Ethan Cole weaved through cones on Leicester City's training pitch, the morning sun of August 25, 2011, glinting off his sweat-soaked number 19 jersey. With the Championship match against Barnsley looming in two days, Ethan was honing his Ronaldo template, fueled by the need to crush Jake Turner's injury-prone rumor. The Football System buzzed in his mind, its interface flashing his full status panel and a sarcastic quip to keep him sharp:
**Football System: Status Panel**
- **Template**: SSS-Class Striker Template (Cristiano Ronaldo, Sporting Lisbon 2002–03 Stage)
- **Stage 1: Sporting Lisbon (2002–03)** – Focus: Raw Athleticism (*Teenage Ronaldo's pace and tricks, all flash, no polish.*)
- Speed: 95/100 (Lisbon Lightning: 100%)
- Dribbling: 99/100 (Trickster Flair: 100%)
- Finishing: 86/100 (Galactic Strike: 30%)
- Free Kicks: 75/100 (*You're no Beckham, but you're not shanking them into row Z.*)
- Passing Accuracy: 92/100 (*Crisp, but you're not Xavi threading needles.*)
- Heading: 82/100 (*Solid, but you're not outjumping giants yet.*)
- Stamina: 94/100 (Lisbon Dynamo: 100% – *You're a machine, but don't try racing a jet.*)
- Mental Focus: 89/100 (Lisbon Showman: 100% – *Sharp, but Turner's rumors are creeping in.*)
- Team Synergy: 89/100 (*The seniors vibe with you. Don't go full diva.*)
- Match Impact: 75/100 (*You're a game-changer, but not a legend.*)
- Fan Appeal: 65/100 (*Fans are buzzing, but you're not packing arenas yet.*)
- Rival Impact: 75/100 (*You're punking Turner, but he's not out cold.*)
- Vision: 85/100 (*You see plays, but you're not a psychic.*)
- Defensive Contribution: 70/100 (*You track back, but you're no Maldini.*)
- **Stage 2: Manchester United (2006–09)** – Locked (*Grind, mate, or you're stuck with baby Ronaldo's wild shots.*)
- **Stage 3: Real Madrid (2011 Peak)** – Locked (*Dream on, you're not raining goals yet.*)
- **Assimilation Progress**: 35% (*You're vibing with Ronaldo's spark, but you're still his scrappy sidekick.*)
- **Task**: Score in the Barnsley match to boost fan appeal.
- **Reward**: Unlock Star Surge milestone (Fan Appeal +10).
- **Advisory**: Use Lisbon's pace and shop items to dominate. Slack off, and you'll be Barnsley's joke.
- **Penalty Protocol**: Attribute deductions only for match losses or slacking in training (*Lose or skip drills, and you'll be slower than a snoozing turtle.*)
- **Shop & Points**:
- **Points**: 50 (*Your piggy bank's looking cute, champ.*)
- **Items**:
- Stamina Booster (25 points): Hydrates like water, boosts stamina +10 for one match (*No doping, just a refreshing gulp.*)
- Injury Reducer (30 points): Lowers injury risk by 20% for one match (*Keeps you spry, not bulletproof.*)
- Attribute Point (50 points): Add +1 to any stat (*Choose wisely, genius.*)
- Emergency Move: Lewandowski's 5-in-9 (100 points): Replicate his 5 goals in 9 minutes (*Go nuclear, but don't expect it cheap.*)
- Emergency Move: Beckham's Free Kick (75 points): Nail a curling free kick (*Bend it like a legend.*)
- Emergency Move: Messi's Solo Run (90 points): Dribble through an entire defense (*Weave like the GOAT.*)
- Emergency Move: Zlatan's Bicycle Kick (80 points): Land a jaw-dropping overhead kick (*Show off like the Lion.*)
Ethan smirked at the system's turtle jab, feeling the Ronaldo template's Lisbon stage surge through him. "Snoozing turtle, my arse," he muttered. The system's penalty rule—no deductions for missed shots, only for losses or laziness—let him push limits. The expanded shop, with new items like injury reducer and attribute point, gave him strategic options, especially against Jake's physical threats. The full status panel, detailing free kicks to defensive contribution, was like a football RPG, and the system's humor kept him hungry.
Leicester's 2011–12 Championship season was a pressure cooker, with Sven-Göran Eriksson aiming for promotion with Kasper Schmeichel, David Nugent, and Paul Gallagher. Ethan's goal and assist against Derby had amplified his butterfly effect, drawing scouts from Chelsea and Manchester City to Leicester's games. A goal against Barnsley could make him a fan icon, maybe even nudge Leicester toward an earlier rise than their 2015–16 miracle. But Jake's rumor—claiming Ethan was injury-prone—was spreading, with Derby's scouts hyping him to rival clubs. The system's warning (*He's got another dirty trick*) kept Ethan on edge.
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Training was relentless, Eriksson drilling the squad for Barnsley's counterattacks. Ethan used his 50 points to buy an **Injury Reducer** (30 points) and a **Stamina Booster** (20 points), feeling a surge of confidence as the system activated them: **Injury Reducer active: -20% injury risk vs. Barnsley. Stamina Booster active: Stamina +10 (*You're hydrated and tough, mate. Don't waste it.*).**
In a sprint drill, Ethan's Lisbon Lightning outpaced Nugent, his boosted stamina keeping him fresh. The system cheered: **Speed Progress +2%. Stamina: 104/100 (*You're a bloody rocket, but don't crash into the stands.*).** In a free-kick drill, Ethan curled one just wide, the system noting: **Free Kicks +2% (*Not bad, but you're not bending it like Beckham… yet.*).**
The scrimmage was Ethan's stage. In a blue bib, he faced a red team led by Gallagher. In the 15th minute, Drinkwater played a through ball. Ethan outran a defender, used Ronaldo's Trickster Flair to fake a shot, and scored with a low drive. The system chimed: **Goal! Match Impact +10. Fan Appeal +5 (*You're dazzling, but don't start signing autographs yet.*).**
Post-training, Ethan sprawled in the locker room, scrolling Instagram. His follower count hit 12,000, fans hyping his Derby performance. He posted a training clip, captioned: *Barnsley prep in full swing 🦁⚽ #LeicesterLad*. A fan commented: *You're our Ronaldo! Smash Barnsley! 🌟* Ethan replied: *Cheers, mate! Ready to roll 😎🔥*. Then, he swiped to a Hollywood gossip page, chuckling at headlines: "Beyoncé's Surprise Album Rumors 🎵👀" and "Johnny Depp's New Pirate Role 🏴☠️😱." The system quipped: **Hollywood's calling, huh? Don't ditch the pitch for a movie set, Romeo.**
Danny Drinkwater leaned over. "Turner's rumor's getting traction, Cole. A scout asked if you're 'fragile.' Shut it down against Barnsley." Ethan's jaw tightened, and the system warned: **Your stalker's lies are spreading like bad gossip. Score, or he'll have scouts doubting you.**
---
That evening, Ethan met Mia Hart at her flat, their first hangout since last week respecting her influencer career with a new fashion campaign. She greeted him with a kiss that sparked like a live wire, her pink hair loose, wearing a chic jumpsuit. "My Leicester star 🌟," she teased, pulling him to the couch. "Your Derby goal's blowing up my feed! 😎"
Ethan grinned, the Ronaldo template's charm dialed up. "Gotta keep my top fan hyped 😏," he said, showing her his Instagram post. Mia scrolled her phone, showing a campaign selfie captioned: *New shoot, new vibes 📸✨ #InfluencerLife*. Ethan commented: *Slaying it, as always 🔥💕*. She replied: *Only for my champ 😘*.
They cuddled, Mia sharing her campaign stress while Ethan vented about Jake's rumor. "He's jealous, Ethan," she said, her hand on his. "You're a rocket; he's a sparkler. Burn him out 💪." Her fire fueled him, and their kiss deepened, her hands sliding under his shirt, his gripping her hips. The heat was electric, a playboy's thrill, but Ethan kept it grounded, savoring the moment without losing focus.
Mia pulled back, cheeks flushed, smirking. "Win against Barnsley, and I'm throwing you a private party 😉📺." The system snarked: **Mental Focus -1, but that was *steamy*. Don't skip training, or I'll blast love songs on repeat.**
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The next morning, Ethan hit the park, the system's new drill pushing his Ronaldo template:
**Star Surge Drill: Perform 200 dribbles under pressure with 90% accuracy. Reward: Fan Appeal +3 (*Because Ronaldo was a crowd-pleaser, and you're getting there.*).**
He weaved past local kids, his Lisbon flair hypnotic. By the 195th dribble, he was untouchable, the system updating: **Drill Progress: 95%. Fan Appeal: 68/100 (*Fans are buzzing, but you're not a global heartthrob yet.*).**
At training, Pearson dropped news: "Turner's been hyping his Derby stats to scouts, saying he's tougher than you. Barnsley's defenders are physical—expect a scrap." The system warned: **Your stalker's lies are sticking. Score, or he'll have scouts calling you 'glass legs.'**
Ethan scrolled Instagram post-training, liking a fan's post: *Cole to smash Barnsley! 🦁⚽* He replied: *Bet on it 😎💥*. Then, he swiped to gossip: "Katy Perry's New Tour Drama 🎤😱" and "Ryan Reynolds' Latest Comedy Buzz 😂👀." The system quipped: **Gossip's fun, but don't trade goals for tabloids, mate.**
Ethan's jaw tightened. The Ronaldo template, boosted by shop items, was his edge, Leicester his stage, and Mia's faith and—the Field-- his spark.
But Jake's rumor was a storm brewing, and Barnsley's physicality loomed. Would Ethan silence the doubters, or would Jake's lies gain traction? The Championship was his crucible, and Ethan Cole was ready to blaze.