his side as though the weapon weighed nothing. Even from the seating area, the aura around him felt sharp.

Across the arena, his opponent entered. Li Zhan, a broad-shouldered warrior class student whose expression was serious but whose tension was visible in every line of his shoulders. Facing Chen Feng in the first round was not something anyone wanted.

"Participants ready."

Both students nodded. The instructor raised his hand.

"Begin!"

Chen Feng moved. It wasn’t even a full step, just a slight shift forward. A flash of steel cut through the air.

SHING!

A single sword arc streaked across the battlefield. Then everything stopped. The entire arena froze in silence. Li Zhan stood perfectly still, eyes slightly wide. Then his weapon dropped from his hand, as the tip of Chen Feng’s blade was already resting against his throat.

"Match over! Winner — Chen Feng!"

The arena exploded.

"What the hell?!"

"That was instant!"

"One second!"

"No — less than a second!"

The display screen updated.

Match Duration: 0.87 Seconds — New Tournament Record!

Wang Hao slapped his own forehead. "That’s ridiculous!"

Lin Yi watched quietly as Chen Feng calmly sheathed his sword and walked off the arena without looking back, as though the fight had been a minor inconvenience in his day.

"That guy is insane." Wang Hao shook his head and leaned closer. "Brother Lin... did you even see that?"

"Yes."

His voice remained calm. But inside, something stirred. That sword movement had been clean, precise, and efficient. Not flashy. Just pure, distilled combat skill. Lin Yi felt something rare rising within him. Excitement. He didn’t let it show. His expression stayed even, but the thought formed quietly in the back of his mind. Fighting someone like that would be interesting.

Beside him, Wang Hao kept talking. "If I face that monster, I’m surrendering immediately."

"Coward."

"Brother Lin!" Wang Hao pointed at him dramatically. "That’s called survival instinct!"

Meanwhile, the next matches began quickly, as the elimination round schedule was tight, and the instructors wasted no time.

The display screen flashed again, and another pair of names appeared.

With that, two other students entered and the next match began. It was immediately followed by the clashing of steel and the violent burst of mana that flew across the battlefield.

This fight lasted nearly four minutes before a warrior class student finally defeated his opponent with a heavy shield strike.

The arena cheered again.

Then another match followed.

And another.

Some battles ended quickly.

Others dragged on longer as evenly matched students fought desperately to stay in the tournament

Su Qinghan’s match came next.

She immediately stepped onto the battlefield with calm, unshaken confidence. She was widely known for her mastery of ice-element techniques, a style both elegant in execution and lethal in effect.

Frost spread quickly across the ground beneath her feet, the temperature dropping with every passing second. Within barely two minutes, the fight was already decided. Her opponent struggled briefly against the creeping cold, but it was useless. A thick shell of frost closed around his body, locking him completely in place, motionless and defeated.

"Winner — Su Qinghan!"

She returned to the seating area shortly after. Wang Hao gave her an immediate thumbs-up.

"That was awesome."

Su Qinghan nodded slightly and sat beside Lin Yi, her gaze drifting back toward the battlefield. "The competition level is higher than the qualification round."

"Yes," Lin Yi agreed.

The bracket continued progressing. After nearly an hour of battles the instructor stepped forward again, and the display screen flickered with two new names.

Lin Yi vs Liu Ling

The arena went briefly silent, then erupted into whispers.

"Wait... Liu Ling?"

"The priest girl?"

"The one who defeated the wind archer?"

Wang Hao blinked rapidly. "...Brother Lin."

Lin Yi looked at the screen calmly.

"You’re fighting the shy girl from earlier!" Wang Hao pointed toward the battlefield with visible distress.

Su Qinghan looked slightly surprised as well. "Liu Ling?"

Lin Yi stood up slowly. "Yes."

Wang Hao grabbed his sleeve. "Brother Lin! Take it easy on her!"

"...Why?"

"She’s cute!" Wang Hao whispered with complete urgency.

Lin Yi laughed quietly, then walked toward the arena entrance. Across the battlefield, Liu Ling was already stepping forward. She looked just as nervous as before, both hands gripping her small priest staff tightly. When her eyes met Lin Yi’s across the arena floor, she looked even more flustered. Meanwhile, the crowd watched with open curiosity. A lifestyle class Laborer versus a recovery priest support class. A very strange matchup.

"Participants take your positions."

Lin Yi stepped onto the battlefield. Liu Ling stood several meters away, her expression caught between nervousness and quiet determination. The instructor lifted his hand.

"Begin!"

...

A/N: Thanks for reading this far. If you’re enjoying what you’re reading, please support with power stones and gifts!