The mid-February twilight shimmered over Leicester's bustling Old Market Square as Ethan Cole jogged through the throng on February 10, 2012, his breath clouding in the chilly air. Street performers strummed guitars, their melodies blending with the chatter of fans in Leicester City blue, some shouting, "Cole! Light up Birmingham!" Ethan flashed a dazzling grin, tossing a cheeky wave, his energy a spark igniting the city's pulse. The Championship clash against Birmingham City loomed tomorrow, but tonight, Mia Hart's text—*Fancy a milkshake at the diner, superstar? 😜*—stirred a different kind of excitement. The Football System hummed, its sarcasm a whisper: **Square's your stage, eh? Don't let Birmingham's midfield steal the spotlight, mate.**
Ethan's thoughts churned with the stakes. Jorge Mendes' contract talks were a high-wire act—Leicester's devotion clashing with the Premier League's allure from Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea. The anonymous threat's live-feed video, a red laser dot on his chest outside his family's home, haunted him, its warning (*Birmingham's your reckoning*) a shadow on his focus. His quest for the Championship Golden Boot and title, with a Ronaldo template upgrade as the reward, burned bright, but the unseen hunter's presence loomed larger.
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In a retro Leicester diner, neon signs buzzed, casting a warm glow over checkered tables. Mia Hart slid into the booth across from Ethan, her pink hair tucked under a cap, her casual sweater and jeans radiating effortless charm. "You're breaking the internet, champ 🌟," she teased, sipping a strawberry milkshake. Ethan leaned back, the Ronaldo template's charisma smoothing his reply: "Only 'cause you're my vibe, #1 😎." Mia smirked, nudging his foot under the table, their banter crackling with playful heat. "Burn Birmingham down, Ethan. I'll be watching 📺😉," she said, her eyes glinting with pride. Their chemistry simmered, the memory of their last steamy night (Chapter 32) a quiet pulse. Mia's text later sealed it: *Smash it tomorrow, champ! Diner rematch soon? 🥤💕*. The system stayed silent, letting the moment breathe.
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The next day, Ethan stood in the tunnel of St Andrew's, Birmingham City's stadium, the roar of 18,000 fans a pulsing wave. The system updated, its tone sharp:
**Football System Update**
- **Template**: SSS-Class Striker Template (Cristiano Ronaldo, Sporting Lisbon 2002–03 Stage)
- Speed: 100/100 (*Blinding pace.*)
- Dribbling: 102/100 (*Untouchable flair.*)
- Finishing: 101/100 (*Lethal precision.*)
- Vision: 97/100 (*Playmaker sharp.*)
- Stamina: 103/100 (*Relentless machine.*)
- Assimilation Progress: 99.5% (*Ronaldo's fire is yours.*)
- **Task**: Score in the Birmingham match to lock Premier League interest.
- **Reward**: Unlock Lisbon Flair IV milestone (Dribbling +3).
- **Advisory**: Use a skill card and shop item to outwit Birmingham's defense. Stumble, and you're their meme.
- **Penalty**: Attribute deductions only for match losses or training slacking.
- **Points**: 86 (*Spend smart, champ.*)
Ethan adjusted his number 17 jersey, activating the **Maradona's Hand of God Card** (one-use, from Chapter 35): **Maradona's Hand of God active: Sneak a sly goal with Diego's cunning (*One play, make it cheeky.*).** He also used a **Vision Booster** bought for 25 points: **Vision Booster active: Vision +10 for Birmingham (*See the pitch like a hawk.*).** The Ronaldo template's Lisbon stage was perfect for Birmingham's tenacious midfield, where a tight win was anticipated per the 2011–12 Championship schedule. The system stayed quiet, its sarcasm minimal.
Leicester's 2011–12 Championship season was a pressure cooker, with Ethan's Brighton hat-trick (Chapter 35) making him a global sensation. The Premier League spotlight—Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea scouts crowding the stands—demanded a performance for the ages. The anonymous threat's laser-dot video and Mendes' contract talks (£40,000/week Leicester vs. £70,000/week Premier League) added lethal stakes.
The tunnel buzzed, Leicester's blue kits gleaming beside Birmingham's navy and white. Danny Drinkwater nudged Ethan. "Birmingham's out for blood, Cole. Break 'em, and those scouts'll be begging." Ethan nodded, the laser-dot video sharpening his resolve.
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The match kicked off under St Andrew's floodlights, Birmingham's midfield pressing like wolves. Ethan's boosted vision carved through gaps. In the 16th minute, he used **Maradona's Hand of God**, subtly nudging a looping cross past the keeper with his hand during a chaotic scrum, the ref missing the call. The net rippled, Leicester fans erupting as Birmingham's players fumed. The system noted: **Goal! Match Impact +40%. Fan Appeal +30 (*Diego would smirk. Card's done.*).**
Birmingham equalized in the 25th minute, a sharp volley slipping past Schmeichel. The system warned: **1–1. Don't falter, or your stats take a hit.** Ethan pushed harder. In the 40th minute, Drinkwater lofted a pinpoint cross. Ethan met it with a first-time volley, his foot connecting with a thunderous crack, the ball rocketing into the top corner. The stadium shook, Leicester fans chanting his name.
**Goal! Lisbon Flair IV Progress: 50%. Match Impact +30% (*Scouts are buzzing.*).**
Birmingham struck back in the 50th minute, a curling free kick finding the net. The system cautioned: **2–2. Dig in, or you're done.** The second half was a slugfest, Birmingham's defense tightening. Ethan's stamina kept him relentless. In the 82nd minute, Leicester broke on a counter-attack. Ethan sprinted 60 yards, latched onto a through ball from Nugent, and slotted a cool finish past the keeper, clinching a 3–2 victory. The stands erupted, Leicester fans in a frenzy.
**Goal! Task Complete: Score in Birmingham match. Reward: Lisbon Flair IV Unlocked. Dribbling: 105/100 (*You're a dribbling god.*).**
The 3–2 win, unique with a controversial handball, a first-time volley, and a counter-attack goal, aligned with expectations for a strong team, Ethan's brace and man-of-the-match performance electrifying the crowd. A staffer whispered: "Mendes says United's bid hit £35 million. Liverpool and Chelsea are matching. Meeting tonight." The system quipped: **£35 million? Don't buy a jet yet, hotshot.**
The system glowed: **Points Earned: 75 (25 for win, 50 for two goals). New Task: Score in the next match to lock Premier League interest. Reward: Lisbon Precision V milestone (Finishing +3). Side Quest: Score a long-range goal this season (Reward: One-Use Skill Card – Ronaldinho's Joga Bonito).**
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Post-match, Mendes met Ethan in a sleek Leicester hotel suite, his eyes sharp. "Leicester's desperate—£45,000 a week, eight years, a hero's legacy," he said, his voice steady. "United's offering £80,000, Liverpool and Chelsea close behind, with global stardom. Birmingham was your spark, Ethan. One more match to tip the scales." Ethan's jaw tightened, the choice—loyalty or glory—burning in his chest. The laser-dot video loomed, a silent menace.
Ethan crashed at his flat, scrolling Instagram. His follower count hit 130,000, fans losing their minds over his Birmingham heroics. He posted a match clip, captioned: *Birmingham blazed, let's keep climbing 🦁⚽ #LeicesterLad*. Fans flooded the comments: *You're our HERO, Cole! 🌟🔥* Ethan replied: *Cheers, fam! We're soaring 😏💪*. Mia commented: *My champ's a legend! Diner was fun, coffee soon? ☕😉*. He replied: *You know it, #1 😎💕*. He swiped to Hollywood gossip: "Taylor Swift's New Album Hype 🎵💖" and "Chris Hemsworth's Thor Sequel Buzz ⚡👀." The system stayed quiet.
Premier League hype had skeptics. A teammate forwarded a tweet: *Cole's a freak, but can he handle Old Trafford? #LCFC*. Worse, Ethan's phone buzzed with another anonymous message: *Birmingham was luck, Cole. You're out of time.* Attached was a photo of Mia leaving the diner last night, a red laser dot on her back. His blood ran cold, the threat now endangering those he loved.
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The next morning, Ethan hit the park, the system's new drill pushing his Ronaldo template:
**Lisbon Precision V Drill: Smash 350 tight-angle shots with 95% accuracy. Reward: Finishing +3 (*Ronaldo was ruthless.*).**
He blasted shots past local kids, his focus a blade, Mia's photo spurring him on. By the 340th shot, he was a sniper, the system updating: **Drill Progress: 95% (*Lethal vibes.*).**
At training, Drinkwater dropped a warning: "Cardiff's next, Cole. They're physical, and they'll rough you up. Scouts are coming, and Mendes was asking about your contract." The system warned: **Spotlight's a furnace. Cardiff's a trap. Win, or you'll dim it.**
Ethan scrolled Instagram post-training, liking a fan's post: *Cole to crush Cardiff! 🦁⚽* He replied: *Bet on it 😎💥*. But Mia's photo haunted him, a line crossed.
As Ethan walked home under Leicester's streetlights, a car idled nearby, its engine low. His phone buzzed with a final anonymous message: *Cardiff's your endgame, Cole.* Attached was a live audio feed—his voice from training that morning, joking with Drinkwater, recorded from a hidden mic. His heart pounded, the city's glow fading as fear and fury collided. Cardiff loomed, a February 14 fixture per the 2011–12 schedule, with Mendes' contract decision, Premier League giants, and a faceless enemy closing in. Ethan's fire roared, but the hunter was everywhere, and the game was now survival.
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