Ethan Cole jogged onto the Madejski Stadium's pitch, the floodlights blazing against the August 13, 2011, evening sky. Leicester City's second Championship match of the 2011–12 season against Reading was a chance to solidify his starting role, and the roar of 15,000 fans fueled his fire. The Football System crackled in his mind, its interface loaded with stats and a sarcastic jab to keep him sharp:
**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 finesse.*)
- Speed: 95/100 (Lisbon Lightning: 100%)
- Dribbling: 99/100 (Trickster Flair: 100%)
- Finishing: 82/100 (Galactic Strike: 20%)
- Milestones: Breakthrough Star (Match Impact +10), Lisbon Showman (Mental Focus +5)
- **Stage 2: Manchester United (2006–09)** – Locked (*Keep grinding, mate, or you're stuck with baby Ronaldo's wild shots.*)
- **Stage 3: Real Madrid (2011 Peak)** – Locked (*You're not ready for the big boy goals, hotshot.*)
- **Stats**:
- Stamina: 94/100 (Lisbon Dynamo: 100% – *You're a stamina beast now, but don't try outrunning a jet.*)
- Mental Focus: 81/100 (*No Pink Hair today, so maybe you'll stay sharp.*)
- Team Synergy: 87/100 (*The seniors respect you. Don't ruin it with diva vibes.*)
- Passing Accuracy: 91/100 (*Crisp, but you're not spraying passes like Pirlo.*)
- Heading: 80/100 (*Getting better, but you're not winning aerial duels with giants yet.*)
- Match Impact: 45/100 (*You're making waves, but you're not a hurricane… yet.*)
- **Assimilation Progress**: 20% (*You're starting to feel like Ronaldo's cousin. Train harder, or you'll be stuck in Lisbon forever.*)
- **Task**: Maintain starting role with a goal or assist against Reading.
- **Reward**: Unlock Breakthrough Star milestone (Match Impact +10).
- **Advisory**: Use Lisbon's pace and flair to dominate. Impress Eriksson, or you'll be fetching water for Nugent.
- **Penalty Protocol**: Attribute deductions only for match losses or slacking in training (*Lose or skip drills, and you'll be slower than a napping tortoise.*).
- **New Metric Unlocked**: Fan Appeal (30/100 – *Fans are noticing you, but you're not a poster boy yet. Keep shining.*).
Ethan grinned at the system's sass, adjusting his number 19 jersey. "Keep the tortoise jabs coming, mate," he muttered. The system's penalty rule—no deductions for missed shots, only for losses or laziness—gave him freedom to play aggressively. The Ronaldo template's Sporting Lisbon stage, with its blistering speed and dazzling dribbling, was tailor-made for Championship chaos, but Ethan knew he'd need to grind to unlock Manchester United's polish or Real Madrid's lethal finishing. The detailed stats, new fan appeal metric, and milestones made every match a thrilling level-up, and the system's humor kept him hooked.
Leicester's 2011–12 season was a pressure cooker, with Sven-Göran Eriksson aiming for promotion with stars like Kasper Schmeichel, David Nugent, and Paul Gallagher. Ethan's goal and assist in the Coventry opener had amplified his butterfly effect, drawing scouts from Arsenal and Tottenham to Leicester's matches. A strong performance today could lock in his starting spot, maybe even nudge Leicester toward an earlier rise than their 2015–16 miracle. But Jake Turner's scheme—his loan move to Derby County confirmed, with rumors of a plot to target Ethan in an upcoming match—loomed large. The system's warning (*He's cooking something spicier than a curry*) kept Ethan on high alert.
The tunnel was electric, Leicester's blue kits gleaming beside Reading's white and blue hoops. Nugent nudged Ethan. "Big stage, Cole. Show 'em you're no fluke." Ethan nodded, spotting a familiar face in Reading's lineup—not Jake, but a burly defender rumored to be his mate from Coventry, likely primed to rough him up. The system quipped: **No Turner, but his goon squad's here. Bet they've got orders to bruise you. Don't let them dull your sparkle, superstar.**
"Game on," Ethan growled, stepping onto the pitch.
---
The match exploded into life, Reading's high press testing Leicester's resolve. Ethan's Lisbon Lightning made him a menace, outpacing Reading's left-back. In the 12th minute, Danny Drinkwater played a diagonal ball. Ethan darted forward, controlled it with a flashy flick, and fired a shot that the keeper parried. The crowd roared, and the system stayed supportive: **Finishing Progress +3%. Match Impact +7 (*Nice try, mate. Keep peppering that keeper.*).**
Reading scored in the 20th minute, a curling free kick beating Schmeichel. The system warned: **Ouch, you're down. Don't let this turn into a loss, or you'll be kissing 5% of your stats goodbye.** Ethan gritted his teeth, doubling down. In the 30th minute, Nugent crossed from the right. Ethan outjumped Reading's burly defender—Jake's mate—who tugged his shirt, but Ethan powered through, heading the ball just wide. The ref missed the foul, and the system snarked: **Heading Progress +2%. Match Impact +5 (*Nice effort, but that thug's playing dirty. Stay cool, or you'll be brawling instead of balling.*).**
Then Jake's scheme surfaced. In the 40th minute, the defender targeted Ethan during a corner, elbowing him in the ribs out of the ref's sight. Ethan winced, stumbling, but stayed on his feet. The defender smirked, whispering, "Turner says hi." The system snapped: **Dirty play alert! Your stalker's got his minions on the case. Shake it off, or he'll be cackling from Derby.**
Ethan channeled the pain into fire. In the 45th 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 ball curled past the keeper, rippling the net.
**Goal! Breakthrough Star Progress: 50%. Match Impact +20%. Fan Appeal +10 (*That's the Ronaldo magic! You've got the fans chanting, hotshot.*).**
The Madejski erupted, Leicester fans chanting "Cole! Cole!" Ethan pumped his fist, glaring at the defender, who scowled back. Scouts scribbled furiously, one whispering about "Manchester United interest." Ethan's goal was a butterfly effect, boosting Leicester's reputation as a talent factory, potentially drawing bigger signings like Jamie Vardy early. The ripple could reshape their Championship campaign.
Halftime came at 1–1. Eriksson's assistant, Nigel Pearson, nodded to Ethan. "Keep that goal-scoring spark, Cole. You're our edge." The system updated: **Task Progress: 90%. One more goal or assist to lock it in (*Don't choke now, or you'll be back to youth team naps.*).**
The second half was a slugfest, Reading's defense tightening. Ethan's pace kept them stretched, but the burly defender's fouls persisted. In the 70th minute, he clipped Ethan's ankle, prompting a yellow card but no penalty. The system quipped: **Your stalker's mate is begging for a red card. Keep shining, he'll be sent off before you know it.**
In the 88th minute, Ethan's moment arrived. Drinkwater played a through ball, and Ethan outran Reading's defense, his speed a blur. He cut inside, faked out the keeper, and laid off a perfect assist to Nugent, who smashed it in. The stadium roared, and Ethan's teammates mobbed him.
**Assist! Task Complete: Maintain starting role. Reward: Breakthrough Star Unlocked. Match Impact: 75/100. Fan Appeal +15 (*You're a bloody star now, mate. Don't start signing movie deals yet.*).**
The match ended 2–1, Leicester victorious. Ethan's goal and assist earned 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 Tottenham scout approached, hinting at future talks. The system glowed: **New Task: Score in next Championship match to boost fan appeal. Reward: Lisbon Showman milestone (Mental Focus +5) (*Keep dazzling, or you'll be back to fetching Gallagher's boots.*).**
Post-match, Ethan checked his phone, his Instagram buzzing with new followers—5,000 and climbing, thanks to his viral goal. He posted a clip of his strike, captioning it: *Just getting started 💪⚽ #LeicesterLad*. Comments flooded in, including one from Mia Hart: *Killing it, superstar! 😎 Call me soon! 💕* Ethan grinned, replying: *You know it, my #1 fan 😏📞*. The system snarked: **Aw, flirting on Insta? Don't let those heart emojis distract you, Romeo.**
---
The next morning, Ethan hit the park, the system's new drill pushing his Ronaldo template:
**Lisbon Showman Drill: Perform 200 flair moves under pressure with 90% accuracy. Reward: Mental Focus +3 (*Because Ronaldo didn't crack under pressure, and you won't either.*).**
He danced through cones with local kids as defenders, his stepovers hypnotic. By the 190th move, he was untouchable, the system updating: **Drill Progress: 95%. Mental Focus: 84/100 (*You're a showman, but don't start juggling for the circus yet.*).**
At training, Nugent dropped a bombshell: "Turner's loan to Derby is official. He's starting against us in two weeks. Word is, he's been hyping himself to scouts, saying he'll outshine you." The system warned: **Your stalker's coming for blood. Bet he's got a big play planned for that Derby match. Don't let him steal your crown, drama queen.**
Ethan's jaw tightened. The Ronaldo template was his weapon, Leicester his stage, and Mia's support—every other chapter—his spark. But Jake's loan move was a storm brewing, and the Derby match loomed like a showdown. Would Ethan keep his streak alive, or would Jake's scheme strike? The Championship was his crucible, and Ethan Cole was ready to burn bright.