The late October sun dipped low over Willow Creek's community center, where Ethan Cole stood on a patchy field, coaching a dozen kids in mismatched kits on October 28, 2011. Their laughter echoed as he demonstrated a stepover, his Leicester City tracksuit dusted with grass. This was his first step toward his academy dream, sparked by childhood memories and family tensions. Last week, his mum, Sarah, had softened her worries about his fame after he promised to stay grounded. His sister, Lily, apologized for her outburst, admitting she was proud.
Today, Ethan's old friend, Jamie, a local mechanic who'd kicked balls with him as kids, helped organize the session. Jamie's easy grin pulled Ethan back to nights sneaking into this field, dreaming of glory. "You're actually doing it, mate," Jamie said, tossing him a ball. "These kids worship you." Ethan nodded, his resolve hardening to make the academy real, giving kids like them a shot. "It's just the start," he said, ruffling a kid's hair. The Football System hummed, its sarcasm light: **Coaching mini-mes? Don't let their headers outshine yours, champ.**
Inside, Sarah brought juice for the kids, her smile warm. "You're home, Ethan," she said, the rift healing. The moment fueled him for tomorrow's Championship match against West Ham, a strong side where he'd need to shine under Premier League scouts' eyes.
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The next day, Ethan stood in the tunnel of Upton Park, West Ham United's stadium, the roar of 30,000 fans shaking the walls. The system updated, its tone focused:
**Football System Update**
- **Template**: SSS-Class Striker Template (Cristiano Ronaldo, Sporting Lisbon 2002–03 Stage)
- Speed: 97/100 (*Blazing fast.*)
- Dribbling: 101/100 (*God-tier flair.*)
- Finishing: 95/100 (*Sniper-level.*)
- Vision: 91/100 (*Playmaker sharp.*)
- Assimilation Progress: 80% (*Ronaldo's spark is yours.*)
- **Task**: Score in the West Ham match to lock in Premier League interest.
- **Reward**: Unlock Lisbon Dynamo III milestone (Stamina +3).
- **Advisory**: Use a skill card and Lisbon's blitz to outwit West Ham'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 **Ronaldinho's Elastico Card** (one-use, from Chapter 25's quest log): **Ronaldinho's Elastico active: Flashy dribble for one play (*Make 'em trip, showboat.*).** The Ronaldo template's Lisbon stage, with its elite dribbling and vision, was perfect for West Ham's robust defense. The skill card was his ace, and the system stayed quiet, its sarcasm sparse.
Leicester's 2011–12 Championship season was a pressure cooker, with Ethan's Birmingham brace keeping fans buzzing. The Premier League spotlight—Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea scouts here today—demanded a performance. West Ham, a strong side, required a tight 1–3 goal difference win.
The tunnel roared, Leicester's blue kits gleaming beside West Ham's claret and blue. Danny Drinkwater nudged Ethan. "West Ham's backline is solid, Cole. Break 'em, and those scouts'll be begging." Ethan nodded, focused.
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The match kicked off under Upton Park's floodlights, West Ham's physicality hitting hard. Ethan's vision sliced through gaps. In the 12th minute, he used **Ronaldinho's Elastico**, flipping the ball past a defender who stumbled, then fired a shot the keeper parried. The crowd roared, and the system noted: **Match Impact +10 (*Nice showboat. Card's done—back to work.*).**
West Ham scored in the 20th minute, a header beating a defender. The system warned: **Down 1–0. Don't lose, or you're kissing stats goodbye.** Ethan pushed harder. In the 30th minute, Gallagher crossed. Ethan outjumped a defender, but West Ham's center-back shoved him, a missed foul. His header went wide, the system silent.
In the 42nd minute, Ethan struck. He intercepted a pass, weaved through two defenders with Ronaldo's flair, and rifled a low shot past the keeper. The net rippled, Leicester fans erupting.
**Goal! Lisbon Dynamo III Progress: 50%. Match Impact +30%. Fan Appeal +20 (*Scouts are buzzing.*).**
Halftime came at 1–1, Nigel Pearson nodding. "You're their problem, Cole." The system updated: **Task Progress: 90%. One more goal or assist (*No memes today.*).**
The second half was a slugfest, West Ham's defense tightening. Ethan's stamina kept him relentless. In the 80th minute, he latched onto a through ball, faked a shot, and laid off an assist to Nugent, who buried it. Leicester fans chanted "Cole! Cole!"
**Assist! Task Complete: Score in West Ham match. Reward: Lisbon Dynamo III Unlocked. Stamina: 100/100 (*You're a stamina god.*).**
The match ended 2–1, Leicester victorious with a one-goal difference, fitting the strong team rule. Ethan's goal and assist earned him man of the match. A staffer whispered: "United's scout mentioned a January bid. Liverpool and Chelsea are planning talks." The system quipped: **Bidding war, eh? Don't buy a crown yet.**
The system glowed: **Points Earned: 50 (25 for win, 25 for goal/assist). New Task: Score in the next match to cement Premier League interest. Reward: Lisbon Precision III milestone (Finishing +3).**
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Post-match, Ethan crashed at his flat, scrolling Instagram. His follower count hit 52,000, fans hyping his West Ham goal. He posted a match clip, captioned: *West Ham whipped, let's keep climbing 🦁⚽ #LeicesterLad*. Fans commented: *You're our king, Cole! 🌟* Ethan replied: *Cheers, fam! More to come 😏🔥*. Mia commented: *My champ's a beast! Coffee soon? ☕😉*. He replied: *You know it, my #1 😎💕*. The system stayed quiet, letting the moment breathe.
The Premier League buzz had skeptics. A teammate forwarded a tweet: *Cole's hot, but Premier League's a different beast. #LCFC*. The system noted: **Doubters are lurking. Next match is Watford—they're tricky. Score, or they'll talk.**
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The next morning, Ethan hit the park, the system's new drill pushing his Ronaldo template:
**Lisbon Precision III Drill: Score 250 shots from tight angles with 90% accuracy. Reward: Finishing +3 (*Ronaldo didn't miss, and you won't.*).**
He fired shots past local kids, his flair lethal. By the 240th shot, he was a sniper, the system updating: **Drill Progress: 95% (*Sharpshooter vibes.*).**
At training, Drinkwater said: "Watford's midfield is fast, Cole. They'll try to outrun you. Scouts are coming—United, Liverpool, Chelsea." The system warned: **Spotlight's blazing. Watford's a trap. Win, or you'll dim it.**
Ethan scrolled Instagram post-training, liking a fan's post: *Cole to crush Watford! 🦁⚽* He replied: *Bet on it 😎💥*.
As Ethan stood on his balcony, the Leicester skyline aglow, a kid's shout from the street caught his ear: "You're gonna be a legend, Cole!" He waved, heart swelling. His academy dream, the Golden Boot, the Championship title—all felt closer. Watford waited, a tricky test under Premier League eyes, but Ethan's fire was unquenchable, a beacon lighting his path.