The early February dawn cast a soft glow over Willow Creek's community field as Ethan Cole coached a group of kids through dribbling drills on February 3, 2012, their laughter cutting through the frosty air. The crunch of frozen grass underfoot mingled with the thump of balls, Ethan's Leicester City hoodie flashing as he weaved between cones, demonstrating a quick step-over. "Keep your eyes up!" he called, high-fiving a shy boy who nailed it. The Willow Creek Youth Football trials were in full swing, with thirty kids now enrolled, their passion a beacon for Ethan's academy dream. Fans lingered nearby, snapping photos, chanting "Cole! Cole!" as the morning buzzed with hope. The Football System hummed, its sarcasm a whisper: **Playing mentor? Don't let Brighton's defense steal your shine, champ.**
Inside his family's modest home, the mood was heavier. Sarah, his mum, gripped her tea, her eyes shadowed with worry after Ethan showed her the anonymous video—a red laser dot on his chest during his market square jog . "You need to tell the police, love," she urged. Tom, his dad, nodded, his voice gruff: "This isn't a game, Ethan." Lily, scrolling through Instagram threats from trolls, added, "Your fans are wild, but this is creepy." Mr. Harris, Ethan's old PE teacher, stopped by, his weathered face stern. "You're a target now, lad. Keep your circle tight—fame draws vipers." The academy faced hurdles—council delays, a £5,000 funding gap—but Ethan's resolve hardened. Tomorrow's match against Brighton, a scrappy mid-table side, was a chance to silence doubters, with Jorge Mendes' contract talks looming and the anonymous threat (*Brighton's your last warning*) clawing at his nerves.
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That evening, Ethan's phone buzzed with a call from Mendes. "Brighton's make-or-break," the agent said, his tone sharp. "Leicester's pushing £35,000 a week, six years. United's at £60,000, Liverpool and Chelsea close behind. Win tomorrow, and we'll negotiate from strength. Lose focus, and you're theirs to bury." Ethan clenched his fist, the choice—Leicester's heart or a Premier League crown—burning in his chest. The laser-dot video replayed in his mind, but he pushed it aside, his focus on the Amex Stadium's roar.
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The next day, Ethan stood in the tunnel of the Amex Stadium, Brighton & Hove Albion's ground, the roar of 22,000 fans a tidal wave. The system updated, its tone razor-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: 100/100 (Lisbon Lightning: 100%)
- Dribbling: 102/100 (Trickster Flair: 100%)
- Finishing: 101/100 (Galactic Strike: 90%)
- Free Kicks: 82/100 (*Better, but no Juninho.*)
- Passing Accuracy: 94/100 (*Crisp, but not Iniesta.*)
- Heading: 88/100 (*Strong, but not a tower.*)
- Stamina: 103/100 (Lisbon Dynamo IV: 100% – *You're a beast.*)
- Mental Focus: 92/100 (*Sharp, but that threat's a shadow.*)
- Team Synergy: 93/100 (*Lads vibe with you.*)
- Match Impact: 92/100 (*Game-changer status.*)
- Fan Appeal: 87/100 (*Fans worship you.*)
- Rival Impact: 83/100 (*Skeptics are loud.*)
- Vision: 94/100 (*Playmaker elite.*)
- Defensive Contribution: 75/100 (*You track back, but no Cannavaro.*)
- **Stage 2: Manchester United (2006–09)** – Locked (*Grind harder.*)
- **Stage 3: Real Madrid (2011 Peak)** – Locked (*Dream big.*)
- **Assimilation Progress**: 99% (*Ronaldo's fire is yours.*)
- **Task**: Score in the Brighton match to lock Premier League interest.
- **Reward**: Unlock Lisbon Vision IV milestone (Vision +3).
- **Advisory**: Use a skill card and shop item to shred Brighton'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 **Beckham's Free Kick Card** (one-use, ): **Beckham's Free Kick active: Bend a free kick with Becks' precision (*One play, make it curve.*).** He also used a **Clutch Finisher** bought for 30 points: **Clutch Finisher active: Finishing +15 in final 10 minutes (*Crunch time's yours.*).** The Ronaldo template's Lisbon stage was perfect for Brighton's tenacious defense, where a narrow win was anticipated. The system stayed quiet, its sarcasm minimal.
Leicester's 2011–12 Championship season was a pressure cooker, with Ethan's Southampton heroics making him a global name. The Premier League spotlight—Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea scouts filling the stands—demanded brilliance. The anonymous threat's laser-dot video and Mendes' contract talks (£35,000/week Leicester vs. £60,000/week Premier League) added lethal stakes.
The tunnel roared, Leicester's blue kits gleaming beside Brighton's blue and white. Danny Drinkwater nudged Ethan. "Brighton's fighters, Cole. Break 'em, and those scouts'll be begging." Ethan nodded, the laser-dot video sharpening his edge.
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The match kicked off under the Amex's floodlights, Brighton's defense a scrappy fortress. Ethan's vision and speed carved through gaps. In the 15th minute, he won a free kick 25 yards out, Brighton's defender clipping his ankle. He activated **Beckham's Free Kick**, curling the ball with pinpoint precision over the wall, the keeper diving in vain as it kissed the top corner. The crowd erupted, Leicester fans chanting "Cole! Cole!" The system noted: **Goal! Match Impact +40%. Fan Appeal +30 (*Becks would wink. Card's done.*).**
Brighton equalized in the 25th minute, a low shot slipping past Schmeichel. The system warned: **1–1. Don't lose, or you're kissing stats goodbye.** Ethan pushed harder. In the 35th minute, Gallagher crossed. Ethan outjumped a defender, but Brighton's center-back shoved him, a missed foul. His header went wide, the system silent.
In the 45th minute, Ethan struck again. He intercepted a pass, danced through two defenders with Ronaldo's flair, and rifled a curling shot past the keeper. The net rippled, Leicester fans roaring.
**Goal! Lisbon Vision IV Progress: 50%. Match Impact +30% (*Scouts are buzzing.*).**
Halftime came at 2–1, Nigel Pearson grinning. "You're their nightmare, Cole." The system updated: **Task Progress: 90%. One more goal or assist (*Keep it tight.*).**
The second half was a grind, Brighton's defense doubling down. Ethan's stamina kept him relentless. In the 89th minute, with the clutch finisher blazing, he latched onto a through ball and fired a clinical shot into the bottom corner, sealing a 3–1 victory. The stadium shook, Leicester fans in ecstasy.
**Goal! Task Complete: Score in Brighton match. Reward: Lisbon Vision IV Unlocked. Vision: 97/100 (*You're a vision god.*).**
The 3–1 win aligned with expectations for a strong team, Ethan's hat-trick earning him man of the match. A staffer whispered: "Mendes says United's bid hit £30 million. Liverpool and Chelsea are countering. Meeting tonight." The system quipped: **£30 million? Don't buy an island yet, hotshot.**
The system glowed: **Points Earned: 75 (25 for win, 50 for three goals). New Task: Score in the next match to lock Premier League interest. Reward: Lisbon Flair IV milestone (Dribbling +3). Side Quest: Win man of the match in three consecutive games (Reward: One-Use Skill Card – Maradona's Hand of God).**
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Post-match, Mendes met Ethan in a private Leicester office, his eyes sharp. "Leicester's desperate to keep you—£40,000 a week, seven years, captaincy potential," he said. "United's offering £70,000, Liverpool and Chelsea are close. The window's closing, Ethan. One more match to sway the scales." Ethan's chest tightened, the choice—home or horizon—tearing at him. The laser-dot video loomed, a silent scream in his mind.
Ethan crashed at his flat, scrolling Instagram. His follower count hit 120,000, fans losing their minds over his Brighton hat-trick. He posted a match clip, captioned: *Brighton blitzed, let's keep climbing 🦁⚽ #LeicesterLad*. Fans flooded the comments: *You're our LEGEND, Cole! 🌟🔥* Ethan replied: *Cheers, fam! We're soaring 😏💪*. Mia commented: *My champ's unstoppable! Miss you, coffee soon? ☕😉*. He replied: *You know it, #1 😎💕*. The system stayed silent.
The Premier League hype had skeptics. A teammate forwarded a tweet: *Cole's a machine, but can he handle Anfield's roar? #LCFC*. Worse, Ethan's phone buzzed with another anonymous message: *Brighton was cute, Cole. Next one's your curtain call.* Attached was a photo of his family's home, taken from the street at dusk. His blood froze, the threat no longer just his—it was personal.
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The next morning, Ethan hit the park, the system's new drill pushing his Ronaldo template:
**Lisbon Flair IV Drill: Perform 350 dribbles under pressure with 95% accuracy. Reward: Dribbling +3 (*Ronaldo made 'em cry.*).**
He danced past local kids, his flair lethal, the photo of his family's home fueling his fire. By the 340th dribble, he was untouchable, the system updating: **Drill Progress: 95% (*Flair's elite.*).**
At training, Drinkwater dropped news: "Birmingham's next, Cole. They're hungry for revenge. Scouts are coming, and Mendes was asking about your contract." The system warned: **Spotlight's a blaze. Birmingham's a trap. Win, or you'll dim it.**
Ethan scrolled Instagram post-training, liking a fan's post: *Cole to crush Birmingham! 🦁⚽* He replied: *Bet on it 😎💥*. But the photo of his family's home burned in his mind, a line crossed.
As Ethan stood outside his family's home, the street quiet under a moonless sky, a car idled at the corner, its headlights off. His phone buzzed with a final anonymous message: *Birmingham's your reckoning, Cole.* Attached was a live feed—grainy footage of him standing there, right now, a red laser dot flickering on his heart. His breath caught, the night closing in as fear and fury battled within. Birmingham loomed, a revenge-fueled clash with Mendes' contract decision, Premier League giants, and a faceless hunter ready to strike. Ethan's fire roared, but the hunter was here, and the game was now survival.