Ethan Cole sprinted across Leicester City's training pitch, the morning mist of August 19, 2011, clinging to the grass. With the Championship match against Derby County just days away on August 21, Ethan was laser-focused, knowing Jake Turner—now on loan at Derby—was gunning for him. The Football System buzzed in his mind, its interface brimming with stats and a sarcastic jab to keep him on his toes:
**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, pure flash, zero chill.*)
- Speed: 95/100 (Lisbon Lightning: 100%)
- Dribbling: 99/100 (Trickster Flair: 100%)
- Finishing: 84/100 (Galactic Strike: 25%)
- Milestones: Lisbon Showman (Mental Focus +5), Star Surge (Fan Appeal +10)
- **Stage 2: Manchester United (2006–09)** – Locked (*Grind harder, mate, or you're stuck with baby Ronaldo's shaky aim.*)
- **Stage 3: Real Madrid (2011 Peak)** – Locked (*Keep dreaming, hotshot. You're not dropping 50 goals a season yet.*)
- **Stats**:
- Stamina: 94/100 (Lisbon Dynamo: 100% – *You're a stamina king, but don't try racing a Ferrari.*)
- Mental Focus: 84/100 (*Sharp, but don't let Turner's smirk throw you off.*)
- Team Synergy: 88/100 (*The seniors vibe with you. Don't ruin it with diva antics.*)
- Passing Accuracy: 92/100 (*Smooth, but you're not Xavi threading needles.*)
- Heading: 81/100 (*Better, but you're not outjumping skyscrapers yet.*)
- Match Impact: 75/100 (*You're a game-changer, but not a legend… yet.*)
- Fan Appeal: 45/100 (*Fans love you, but you're not packing stadiums solo.*)
- **Assimilation Progress**: 25% (*You're catching Ronaldo's vibe, but you're still his scrappy cousin.*)
- **Task**: Score in the Derby County match to boost fan appeal.
- **Reward**: Unlock Lisbon Showman milestone (Mental Focus +5).
- **Advisory**: Use Lisbon's pace and flair to outshine Turner. Slack off, and you'll be Derby's laughingstock.
- **Penalty Protocol**: Attribute deductions only for match losses or slacking in training (*Lose or skip drills, and you'll be slower than a sleepy snail.*).
- **New Metric Unlocked**: Rival Impact (50/100 – *How much you punk your enemies, like Turner. Humiliate him, or he'll steal your shine.*).
Ethan chuckled at the system's snark, wiping sweat from his brow. "Sleepy snail, huh? Keep it coming," he muttered. The system's penalty rule—no deductions for missed shots, only for losses or laziness—let him play with swagger. The Ronaldo template's Sporting Lisbon stage, with its lightning speed and hypnotic dribbling, was perfect for outpacing Derby's defense, but Ethan knew he'd need to grind to unlock Manchester United's polish or Real Madrid's killer instinct. The detailed stats, new rival impact metric, and milestones made every session feel like a high-stakes game, and the system's humor kept him pumped.
Leicester's 2011–12 Championship season was heating up, with Sven-Göran Eriksson eyeing promotion with stars like Kasper Schmeichel, David Nugent, and Paul Gallagher. Ethan's goal and assist against Reading had amplified his butterfly effect, drawing scouts from Arsenal, Tottenham, and now Manchester City to Leicester's matches. A goal against Derby could make him a fan favorite, maybe even nudge Leicester toward an earlier rise than their 2015–16 miracle. But Jake Turner's loan to Derby, confirmed last week, was a ticking bomb. His dirty plays and scout talks hinted at a scheme to derail Ethan, and the system's warning (*He's got a big play planned*) kept Ethan sharp.
---
Training was brutal, Eriksson pushing the squad with high-intensity drills to prep for Derby's physical style. Ethan blazed through sprints, his Lisbon Lightning outpacing even Nugent. The system cheered: **Speed Progress +2%. Rival Impact +5 (*You're making Turner sweat already. Keep it up, Speedy.*).**
In a passing drill, Ethan linked with Danny Drinkwater, his passes crisp despite the Ronaldo template's raw edge. A sloppy touch drew a grunt from Gallagher, but the system stayed chill: **Passing Accuracy: 90%. No penalty, mate—just don't start passing like a Sunday leaguer.** Ethan tightened up, earning a nod from Drinkwater.
The scrimmage was where Ethan shone. In a blue bib, he faced a red team led by Gallagher. In the 10th minute, Drinkwater played a through ball. Ethan outran a defender, faked a shot, and laid off an assist to Nugent, who scored. The system chimed: **Assist! Team Synergy +3. Match Impact +10 (*Look at you, playing nice. Don't expect a group hug, though.*).**
Post-training, Ethan sprawled in the locker room, scrolling Instagram on his phone. His follower count had hit 7,000, fans hyping his Reading goal. He liked a comment from a Leicester supporter: *Cole's our new star! 🌟 Keep banging 'em in! ⚽* Ethan replied: *Cheers, mate! More to come 😎🔥*. Then, he swiped to a Hollywood gossip page, smirking at headlines: "Kim Kardashian's New Reality Show Drama 👀" and "Justin Bieber Spotted with Mystery Girl 😱." The system quipped: **Hollywood gossip, huh? Don't start chasing paparazzi instead of goals, Romeo.**
Nugent leaned over, glancing at Ethan's phone. "Bieber, really? Focus on Derby, Cole. Turner's been mouthing off, saying he'll shut you down." Ethan's jaw tightened, and the system warned: **Your stalker's got a big mouth. Bet he's got a dirtier play ready for the match. Don't let him punk you.**
---
That evening, Ethan met Mia Hart at The Brew, their first hangout in two chapters, respecting her busy influencer career with a new brand deal for a fashion shoot. She greeted him with a hug, her pink hair tucked under a cap, her smile lighting up the cozy café. "My Championship star 🌟," she teased, sliding him a latte. "Your Reading goal's all over my feed. You're blowing up! 😎"
Ethan grinned, the Ronaldo template's charm cranked high. "Gotta keep my number-one fan happy 😏," he said, sipping his drink. Mia showed him her latest Insta post—a selfie from her shoot, captioned: *New vibes, new deals 📸✨ #InfluencerLife*. Ethan commented: *Looking fire, as always 🔥💕*. She laughed, replying: *Only for you, superstar 😘*.
They chatted, Mia gushing about her shoot while Ethan shared Derby prep. "Turner's out to get me," he admitted, her eyes narrowing. "He's a loser, Ethan. You're ten times the player. Show him up 💪." Her confidence was a spark, and Ethan felt a rush of connection, though he kept future dreams—like Hollywood romances—out of his mind, per the arc's timeline.
As they left, Mia pulled him into a kiss under the café's fairy lights, slow and searing. Her hands slid to his neck, his gripping her waist, the heat building like a matchday roar. It was electric, a taste of the playboy life, but Ethan kept it grounded, savoring the moment without losing focus. The system snarked: **Mental Focus -1, but that was *spicy*. Don't skip training, or I'll play love ballads on repeat.**
Mia pulled back, her cheeks flushed. "Kill it against Derby, Ethan. I'll be watching 📺😉." Ethan smirked. "Count on it."
---
The next morning, Ethan hit the park, the system's new drill pushing his Ronaldo template:
**Star Surge Drill: Score 50 goals against moving defenders with 90% accuracy. Reward: Fan Appeal +5 (*Because Ronaldo was a crowd-pleaser, and you're not there yet.*).**
He fired shots past local kids, his Lisbon flair hypnotic. By the 48th goal, he was a machine, the system updating: **Drill Progress: 95%. Fan Appeal: 50/100 (*Fans are buzzing, but you're not a household name yet.*).**
At training, Pearson dropped a bombshell: "Derby's starting Turner. He's been hyping himself to scouts, saying he'll score and shut you down. We've got footage—he's planning to target you physically." The system warned: **Your stalker's gone full villain mode. Bet he's got a cheap shot ready. Dodge it, or you'll be limping instead of scoring.**
Ethan scrolled Instagram post-training, liking a Leicester fan's post: *Cole vs. Turner at Derby! Let's go, Ethan! 🦁⚽* He replied: *Ready to shine 😎💥*. Then, he swiped to a gossip page, chuckling at "Kanye West's New Album Rumors 🎤👀" and "Miley Cyrus's Wild Night Out 😜." The system quipped: **Gossip's fun, but don't start chasing TMZ instead of goals, mate.**
Ethan's jaw tightened as he pocketed his phone. The Derby match was a showdown, the Ronaldo template his edge, and Mia's faith—every other chapter—his fuel. But Jake's physical plan was a storm brewing, and the Championship was his proving ground. Would Ethan outshine his rival, or would Jake's scheme land a blow? The stage was set, and Ethan Cole was ready to steal the show.