Ethan Cole stood in the tunnel of Ashton Gate Stadium, the roar of 14,000 fans vibrating through the walls on September 3, 2011. Leicester City's Championship match against Bristol City was a chance to bury Jake Turner's injury-prone rumor, now gaining traction with scouts tweeting doubts about Ethan's durability. The Football System crackled in his mind, its sarcastic voice cutting through the pre-match tension:
**Football System Update**
- **Template**: SSS-Class Striker Template (Cristiano Ronaldo, Sporting Lisbon 2002–03 Stage)
- Speed: 95/100 (*You're lightning, but don't try outrunning a storm.*)
- Dribbling: 99/100 (*Defenders are tripping over your stepovers.*)
- Finishing: 89/100 (*Lethal, but you're not sniping top bins yet.*)
- Assimilation Progress: 45% (*You're channeling Ronaldo's vibe, but you're not his clone.*)
- **Task**: Score in the Bristol City match to maintain starting role and counter Turner's rumor.
- **Reward**: Unlock Lisbon Flair milestone (Dribbling +1).
- **Advisory**: Use Lisbon's pace and shop items to dominate Bristol's bruisers. Slack off, and you'll be their tackling dummy.
- **Penalty Protocol**: Attribute deductions only for match losses or slacking in training (*Lose or skip drills, and you'll be slower than a dozing badger.*).
- **Points**: 70 (50 from last match, 20 saved) (*Your piggy bank's looking chubby, champ.*)
Ethan smirked at the system's badger jab, tightening his number 17 jersey—Leicester had upgraded his squad number after his Barnsley heroics. He'd used 45 points to buy a **Stamina Booster** (20 points) and an **Injury Reducer** (24 points, flash sale price), feeling their kick: **Stamina Booster active: Stamina +10. Injury Reducer active: -20% injury risk (*You're a hydrated tank, mate. Don't waste it.*).** The system's shop gave him an edge against Bristol's physicality, and its humor kept him sharp, like a mate goading him into action.
Leicester's 2011–12 Championship season was a pressure cooker, with Sven-Göran Eriksson pushing for promotion alongside Kasper Schmeichel, David Nugent, and Paul Gallagher. Ethan's string of goals—Coventry, Derby, Reading, Barnsley—had scouts buzzing, but Jake's rumor was a thorn, with a Bristol fan tweeting: *Cole's soft, Turner's got the real grit. 💪 #BristolCity*. The system's warning (*Turner's lies are spreading like wildfire.*) kept Ethan on edge.
The tunnel was electric, Leicester's blue kits gleaming beside Bristol's red. Nugent clapped Ethan's back. "Bristol's defenders are beasts, Cole. Show 'em you're tougher than Turner's lies." Ethan nodded, his mind on the match—and a mysterious post-match meeting with a "top agent" Pearson had hinted at.
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The match kicked off under Ashton Gate's floodlights, Bristol's physicality hitting hard. Ethan's Lisbon Lightning made him a blur, outpacing Bristol's right-back. In the 7th minute, Danny Drinkwater played a through ball. Ethan darted forward, controlled it with a silky flick, and fired a shot that the keeper parried. The crowd roared, and the system stayed chill: **Finishing Progress +3%. Match Impact +10 (*Nice try, mate. Keep testing that keeper.*).**
Bristol scored in the 12th minute, a low shot from a counter beating Schmeichel. The system warned: **Down 1–0. Don't let this end in a loss, or you'll be kissing 5% of your stats goodbye.** Ethan gritted his teeth, doubling down. In the 20th minute, Nugent crossed from the left. Ethan outjumped a defender, but Bristol's center-back—a 6'4" brute—elbowed him mid-air, a foul the ref missed. Ethan's header went wide, his injury reducer keeping him unscathed. The system noted: **Heading Progress +2% (*That thug's playing dirty. Stay tough, champ.*).**
Jake's rumor fueled the aggression. In the 30th minute, the center-back clipped Ethan's shin during a sprint, forcing a brief limp. The crowd booed, but no card came. The system snapped: **Your stalker's lies are making you a punching bag. Good thing you've got that injury reducer.** Ethan shook it off, his stamina booster keeping him relentless.
In the 40th minute, Ethan struck. He intercepted a pass, weaved through two defenders with Ronaldo's Trickster Flair—stepovers dazzling like a young Ronaldo—and rifled a curling shot. The ball soared past the keeper, rippling the net.
**Goal! Lisbon Flair Progress: 50%. Match Impact +25%. Fan Appeal +15 (*That's the Ronaldo spark! Fans are going wild, superstar.*).**
The Leicester fans erupted, chanting "Cole! Cole!" Ethan slid on his knees, glaring at the center-back, who scowled back. Halftime came at 1–1, and Pearson nodded to Ethan. "Great goal, Cole. Keep that fire." The system updated: **Task Progress: 90%. One more goal or assist to seal it (*Don't choke, or you'll be Bristol's meme.*).**
The second half was a grind, Bristol's defense doubling down. Ethan's boosted stamina kept him fresh, outrunning tiring defenders. In the 70th minute, the center-back fouled him again, earning a yellow. The system quipped: **Your brute's begging for a red card. Keep dancing, and he'll be off.** In the 85th minute, Ethan latched onto a diagonal ball, outran Bristol's backline, and laid off a pinpoint assist to Gallagher, who smashed it in.
**Assist! Task Complete: Score in Bristol match. Reward: Lisbon Flair Unlocked. Dribbling: 100/100. Rival Impact +15 (*You're punking Turner's lies. Bet he's raging in Derby.*).**
The match ended 2–1, Leicester victorious. Ethan's goal and assist earned him man of the match, fans chanting his name as he waved to the stands. Pearson confirmed his starting role, and a Manchester City scout lingered, murmuring about "summer transfer potential." The system glowed: **Points Earned: 50 (25 for win, 25 for goal/assist). New Task: Score in next match to maintain fan appeal. Reward: Lisbon Precision milestone (Finishing +2).**
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Post-match, Ethan was summoned to a sleek office at the King Power Stadium, where Nigel Pearson introduced a sharply dressed man with a commanding presence: Jorge Mendes, the world's top football agent, known for representing Cristiano Ronaldo and José Mourinho. Mendes extended a hand, his Portuguese accent smooth. "Ethan Cole, you're a star in the making. I want to manage you."
Ethan's heart raced, the system chiming: **Big leagues, mate! Mendes is the real deal. Don't sign anything stupid.** Over coffee, Mendes outlined his vision: global stardom, Premier League moves, and major endorsements. "Your goals are viral," he said, showing Ethan's Instagram clips hitting 20,000 likes. "But Turner's rumor is a problem. We need to lock in your value now."
Mendes had already negotiated a new contract with Leicester, leveraging Ethan's performances. The details were staggering for an 18-year-old:
**New Contract (Leicester City, effective September 2011)**
- **Duration**: 3 years (until June 2014)
- **Weekly Wage**: £5,000 (up from £500 youth contract)
- **Bonuses**: £2,000 per goal, £1,000 per assist, £10,000 for man of the match
- **Appearance Fee**: £3,000 per start
- **Release Clause**: £10 million (to deter mid-season poaching)
- **Agent Fee**: 10% of Ethan's earnings to Mendes
Ethan signed, his hand steady, the system quipping: **Congrats, moneybags. Don't buy a yacht yet.** The contract was a lifeline, securing his future at Leicester while Mendes promised to field Premier League offers by summer. "Focus on goals," Mendes said, handing him a card. "I'll handle the scouts and Turner's noise."
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That evening, Ethan crashed at his flat, scrolling Instagram. His follower count hit 18,000, fans hyping his Bristol goal. He posted a match clip, captioned: *Bristol bagged, let's keep rolling 🦁⚽ #LeicesterLad*. A fan commented: *You're our Ronaldo! Keep shining! 🌟* Ethan replied: *Cheers, mate! More to come 😎🔥*. Then, he swiped to a Hollywood gossip page, smirking at headlines: "Taylor Swift's New Single Sparks Frenzy 🎵😱" and "Leonardo DiCaprio's Yacht Party Buzz 🛥️👀." The system jabbed: **Gossip's fun, but don't trade goals for tabloid drama, champ.**
He texted Mia Hart, setting up a coffee date for tomorrow: *Yo, free for a latte? ☕😉* She replied: *Always for my star boy 😎💪*. The system quipped: **Planning a date? Keep it chill, Romeo, or I'll play sappy love tunes.**
Jake's rumor wasn't dead. A teammate forwarded a tweet from a Derby fan: *Turner says Cole's faking toughness. He'll break soon. 💪 #DerbyCounty*. The system warned: **Your stalker's lies are sticking like glue. Next match is Southampton—they're fast. Score, or he'll have scouts calling you brittle.**
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The next morning, Ethan hit the park, the system's new drill pushing his Ronaldo template:
**Lisbon Precision Drill: Score 50 shots from tight angles with 90% accuracy. Reward: Finishing +2 (*Because Ronaldo didn't miss sitters, and you won't either.*).**
He fired shots past local kids, his Lisbon flair lethal. By the 48th shot, he was a sniper, the system updating: **Drill Progress: 95% (*You're a sharpshooter, but don't start posing for statues.*).**
At training, Nugent dropped news: "Turner's been spotted with a Southampton scout, hyping his 'durability' over yours. Their wingers are rapid—be ready." The system warned: **Your stalker's playing dirty. Southampton's a test. Dominate, or his lies will haunt you.**
Ethan scrolled Instagram post-training, liking a fan's post: *Cole to crush Southampton! 🦁⚽* He replied: *Bet on it 😎💥*. Then, he swiped to gossip: "Kanye West's Fashion Line Drama 👗😱" and "Emma Watson's New Film Hype 🎬👀." The system jabbed: **Tabloids again? Keep your eyes on the pitch, mate.**
Ethan's jaw tightened. The Ronaldo template, boosted by shop items, was his weapon, Leicester his stage, and Mendes his new shield. Mia's faith—next chapter—kept him grounded, but Jake's lies were a storm brewing, and Southampton's speed loomed. Would Ethan silence the doubters, or would Jake's rumor sway scouts? The Championship was his crucible, and Ethan Cole was ready to burn bright.