The mid-March evening buzzed in Leicester's Cultural Quarter as Ethan Cole strolled through St George's Street on March 9, 2012, the neon signs of bars and cafes casting a warm glow. Music spilled from a live gig at The Soundhouse, and Ethan, in a black bomber jacket and jeans, stopped to listen, nodding to the beat of an indie band. A couple of fans recognized him, shouting, "Cole! Destroy Bristol City!" He flashed a genuine smile, fist-bumping them. "Got you, mates. See you at the match." His legs felt light after training, but his mind was heavy—the anonymous threat's hidden mic audio from training had him paranoid. The Football System pinged, keeping it cool: **Vibing with the city? Don't let Bristol's defense kill your buzz, man.**
Ethan was living for these moments—football was his core, but nights like this, soaking in Leicester's energy, made him feel alive. Jorge Mendes was pushing his contract talks hard, with Leicester desperate to keep him and Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea dangling life-changing offers. The anonymous creep, now bugging his training sessions, was a dark cloud, but Ethan refused to let it cage him. His goal to win the Championship Golden Boot and title, with a Ronaldo template upgrade on the line, kept him hungry. Tonight, he'd catch the gig and grab a burger; tomorrow, it was time to shine at Ashton Gate.
---
Inside The Soundhouse, Ethan leaned against the bar, sipping a Coke, the band's gritty chords filling the air. A local DJ, Zara, a friend from his academy days, spotted him and slid over. "Ethan Cole, big-time footballer, slumming it with us normals?" she teased, her dreads swinging as she laughed. Ethan smirked, different from his usual cocky grin with Mia. "Gotta keep it real, Zara. Your set's next, yeah?" She nodded, excited. "Killing it at midnight. Stick around, you might learn some moves." Their banter was easy, not the flirty vibe he had with Mia or the intense talks with teammates. Zara's energy pulled him out of his head, and he stayed for her DJ set, hyping the crowd as she dropped a killer mix. He posted a clip on Instagram: *Leicester's got soul 🎶 #NightOut*. Fans commented: *Cole living the life! 🌟* He replied: *Always 😎*. This was Ethan enjoying the world, not just chasing goals.
---
The next day, Ethan stood in the Ashton Gate tunnel, Bristol City's stadium, the crowd's noise hitting like a wall. The system checked in, straight-up:
**Football System Update**
- **Template**: SSS-Class Striker Template (Cristiano Ronaldo, Sporting Lisbon 2002–03 Stage)
- Speed: 103/100 (You're a blur.)
- Dribbling: 108/100 (Slippery as hell.)
- Finishing: 104/100 (Sniper vibes.)
- Vision: 100/100 (Sees the whole pitch.)
- Stamina: 103/100 (Never stops.)
- Assimilation Progress: 99.9% (Ronaldo's in your veins.)
- **Task**: Score in the Bristol City match to keep Premier League clubs hooked.
- **Reward**: Unlock Lisbon Precision VI milestone (Finishing +3).
- **Advisory**: Use a skill card and shop item to tear through Bristol's defense. Flop, and you're their meme.
- **Penalty**: Stats drop only if you lose or skip training.
- **Points**: 86 (Ready to spend.)
Ethan tugged his number 17 jersey, activating the **Beckham's Free Kick II Card** (one-use, from his last win): **Beckham's Free Kick II active: Bend a shot with Becks' precision (One play, make it curve.)** He also grabbed a **Vision Booster** for 25 points: **Vision Booster active: Vision +10 for Bristol (Spot every gap.)** The Ronaldo template's Lisbon stage was perfect for Bristol's tough setup, with a solid win expected per the 2011–12 schedule. The system kept it low-key.
Leicester's season was a marathon, with Ethan's Coventry bicycle kick making him a global star. Scouts from United, Liverpool, and Chelsea filled the stands, ready to judge. The anonymous threat's hidden mic and Mendes' contract talks (£90,000/week Leicester vs. £140,000/week Premier League) added pressure, but Ethan was locked in.
The tunnel hummed, Leicester's blue kits sharp against Bristol's red. Danny Drinkwater nudged him, his tone different from the usual hype. "Bristol's scrappy, mate. They'll try to wind you up. Stay cool, yeah?" Ethan nodded, the hidden mic audio pushing him to prove himself.
---
The match kicked off under Ashton Gate's lights, Bristol City coming out swinging. Ethan's boosted vision picked out gaps. In the 20th minute, he won a free kick 25 yards out after a rough tackle. Using **Beckham's Free Kick II**, he curled a beauty over the wall, the ball dipping into the top corner, leaving the keeper frozen. Leicester fans went nuts, chanting his name. The system pinged: **Goal! Match Impact +40%. Fan Appeal +30 (Becks would nod. Card's done.)**
Bristol pushed back, but Schmeichel was a wall. In the 38th minute, Ethan sprinted onto a long ball, but a defender's elbow caught his ribs, no call. His shot sailed wide, the system staying quiet.
The second half was a grind, Bristol's defense doubling down. Ethan's stamina kept him sharp. In the 75th minute, Gallagher whipped in a cross. Ethan threw himself forward, connecting with a diving header that bulleted past the keeper, sealing a 2–0 win. The crowd roared, Leicester fans losing it.
**Goal! Task Complete: Score in Bristol City match. Reward: Lisbon Precision VI Unlocked. Finishing: 107/100 (You're a goal machine.)**
The 2–0 win, unique with a curling shot and diving header, fit the goal difference for a mid-table team like Bristol, Ethan's brace earning him man of the match. A staffer muttered: "Mendes says United's bid's at £60 million. Liverpool and Chelsea aren't backing down. Meeting tonight." The system quipped: **£60 million? Don't buy a jet yet, man.**
The system updated: **Points Earned: 50 (25 for win, 25 for two goals). New Task: Score in the next match to keep Premier League interest. Reward: Lisbon Surge IV milestone (Speed +3). Side Quest: Make three assists this season (Reward: One-Use Skill Card – Iniesta's Pass).**
---
After the match, Mendes met Ethan at a Leicester coffee shop, his vibe intense but grounded. "Leicester's offering £100,000 a week, a youth academy in your name," he said, stirring his espresso. "United's at £150,000, Liverpool and Chelsea throwing in global tours. Bristol was your proof, Ethan. Next match decides your future." Ethan leaned back, his mind racing—stay loyal or go big? He didn't give his usual nod; instead, he asked, "What's best for my family, Jorge?" Mendes paused, surprised, then smiled faintly. "That's the right question, kid." Their talk felt new, not the same old pressure.
At home, Ethan's family was on edge. Sarah, his mum, was quieter than usual, setting up extra locks after the hidden mic scare. "You're doing amazing, love, but this stalker's too close," she said, her voice soft but firm, unlike her usual panic. Tom, his dad, suggested hiring a private investigator, a fresh angle. "We're not sitting ducks, son." Lily, his sister, showed him a community X post rallying for the academy's field, her excitement genuine, not her typical sarcasm. "Your kids are inspiring people, Ethan." Mr. Harris called later, his advice practical, not dramatic: "Keep your routines random, lad. Don't make it easy for them." Their responses felt real, each one unique, showing Ethan's life beyond the pitch.
Ethan crashed on his couch, scrolling Instagram. His followers hit 180,000, fans hyped over his Bristol goals. He posted a clip, captioned: *Bristol smashed, let's keep it moving 🦁⚽ #LeicesterLad*. Comments exploded: *You're unreal, Cole! 🌟🔥* He replied: *Thanks, fam! We're rolling 😏💪*. Zara commented: *Killer set last night, killer goals today! Gig soon? 🎶😉*. He shot back: *Count me in 😎🎵*. He checked Hollywood gossip: "Kanye's New Album Tease 🎤🔥" and "Emma Stone's Oscar Buzz 🎬👀." The system stayed quiet.
The Premier League hype had doubters. A teammate texted a tweet: *Cole's a star, but can he handle Anfield's heat? #LCFC*. Ethan laughed it off, texting back: *Let 'em talk, mate.* But his phone buzzed with another anonymous message: *Bristol was nothing, Cole. You're out of time.* Attached was a grainy video of him at The Soundhouse last night, filmed from a corner, his face circled in red. Ethan's gut twisted, the threat creeping into his downtime.
---
The next morning, Ethan hit the park, the system's new drill pushing his Ronaldo template:
**Lisbon Surge IV Drill: Run 350 sprints with 95% intensity. Reward: Speed +3 (Ronaldo was untouchable.)**
He blasted past local kids, his legs a machine, the Soundhouse video fueling him. By the 340th sprint, he was flying, the system pinging: **Drill Progress: 95% (Speed's elite.)**
At training, Drinkwater's vibe was new, less intense, more curious. "Bristol was class, Cole. You staying with us or going big-time?" Ethan shrugged, not his usual cocky reply. "Still figuring it out, man. What you think?" Drinkwater grinned, surprised. "Leicester's home, but United's United, you know?" Their chat felt fresh, not the same old hype.
Ethan scrolled Instagram after training, liking a fan's post: *Cole to crush Derby! 🦁⚽* He replied: *Let's do this 😎💥*. But the Soundhouse video gnawed at him, his night out now tainted.
As Ethan grabbed dinner at a Leicester curry house, the waiter's eyes lingered too long, his smile off. Ethan's phone buzzed with a new anonymous message: *Derby's your downfall, Cole.* Attached was a photo of him eating, taken from outside the restaurant, his reflection in the window circled in red. His fork froze, the curry's heat fading as fear hit. Derby County loomed, with Mendes' contract deadline, Premier League clubs circling, and a stalker who saw everything. Ethan's fire burned, but the hunter was in his world, and the fight was now personal.
---