Ethan Cole stood in the tunnel of Derby County's Pride Park, the roar of 25,000 fans shaking the walls on August 21, 2011. Leicester City's third Championship match of the 2011–12 season was a grudge match, with Jake Turner—on loan at Derby—primed to unleash his scheme to outshine Ethan. The Football System crackled in Ethan's mind, its interface loaded with stats and a sarcastic quip 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 swagger, no chill.*)
- Speed: 95/100 (Lisbon Lightning: 100%)
- Dribbling: 99/100 (Trickster Flair: 100%)
- Finishing: 86/100 (Galactic Strike: 30%)
- Milestones: Lisbon Showman (Mental Focus +5), Star Surge (Fan Appeal +10)
- **Stage 2: Manchester United (2006–09)** – Locked (*Grind, mate, or you're stuck with baby Ronaldo's wild swings.*)
- **Stage 3: Real Madrid (2011 Peak)** – Locked (*Not yet, hotshot. You're not dropping hat-tricks like confetti.*)
- **Stats**:
- Stamina: 94/100 (Lisbon Dynamo: 100% – *You're a stamina beast, but don't try outrunning a rocket.*)
- Mental Focus: 84/100 (*Turner's smirk's in your head. Snap out of it, champ.*)
- Team Synergy: 89/100 (*The seniors vibe with you. Don't ruin it with hero ball.*)
- Passing Accuracy: 92/100 (*Smooth, but you're not pinging passes like Scholes.*)
- Heading: 82/100 (*Better, but you're not dunking on defenders yet.*)
- Match Impact: 75/100 (*You're a game-changer, but not a legend.*)
- Fan Appeal: 50/100 (*Fans are buzzing, but you're not a pop star… yet.*)
- Rival Impact: 55/100 (*You're punking Turner, but he's not down for the count.*)
- **Assimilation Progress**: 30% (*You're catching Ronaldo's spark, but you're still his scrappy sidekick.*)
- **Task**: Score in the Derby match to boost fan appeal and neutralize Turner's scheme.
- **Reward**: Unlock Lisbon Showman milestone (Mental Focus +5).
- **Advisory**: Use Lisbon's pace and flair to bury Turner. Slack off, and you'll be Derby's punchline.
- **Penalty Protocol**: Attribute deductions only for match losses or slacking in training (*Lose or skip drills, and you'll be slower than a dozing sloth.*).
Ethan smirked at the system's jab, tightening his number 19 Leicester jersey. "Dozy sloth, huh? Let's see who's napping," he muttered. The system's penalty rule—no deductions for missed shots, only for losses or laziness—gave him freedom to attack. The Ronaldo template's Sporting Lisbon stage, with its lightning speed and hypnotic dribbling, was perfect for outmaneuvering Derby's physical defense, but Ethan knew he'd need to grind to unlock future stages. The detailed stats, rival impact metric, and milestones made every match a high-stakes quest, and the system's humor kept him fired up.
Leicester's 2011–12 Championship season was a crucible, with Sven-Göran Eriksson chasing promotion with Kasper Schmeichel, David Nugent, and Paul Gallagher. Ethan's performances—goal and assist against Coventry, same against Reading—had amplified his butterfly effect, drawing scouts from Arsenal, Tottenham, and Manchester City to Leicester's games. A goal today could make him a fan icon, maybe even nudge Leicester toward an earlier rise than their 2015–16 miracle. But Jake Turner, starting for Derby, was a live wire. His dirty plays and scout talks hinted at a physical scheme to target Ethan, and the system's warning (*He's got a cheap shot ready*) kept Ethan on edge.
The tunnel was electric, Leicester's blue kits gleaming beside Derby's white. Jake stood across from Ethan, his smirk venomous. "Ready to crash, Cole?" he taunted. Ethan grinned. "Keep talking, Turner. I'll let my boots answer." The system quipped: **Ooh, sick burn. Now back it up, or your stalker's gonna be gloating on Insta.**
---
The match kicked off under Pride Park's floodlights, Derby's physicality testing Leicester's resolve. Ethan's Lisbon Lightning made him a blur, outpacing Derby's right-back. In the 10th minute, Danny Drinkwater played a through ball. Ethan darted past Jake, controlled it with a flashy flick, and fired a shot that the keeper tipped wide. The crowd roared, and the system stayed chill: **Finishing Progress +3%. Match Impact +8 (*Nice try, mate. Keep hammering that keeper.*).**
Derby scored in the 18th minute, Jake bullying past a defender to slot home a low shot. He celebrated with a taunting point at Ethan, shouting, "That's how it's done, Cole!" The system warned: **Your stalker's got one, and he's gloating. Don't let this end in a loss, or you'll be kissing 5% of your stats goodbye.**
Ethan's blood boiled. He doubled down, pressing Derby's backline. In the 28th minute, Nugent crossed from the left. Ethan outjumped a defender, but Jake—tracking back—shoved him mid-air, a foul the ref missed. Ethan's header went wide, and Jake smirked, whispering, "Watch your back." The system snapped: **Dirty play alert! Your soap opera villain's at it again. Shake it off, or he'll be laughing all match.**
Ethan channeled the pain into focus. In the 40th minute, he intercepted a pass, weaved through three defenders with Ronaldo's Trickster Flair—stepovers dazzling like a young Ronaldo—and rifled a curling shot. The ball soared past the keeper, rippling the net.
**Goal! Lisbon Showman Progress: 50%. Match Impact +25%. Fan Appeal +15 (*That's the Ronaldo magic! You've got the fans eating out of your hand, champ.*).**
Pride Park's Leicester fans erupted, chanting "Cole! Cole!" Ethan slid on his knees, staring Jake down, who scowled back. Scouts scribbled, one whispering about "Chelsea interest." Ethan's goal was a butterfly effect, boosting Leicester's reputation as a talent hub, potentially drawing signings like Jamie Vardy early. The ripple could reshape their season.
Halftime was 1–1. Eriksson's assistant, Nigel Pearson, clapped Ethan's shoulder. "Keep that fire, Cole. You're our spark." The system updated: **Task Progress: 90%. One more goal or assist to bury Turner (*Don't choke, or you'll be Derby's punchline.*).**
The second half was a war, Derby's defense tightening. Jake's scheme intensified—in the 60th minute, he slid into Ethan during a 50-50 ball, his studs grazing Ethan's shin. The ref gave a yellow, but Jake's grin screamed intent. The system quipped: **Your stalker's begging for a red card. Keep shining, and he'll be sent off before you know it.**
In the 85th minute, Ethan's moment arrived. Drinkwater played a diagonal ball, and Ethan outran Derby's defense, his speed a blur. He cut inside, faked out Jake, and laid off a perfect assist to Nugent, who smashed it in. The stadium roared, Leicester fans going wild.
**Assist! Task Complete: Score in Derby match. Reward: Lisbon Showman Unlocked. Mental Focus: 89/100. Rival Impact +20 (*You just punked Turner in his own house. Bet he's crying into his ponytail.*).**
The match ended 2–1, Leicester victorious. Ethan's goal and assist made him man of the match, fans chanting his name as he left the pitch. Pearson confirmed his starting role, and a Manchester City scout lingered, hinting at future talks. The system glowed, unveiling its upgrade:
**System Upgrade: Shop & Points Unlocked!**
- **Points Earned**: 50 (25 for win, 25 for goal/assist) (*Not bad, champ. You're richer than a kid with a piggy bank.*)
- **Shop Items**:
- Stamina Booster (25 points): Hydrates like water, boosts stamina +10 for one match (*No doping, just a refreshing sip.*)
- Emergency Move: Lewandowski's 5-in-9 (100 points): Replicate his 5 goals in 9 minutes (*For when you need to go nuclear.*)
- Emergency Move: Beckham's Free Kick (75 points): Nail a curling free kick (*Bend it like a legend.*)
- **Advisory**: Spend wisely, or you'll be hoarding points like a miser. New Task: Score in next match to boost fan appeal. Reward: Star Surge milestone (Fan Appeal +10).
Ethan grinned, the shop a game-changer, but he tucked it away, focusing on the moment.
---
Post-match, Ethan crashed at his flat, scrolling Instagram. His follower count hit 10,000, fans hyping his Derby goal. He posted a clip of his strike, captioned: *Derby done, more to come 🦁⚽ #LeicesterLad*. Comments flooded in, one from a fan: *You owned Turner! Keep shining! 🌟* Ethan replied: *Cheers, mate! Onward and upward 😎🔥*. Then, he swiped to a Hollywood gossip page, chuckling at headlines: "Rihanna's New Music Video Sparks Buzz 🎤👀" and "Brad Pitt's Latest Movie Set Drama 😱." The system quipped: **Gossip's fun, but don't start chasing TMZ instead of goals, Romeo.**
Jake's scheme wasn't done. A teammate texted Ethan: *Heard Turner's telling scouts you're injury-prone. He's pushing for a start against us in the return leg.* The system warned: **Your stalker's not giving up. Bet he's got another dirty trick for the rematch.**
Ethan's jaw tightened. The Ronaldo template was his edge, Leicester his stage, and Mia's support—next chapter—his spark. But Jake's lies were a storm brewing, and the Championship was a gauntlet. Would Ethan keep his streak alive, or would Jake's scheme land a hit? The battle was far from over.