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Last Game
🕑 Added 2024-12-12 21:40:32 +0000 UTCAfter attending the PFA awards ceremony, Tristan politely declined Hazard's invitation to have a drink at the bar and instead headed back to the hotel to get some rest.
The following day, he drove back to his home in Leicester.
One of his biggest takeaways from the PFA awards ceremony was following Hazard on Twitter. He couldn't help but notice that Hazard had more than ten times the number of followers he did. It was no surprise—playing for a top club like Chelsea in a big city like London naturally attracted more attention than his situation at Leicester.
This highlighted a significant difference between smaller clubs and the giants. Once a player joins one of the Big 6 teams in the Premier League, even as a substitute, they're treated like a star, gaining fame and attention almost instantly. Small clubs, by contrast, struggle to retain their best players because they can't offer either the money or the limelight.
Tristan had received opportunities to join bigger clubs like Arsenal, but he was determined to play for a true giant, not just one that looked good on paper. He knew that as long as he performed well at Leicester City, the chances to move to a top club would come naturally. But, for now, he planned to stay put until at least the 2015-16 season, and his goal was to be part of a miracle that would shock the football world.
Without him, Leicester City had already become champions of the Championship this season. But with his presence, their success was amplified—they had set new records and achieved a higher level of excellence. Vardy had broken the Championship's goal-scoring record, and the entire team was playing better than anyone had expected.
This "butterfly effect" from his time-traveling presence was real, and it proved just how much of an impact a single player could have.
As Leicester headed into the Premier League, Tristan's performance would be critical in their bid for survival and, who knows, maybe even more. His current role as the team's core midfielder, along with the attacking prowess of Vardy, Mahrez, and the rest of the squad, would make them a formidable force in the Premier League. Who knows what they could accomplish next season.
A few days later, Leicester City played their final game of the season at home against Doncaster, who were in a relegation battle. Pearson, in an effort to give the fans one last exciting game, fielded the full first team to ensure a victory. The match was a one-sided affair, with Leicester dominating from start to finish. The final score was 3-0, with Doncaster failing to register a single shot on goal.
Tristan used the game as an opportunity to test out his newly acquired [Outside-the-Box Specialist] skill, taking ten long-range shots—his most daring attempt yet. Although he only scored once, Pearson was pleased with the boldness of his approach. This experiment with shooting from outside the box showed that Tristan could diversify his attacking game, making him harder to predict and defend against.
By the end of the season, Tristan had registered 16 goals and 24 assists in all competition becoming the only player in the Championship to achieve double digits in both categories. The team finished with a record-breaking 115 points, breaking multiple Championship records in the process.
The season culminated in Leicester's promotion to the Premier League and a celebration with the fans at the King Power Stadium. After the match, the team stayed behind to thank the supporters for their unwavering support, knowing that they couldn't have achieved their historic success without them.
For Leicester City fans, the 2013/14 season has been nothing short of a fairytale. They've watched their team dominate the Championship, break the league's winning streak record, and secure the title while earning promotion to the Premier League ahead of schedule. It's been a season of triumph, and for many Leicester supporters, they are likely the happiest fans in all of English football.
After the final whistle, the Leicester City squad stayed at King Power Stadium, not rushing to leave but instead staying to express their heartfelt gratitude to the fans who had supported them relentlessly both at home and away. The players knew that their remarkable success wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering backing of their devoted supporters.
As the team gathered to thank the crowd, the fans raised their hands and sang the team's anthem with passion. The resounding chorus filled the stadium, a powerful symbol of the deep connection between the club and its supporters. It felt as though the fans were bidding farewell to the Championship, ready to embrace the challenge of the Premier League.
As the team celebrated their historic promotion to the Premier League, the club booked a nightclub for the players to unwind. Tristan Hale, wearing a sweatshirt and jeans, arrived to find the club buzzing with life. Most of his teammates had brought their wives or girlfriends, their laughter and conversations filling the air. Tristan couldn't help but notice he was the only single one in the group.
Liam Moore, the young central defender, noticed Tristan standing in the corner, looking like a fish out of water. He strolled over, his hand holding a glass of Scotch, a grin on his face.
"Tristan, where's your girlfriend?" Liam asked, clearly curious.
Tristan shook his head. "I don't have one."
The response caused a small ripple of surprise among the group. "Wait, you're eighteen, almost nineteen, right?" another teammate asked. "Never had a girlfriend?"
Tristan shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, what's the problem?"
The wives and girlfriends exchanged intrigued looks, clearly excited at the idea of playing matchmaker. "Well, if you ever change your mind, Tristan," one of them said, winking, "I have a few suggestions."
Tristan smiled politely, shaking his head. "I appreciate it, but I'm focusing on football right now. No distractions for me."
That's right despite, his looks in first his life, he never had a proper girlfriend until he was 20 and that relationship didn't work due to various factors. His parents didn't really allow him to date until he was 18 and by then he was too focused on football, falling to depression, alcohol, so his relationships didn't last long. And he wasn't looking to make the same mistakes he did in his first life.
His mind was set; until he found someone special, he wouldn't bother with dating.
As his teammates hit the dance floor, swaying to the beat of the music, Tristan took a seat at a nearby table, nursing a mocktail alone. He wasn't much of a party person; his mind was already on the upcoming FA Cup final. But as always, his teammates were eager to keep him involved.
Liam Moore approached first, holding a glass of Scotch. "Tristan, you've gotta drink with us, mate!"
Tristan glanced at the drink and shook his head. "Nah, I'm good," he said flatly.
"Come on, just one drink," Liam pressed, his grin wide. "You're not going to be the only one sober, are you?"
Tristan raised an eyebrow. "I said no."
Nugent walked over next, a whiskey glass in hand. "Tristan, you're being a killjoy. Come on, just one shot."
Tristan gave him a look, then shook his head again. "Not interested, man. Don't drink, my mom would kill me if she finds out."
His parents reaction to founding out he was drinking like crazy in his first life wasn't exactly a good one, and he never wanted to see the faces they were making the day again.
He knew how quickly things could spiral. He had been there before and lived through the consequences of losing control. And that wasn't a mistake he was willing to repeat, not with this god-given opportunity.
"Why would I risk it?" he thought to himself. "This chance is too big. One drink, one slip, one distraction... it could ruin everything. I'm not going back to that."
He couldn't afford to fall into the same traps again. Not when his future was finally in his hands.
Despite not drinking, Tristan found himself having a surprisingly good time. The club was buzzing with energy, the music pulsating through the speakers as his teammates and their partners danced and laughed. Though he wasn't partaking in the alcohol-fueled festivities, he wasn't feeling left out. In fact, he was starting to enjoy just being in the moment, watching his teammates unwind, seeing them in a different light.
He smiled as he watched Jamie Vardy attempt to do a ridiculous dance move with his wife, his balance off as he spun around and almost tripped over himself. A few of the guys were laughing at him, egging him on to do it again, while Vardy playfully shot them the middle finger before falling into his wife's arms. The carefree laughter was contagious, and Tristan found himself chuckling along.
Even though he wasn't drinking, he was having a good time. He didn't feel pressure to match anyone's energy. He could just be himself, enjoying the moment without worrying about anything else.
As the night stretched on, his teammates tried a few more times to get him to drink, but he remained firm. His refusal didn't seem to bother them too much. Most of them had let it slide and were just glad he was there, celebrating with them.
By around 3 a.m., the club was starting to wind down. Some of the players had already left, heading home with their partners, while others were still trying to keep the energy up. Tristan, who had been sitting at the bar with his drink all night, was content to just let things unfold.
As the clock struck 4 a.m., he stood up, stretching his legs. He was ready to call it a night. His teammates were still laughing and chatting, but he didn't feel the need to stay any longer.
Liam came over as Tristan made his way to the exit, a mischievous grin on his face. "Leaving already, mate?"
Tristan gave him a smile. "Yeah, I think it's time for me to head home."
"You sure you don't want one more drink?" Liam teased.
Tristan shook his head with a grin. "Nah, I'm good. You guys have enough fun for the both of us."
With a nod, Liam clapped him on the back. "You're a good man, Tristan. Don't change, alright?"
Tristan smiled, feeling the warmth of their friendship. He waved goodbye to his teammates and walked out into the cool night air, feeling a quiet satisfaction.
The streets were empty as he made his way back home, his thoughts drifting to the next big challenge—an FA Cup final just around the corner. But for now, he felt at peace and thought about to do next.
After the experiment in the final match, Tristan gained a clearer understanding of his long-range shooting skills. Thanks to the [Curve] attribute of 98, most of his long shots from outside the penalty area had excellent curves and angles. The ball would dip and swerve in ways that could leave goalkeepers scrambling to react. However, there was still one major issue: the shots lacked the kind of power that could truly catch a goalkeeper off guard.
The ball speed was simply too slow. Long shots, especially when trying to break through a packed defense, needed to be quick enough to force the goalkeeper into a split-second decision. If the ball wasn't fast enough, no matter how unpredictable the trajectory, the goalkeeper would have plenty of time to react—either making the save or calmly collecting the ball.
To truly increase the threat of his long-range shots, Tristan realized he would need to focus on one thing: power. However, improving shot power wasn't something that could be done instantly. It was a skill that would take time to develop through hard work and consistent training.
That said, he did have an opportunity to give himself an immediate boost. Tristan had five free attribute points available, which could be assigned to any attribute of his choice. After considering his options, he decided to stick with his original plan. He allocated all five attribute points to [Burst].
The benefits of a high [Burst] attribute were already clear to him. Throughout the season, he had felt the difference in his game—his starting speed, his footwork, and his ability to accelerate away from defenders had all improved drastically. While his physical confrontation wasn't his strongest suit, his burst of speed allowed him to avoid being dragged into those battles. It was an asset that had already proven invaluable, and he knew it would only continue to enhance his game.
As for his long-range shot power, that was something he would work on more gradually. With the support of the club coaches and his experience with Vardy, he knew it was something he could improve upon in time. With three months until the Premier League season began, Tristan was confident that his summer training would be key in refining his long-range shooting skills.
For now, though, he was satisfied with his decision. The burst of speed he'd gained would allow him to keep improving his game in ways that mattered right away. As the Premier League approached, he was more focused than ever on taking his game to the next level—both in speed and in skill.
