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The late March breeze swept through Leicester's Oadby market as Ethan Cole haggled over a vintage leather jacket on March 23, 2012. Stall vendors shouted deals, and a kid in a Leicester City scarf ran up, eyes wide. "Ethan! You're smashing it! Blackpool's done for!" Ethan grinned, tossing him a high-five. "Cheers, little man. We're going all the way." He slipped on the jacket, feeling like a rockstar, but his phone's weight reminded him of the anonymous threat's USB montage of his life. The Football System pinged, laid-back: **Market's your stage? Don't let Blackpool's defense steal your spotlight, mate.**
Ethan was soaking up life. Football was his fire, but haggling at markets, planning a late-night arcade run, and bantering with fans made Leicester feel like home. Jorge Mendes was pushing his contract talks to the limit, with Leicester desperate to lock him in and Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea throwing millions his way. The stalker's creepy montageโclips of him training, eating, chillingโwas messing with his head, but Ethan wasn't backing down. His quest for the Championship Golden Boot and title, with a Ronaldo template upgrade as the prize, had Leicester surging to first place, his goals rewriting the league's fate. Tonight, he'd hit the arcade; tomorrow, he'd tear up Bloomfield Road.
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At Leicester's retro arcade, Ethan battled Zara, his DJ mate, at a claw machine, neon lights flashing. "You're trash at this, Cole," Zara cackled, as he missed a plush toy. Ethan smirked, different from his flirty vibe with Mia. "Says the one who can't even grab a keychain." They laughed, trading jabs, then teamed up on a racing game, Ethan's competitive edge shining. A fan snapped a pic, posting it online: *Cole's one of us! ๐น๏ธ๐ฅ*. Ethan commented: *Arcade king ๐*. Zara nudged him. "Heard you're carrying Leicester to the top. Don't choke against Blackpool, yeah?" Ethan's grin was easy, not his usual intense nod. "No chance, mate." This was Ethan living, not just grinding for the next match.
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The next day, Ethan stood in the Bloomfield Road tunnel, Blackpool's stadium, the crowd's noise a wild hum. The system checked in, straight-up:
**Football System Update**
- **Template**: SSS-Class Striker Template (Cristiano Ronaldo, Sporting Lisbon 2002โ03 Stage)
- Speed: 106/100 (You're a rocket.)
- Dribbling: 108/100 (Slippery as hell.)
- Finishing: 107/100 (Sniper shot.)
- Vision: 100/100 (Sees every angle.)
- Stamina: 103/100 (Never quits.)
- Assimilation Progress: 99.9% (Ronaldo's your shadow.)
- **Task**: Score in the Blackpool match to cement Leicester's top spot.
- **Reward**: Unlock Lisbon Vision VI milestone (Vision +3).
- **Advisory**: Use a skill card and shop item to shred Blackpool's defense. Flop, and you're their meme.
- **Penalty**: Stats drop only for losses or slacking in training.
- **Points**: 86 (Ready to roll.)
Ethan tugged his number 17 jersey, activating the **Pirlo's Panenka Card** (one-use,: **Pirlo's Panenka active: Chip a penalty with Andrea's cool (One play, make it cheeky.)** He grabbed a **Focus Enhancer** for 20 points: **Focus Enhancer active: Mental Focus +10 for Blackpool (Mind like a laser.)** The Ronaldo template's Lisbon stage was perfect for Blackpool's gritty setup, with a big win expected to keep Leicester number 1. The system kept it chill.
Leicester's season was a rocket ride, Ethan's Derby brace and assist pushing them to first place, his butterfly effect flipping the Championship script. Scouts from United, Liverpool, and Chelsea filled the stands, pens flying. The anonymous threat's montage and Mendes' contract talks (ยฃ110,000/week Leicester vs. ยฃ160,000/week Premier League) added heat, but Ethan was ice-cold.
The tunnel buzzed, Leicester's blue kits sharp against Blackpool's tangerine. Danny Drinkwater, usually serious or hyped, winked. "Top of the league, Cole. Let's make Blackpool cry." Ethan laughed, a fresh vibe. "Gonna make it a long night for 'em."
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The match exploded under Bloomfield's lights, Blackpool scrapping hard. Ethan's vision and focus carved openings. In the 25th minute, he picked up a loose ball 35 yards out, his Focus Enhancer locking him in. He unleashed a screamer, the ball rocketing into the top corner, the keeper diving in vain. Leicester fans went berserk, chanting his name. The stadium erupted in cheers echoing through the stands. The system pinged: **Goal! Match Impact +35%. Fan Appeal +25% (That's a banger.)**
Blackpool pushed back, but Schmeichel was a fortress. In the 40th minute, Ethan darted into the box, but a defender's elbow clipped him, no call. He shook it off, staying sharp. The goal remained elusive until the second half.
In the 70th minute, Ethan drew a penalty, a clumsy tackle sending him down. Using **Pirlo's Panenka**, he chipped the ball down the middle, the keeper diving left, the net rippling for a 2โ0. The crowd roared, Blackpool fans silent. The system flashed: **Goal! Lisbon Vision VI Progress: 50% (Pirlo's cool.)**
In the 88th minute, Ethan raced onto a counter, squared for Gallagher to tap in, sealing a 3โ0 win. Leicester fans sang, the league's top spot locked tight.
**Assist! Task Complete: Score in Blackpool match. Reward: Lisbon Vision VI Unlocked. Vision: 103/100 (*You see the game like a hawk.*).**
The 3โ0 win, unique with a screamer and penalty plus an assist, fit a weaker team like Blackpool, Ethan's performance earning him man of the match. A staffer muttered: "Mendes says United's bid's at ยฃ80 million. Liverpool and Chelsea are all-in. Meeting tonight." The system quipped: *ยฃ80 million? Don't buy a yacht yet, mate.*
The system updated: **Points Earned: 60 (25 for win, 25 for two goals, 10 for assist). New Task: Score in the next match to keep Leicester untouchable. Reward: Lisbon Flair VI milestone (Dribbling +3). Side Quest: Score a header this month (Reward: One-Use Skill Card โ Zola's Flick).**
**2011โ12 EFL Championship Table (March 31, 2012, Post-Match)**
- 1. **Leicester City** โ 70 pts
- 2. Southampton โ 66.) pts
- 3. West Ham โ 64 pts
- 4. Cardiff City โ 62 pts
- 5. Reading โ 60 pts
- 6...
- 18. Blackpool โ 18. Blackpool โ 38 pts
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After the match, Mendes met Ethan at a Leicester diner, his vibe intense but real. "Leicester's offering ยฃ130,000 a week, a city statue," he said, eating a fry. "United's at ยฃ170,000, Liverpool and Chelsea pushing global ads. You're carrying Leicester to the top, Ethan. Next game's your future." Ethan didn't nod; he pushed back, new. "What's it mean for my teammates if I go?" Mendes leaned back, surprised. "United's a spotlight, your mates fade. Leicester keeps you all shining." Ethan nodded, thoughtful, their chat feeling like a real crossroads, not a repeat.
At home, Ethan's family was rattled but trying to stay normal. Sarah, his mum, baked cookies, her voice calmer than her usual worry. "You're making Leicester proud, love. We're with you." Tom, his dad, suggested a camping trip to clear their heads, a new idea. "Let's get out of the city, son." Lily showed him an X post about a fan fundraiser for the academy, her vibe excited, not sarcastic. "Your kids are changing lives, Ethan." Mr. Harris texted, practical as ever: "Vary your routes, lad. Stay unpredictable." Their responses were fresh, showing Ethan's world beyond football.
Ethan crashed on his couch, scrolling Instagram. His followers hit 200,000, fans hyped over his Blackpool goals. He posted a clip, captioned: *Blackpool smoked, we're number 1 ๐ฆโฝ #LeicesterLad*. Comments exploded: *You're our king, Cole! ๐๐ฅ* He replied: *Cheers, fam! Let's stay top ๐๐ช*. Zara commented: *Arcade champ, league champ! Rematch soon? ๐น๏ธ๐*. He shot back: *You're on ๐*. He checked Hollywood gossip: "Beyoncรฉ's Tour Rumors ๐ต๐ฅ" and "Tom Hardy's New Film Hype ๐ฌ๐." The system stayed quiet.
The Premier League buzz had haters. A teammate texted a tweet: *Cole's unreal, but can he hack the Etihad? #LCFC*. Ethan laughed, texting back: *Bring it on.* But his phone buzzed with another anonymous message: *Blackpool was nothing, Cole. You're finished.* Attached was a photo of him at the Oadby market yesterday, buying the jacket, with a handwritten note in the corner: "I'm closer than you think." Ethan's stomach dropped, the threat now in his everyday moments.
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The next morning, Ethan hit the park, the system's new drill pushing his Ronaldo template:
**Lisbon Flair VI Drill: Nail 350 stepovers with 95% success. Reward: Dribbling +3 (Ronaldo danced past 'em.)**
He weaved past local kids, his footwork a blur, the market photo fueling him. By the 340th stepover, he was untouchable, the system pinging: **Drill Progress: 95% (Flair's electric.)**
At training, Drinkwater's vibe was new, almost proud. "You've got us top, Cole. Hull City's nextโkeep us there?" Ethan grinned, not his usual focus. "No doubt, mate. We're unstoppable." Drinkwater tossed him a ball, their banter light but real.
Ethan scrolled Instagram after training, liking a fan's post: *Cole to crush Hull! ๐ฆโฝ* He replied: *Let's do this ๐๐ฅ*. But the market photo gnawed at him, his freedom under attack.
As Ethan grabbed coffee at a Leicester cafe, a barista slipped him a napkin with his order. Scrawled on it was: *Hull's your end, Cole.* His phone buzzed with a new anonymous message: *You're mine.* Attached was a live feed from the cafe's security cameraโEthan sitting there, right now, his face zoomed in. His coffee went cold, the cafe's chatter fading as fear hit hard. Hull City loomed, an April 7 fixture per the 2011โ12 schedule, with Mendes' contract deadline, Premier League clubs circling, and a stalker who was too close. Ethan's fire roared, but the hunter was in his shadow, and the game was now survival.
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