||The Vri Trilogy|| ||In the book||

If you think this is just another story about sports and romance, you're wrong. "All for the Game" is a psychological thriller disguised as a sports drama. It's a book about people who are already dead inside, but keep breathing only thanks to rage, adrenaline, and each other. Welcome to Hell.

WHAT IS EXI? A fictional violent sport. *Equipment: Rackets with a metal mesh (bats).

• Rules: Score the ball into the opponent's goal. Reality: Contact is allowed. Broken bones, concussions, and blood are common. This isn't a game, it's a battle for survival.

MAIN TOPICS

1. Trust: How to learn to trust those who don’t trust anyone themselves?
2. Trauma: Heroes don't "heal" instantly. They learn to live with their scars.
3. Family Choice: The Foxes become family not by blood, but by pain and struggle.
4. Identity: Who are you when you take off your mask? A victim or a fighter?

Don't try to befriend everyone right away. Foxes develop trust gradually. Be honest. They notice very quickly when a person is pretending. Don't get into other people's personal matters unless they initiate the conversation themselves. Work seriously during training - the team respects effort more than talent. Don't judge people by first impressions. Some appear cold or rude, but there may be a more complex story behind it. Learn to listen. Sometimes support doesn't mean advice, it means simply being there. Don't try to "fix" someone. Friends help each other, not change each other. And most importantly: remember that a team is not only about victories, but about the people around you.

ADVICE FROM THE "FOXES": WHAT TO NEVER DO

Style: Straightforward, tough, no-nonsense. As Andrew or Neil would say.

ON THE FIELD

1. Don't turn your back. Never. Not for a second. On the field, the Ravens will finish off a man when he's down. In life, it's the same.

2. Don't believe that "it's just a game." For us, this isn't entertainment. This is war. If you go out with this thought, they'll break you.

3. Don't freeze in fear. Fear is normal. But if you freeze, you're dead. Keep moving, even if your legs won't obey you.

4. Don't play the lone hero. Exi is a team sport. If you run alone, you'll get cut off. Trust the pass. Trust the team.

IN THE TEAM

5. Don't pry into other people's secrets. Every "Fox" has skeletons in the closet. Ask at the wrong time and you'll get punched in the face. Keep quiet until they tell you themselves.

6. Don't touch Andrew's things. Seriously. His pills, his knife, his territory. Don't touch them. Unless you want trouble.

7. Don't promise what you can't fulfill. Neil hates empty promises. Kevin does too. If you say "I will," do it. Or say nothing.

8. Don't try to "save" someone without asking. None of us asked for rescue. If someone doesn't reach out, don't bother. But be there if they ask.

IN LIFE

9. Don't run if you can fight. Running saves lives, but it kills the soul. Sooner or later, you have to stop. Better to do it on your own terms.

10. Don't trust beautiful words. "Everything will be fine," "I understand you," "We're one family"—all empty words. Look at your actions. They're the only ones that matter.

11. Don't let the past dictate the future. You are not your father. You are not your mistakes. You are not your scars. But if you carry this on your back, it will crush you.

12. Don't ignore your feelings. Anger, pain, and fear aren't weaknesses. They're signals. If you suppress them, they'll explode at the most inopportune moment.

THE MOST IMPORTANT

13. Don't think you're alone. Even if it seems like the whole world is against you, look back.