They called it the Shadow Pool.
Not in the official system records. Not on the visible roster charts. But in quiet corners of the Capital Flame Circuit, under murmurs exchanged by instructors and thread analysts, it had a name. And that name was always spoken like a warning.
The Shadow Pool wasn't for under performers.It was for unwanted talent.
Candidates too inconsistent to promote, too dangerous to drop, too volatile to fit the mold. A handful of players who burned with brilliance,but burned everything around them when they weren't handled right.
And now, Raj had been asked to lead them.
Not in theory.Not later.Now.
The message came during cooldown after his alliance match with Trisha.
He'd barely toweled off, heart still beating with residual precision from that final soft stroke past Ishan, when the system pulsed something deeper, colder.
⟐ SYSTEM DECISION REQUEST ⟐
▸ Subject: RC-042 – Raj
▸ Offer: Flame Preview Squad (Tier 1) – Open
