The Unseen Signature

The day of the technical review dawned with a sterile, almost oppressive silence in the League's High-Security Assessment Dome. Unlike the vibrant chaos of a game, this place hummed with the precise, cold efficiency of advanced diagnostics. Technicians, clad in stark white jumpsuits, moved with practiced ease around gleaming machinery. Ryoma Sato, accompanied by a stern-faced league official, stood at a viewing platform, his gaze sharp and expectant.

Kenji and the Graviton Ghosts stood on a designated testing pad, their Grav-Gauntlets laid out on a sterile table. Kenji felt the familiar, ancient hum of the Aether's Echo System, now even more muted, almost a whisper. He had spent the last few days pouring over the system's "Anti-Detection Measures" protocols, pushing its hidden capabilities to their limits.

"Alright, Coach Tanaka," the lead technician, a thin woman with sharp eyes, announced, her voice devoid of emotion. "We'll begin with the standard Grav-Gauntlet integrity scans. Then we'll move to energy output and manipulation pattern analysis. Any unauthorized modifications or anomalous energy signatures will be flagged immediately."

Kenji nodded calmly, a subtle flicker of a smile playing on his lips. "Proceed."

The technicians first scanned Riku's gauntlet. Beams of light crisscrossed the device, followed by a torrent of data on a large monitor. "Grav-Gauntlet signature: Normal. Energy output: Within expected parameters for a high-level junior player. No anomalies detected."

Riku let out a small sigh of relief. Kenji had coached him through a series of subtle internal adjustments, making his powerful bursts appear less erratic, more controlled, and therefore, less "anomalous" to standard scans. The Echo had helped him streamline Riku's raw power, making it seem like pure, natural talent.

Next was Akari's. The technician's brows furrowed slightly. "Manipulation patterns... highly efficient. Almost unusually so for a player of this level. But within acceptable deviations for elite precision users. No hard anomalies."

Akari's Curving Echo shot was what had truly unnerved Ryoma. Kenji knew this. The Echo System had been working overtime to mask the infinitesimally small, almost imperceptible nudges it had provided during that shot. It wasn't about hiding the result, but the method. The system had essentially created a "gravitational camouflage," making the highly refined movements appear as a natural extension of Akari's own skill, rather than an external influence. The "Echo" was just that – an echo, not a shout.

"Coach Tanaka," the lead technician said, turning her attention to Kenji. "Your personal gauntlet, please. We need to confirm it's purely for diagnostic purposes."

Kenji handed over his ancient Grav-Gauntlet. Its dull bronze gleamed under the scanner's lights. Ryoma Sato leaned forward, his eyes narrowed, anticipating a clear breach.

The scanner hummed, probing the archaic device. Data scrolled rapidly across the screen. The technicians watched, their expressions unreadable. Seconds stretched into a tense minute.

"Analysis complete," the lead technician finally announced, a hint of confusion in her voice. "Grav-Gauntlet signature: Unregistered. Energy source: Indeterminate. No internal modern components detected. It appears to be… an antique decorative piece, Coach Tanaka. It has no discernible functional capacity for gravitational manipulation, nor any detectable output."

A stunned silence filled the dome. Ryoma Sato's jaw dropped. "What?!" he burst out. "That's impossible! That was the source of the anomalies!"

The lead technician turned to him, her expression firm. "Mr. Sato, our scans are definitive. This device is inert. It presents no threat and displays no capacity for interfering with live gameplay. Frankly, it's just a very old piece of metal."

Kenji maintained his calm demeanor, but inside, a surge of triumph rocketed through him. The Aether's Echo System had not merely hidden itself; it had transformed its signature. It was an ancient system that could exist outside the recognized parameters of modern Aetherball technology. It was literally invisible to their scans because it didn't operate on their energy principles. It was an echo, not a signal.

Ryoma stormed forward, snatching Kenji's gauntlet from the technician's hand. He pressed buttons, tried to activate it, but nothing happened. The dull bronze remained lifeless. "This is a trick!" he snarled, glaring at Kenji. "You're hiding something!"

Kenji met his gaze, a quiet fire in his eyes. "Mr. Sato," he said, his voice measured, "your team was outplayed. My team simply rediscovered the true art of Aetherball. Perhaps you should focus less on conspiracy and more on refining your own players' techniques."

The league official stepped in, his expression one of irritation. "Mr. Sato, the technical review is conclusive. There is no evidence of foul play. The Graviton Ghosts are cleared for continued participation in the Regional Qualifiers." He turned to Kenji. "Coach Tanaka, your team's style is indeed... unique. But it's within the rules. Congratulations."

As Kenji and his team walked out of the assessment dome, leaving a fuming Ryoma Sato behind, Riku clapped him on the back. "Coach, you're a genius! How did you do it?"

Kenji simply smiled, his hand subtly brushing the ancient gauntlet beneath his jacket. "Some secrets," he said, "are best kept within the Aether itself."

The victory in the technical review was a significant hurdle cleared. But Kenji knew this was far from over. Ryoma Sato wouldn't give up easily. He might not have detected the Aether's Echo System, but his suspicions remained. The next challenge would not be against the scanner, but against the relentless scrutiny of the Ascension League and the growing legend of the Graviton Ghosts. The shadows of the past were closing in, even as their future shone brighter than ever.