The late January frost glittered under Leicester's streetlights as Ethan Cole jogged through the city's vibrant market square on January 27, 2012, his breath clouding in the crisp air. Stalls bustled with vendors hawking hot pies and scarves, their shouts mixing with the laughter of fans in Leicester City blue, some chanting "Cole! Cole!" as he passed. Ethan flashed a grin, tossing a mock salute, his number 17 tracksuit catching the glow of fairy lights. The buzz of tomorrow's Championship clash against Southampton, the league leaders, electrified him, but tonight, Mia Hart's invite to a cozy pub date sparked a different kind of fire. The Football System hummed, its sarcasm a whisper: **Market's your runway, eh? Don't strut too hard before Southampton, champ.**
Ethan's pulse quickened, not just from the jog but from the weight of the moment. Jorge Mendes' contract talks were heating up—Leicester's offer versus Premier League giants Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea. The anonymous threat from last week (*Southampton's your stage, Cole. Fail, and you're done.*) and its stalker-like photo of him coaching kids gnawed at his focus. His main quest—Championship Golden Boot and title, with a Ronaldo template upgrade—burned brighter, but the shadow of an unseen enemy loomed larger.
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At a dimly lit Leicester pub, the mood was warm and electric. Mia Hart leaned against the bar, her pink hair loose, her influencer vibe softened by a leather jacket and jeans. The clink of glasses and a jukebox's soft rock set the scene as she smirked at Ethan. "You're stealing headlines, superstar 🌟," she teased, sliding him a pint. Ethan grinned, the Ronaldo template's charm smoothing his reply: "Only 'cause you're my muse, #1 😏." Mia laughed, her fingers brushing his arm, their chemistry crackling from their last steamy night."Crush Southampton, Ethan. I'll be watching 📺😉," she said, her eyes glinting with pride. Their banter flowed, playful but charged, her text later sealing it: *Kill it tomorrow, champ! Pub again soon? 🍺💕*. The system stayed quiet, letting the moment hum.
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The next day, Ethan stood in the tunnel of St Mary's Stadium, Southampton's ground, the roar of 30,000 fans a thunderous wave. The system updated, its tone razor-sharp:
**Football System Update**
- **Template**: SSS-Class Striker Template (Cristiano Ronaldo, Sporting Lisbon 2002–03 Stage)
- Speed: 100/100 (*Blinding blitz.*)
- Dribbling: 102/100 (*God-tier flair.*)
- Finishing: 101/100 (*Lethal sniper.*)
- Vision: 94/100 (*Playmaker elite.*)
- Stamina: 100/100 (*Unstoppable machine.*)
- Assimilation Progress: 98% (*Ronaldo's fire is yours.*)
- **Task**: Score in the Southampton match to lock Premier League interest.
- **Reward**: Unlock Lisbon Dynamo IV milestone (Stamina +3).
- **Advisory**: Use a skill card and shop item to torch Southampton's defense. Slack off, and you're their meme.
- **Penalty**: Attribute deductions only for match losses or training slacking.
- **Points**: 86 (*Spend wisely, champ.*)
Ethan adjusted his number 17 jersey, activating the **Zlatan's Scorpion Kick Card** (one-use, from Chapter 33): **Zlatan's Scorpion Kick active: Score with Zlatan's acrobatic flair (*One play, make it iconic.*).** He also used a **Vision Booster** bought for 25 points: **Vision Booster active: Vision +10 for Southampton (*See plays like a hawk.*).** The Ronaldo template's Lisbon stage was perfect for Southampton's formidable defense, a top-table side where a tight win was anticipated. The system stayed quiet, its sarcasm minimal.
Leicester's 2011–12 Championship season was a crucible, with Ethan's Nottingham Forest brace making him a global sensation. The Premier League spotlight—Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea scouts packing the stands—demanded a performance for the ages. The anonymous threat's stalker photo and Mendes' contract talks (Leicester loyalty vs. a £20 million Premier League leap) added razor-sharp stakes.
The tunnel roared, Leicester's blue kits gleaming beside Southampton's red and white. Danny Drinkwater nudged Ethan. "Southampton's top dogs, Cole. Break 'em, and those scouts'll be begging." Ethan nodded, his focus a laser, the stalker's photo sharpening his edge.
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The match kicked off under St Mary's floodlights, Southampton's defense a steel trap. Ethan's boosted vision and speed sliced through gaps. In the 12th minute, he used **Zlatan's Scorpion Kick**, meeting a high cross with an audacious backheel flick that arced over the keeper and kissed the net. The crowd erupted, stunned, as Leicester fans chanted "Cole! Cole!" The system noted: **Goal! Match Impact +40%. Fan Appeal +30 (*Zlatan would smirk. Card's done.*).**
Southampton equalized in the 20th minute, a header slipping past Schmeichel. The system warned: **1–1. Don't lose, or you're kissing stats goodbye.** Ethan pushed harder. In the 30th minute, Gallagher crossed. Ethan outjumped a defender, but Southampton's center-back clipped him, a missed foul. His header went wide, the system silent.
In the 42nd minute, Ethan struck again. He intercepted a pass, danced through two defenders with Ronaldo's flair, and rifled a low shot past the keeper. The net rippled, Leicester fans roaring.
**Goal! Lisbon Dynamo IV Progress: 50%. Match Impact +30% (*Scouts are buzzing.*).**
Halftime came at 2–1, Nigel Pearson grinning. "You're their kryptonite, Cole." The system updated: **Task Progress: 90%. One more goal or assist (*Keep it tight.*).**
The second half was a slugfest, Southampton's defense doubling down. Ethan's stamina kept him relentless, outrunning tiring defenders. In the 88th minute, he laid off a pinpoint assist to Nugent, who buried it, sealing a 3–1 victory. The stadium shook, Leicester fans in ecstasy.
**Assist! Task Complete: Score in Southampton match. Reward: Lisbon Dynamo IV Unlocked. Stamina: 103/100 (*You're a stamina god.*).**
The 3–1 win aligned with expectations for a strong team, Ethan's brace and assist earning him man of the match. A staffer whispered: "Mendes says United's bid hit £25 million. Liverpool and Chelsea are matching. Contract meeting tonight." The system quipped: **£25 million? Don't book a private jet yet, hotshot.**
The system glowed: **Points Earned: 75 (25 for win, 50 for two goals/assist). New Task: Score in the next match to lock Premier League interest. Reward: Lisbon Vision IV milestone (Vision +3). Side Quest: Score in five consecutive matches (Reward: One-Use Skill Card – Beckham's Free Kick).**
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**Championship League Table (Top 10, January 28, 2012)**
1. **Southampton**: 40 points, GD +17
2. **Leicester City**: 37 points, GD +16
3. **West Ham United**: 36 points, GD +14
4. **Cardiff City**: 34 points, GD +10
5. **Middlesbrough**: 33 points, GD +8
6. **Birmingham City**: 32 points, GD +7
7. **Crystal Palace**: 31 points, GD +5
8. **Hull City**: 30 points, GD +3
9. **Reading**: 29 points, GD +4
10. **Brighton & Hove Albion**: 28 points, GD +2
*Note: After 28 matches, Leicester's surge reflects Ethan's dominance.*
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Post-match, Mendes met Ethan in a sleek Leicester hotel suite, his sharp suit exuding authority. "Leicester's offering £30,000 a week, five years," Mendes said, his voice steady. "United, Liverpool, and Chelsea want you now—£50,000 a week, signing bonuses in the millions. Stay, and you're Leicester's legend. Go, and you're a Premier League star. Decide soon, Ethan." Ethan's jaw tightened, the choice a storm in his chest—loyalty or glory. The system stayed quiet, letting the tension simmer.
Ethan crashed at his flat, scrolling Instagram. His follower count hit 110,000, fans losing their minds over his Southampton heroics. He posted a match clip, captioned: *Southampton stormed, let's keep climbing 🦁⚽ #LeicesterLad*. Fans flooded the comments: *You're our GOD, Cole! 🌟🔥* Ethan replied: *Cheers, fam! We're unstoppable 😏💪*. Mia commented: *My champ's a legend! Pub was fun, more soon? 🍺😉*. He replied: *You know it, #1 😎💕*. He swiped to Hollywood gossip: "Adele's Grammy Sweep Buzz 🎵🏆" and "Ryan Gosling's New Rom-Com Hype 💕👀." The system stayed silent.
The Premier League hype had skeptics. A teammate forwarded a tweet: *Cole's unreal, but can he handle Old Trafford's stage? #LCFC*. Worse, Ethan's phone buzzed with another anonymous message: *Nice show, Cole. You're not untouchable.* Attached was a photo of him leaving the hotel with Mendes, taken from a rooftop. His blood ran cold, the stalker's reach growing bolder.
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The next morning, Ethan hit the park, the system's new drill pushing his Ronaldo template:
**Lisbon Vision IV Drill: Complete 300 passes under pressure with 95% accuracy. Reward: Vision +3 (*Ronaldo saw it all.*).**
He pinged balls past local kids, his flair sharp, the stalker's photo spurring him on. By the 290th pass, he was a maestro, the system updating: **Drill Progress: 95% (*Vision's elite.*).**
At training, Drinkwater dropped a bomb: "Brighton's next, Cole. They're scrappy, and they'll fight dirty. Scouts are coming, and Mendes was asking about your contract." The system warned: **Spotlight's a furnace. Brighton's a trap. Win, or you'll dim it.**
Ethan scrolled Instagram post-training, liking a fan's post: *Cole to crush Brighton! 🦁⚽* He replied: *Bet on it 😎💥*. But the rooftop photo haunted him, a specter he couldn't shake.
As Ethan stood in his flat, staring out at Leicester's skyline, his phone vibrated with a final anonymous message: *Brighton's your last warning, Cole.* Attached was a chilling video—grainy footage of him jogging in the market square yesterday, a red laser dot dancing on his chest. His heart stopped, the city's lights blurring as fear and fury collided. Brighton loomed, a scrappy test with Mendes' contract decision, Premier League giants, and a faceless enemy closing in. Ethan's fire roared, but the hunter was near, and the game was now life or death.