Ethan Cole stood in the tunnel of Leicester City's King Power Stadium, the roar of 20,000 fans vibrating through the concrete walls. It was August 6, 2011, the opening match of the 2011–12 Championship season against Coventry City, and Ethan's first start for Leicester's senior team. The Football System blazed in his mind, its interface packed with stats and a sarcastic quip to keep him on edge:
**Football System: SSS-Class Striker Template (Cristiano Ronaldo, Sporting Lisbon 2002–03 Stage)**
- **Template Stages**:
- **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: 80/100 (Galactic Strike: 15%)
- Milestones: Lisbon Dynamo (Stamina +5), Breakthrough Star (Match Impact +10)
- **Stage 2: Manchester United (2006–09)** – Locked (*Keep grinding, mate, or you're stuck with skinny Ronaldo's wobbly shots.*)
- **Stage 3: Real Madrid (2011 Peak)** – Locked (*Dream on, hotshot. You're not raining goals at the Bernabéu yet.*)
- **Stats**:
- Stamina: 89/100 (*You're lasting longer, but don't expect to outrun a cheetah.*)
- Mental Focus: 80/100 (*No Pink Hair today, so maybe you'll actually concentrate.*)
- Team Synergy: 85/100 (*The seniors like you now. Don't ruin it with showboating.*)
- Passing Accuracy: 90/100 (*Crisp passes, but you're not threading needles like Iniesta.*)
- Heading: 79/100 (*Jump higher, or you'll lose headers to kids.*)
- Match Impact: 15/100 (*You're making waves, but you're not a tsunami yet.*)
- **Assimilation Progress**: 15% (*You're barely Ronaldo's warm-up act. Train like you mean it.*)
- **Task**: Start in Championship season opener and score or assist to solidify senior role.
- **Reward**: Unlock Lisbon Dynamo milestone (Stamina +5).
- **Advisory**: Use Lisbon's pace and flair to dominate. Impress Eriksson, or you'll be signing autographs for Coventry fans.
- **Penalty Protocol**: Attribute deductions only for match losses or slacking in training (*Lose or skip drills, and you'll be slower than a hungover sloth.*).
Ethan smirked at the system's sass. "Cheers for the vote of confidence, mate," he muttered, rolling his shoulders. The system's penalty rule—no deductions for missed shots, only for losses or laziness—gave him freedom to swing for the fences. The Ronaldo template's Sporting Lisbon stage, with its explosive speed and flashy dribbling, was perfect for Leicester's fast-paced style, but Ethan knew he'd need to grind to unlock Manchester United's all-around game or Real Madrid's goal-scoring machine. The detailed stats and milestones made every match feel like a high-stakes RPG, and the system's humor kept him hungry.
Leicester's 2011–12 Championship season was a crucible, with Sven-Göran Eriksson building a squad around Kasper Schmeichel, David Nugent, and Paul Gallagher to chase promotion. Ethan's senior team spot had sparked a butterfly effect, drawing Premier League scouts to Leicester's matches and boosting their youth pipeline. A goal or assist today could cement his starting role, maybe even nudge Leicester toward an earlier ascent than their 2015–16 Premier League miracle. But Jake Turner's scheme—hinted at by his scout talks and dirty plays—loomed large, and the system's warning (*He's got a big move coming*) kept Ethan vigilant.
The tunnel was electric, Leicester's blue kits gleaming beside Coventry's sky-blue. Ethan, wearing number 19, stood beside Nugent, who clapped his back. "Ready to shine, Cole?" Ethan nodded, his eyes catching Jake Turner in Coventry's lineup—a guest spot, likely arranged through his scout connections. Jake's smirk was pure venom, and the system quipped: **Your stalker's pulled strings to crash your party. Bet he's got a dirty trick up his sleeve. Don't let him steal your thunder, superstar.**
"Game on," Ethan growled, stepping onto the pitch.
---
The match kicked off under the King Power's floodlights, the crowd's roar fueling Ethan's veins. The Ronaldo template's Lisbon Lightning made him a blur, outpacing Coventry's right-back. In the 8th minute, Danny Drinkwater lofted a through ball. Ethan darted past Jake, controlled it with a flashy flick, and fired a shot that the keeper tipped over. The crowd roared, and the system stayed supportive: **Nice effort, mate. Finishing Progress +2%. Match Impact +5 (*Keep swinging, you'll break that keeper yet.*).**
Coventry struck in the 15th minute, a counterattack ending with a low shot past Schmeichel. Jake didn't score but celebrated like he had, pointing at Ethan with a taunting grin. The system snarked: **Oh, your fanboy's gloating already. Time to shut him up, or I'll start rooting for his ponytail.**
Ethan's jaw tightened. He doubled down, pressing Coventry's backline. In the 25th minute, Nugent crossed from the left. Ethan, using Ronaldo's raw athleticism, outjumped a defender to head the ball, but it clipped the bar. The system chimed: **Heading Progress +3%. Match Impact +7 (*Close, but you're not nodding in headers like a prime Ronaldo yet.*).**
Then Jake's scheme unfolded. In the 35th minute, during a set piece, Jake whispered something to Coventry's center-back, who nodded. Moments later, the defender clipped Ethan's ankle in the box, a subtle foul the ref missed. Ethan stumbled, losing a scoring chance, and Jake smirked, whispering, "Told you to watch your back." The system snapped: **Dirty play alert! Your soap opera villain's got his mates in on it. Shake it off, or he'll be laughing all match.**
Ethan gritted his teeth, channeling the pain into focus. In the 42nd minute, he intercepted a pass, weaved through two defenders with Ronaldo's Trickster Flair—stepovers dazzling like a young Ronaldo—and rifled a low shot. The keeper dived, but the ball slipped under him, rippling the net.
**Goal! Lisbon Dynamo Progress: 50%. Match Impact +20% (*That's the Ronaldo spark! You've got the crowd eating out of your hand, mate.*).**
The King Power erupted, chanting "Cole! Cole!" Ethan pumped his fist, staring Jake down, who scowled back. Scouts scribbled furiously, one whispering about "Arsenal interest." Ethan's goal was a butterfly effect, boosting Leicester's reputation as a talent hub, potentially drawing bigger signings like Riyad Mahrez early. The ripple could reshape their trajectory, setting them up for a faster rise.
Halftime came with the score 1–1. Eriksson's assistant, Nigel Pearson, clapped Ethan's shoulder. "Great goal, Cole. Keep that fire for the second half." The system updated: **Task Progress: 80%. One more goal or assist to seal it (*Don't get cocky, or you'll be back to signing kids' shirts.*).**
The second half was a grind, Coventry's defense tightening. Ethan's pace kept them stretched, but Jake's influence persisted. In the 65th minute, Coventry's center-back fouled Ethan again, a sneaky elbow the ref ignored. Ethan stayed on his feet, but the system quipped: **Your stalker's got the ref blind. Keep shining, or he'll be gloating on Twitter.**
In the 80th minute, Ethan's moment came. Drinkwater played a diagonal ball, and Ethan outran Jake, his Lisbon Lightning blazing. He cut inside, faked out the keeper, and laid off a perfect assist to Nugent, who tapped it in. The stadium roared, and Ethan's teammates mobbed him.
**Assist! Task Complete: Shine in season opener. Reward: Lisbon Dynamo Unlocked. Stamina: 94/100. Match Impact +25% (*Look at you, setting up goals like a bloody maestro. Eriksson's in love.*).**
The match ended 2–1, Leicester victorious. Ethan's goal and assist made him man of the match, fans chanting his name as he left the pitch. Pearson confirmed his starting role for the next game, and a scout approached, hinting at Premier League interest. The system glowed: **New Task: Maintain starting role with consistent performances. Reward: Breakthrough Star milestone (Match Impact +10) (*Keep it up, or you'll be back to fetching Nugent's water.*).**
Jake, outshone, lingered by the tunnel, whispering to a Coventry scout. The system warned: **Your nemesis is cooking something spicier than a curry. Bet it's tied to the next match. Watch out, drama queen.**
---
Post-match, Ethan skipped a meetup with Mia Hart, respecting her busy schedule as an influencer with a new photo shoot deal. Her last text—*Killed it, superstar! Call me tomorrow*—kept him smiling, but he focused on recovery, knowing she'd be back in his orbit soon. The system quipped: **No Pink Hair tonight? Smart move, Romeo. Keep your eyes on the ball, not her curves.**
The next morning, Ethan hit the park, the system's new drill pushing his Ronaldo template:
**Breakthrough Star Drill: Score 50 goals in match-like scenarios with 90% accuracy. Reward: Match Impact +5 (*Because nothing says Ronaldo like stealing the show.*).**
He fired shots past local kids acting as defenders, the Lisbon stage's flair making him unstoppable. By the 45th goal, he was a machine, the system updating: **Drill Progress: 90%. Match Impact: 45/100 (*You're a star, but don't start signing movie deals yet.*).**
At training, Nugent warned Ethan: "Turner's been spotted with a Derby scout, pushing for a loan move to face us soon. He's saying you're a fluke." The system snarked: **Told you! Your stalker's got a vendetta bigger than a reality TV feud. Bet he's planning a big hit.**
Ethan's jaw tightened. The Ronaldo template was his edge, Leicester his stage, and Mia his spark for every other chapter. But Jake's scheme was a storm brewing, and the Championship season was a crucible. Would Ethan keep his starting spot, or would Jake's plot strike? The game was on, and Ethan Cole was ready to rewrite history.