Chapter 144: Signature techniques

Before anyone even knew it, the so-called ghost was on the ground, having been thrown forwards by Henry in an advanced judo move.

"WHAT?!"

"How did he catch the Tomb off-guard like that? That man’s specialty was his slipperiness!"

"Did he make a mistake or something?!"

Tomb’s speciality was his ghost-like property. No normal grapple could catch him like that.

Only people who watched the fight properly caught the technique that Henry used.

"That’s the [Lightning Grasp of the Mountain]! Another one of the techniques from the Lindbergs!"

The people watching could only gasp out loud. As it turned out, it was another one of the Martial Manuals given by the Lindbergs!

Of course, people knew that Eren’s group was given the lootbox. However, it was stll surprising seeing them use the Martial Manuals like this with near perfect execution.

Usually, examinees would need months and months of practice before they could achieve Lower Proficiency Mastery with their Martial Manual. Especially with techniques that were higher rated, much like the ones that were given by the Lindbergs.

So, it was surprising that two of Eren’s group members showed an execution of a Martial Manual thought to be something meant only for talented people to wield.

"How come we haven’t scouted him yet?" asked someone from the Proctors.

Usually, a talent like this would have been enough to earn their interest. And yet, no one even knew this guy’s name before the duel started.

"That’s because he wasn’t talented like this before," Kaiser muttered to himself. He was the one who had been watching things intently from the very beginning.

He knew that Henry or Paul weren’t that talented in the first place. In fact, they were on the bottom end of the barrel. They weren’t even expected to go through the First Test at all. It was only through luck that they were able to advance.

But now, they were somehow able to defeat opponents that were way above their talent and skill level,

Did they truly just improve by a leap? Or was there something else going on?

Kaiser didn’t know. But he did know that Eren may have had something to do with it.

Meanwhile, back in the battlefield, Carter and the rest of his group were still unable to react after seeing Tomb go down so fast.

"Please send out my next opponent," said Henry. "I’m getting bored over here."

There was supposed to be no next opponent! Tomb was supposed to clean up the rest of them!

In the end, Carter clicked his tongue and looked at the rest of his group. "What are you all doing?! Go and defeat him!"

Another burly man took the stage to fight against Henry. Many people recognized this man, but not many people were impressed with his talent and skill.

But just like Tomb, Henry’s new opponent was unable to handle his Martial Manual technique.

The [Lightning Grasp of the Mountain] allowed him to imbue electricity in his touch, basically paralyzing his target making it easier to throw them using judo techniques that Henry was already used to.

Within a few exchanges Henry won against his opponent.

Three down, seven to go.

At this point, Eren had Henry voluntarily sit out the next battle. In truth, Henry could still fight the next battle with ease. But Eren could see that he was starting to get exhausted.

Eren didn’t want others to see that. It would be much better to show off an invincible facade.

So, Abe came up next.

Abe cracked his knuckles as he faced the fourth opponent that Carter sent out.

At this point, Carter and his group were starting to sweat. They no longer jeered at Eren’s group, and now turned completely serious in their mission to defeat them.

They were getting humiliated. They had yet to defeat a single person from Eren’s group, when they were bragging earlier about they wouldn’t even break a sweat while defeating all ten of them.

Abe’s opponent was a woman with frizzy black hair and eyeglasses. She looked like the typical nerdy girl.

"Usually, I do not raise my hand against women," Abe muttered. "So please, surrender now."

"Take it easy on me," the woman replied to him.

As the battle started, Abe was true to his word and didn’t attack. He waited for his opponent to surrender.

Then, the woman walked forwards with uneven steps. She ended up tripping over herself and almost falling face first into the floor.

Ever the chivalrous man, Abe immediately came to try and help the girl.

The frizzy-haired woman, who looked gentle and sheepish, immediately turned into a provoked witch. Her mouth curved downwards and her eyebrows turned into a sharp angle.

"RAGGHHH!" she screamed at him.

She clawed towards his face, scratching his right cheek.

Abe immediately staggered backwards, feeling blood drip from his face.

It was at this point that he also began to feel dizzy. He started to feel like the world was turning, and he couldn’t keep his feet steady.

"That’s what you get for underestimating the witch."

"She’s using a Martial Manual that inflicts poison upon anyone she injures."

"Yeah. Many people learn the hard way by losing against her before they even knew what was happening."

The Witch slowly approached Abe, now overconfident of her own victory. This was to be their first elimination, she thought to herself.

But just as she came nearer and nearer towards Abe, lightning suddenly crackled in the air.

Then, Abe disappeared, surprising the witch.

Before the Witch even turned around, she felt a sharp pain in her neck. Then, she slowly fell to the floor, unconscious.

Abe had appeared behind her and knocked her out with a swift karate chop.

"This was in self defense. I am sorry," Abe said to the Witch as she was knocked out on the floor.

After seeing this, many people couldn’t help but gasp out loud.

"[Lightning Step]! He actually used [Lightning Step]"

Seeing the signature Martial Manual of the Lindbergs being used like that was so out of the blue!