The early October breeze rustled through Willow Creek's quiet streets as Ethan Cole sat on his childhood home's porch, a mug of tea warming his hands on September 30, 2011. The modest terrace house, with its chipped paint and creaky gate, was a world away from the roar of Leicester City's King Power Stadium, where he'd face Ipswich Town tomorrow. His mum, Sarah, joined him, her apron dusted with flour from baking. "You're quiet, love," she said, her eyes soft. "Big match on your mind?"
Ethan smiled, the weight of his number 17 Leicester jersey swapped for a hoodie. "Yeah, but it's more than that," he admitted. The Football System hummed in his mind, its sarcastic voice unusually gentle: **Deep thoughts, eh? Don't go all poet on me, champ.** Last night's family dinner had stirred memories—kicking a battered ball in the park, his dad, Tom, cheering despite a double shift at the factory. Ethan shared a dream he'd barely voiced: starting a football academy in Willow Creek to give local kids a shot, like he'd gotten. "I want to give back," he said, voice low. "Make sure no kid here feels stuck."
Sarah squeezed his arm, her pride palpable. "You're already their hero, Ethan. Keep shining, and you'll build that dream." Inside, his sister, Lily, blasted music from her room, teasing him about his Instagram fame. His dad, nursing a pint, recounted Ethan's first goal at age six, eyes misty. These moments—raw, rooted—grounded Ethan, a tether to his past as Manchester United and Liverpool's interest loomed. The system quipped: **Family's your anchor, but don't get too comfy. Ipswich won't hug you tomorrow.**
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The next day, Ethan stood in the tunnel of Portman Road, Ipswich Town's stadium, the roar of 17,000 fans pulsing through the walls. The system crackled, its tone 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, pure fire.*)
- Speed: 97/100 (Lisbon Lightning: 100%)
- Dribbling: 100/100 (Trickster Flair: 100%)
- Finishing: 92/100 (Galactic Strike: 40%)
- Free Kicks: 77/100 (*Better, but you're not curling like Juninho.*)
- Passing Accuracy: 92/100 (*Crisp, but you're not Iniesta.*)
- Heading: 84/100 (*Solid, but you're not outjumping towers.*)
- Stamina: 97/100 (Lisbon Dynamo II: 100% – *You're a machine, but don't race a bullet.*)
- Mental Focus: 90/100 (*Laser-sharp, but don't let United's buzz distract you.*)
- Team Synergy: 90/100 (*The lads vibe with you. Don't go solo.*)
- Match Impact: 85/100 (*You're a game-changer, but not a myth yet.*)
- Fan Appeal: 80/100 (*Fans adore you, but you're not global… yet.*)
- Rival Impact: 80/100 (*Turner's buried, but doubters linger.*)
- Vision: 88/100 (*You see plays, but you're not a prophet.*)
- Defensive Contribution: 72/100 (*You track back, but you're no Beckenbauer.*)
- **Stage 2: Manchester United (2006–09)** – Locked (*Grind harder, or you're stuck with baby Ronaldo's wild shots.*)
- **Stage 3: Real Madrid (2011 Peak)** – Locked (*Dream on, you're not dropping 50 goals yet.*)
- **Assimilation Progress**: 65% (*Ronaldo's fire's in you, but you're not his clone.*)
- **Task**: Score in the Ipswich match to amplify Premier League interest.
- **Reward**: Unlock Lisbon Precision II milestone (Finishing +3).
- **Advisory**: Use Lisbon's flair and shop items to outwit Ipswich's grit. Slack off, and you'll be their meme.
- **Penalty Protocol**: Attribute deductions only for match losses or slacking in training (*Lose or skip drills, and you'll be slower than a napping ferret.*).
- **Points**: 86 (*Your piggy bank's ready to spend, champ.*)
Ethan adjusted his jersey, feeling the surge of a **Recovery Tonic** he'd bought for 15 points: **Recovery Tonic active: 50% faster recovery post-Ipswich (*You'll bounce back like a spring, mate.*).** The Ronaldo template's Lisbon stage, with its elite speed and dribbling, was perfect for Ipswich's solid defenders, and the recovery tonic ensured he'd stay fresh. The system's humor fueled him, like a mate daring him to dazzle.
Leicester's 2011–12 Championship season was a high-stakes climb, with Ethan's Cardiff goal and assist keeping fans buzzing. The Premier League spotlight—Manchester United and Liverpool scouts attending today's match—added electric pressure. Ipswich's gritty defense was a test, and Ethan was ready to prove he was big-league material.
The tunnel buzzed, Leicester's blue kits gleaming beside Ipswich's blue and white. Paul Gallagher nudged Ethan. "Ipswich will try to bully you, Cole. Dance through 'em, and make those United scouts drool." Ethan nodded, the system quipping: **Premier League eyes on you. Don't trip over your own hype, superstar.**
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The match kicked off under Portman Road's floodlights, Ipswich's defense pressing hard. Ethan's vision and speed made him a menace, slicing through gaps. In the 10th minute, he darted past a defender, received a pass from Drinkwater, and fired a shot that grazed the post. The crowd gasped, and the system cheered: **Finishing Progress +3%. Match Impact +10 (*Close, mate. Keep rattling that keeper!*).**
Ipswich scored in the 15th minute, a header from a corner beating a defender. 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 25th minute, Gallagher crossed from the right. Ethan outjumped a defender, but Ipswich's center-back—a towering brute—shoved him mid-air, a foul the ref missed. Ethan's header went wide, and the system noted: **Heading Progress +10% (*That giant's a wall, but you're tougher.*).**
In the 38th minute, Ethan struck. He intercepted a pass, weaved through two defenders with Ronaldo's Trickster Flair—stepovers dazzling under the lights—and rifled a low shot past the keeper. The net rippled, and Leicester fans erupted.
**Goal! Lisbon Precision II Progress: 50%. Match Impact +30%. Fan Appeal +20 (*That's the Ronaldo fire! Scouts are scribbling, champ.*).**
Halftime came at 1–1, and Nigel Pearson nodded. "You're their problem, Cole. Keep it up." The system updated: **Task Progress: 90%. One more goal or assist to seal it (*Don't choke, or you'll be Ipswich's meme.*).**
The second half was a slugfest, Ipswich's defense tightening. Ethan's stamina and recovery tonic kept him relentless, outrunning tiring defenders. In the 80th minute, he latched onto a through ball, faked a shot, and laid off a pinpoint assist to Nugent, who buried it. The stadium roared, Leicester fans chanting "Cole! Cole!"
**Assist! Task Complete: Score in Ipswich match. Reward: Lisbon Precision II Unlocked. Finishing: 95/100. (*You're a sniper, and United's scouts are buzzing.*).**
The match ended 2–2, a late Ipswich equalizer, but Ethan's goal and assist shone, earning him fan applause. Post-match, a Leicester assistant whispered: "United and Liverpool scouts were impressed, but there's a third club now—Chelsea's in the mix. They're planning a meeting." Ethan's pulse raced, the Premier League intrigue deepening. The system buzzed: **Three clubs? You're not just a star—you're a bloody auction item!**
The system glowed: **Points Earned: 35 (10 for draw, 25 for goal/assist). New Task: Score in the next match to lock in Premier League interest. Reward: Lisbon Flair II milestone (Dribbling +1).**
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Post-match, Ethan crashed at his flat, scrolling Instagram. His follower count hit 36,000, fans hyping his Ipswich goal. He posted a match clip, captioned: *Ipswich battled, but we're still climbing 🦁⚽ #LeicesterLad*. Fans flooded the comments: *You're our king, Cole! 🌟* Ethan replied: *Cheers, fam! Let's keep it going 😏🔥*. Mia commented: *My champ's a beast! Catch up soon? ☕😉*. He replied: *You know it, my #1 😎💪*. The system quipped: **Insta love fest? Keep it cool, Romeo, or I'll make you jog to love tunes.**
The Premier League buzz wasn't all smooth. A teammate forwarded a tweet from a pundit: *Cole's class, but can he handle Premier League pressure? #LCFC*. The system warned: **Big leagues are watching, but the next match is Millwall—they're physical. Score, or you'll give doubters fuel.**
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The next morning, Ethan hit the park, the system's new drill pushing his Ronaldo template:
**Lisbon Flair II Drill: Perform 300 dribbles under pressure with 90% accuracy. Reward: Dribbling +1 (*Because Ronaldo made defenders cry, and you're close.*).**
He danced past local kids, his Lisbon flair electric. By the 290th dribble, he was untouchable, the system updating: **Drill Progress: 95% (*You're a showman, but don't join the circus.*).**
At training, Drinkwater dropped news: "Millwall's defenders are tanks, Cole. They'll try to rough you up. And those scouts? They're coming again—United, Liverpool, Chelsea." The system warned: **Premier League spotlight's blazing, but Millwall's a trap. Dominate, or you'll dim that glow.**
Ethan scrolled Instagram post-training, liking a fan's post: *Cole to crush Millwall! 🦁⚽* He replied: *Bet on it 😎💥*. The system jabbed: **Fans are your army, but don't let Insta make you lazy, champ.**
Ethan's jaw tightened. The Ronaldo template, boosted by the recovery tonic, was his weapon, Leicester his stage, and Mia's faith—next chapter—his fuel. The Premier League trio—Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea—was a new crucible, and Millwall's physicality loomed. Would Ethan cement his big-league path, or would doubters find a crack? The Championship was his fire, and Ethan Cole was ready to blaze.